Pregnancy, jet lag and LOTS of work prompts rethink of tired Meghan’s schedule
As Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan continue their brilliant tour of Australia, the truth has finally been revealed.
Meghan is knackered
Yup. We now know that a (possibly) four-months-pregnant lady cannot fly from one side of the world to the other, front up to a bunch of different public-facing engagements every day, switching looks and appearing perfectly groomed and grinning as she does AND have meaningful exchanges with everyone she meets without feeling a little bit blinking exhausted.
In news that will have other mums and mums-to-be and compassionate people sighing with relief, the Duchess’s duties on this epic tour of our country and close neighbours have now been scaled back.
Meghan must be exhausted and possibly needs a hot bath, pjs and takeaway in front of the telly.
— pip lincolne (@piplincolne) October 19, 2018
Duvet day?
We admit we were already worried about the Duchess’s energy levels – and aching feet – by Friday of last week. See above.
So when Sydney’s apocalyptic thunderstorm delayed Saturday’s Invictus Games Opening Ceremony, and kept Meghan out and about a couple of hours longer than expected, we figured it might be a tipping point. And it was.
By Sunday, the royals had decided Meghan would give the morning’s engagements a bit of a miss and we hope she stayed in bed watching Netflix and eating bagels.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNQRNrFTOC/?tagged=duchessmeghan
“Meghan did not attend the first event in Sydney on Sunday morning at the Invictus Games, but later joined Prince Harry for an official reception and to watch sailing at the event,” the ABC reports.
Meghan was all smiles when she did pop up on Sunday, but it’s worth noting that she’s been working very hard and is under a lot of pressure to be a “perfect princess”. Here’s hoping that she’s getting lots of support and care as she paces herself through this big trip.
So Meghan has been overdoing it this week. The Duchess – who is 12 weeks pregnant – has decided to cut back her schedule for the next few days. The Duke to do this morning’s events on his own. They are due in Fraser Island next. Then Fiji and Tonga #royalvisitaustralia pic.twitter.com/zdiC94VOcX
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) October 21, 2018
“She’s very sensible”
Interestingly Meghan’s slow-down has prompted quite a lot of debate about pregnancy, privilege and work on Twitter.
“She is privileged to be able to take this decision. Many mums just have to keep going,” one woman suggested.
Read more about Meghan and Harry:
- The food pregnant Duchess Meghan was warned NOT to eat in Australia
- “That’s so cute!” Australia just gave Meghan and Harry their first baby gifts
- We knew it! Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are expecting a baby
While snarky types thought Meghan should just get on with it, many others understood a little of how she might be feeling, and sympathised. They felt she was quite right to prioritise the health of her baby and self.
“It’s the jet lag combined with the pregnancy that’s difficult to deal with. She’s absolutely right to rest,” one woman tweeted.
“Poor wee lassie is probably exhausted,” another wrote.
“Glad she’s resting. She’s very sensible,” someone else posted.
“Not sure why people going on about privilege,” another person weighed in. “How many pregnant women fly for 24 hours then go straight to exhausting engagements after touchdown with more travel in between? Every pregnant woman is an individual. We cannot judge. Let her rest and enjoy her pregnancy in her own way.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took to the water to watch the @InvictusSydney Elliott 7 Team final — congratulations @AussieInvictus on your gold medal! ??? #IG2018 pic.twitter.com/isFFzBeUYj
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 21, 2018
On with the show
Today the popular couple are headed for Fraser Island, but Meghan’s slowing her schedule right down and will not attend events with Harry.
“The pregnant Duchess of Sussex will not take part in official engagements during the Royal couple’s visit to Fraser Island on Monday,” Kensington Palace announced.
“After a busy program, the Duke and Duchess have decided to cut back the Duchess’s schedule slightly for the next couple of days, ahead of the final week-and-a-half of the tour.”
Good call, as far as we’re concerned. The couple is due to leave Australia for a few days, and then head back to Sydney and onto New Zealand.
“Prince Harry and Meghan were scheduled to continue their tour in the South Pacific following their brief visit to Queensland, before returning to Sydney next weekend for the final days of the Invictus Games,” the ABC says. “Kensington Palace confirmed Meghan would be visiting Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, despite the threat of the Zika virus in the first two nations.”
Here’s hoping they’ve got a week of R&R somewhere private and warm (with a gorgeous pool) after a couple of weeks of constant activity.
An outline of Harry and Meghan’s Autumn tour from KP: That’s a lot of air miles! ✈️ ?? ?? ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/iYA5opIZAK
— Emily Nash (@emynash) September 10, 2018
In case you missed it
In other very important royal news …
- Harry was gifted a pair of budgie smugglers, and promptly modelled them (above).
- Meghan’s dad has responded to her pregnancy quite passive-aggressively, congratulating her while stressing he found out via the media and not his daughter.He was driving from Mexico into the US at the time: “I was sitting in line waiting to cross the border when I heard the baby announcement on the car radio,” he told The Mail on Sunday. “The first thing I thought about was holding Meghan in my arms as a newborn 37 years ago. I thought, ‘My baby is having a baby.’ It was a very proud moment. I was filled with love, joy and happiness for both my beautiful daughter and my son-in-law. A new baby is a blessing and I look forward to seeing a little Meghan or a little Harry.”
- And speaking of Harry, he’s cheekily admitted he’s quite keen on parenting a baby girl when chatting with crowds in Sydney. A well-wisher told Harry: “I hope it’s a girl!” and he responded with “So do I!”
- ALSO? Harry got a very, very giant bear hug – and requested his wife did NOT get the same. See below. #GoodCall
#PrinceHarry gets protective of his wife #MeghanMarkle. pic.twitter.com/kfO4RZqCf1
— WhereistheBuzz (@whereisbuzzzzzz) October 21, 2018