Harry & Meghan move to LA

Harry & Meghan move to LA

Prince Harry and The Duchess of Sussex have moved to Los Angeles, California where they are currently in isolation due to the state-wide stay-at-home order.

There are two reports on this move: one from People Magazine, and one from The Sun. People is a US-based celebrity-friendly magazine which usually doesn’t print something unless they have the green light from the celebrity’s publicist, and is often the go-to publication when celebs want something printed. The Sun is a UK-based tabloid newspaper which is owned by Rupert Murdoch and, let’s just say, isn’t exactly pro-Meghan. With that in mind, let’s read the reports, starting with People.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have left Vancouver Island in Canada for the U.S., a source tells PEOPLE. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved from the home they were staying in on Vancouver Island and are now settled in the U.S., the source says. They are in Los Angeles — Meghan’s hometown. They have been living in a secluded compound and haven’t ventured out amid the coronavirus pandemic. A representative for the couple had no comment.

Although the couple and their 10-month-old son Archie had been living in Canada since announcing they were stepping back from their royal roles in January, sources told PEOPLE that they had been making plans to spend time in L.A. […] A person in their circle previously told PEOPLE that they were “looking at houses in L.A.”

“Harry is looking straight ahead at his future with his family,” another source said. “They will be spending time in California…He’s not looking back.”

People

Now for The Sun.

PRINCE Harry and Meghan have fled Canada amid the coronavirus pandemic and have moved permanently to California. They took a private flight to the Los Angeles area before the borders between Canada and the US were shut. The Sussexes will set up a new home close to Hollywood, where we are told they are currently living in lockdown with their ten-month-old baby Archie.

Last night a royal insider said: “Harry and Meghan have left Canada now for good. The borders were closing and flights were stopping. They had to get out. But this move was planned for some time. They realised Canada would not work out for various reasons and they want to be based in the Los Angeles area. They have a big support network there. It’s where their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs and business managers are based. Meghan has lots of friends there and, of course, her mum Doria.[“] […]

Royal courtiers believe the decision to move full-time to the US makes a mockery of the couple’s earlier pledge that they chose Canada because they wanted to live in a Commonwealth country.

One said: “We are stunned and horrified. The country is going through a traumatic event at the moment. They have a beautiful cottage in Windsor where they could have based themselves. It’s just a stone’s throw away from where the Queen and Prince Philip are in self-isolation. Prince Charles and Prince Andrew are both out of action too for very different reasons. This was an opportunity for them to put country before their own interests. California isn’t going anywhere.” […]

Last night a spokeswoman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not comment.

The Sun

I’m shocked, shocked to find that Harry and Meghan moved to LA! Seriously, though, who didn’t see this coming? Of course they were always planning on moving to LA. That’s where Meghan’s mom is, and where all the networking happens. Vancouver Island was always far too secluded for what Harry and Meghan are planning with their work.

I do think it’s the stupidest timing, though. If I could jet off to a secluded part of Canada and not be in a COVID-19 hot zone, I sure as hell would. There are currently 725 cases in all of BC, while LA county alone has 1,230 at time of writing. The only reason that makes sense to me is that they were already in LA and their move didn’t coincide with the border closure at all. Or not. I don’t care.

What I most want to discuss is the reason I included both articles: to show the difference in reporting, and specifically that the People article almost reads as a contradiction to The Sun article.

People is obviously Sussex-friendly, and most likely came from Camp Sussex. People’s “source” is probably their publicist, or someone else given a green light to speak to People on their behalf. What struck me, though, is the line: “Harry is looking straight ahead at his future with his family… They will be spending time in California…He’s not looking back.” That’s… pointed.

But I found it even more pointed after I read The Sun’s source complaining about them not coming back to the UK: “We are stunned and horrified. The country is going through a traumatic event at the moment. They have a beautiful cottage in Windsor where they could have based themselves… This was an opportunity for them to put country before their own interests. California isn’t going anywhere.”

Stunned! Horrified! How dare they not return to the UK after we told them they weren’t allowed to be working royals anymore! … Really, boo? Where you been? The LA writing has been on the wall for months, Harry and Meghan officially end their time as working royals in a week, this shouldn’t shock anyone.

BUT now I understand the “Harry is looking straight ahead, he’s not looking back” line, because it’s a direct comment on someone in the royal camp using a global pandemic to make a stink about Harry and Meghan moving to LA.

I have been quite critical of how Harry and Meghan have conducted their Sussexit because I think they have made things needlessly hard on themselves, but this Sun article is just stupid. It’s needlessly inflammatory bringing up COVID-19 and complaining that Harry and Meghan moved to LA when no one should have expected them to return to the UK in general let alone to simply self-isolate like the rest of the royals.

Anyway – now that I’ve worked myself up over The Sun’s stupidity – the point is Harry, Meghan, and Archie are now living in LA full time, and this move has been planned for a long time now. So, there you go.


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