Prince Harry and Meghan Markle thread

[Vlad]

I kindly request that all members participating in the MM and Harry thread dial back the vile rhetoric.

I am not opposed to discussing public personas on TPF, including the constant torrent of news surrounding the couple from this thread. But I find it troubling when their looks are being nitpicked apart to a degree that is just not appropriate.

This thread has drawn criticism over the years, and I discussed it at great length with Megs and the mods. I am not looking to close it down, but the vitriol needs to be dialed back.

My personal feelings about hate threads aside, this ultra-negative vibe is something better suited for other forums, Reddit, or elsewhere. I am holding our community to higher standards.

Thanks for reading.

 

[bag-mania]

I thought they wrote off some of the cost of the mansion by saying it is the offices of Archewell. Did I imagine that or does anyone else remember that?

 

[charlottawill]

I thought they wrote off some of the cost of the mansion by saying it is the offices of Archewell. Did I imagine that or does anyone else remember that?

It would not surprise me.

 

[Chanbal]

Isn't there an ongoing issue with an unpleasant odor in the vicinity of the house? I recall reading some blather by MM about seeing the listing for the house and dreaming of being able to buy it. Sounds like they made the classic first time buyer mistake of buying with your heart not your head and are now stuck with a white elephant they can't afford. And didn't they buy it at a very steep discount from the original listing price? Can't wait for the sheriff's sale. Or maybe Ellen and Portia could bail them out and then flip it.

The mansion is apparently within "smelling distance of a bird sanctuary." There are plenty of articles on the issue which may not help with the sales. From what I recall, they got a price reduction of about $10M.

 

[gracekelly]

Of course Oprah would love for them to be there because she could then interview them about it or set it up with Gayle. Knowing their previous MO, it would be a whine and cheesefest about how they were disrespected.

 

[bag-mania]

Courtney Cox was asked in an interview about Harry stealing her shrooms. Here’s the relevant passage.

There was another best-seller that she was mentioned in that made even more headlines: Prince Harry’s “Spare.” In the memoir, he recalled once spontaneously partying at Cox’s home and finding “a box of black diamond mushroom chocolates” in her fridge.

“He did stay here for a couple of days — probably two or three. He’s a really nice person,” she says with a laugh. She also recently saw him at a birthday party and wanted to say hi, but kept to herself since he was talking to others. “I haven’t read the book. I do want to hear it, because I’ve heard it’s really entertaining. But yes, it’s gotten back to me about it. I’m not saying there were mushrooms! I definitely wasn’t passing them out.”

Courteney Cox Reflects on ‘Friends,’ Her Career, and Yes, Prince Harry Doing Mushrooms at Her House: ‘I Definitely Wasn’t Passing Them Out’

Courteney Cox reflects on her successful career from 'Friends' and 'Scream' to 'Shining Vale,' ahead of her walk of fame honor.

variety.com

 

[csshopper]

Isn't there an ongoing issue with an unpleasant odor in the vicinity of the house? I recall reading some blather by MM about seeing the listing for the house and dreaming of being able to buy it. Sounds like they made the classic first time buyer mistake of buying with your heart not your head and are now stuck with a white elephant they can't afford. And didn't they buy it at a very steep discount from the original listing price? Can't wait for the sheriff's sale. Or maybe Ellen and Portia could bail them out and then flip it.

This is what’s current on line. They paid less than Asking Price and w a y less than the 2015 original listing price.

The complaints about odors were traced to conditions of stagnant water at the nearby Andree Clark Bird Refuge that allowed bird droppings to pollute. At the time it was stated a new pipeline was planned to improve drainage and subsequent water quality. An article was recently published saying the work had been completed.

Note the estimated monthly payment of $86,600 a month, which is added to monthly taxes and, of course, does not include utilities, maintenance, security.

 

[charlottawill]

 

[hillsidegirl]

Yes, H&M’s house had several major price reductions before they bought it. It was a VERY stale listing. No one wanted it.

This site, from the time of the initial listing, has a number of photos (I’m actually surprised this wasn’t scrubbed from the internet after the H&M deal, but it’s still alive, for now anyway).

The Chateau of Riven Rock, Montecito On Sale for $49,5 Million | eXtravaganzi

www.extravaganzi.com

 

[charlottawill]

It was a VERY stale listing. No one wanted it.

Gee I wonder why. What a white elephant. Tacky and ostentatious, not surprising it was the mansion of MM's dreams.

 

[Hyacinth]

Smug face annoys me every time

AMEN. He has one of the most punchable faces I've ever seen - smug, arrogant and constantly pissed off. He spent the entire time during the late Queen's funeral looking like he had a massive hangover and was just waiting for the chance to start a fight with someone. Could that be why (IIRC) the Ones In Charge had Major Johnny walking close behind him? There was no sadness there, just anger at every perceived or imagined insult or slight.

His "WAAAAAGH" cover photo makes him look like a serial killer, and his piggy little eyes don't help either. Whatever alleged "attractiveness" he may have had when younger is long gone, and even then he came across at least to me as a spoiled cocky little snot-nose.

I don't think I like him very much.

 

[csshopper]

Gee I wonder why. What a white elephant. Tacky and ostentatious, not surprising it was the mansion of MM's dreams.

The brick and mortar equivalent of her couture choices?

 

[Chanbal]

How sweet to have li'l Arch*e playing his piano at grandpa's big event. I'm almost tempted to buy a 'One Tear Left Eye' bag from Etsy and head to London in May.

 

[marietouchet]

This is what’s current on line. They paid less than Asking Price and w a y less than the 2015 original listing price.

The complaints about odors were traced to conditions of stagnant water at the nearby Andree Clark Bird Refuge that allowed bird droppings to pollute. At the time it was stated a new pipeline was planned to improve drainage and subsequent water quality. An article was recently published saying the work had been completed.

Note the estimated monthly payment of $86,600 a month, which is added to monthly taxes and, of course, does not include utilities, maintenance, security.
View attachment 5728133

Adding up the mortgage, cited above, and the $12k/mo tax bill, a few posts back, basically the house is a monthly drain of about $100k/mo or $1.2M/yr not including maintenance, repairs, security, utilities

If they pay no income tax (??? ) then they need an income of $1.2 M just for the house , or $2.4M if they are in 50 percent tax bracket ( arbitrary guess that made the math easy in my head)

That is a serious burn rate

 

[Hyacinth]

True. A friend’s relative is a realtor in Montecito. It is not listed for sale on public sites, but is brokered Privately. Any prospective buyers are thoroughly vetted. Having been occupied by the Suckesses has added NO value to the property. In some circles they were the brunt of jokes when they purchased it, although the successful agents who sold it would have celebrated, it had been on the market for five years. The size evidently impressed H and TW, it’s listed as having 19 bathrooms, not 16. Some may be half baths. Most of the main house is not used, maintenance has been minimal. Any profit, when and if they can unload it, would be due to overall inflation in real estate prices, not any noticeable enhancements.

Allegedly, they have not been looking for other homes in the area for purchase.

Information on the property data sheet published on line shows the Property Taxes, $144,427 annually, or $12,035.58 a month. That amount should be pocket change for them, but probably is a shock to H, who likely thinks people should be paying he and TW to live there, them being linked, at least tenuously, to Royalty.

Montecito has a local, widely read I was told, free magazine, the Montecito Journal. A local columnist, Richard Mineards, is a 13 year resident, an expat from GB who once wrote for the Daily Mail and the Telegraph. He pointed out two years ago that, in contradiction to H’s claims, they had not become a part of the community. That hasn’t changed. My friend has shared people continue to be put off by them. It was hoped Harry might join the Polo Club, but his only participation has been with Nacho and once his bromance departed, it ended. Rumor is she doesn’t like it and it costs too much. She is memorable only for her gauche behavior with the Polo Tournament trophy and her staged pap shopping trips. Mineards mentions them infrequently in his local gossip column but recently was interviewed by a Scottish publication seeking his opinion on SPARE. Sparing no words, he said it is “reprehensible” and calls H out for his failures. Only 30 copies have been sold at the local, independent bookstore. Montecito is a city of 8,638. One resident said “they are like a soap opera.”

It did not go unnoticed that H and TW appeared to be the focus in leaked pictures of guests at Ellen’s birthday party recently.

Pretty much the attitude about H and TW resembles “don’t let the door smack you in the azz on your way out of Montecito”. And no one seems to be speaking up to dispute their disastrous popularity ratings.

That photo on Twitter of "ivy taking over the exterior" doesn't even look like the same house. The colors are different, the shapes of the windows are different, and was it iSource News that someone mentioned just yesterday as being a Snarkle misinformation site?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle thread

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Master Thread A friendly reminder to stick to Harry and Meghan, a little off-topic is natural, but not for pages. Let's stick to the topic, please. No politics, discussion about members, etc. :tender:

forum.purseblog.com

Compare it to Trulia's photos with what looks like a very California-esque pale peach-colored exterior and with the tops of the windows slightly rounded, Cali-style (note the similar-shaped windows and doorways on the "Netflix house" down the page a bit that the series actually used for filming):

Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s $15m California mansion | loveproperty.com

Since stepping back from official duties and making America their home, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in a beautiful mansion in Montecito, Santa Barbara. Click or scroll on and let's explore the amazing home where they are raising Lilibet and Archie...

www.loveproperty.com

I think Oprah just wants them GONE. Bad enough that she's badly misjudged the characters of attention-sluts like G1ul1an1 and "Doctors" Phil and Oz, but now she's taking heat for enabling the Snarkles to con the public too. And their presence may even have affected property values.

 

[gracekelly]

Courtney Cox was asked in an interview about Harry stealing her shrooms. Here’s the relevant passage.

There was another best-seller that she was mentioned in that made even more headlines: Prince Harry’s “Spare.” In the memoir, he recalled once spontaneously partying at Cox’s home and finding “a box of black diamond mushroom chocolates” in her fridge.

“He did stay here for a couple of days — probably two or three. He’s a really nice person,” she says with a laugh. She also recently saw him at a birthday party and wanted to say hi, but kept to herself since he was talking to others. “I haven’t read the book. I do want to hear it, because I’ve heard it’s really entertaining. But yes, it’s gotten back to me about it. I’m not saying there were mushrooms! I definitely wasn’t passing them out.”

Courteney Cox Reflects on ‘Friends,’ Her Career, and Yes, Prince Harry Doing Mushrooms at Her House: ‘I Definitely Wasn’t Passing Them Out’

Courteney Cox reflects on her successful career from 'Friends' and 'Scream' to 'Shining Vale,' ahead of her walk of fame honor.

variety.com

How did he manage to mooch off of her? He really does know how to sniff out a freebee. At least it answers the question about how he felt so free to invade her fridge.