Meghan Markle not meeting with Trump during upcoming visit to UK

[left-of-center2012]

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, will reportedly not join other members of the UK royal family in greeting President Trump during his state visit to the country next month.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are scheduled to meet with the president and first lady Melania Trump during a ceremonial welcome planned next Monday.

After the royal welcome, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, will reportedly join Trump for a private lunch with other royals, including Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.
There are reportedly a number of other events scheduled on Trump’s itinerary that will have members of the royal family in attendance, absent Markle.

Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter told Inside Edition that Markle will still be on maternity leave during the visit. "Meghan is not snubbing Donald Trump: she is on maternity leave," Arbiter said.

Markle, an American-born actress, has criticized Trump in the past, calling the president “misogynistic” and “divisive" ...

https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/445836-meghan-markle-not-meeting-with-trump-during-upcoming-visit-to

[Wounded Bear]

1. I wouldn't either...

at least until the little one has had some of his immunity shots.

[renate]

2. I suspect that she would have met with President Obama at this point in her maternity leave

Good for her for skipping this.

[lunamagica]

3. I knew she wouldn't. She despises him. Perhaps they all do, but unlike the others, she was an open

and strong Hillary supporter.

[rzemanfl]

4. Good for her. I think if it was the Obamas she would not only

show up, she'd let them hold the baby and take pictures.

[Hekate]

5. Rather likely. But good for her for pleading her health at this time; it has the advantage ...

...of being true.

[rzemanfl]

15. Drumpf will have an alternative. n/t

[Hortensis]

12. Obama'd be laughing at little fingers grabbing his nose.

[CTyankee]

16. Or stopping his crying...remember that incident when he calmed a crying baby even when

Michelle couldn't...

[lunatica]

23. Yes! I remember that. Obama was great through the entire incident.

[Hortensis]

26. Oh, yes. Reminds me perversely of poor George

Washington, who'd have loved to have the gift but instead took care to avoid making babies cry.

[DesertRat]

18. 100%!

[riversedge]

6. good for her. She has an excellant excuse not to meet the creepy Trump

[StarfishSaver]

7. I certainly don't blame her, but I would have loved to see Ivanka have to curtsy to her

Oh, well.

[elleng]

9. YES!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Except that Americans are not required to curtsy to

nobility of another country. Unfortunately, too many Americans do this, but it offends me enormously. I have great respect and admiration for the British Royal Family, and I would love to meet pretty much any of them. But no, I would not curtsy.

[lunatica]

24. Neither would I

Mostly because it looks and is ridiculous. I’m not into any form of submission. Period. Body language is extremely important and is just as important as verbal communication or what kind of facial expression you choose.

[StarfishSaver]

27. It's not required, but it's standard protocol for American officials, except presidents and

their spouses, to curtsy to foreign royalty.

Angier Biddle Duke, JFK's chief of protocol, told a very poignant story related to this.

When she and JFK made their first state visit to England, Jacqueline Kennedy asked Duke whether she should curtsy to the Queen. "No," he said. "Heads of state and their wives don't go around curtsing to one another."

Fast forward two years later - after JFK's funeral, Jackie received guests in the family quarters of the White House. Prince Philip was there to pay his respects (the Queen didn't attend because she was pregnant). When she greeted him, Jackie curtsied. Duke was surprised because, he said, Jackie never got protocol wrong. Noticing the expression on his face, she said softly, "I'm no longer the wife of a head of state."

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

30. Well, good for Jackie I suppose, but ordinary citizens

of this country are still not required and I sure as hell wouldn't. Protocol be damned. I'm a complete egalitarian.

I am also the person who, when a ticket agent at National Airport in Washington DC treated all passengers alike, regardless of their station. I once ten minute time ruled* a CAB board member, to his utter astonishment. I also wrote a note on a ticket for Admiral Zumwalt that he had to show his military ID when he checked in, because some flunky came to the airport to buy the ticket, and I knew I shouldn't write a military discount ticket without seeing the ID of the service member in question. Plus, are you freaking joking? A fucking ADMIRAL buying a military discount ticket?

*the ten minute time rule said that if you didn't show up at the ticket lift position, normally at the gate but with my airline at the ticket counter which was easily a ten to fifteen minute walk to the gate, at least ten minutes before departure, we could simply cancel your reservation and say, "Tant pis". Or in English, "Too bad". We used it mainly to protect ourselves from oversales. I don't think that the time I ten minute time ruled the CAB board guy that was an issue, but he showed up at the counter about three or four minutes before departure time and too bad, he wasn't going to make it. When he said he was with the CAB I said that in that case, he should know the rules. He was incredibly astonished, then asked me if he could use my phone to call someone. I almost showed him where the pay phones were, but figured I'd already pushed my luck. I bet he was never late for a flight ever again.

[Hekate]

31. I don't know about that "standard protocol" bit. Miss Manners is quite firm on the subject...

...of correct American manners when greeting or being introduced to foreign dignitaries of any stripe, and in our country this goes back to 1776. Dignity and simplicity.

Protocol, page 591
Curtsying, page 594
Regarding the privileges of royalty: "...they do not have the right to receive physical obeisance from American citizens." This includes curtsying, bending the knee, touching one's forehead to the ground, etc.

Page 596: And from Queen Victoria herself do an American woman who wondered what to do next after their introduction (subjects would curtsy or bow and back out of the room): "You need not curtsy, but turn and walk out."

Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, by Judith Martin

Altho Miss Manners believes in the American handshake (and how I wish Trump would stick to that instead of giving a military salute to dictators), I think President Obama was correct to give a slight formal bow to the aged Emperor of Japan for two reasons: first, as far as I could tell it was a degree of bow as between equals; second, Obama is so much taller than Emperor Akihito that even shaking hands would have caused him to need to bend over.

[StarfishSaver]

32. Miss Manners isn't the arbiter of State Department protocol

Under State Department protocol, while not required, a bow or curtsy to royalty is customary and appropriate (we're talking a dip of the head or a slight bob, not a bend at the waist or deep, formal curtsy).

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. She had enough throwing up

when she was pregnant.

[MyOwnPeace]

17. Oh, SNAP!!!!!!!

You nailed THAT one!

[Evolve Dammit]

19. Good point. Also shows she has some principles. IMO.

[yaesu]

10. If I had a choice I wouldn't even be in the same country as tRump. nt

[smirkymonkey]

11. Good for her!

Whatever her, reason, I am glad she is keeping herself and her newborn baby far away from that disgusting creep and his repulsive family. I wish Harry would join her.

[Honeycombe8]

13. I like her more and more. nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

20. Harry should take a "new daddy" leave.

......... .........

[Horse with no Name]

21. Meeting trump would make her milk sour

[GETPLANING]

22. She is snubbing him

As she should

[paleotn]

25. You're right....

All of the royals should snub the orange buffoon. Their stock would rise significantly with the UK populace.

[FM123]

28. Wise choice. It would be like having morning sickness all over again meeting with him...

[UTUSN]

29. *GO* (not "girl") - you human you!

[Irishxs]

33. Pretty significant that it is an American doing the snubbing. May should also.