Meghan Markle shares her personal holiday playlist with followers, wishing them a safe and cozy Christmas — but the song choices, presentation, and absence of children’s music quickly draw criticism online. Scrutiny also follows the Sussexes’ holiday card, with social media users debating whether the image shows signs of digital editing, as Harry and Meghan respond to staff redundancies at Archewell.
Meanwhile, William and Kate release a message ahead of the Princess of Wales’s Together at Christmas carol concert, featuring a surprise appearance by Eugene Levy.
After the break, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor suffers another setback as police revoke his firearms licence following a security review at Royal Lodge. We also examine new reporting tied to the Epstein Files, including disturbing email exchanges involving a mysterious figure known as “A,” references to Balmoral, and renewed questions about Andrew’s past associations.
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Meanwhile, William and Kate release a message ahead of the Princess of Wales’s Together at Christmas carol concert, featuring a surprise appearance by Eugene Levy.
After the break, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor suffers another setback as police revoke his firearms licence following a security review at Royal Lodge. We also examine new reporting tied to the Epstein Files, including disturbing email exchanges involving a mysterious figure known as “A,” references to Balmoral, and renewed questions about Andrew’s past associations.
Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.
Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.
Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.
👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 and 2 are fully available now for everyone. Season 3 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 3 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now.
👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conve
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I
am your host, Mark Francis. Megan Markle has shared a
personal list of her favorite holiday songs, wishing her Instagram
followers what she described as a safe and cozy Christmas.
The Duchess of Sussex revealed the sixteen track playlist in
(00:26):
a video showing moments from her festive preparations. Fun holiday
activities included baking, cutting ribbons, wrapping gifts, pouring drinks, slicing
cured meats, ignoring your hospitalized father, fighting with you in laws,
laying off staff, whisking an egg, and writing messages on
the chalkboard. At the top of the list was have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Norah Jones, followed by
(00:49):
Winter Wonderland performed by Ella Fitzgerald. Mariah Carey's All They
Want for Christmases You appeared at number eight, with Last
Christmas by Wham at number nine. Also included were I've
Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Frank Sinatra
and Christmas Baby Please Come Home by Michael Booblay. Megan
captioned the post all the sounds of the season. Here
(01:11):
is my personal list of favorite holiday songs on rotation
in our home this time of year, Wishing you are
safe and cozy Christmas Enjoy. The list was naturally criticized.
One social media user said her playlist is exactly what
you think it would be. More try hard picked me music.
She wants you to think her music taste is elevated
and refined, and that you couldn't understand the complexities of
(01:34):
her preferences, so just listen. I'm suspicious of any millennial
that thinks boomer music makes them edgy when user wondered,
no Tailor or Beyonce. Every video she makes has songs
that are lovely in their own way, but most are
decades old, even when why as a self proclaimed modern
feminist playing songs like she's a nineteen fifties housewife. Another
(01:57):
issue was the lack of children's songs. She supposed to
have small children. Where are the children's Christmas songs? Frosty
the Snowman ruled off? The Red Nosed Reindeer. Harry and
Meghan's holiday card has also come under scrutiny, with some
viewers suggesting the image may have been slightly edited. Attention
has focused on a faint smudge above the head of
Prince Harry, where part of his hairline appears to be
(02:18):
missing or blurred. The subtle mark was quickly noticed by
eagle eyded social media users, particularly on Reddit, where one
commenter wrote, what happened with the editing The back of
Harry's head is missing above the hairline. Others offer their
own theories. One user suggested looks like they used the
stamp tool in photoshop the chunk of head floating above
his head when you zoom in. Another joked it looks
(02:40):
like the tree branch is coming out of his head lol,
while a different commenter counted that would be a leaf
in the foreground. Not everyone was convinced by that explanation.
Another user pushed back, saying I don't think it is.
There is what appears to be a near perfect circle
smudge that looked like someone was using the cloning tool
in photoshop. Comments accused Meghan of wearing a see through
(03:02):
dress and not brushing Litlabit's hair. Meghan and Harry responded
to the job cuts at Archwell. A spokesperson told people
the move toward a fiscal sponsor operating model does mean
that some staff redundancies are inevitable, particularly with junior admin rolls.
We will not be discussing these personal details further other
than to say we are honored to have worked with
(03:23):
incredibly talented and caring people who dedicate themselves to helping others.
William and Kate shared a message tied to the Princess
of Wales Annual Together at Christmas Carol Concert, which will
air on Christmas Eve. Alongside the video, they wrote, love
is how you live your life. Brilliant to be joined
by Eugene Levy at this year's Together at Christmas Carol service.
(03:45):
The thirty six second clip features Canadian actor Eugene Levy,
who made a surprise appearance at the event. In the footage,
he says love, that's an important word for me. It's
kind of how you live your life. Speaking at the concert,
Levey expanded on the theme, saying it's with family and
then generally spreads right through your associations, through your friends.
Christmas is the one day when your family is together.
(04:07):
My kids are grown, so it's special to me when
everybody's home on the day and you kind of goof around.
I'm glad that I'm here when love is such a
predominant message here today. We'll take a break early here
and come back and tell you a bunch of horrible
things about a mysterious British sounding person named a content
warning ahead more palace in just a moment. Andrew mount
(04:32):
Batten Windsor has suffered another blow after having his firearms
license revoked following a police visit to his home at
Royal Lodge in Windsor. The sixty five year old was
reportedly subjected to what sources described as a pretty thorough
examination by Metropolitan Police firearms offices over how his weapons
were stored and who could access them. The visit took
(04:53):
place in November. The Metropolitan Police, which oversees royal and
diplomatic protection, is understood to have imposed thosed strict conditions
on Andrew following a security review. According to reports, these
measures include close supervision should he wish to transport firearms
in the future. It has been claimed that Andrew's ballet
met officers during their visit. A sperksperson for the Metropolitan
(05:16):
Police confirmed the action, saying on Wednesday and number nineteenth,
firearms licensing officers attended an address and Windsor to request
that a man in his sixties voluntarily surrender his firearms
and shotgun certificate. The certificate was surrendered and we will
not be commenting any further at this stage. Earlier reports
had suggested senior figures were already questioning whether Andrew should
(05:37):
be allowed to continue hosting shooting events on royal estates.
He has not been seen attending any such gatherings in
recent months. The Telegraph reports the FBI demanded answers from
Andrew over his relationship with a second millionaire sex offender,
According to newly revealed material from the Epstein files. In
April twenty twenty, American officials asked UK authorities to com
(06:00):
held the former prints to answer questions about his links
to Canadian fashion tycoon Peter Nigard. The request focused on
visits Andrew made to Niguard's estate in the Bahamas and
whether he saw any goals under the age of eighteen
while there. It is the first time it has emerged
that investigators wanted to question him over ties to Nigard.
(06:21):
In relation to Nigard, the FBI said it was investigating
an international sex trafficking ring victimizing adult women and minor girls,
including activity at his Bahamas property. Niguard, now eighty five,
has since been sentenced to eleven years in prison in
Canada for sexually assaulting four women between the late nineteen
eighties and two thousand and five. Further proceedings remain ongoing
(06:44):
in the US and Canada. A man identified as A
is shown in newly released Epstein files discussing the facilitation
of meetings with what he describes as inappropriate friends alongside
Gilain Maxwell. The latest relase includes email exchanges from two
thousand and one and two thousand and two between Maxwell
(07:04):
and a correspondent listed as the Invisible Man, who says
he is writing from Bow. Moral details contained in the
messages include the use of the initial A, references to boo,
moral mentions of a valet, and comments about having recently
left the RN. Some observed that Andrew left the Royal
Navy in July two thousand and one. A further email
(07:26):
in two thousand and two includes a forwarded message stating
that Maxwell had given someone named Andrew a phone number.
In an email sent in August two thousand and one,
signed off A, the writer asks Maxwell whether she had
found him some inappropriate friends. The message reads, I am
up here at bow Moral's summer camp for the Royal family.
(07:46):
Activities take place all day and I am totally exhausted.
At the end of each day. The girls are completely
shattered and I will have to give them an early
night today as it is getting tiring splitting them up
all the time. How's La, have you found me some
new inappropriate friends. In a separate exchange, Maxwell apologizes that
she has only found appropriate friends. The reply from AA
(08:08):
is a single word distraught. Further correspondence from February two
thousand and two shows Maxiwell forwarding messages involving a third party,
one Estebahan Ganoza, discussing arrangements for a trip to Peru
that included setting up meetings with girls. In the forwarded email,
Maxwell writes, I just gave Andrew your telephone number. The
reply from A says I will bring him today if
(08:29):
I can. Another exchange in March two thousand and two,
refers again to the planned trip to Peru. Maxwell forwards
an email listing requests made on A's behalf, including some
sightsecene and some two legged sightsecene. The message ads, I
know I can rely on you to show him a
wonderful time, and that you will only introduce him to
friends that you can trust and rely on to be
friendly and discreet and fun. Maxwell later describes a as a
(08:53):
very English sounding gentleman on the phone, and they have it.
Please follow us to Spotify, Apple, Facebook, Instagram. We're all
over the place. Come by, say hi, I'm Mark Francis
my thanks to John McDermott. This is a palace intrigue
in con terms. H
Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I
am your host, Mark Francis. Megan Markle has shared a
personal list of her favorite holiday songs, wishing her Instagram
followers what she described as a safe and cozy Christmas.
The Duchess of Sussex revealed the sixteen track playlist in
(00:26):
a video showing moments from her festive preparations. Fun holiday
activities included baking, cutting ribbons, wrapping gifts, pouring drinks, slicing
cured meats, ignoring your hospitalized father, fighting with you in laws,
laying off staff, whisking an egg, and writing messages on
the chalkboard. At the top of the list was have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Norah Jones, followed by
(00:49):
Winter Wonderland performed by Ella Fitzgerald. Mariah Carey's All They
Want for Christmases You appeared at number eight, with Last
Christmas by Wham at number nine. Also included were I've
Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Frank Sinatra
and Christmas Baby Please Come Home by Michael Booblay. Megan
captioned the post all the sounds of the season. Here
(01:11):
is my personal list of favorite holiday songs on rotation
in our home this time of year, Wishing you are
safe and cozy Christmas Enjoy. The list was naturally criticized.
One social media user said her playlist is exactly what
you think it would be. More try hard picked me music.
She wants you to think her music taste is elevated
and refined, and that you couldn't understand the complexities of
(01:34):
her preferences, so just listen. I'm suspicious of any millennial
that thinks boomer music makes them edgy when user wondered,
no Tailor or Beyonce. Every video she makes has songs
that are lovely in their own way, but most are
decades old, even when why as a self proclaimed modern
feminist playing songs like she's a nineteen fifties housewife. Another
(01:57):
issue was the lack of children's songs. She supposed to
have small children. Where are the children's Christmas songs? Frosty
the Snowman ruled off? The Red Nosed Reindeer. Harry and
Meghan's holiday card has also come under scrutiny, with some
viewers suggesting the image may have been slightly edited. Attention
has focused on a faint smudge above the head of
Prince Harry, where part of his hairline appears to be
(02:18):
missing or blurred. The subtle mark was quickly noticed by
eagle eyded social media users, particularly on Reddit, where one
commenter wrote, what happened with the editing The back of
Harry's head is missing above the hairline. Others offer their
own theories. One user suggested looks like they used the
stamp tool in photoshop the chunk of head floating above
his head when you zoom in. Another joked it looks
(02:40):
like the tree branch is coming out of his head lol,
while a different commenter counted that would be a leaf
in the foreground. Not everyone was convinced by that explanation.
Another user pushed back, saying I don't think it is.
There is what appears to be a near perfect circle
smudge that looked like someone was using the cloning tool
in photoshop. Comments accused Meghan of wearing a see through
(03:02):
dress and not brushing Litlabit's hair. Meghan and Harry responded
to the job cuts at Archwell. A spokesperson told people
the move toward a fiscal sponsor operating model does mean
that some staff redundancies are inevitable, particularly with junior admin rolls.
We will not be discussing these personal details further other
than to say we are honored to have worked with
(03:23):
incredibly talented and caring people who dedicate themselves to helping others.
William and Kate shared a message tied to the Princess
of Wales Annual Together at Christmas Carol Concert, which will
air on Christmas Eve. Alongside the video, they wrote, love
is how you live your life. Brilliant to be joined
by Eugene Levy at this year's Together at Christmas Carol service.
(03:45):
The thirty six second clip features Canadian actor Eugene Levy,
who made a surprise appearance at the event. In the footage,
he says love, that's an important word for me. It's
kind of how you live your life. Speaking at the concert,
Levey expanded on the theme, saying it's with family and
then generally spreads right through your associations, through your friends.
Christmas is the one day when your family is together.
(04:07):
My kids are grown, so it's special to me when
everybody's home on the day and you kind of goof around.
I'm glad that I'm here when love is such a
predominant message here today. We'll take a break early here
and come back and tell you a bunch of horrible
things about a mysterious British sounding person named a content
warning ahead more palace in just a moment. Andrew mount
(04:32):
Batten Windsor has suffered another blow after having his firearms
license revoked following a police visit to his home at
Royal Lodge in Windsor. The sixty five year old was
reportedly subjected to what sources described as a pretty thorough
examination by Metropolitan Police firearms offices over how his weapons
were stored and who could access them. The visit took
(04:53):
place in November. The Metropolitan Police, which oversees royal and
diplomatic protection, is understood to have imposed thosed strict conditions
on Andrew following a security review. According to reports, these
measures include close supervision should he wish to transport firearms
in the future. It has been claimed that Andrew's ballet
met officers during their visit. A sperksperson for the Metropolitan
(05:16):
Police confirmed the action, saying on Wednesday and number nineteenth,
firearms licensing officers attended an address and Windsor to request
that a man in his sixties voluntarily surrender his firearms
and shotgun certificate. The certificate was surrendered and we will
not be commenting any further at this stage. Earlier reports
had suggested senior figures were already questioning whether Andrew should
(05:37):
be allowed to continue hosting shooting events on royal estates.
He has not been seen attending any such gatherings in
recent months. The Telegraph reports the FBI demanded answers from
Andrew over his relationship with a second millionaire sex offender,
According to newly revealed material from the Epstein files. In
April twenty twenty, American officials asked UK authorities to com
(06:00):
held the former prints to answer questions about his links
to Canadian fashion tycoon Peter Nigard. The request focused on
visits Andrew made to Niguard's estate in the Bahamas and
whether he saw any goals under the age of eighteen
while there. It is the first time it has emerged
that investigators wanted to question him over ties to Nigard.
(06:21):
In relation to Nigard, the FBI said it was investigating
an international sex trafficking ring victimizing adult women and minor girls,
including activity at his Bahamas property. Niguard, now eighty five,
has since been sentenced to eleven years in prison in
Canada for sexually assaulting four women between the late nineteen
eighties and two thousand and five. Further proceedings remain ongoing
(06:44):
in the US and Canada. A man identified as A
is shown in newly released Epstein files discussing the facilitation
of meetings with what he describes as inappropriate friends alongside
Gilain Maxwell. The latest relase includes email exchanges from two
thousand and one and two thousand and two between Maxwell
(07:04):
and a correspondent listed as the Invisible Man, who says
he is writing from Bow. Moral details contained in the
messages include the use of the initial A, references to boo,
moral mentions of a valet, and comments about having recently
left the RN. Some observed that Andrew left the Royal
Navy in July two thousand and one. A further email
(07:26):
in two thousand and two includes a forwarded message stating
that Maxwell had given someone named Andrew a phone number.
In an email sent in August two thousand and one,
signed off A, the writer asks Maxwell whether she had
found him some inappropriate friends. The message reads, I am
up here at bow Moral's summer camp for the Royal family.
(07:46):
Activities take place all day and I am totally exhausted.
At the end of each day. The girls are completely
shattered and I will have to give them an early
night today as it is getting tiring splitting them up
all the time. How's La, have you found me some
new inappropriate friends. In a separate exchange, Maxwell apologizes that
she has only found appropriate friends. The reply from AA
(08:08):
is a single word distraught. Further correspondence from February two
thousand and two shows Maxiwell forwarding messages involving a third party,
one Estebahan Ganoza, discussing arrangements for a trip to Peru
that included setting up meetings with girls. In the forwarded email,
Maxwell writes, I just gave Andrew your telephone number. The
reply from A says I will bring him today if
(08:29):
I can. Another exchange in March two thousand and two,
refers again to the planned trip to Peru. Maxwell forwards
an email listing requests made on A's behalf, including some
sightsecene and some two legged sightsecene. The message ads, I
know I can rely on you to show him a
wonderful time, and that you will only introduce him to
friends that you can trust and rely on to be
friendly and discreet and fun. Maxwell later describes a as a
(08:53):
very English sounding gentleman on the phone, and they have it.
Please follow us to Spotify, Apple, Facebook, Instagram. We're all
over the place. Come by, say hi, I'm Mark Francis
my thanks to John McDermott. This is a palace intrigue
in con terms. H
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