Maybe it’s modern, maybe it’s reckless self-harm, maybe it’s the pervasive influence of RuPaul. Whatever explains Buckingham Palace’s new line in taunting abdicators – basically, missing you already, bitches – it must have seemed like a promotional miracle to the makers of the imminent Oprah-Sussexes interview.
Hardly had Oprah announced her coup when, abandoning a preference for pained silence that had seen it through crises from the abdication to the Morton book, the Charles interview, Diana’s Panorama and Andrew’s Newsnight self-immolation, the palace couldn’t resist explaining that, excuse it, for all it cared the Sussexes could sashay fully away. “In stepping away from the work of the royal family,” it said, planning on the last, snitty word, “it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.”
The Sussexes miaowed right back: “We can all live a life of service, service is universal.”
A pause, while allies of the snubbed monarchy pondered further advance interview-retaliation. Last week, the Times splashed with backdated complaints about Meghan’s alleged bullying (which the palace had mysteriously failed to resolve). An aside on Saudi-gifted earrings presumably added credibility to claims, in a 2018 memo written by Jason Knauf, who now runs the Cambridges’ charitable foundation, complaining that Meghan had bullied two staff members “out of the household”.
The palace, again…
