5/3/24 Stream of Constantness
Your Weekly Newsletter of All Things Spinning in My Brain
Look! A new title! New graphics! She’s official y’all!
Thank you to Jordan on IG for coming up with the newsletter name. Enjoy your subscription girl!
Rrroyyal Corner
Ba da, ba ba ba da, breaking news:
Wills Gets Grilled By Your Aunts
During a surprise royal walkabout after an engagement on Tuesday, the Prince of Wales was asked by royal fans how he, the kids, and the Princess of Wales were holding up.
Granted these women get understandably distracted when Prince William touches their shoulders and compliments their getups, but they keep going in! Follow up questions after follow up questions! These retired royal fans are doing more work than actual royal reporters.
King Charles Returns to Work in His Favorite a(TIE)er
I wonder if his ‘surprise’ walkabout was inspired by King Charles’s return to work Tuesday. Whatever you think of the KC, he looks truly happy to be back on the job (and he wore his favorite dinosaur tie!). I’ll have more thoughts on King Charles and a future King William in my paid tier post next week.
Catherine, The Princess of Wales Possibly Keen to Possibly Be at Events or Not Maybe
In a statement that couldn’t be any less clear if it tried, Tatler wrote that:
It seems clear that any appearance from Kate should not be seen as a full ‘return’ to public life; instead, royal fans should have no expectation that the Princess will be back to her usual full working schedule until that is confirmed by the Palace.
It seems like KP took note of how BP’s update on King Charles’s was received and tried to do a little of their own on background about Kate. It sounds like the stage is being set to see her at an event—but not to take it as a sign that The Princess of Wales is officially back.
I’m not seeing a ton of reporting on this, besides a throwaway line at the end of this piece from The Times by assistant royal editor, Kate Mansey.
Sophie’s Choice (I’ll see myself out)
Speaking of surprises, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wife of tortoise-talker and feminist, Prince Edward, became the first Royal to visit Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on Monday. The same day as William and Kate’s wedding anniversary. Guess what got more coverage?
But seriously, headlines like this one is why Prince Edward is becoming my favorite royal.
Comfort Binge
I’m loving the recent Bravo renaissance as much as the next person, but reality tv is kinda dark right now.
When
published her weekly list and it included “My Life on the D List”, a 6 season reality show starring comedian Kathy Griffin that premiered in 2005, even I repurchased Peacock to stream it. I never missed an episode in h.s., which my best and I were able to watch thanks to her dad’s fancy TiVo.It is the salve to my hurting soul at the moment. No one is going to ‘camps’, or body-slammed, or gaslit into thinking they should be the “bigger person” (cough, for the show) and forgive their unapologetic partner of 10 years who blew up their life by having an affair with their former best friend.
Kathy’s just out here hustling to get back on Oprah. Strong-arming her way into getting a free custom couch. Haranguing The OC’s Rachel Bilson into attending her Toys For Tots event, only to be given Rachel’s publicist’s number. Have all of the jokes aged well? No, it’s been nearly 20 years. But I miss this specific kind, specific era of reality tv.
What Happened to (Baby) Jessica?
Not that Jessica, but Jessica, Kathy’s first assistant, with very specific mid-2000’s hair and an iconic RBF. What ever happened to Jessica after she parted ways with Griffin?
Spoiler…it’s not that interesting. I’m not going to blast all the details, but she’s lived in the southwest for a number of years and is a Fraud Operations Specialist. Interesting considering what happened with Griffin’s first marriage.
I have to admit something I’ve been denying for quite some time. My friend and I have been in a weeks-long battle about if Katie Maloney is a reality tv villain or a complex character who can be cruel, but she’s also a Capricorn and actually the men on the show are the real villains, they just hide it better (I think it’s clear what side I’m on).
But after this Vanderpump Rules’ clip resurfaced of Jax telling his then-girlfriend Brittany that if he is financing her new breasts, he gets to choose the size and Katie reading Jax for filth…I have no choice but to officially announce my standom. Here’s to complicated, moody women, who come off unemotional, but fiercely stand by their people and stand up for what they believe in.
The Podcast I Wish Would ‘Harry’ Up and Drop
God that was corny. But seriously, after reading this piece from The Guardian, ‘It taught me about brainwashing’: how reality show stars fell for a fake Prince Harry”, I cannot wait for the first episode of The Bachelor of Buckingham Palace podcast to drop on Monday. The article provides an intriguing look back and a reminder of how persuasive group-think can be. Perhaps we shouldn’t have been pointing and laughing at the American women who signed up for this dating experience (that they did not know was with “Prince Harry”) and instead considered the ethics around reality shows and if they have the best interests of the contestants in mind. Various allegations against Love is Blind over the past few years makes me think we’re really not doing much better.
The Song of the Summer
It’s not that Sabrina Carpenter song that I have yet to listen to. It’s “Hot to Go” by Chappell Roan. Is it from this year? No. Is it the blast in the car, scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs, catchy hook I am craving this summer? Oh yes.
Housekeeping
Don’t forget, I’m offering 20% off an annual paid subscription thru Monday, May 6th!
Just upgrade to the paid annual tier and the discount is automatically applied. You’ll receive weekly newsletters plus: an additional article a week, ability to comment on posts, etc.
x, Meredith
The discount on the subscription was my birthday gift to meeee! Glad to be here!
<<<<< Chappell!!! she is everything and I love her forever.