The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 9: August 2023 - July 2024

[Erin9]

Meghan and a friend were photographed in the Goleta In-N-Out drive through line waiting to pick up their order.


https://people.com/meghan-markle-in...s-prince-harry-germany-invictus-games-7968096

That’s….interesting. A bit weird imo. She’s smiling right at the camera. And it is a nice clear shot of her face. No one is in the way.

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

That’s….interesting. A bit weird imo. She’s smiling right at the camera. And it is a nice clear shot of her face. No one is in the way.

And in one of the shots, the cashier has his head tilted

Here's hoping it is just a coincidence....

 

[muriel]

That’s….interesting. A bit weird imo. She’s smiling right at the camera. And it is a nice clear shot of her face. No one is in the way.

Might it be that the photographer was placed inside the I&O to be able to get that particular shot?

 

[iceflower]

Day 3 of the games in Düsseldorf:


** gettyimages gallery ** rex gallery **


And the Duchess of Sussex was seen at LAX airport on her way to Germany:


** dailymail article **

 

[Maryrose]

Yes because being photographed at the drive thru is such a calculating move. And the audacity of her smiling at the person at the drive thru window well she should be ashamed.

 

[Maryrose]

And in one of the shots, the cashier has his head tilted

Here's hoping it is just a coincidence....

Maybe the person inside taking the photo asked the cashier to move so they could take a picture. Don't know about anyone else but sometimes when someone is standing in front of a picture I want to take I politely ask them to move aside for a minute so I can take the photo. Doesnt mean this was a set up. Now a days pretty much everyone has a cell phone and use it to take pics.

 

[HRHHermione]

Maybe the person inside taking the photo asked the cashier to move so they could take a picture. Don't know about anyone else but sometimes when someone is standing in front of a picture I want to take I politely ask them to move aside for a minute so I can take the photo. Doesnt mean this was a set up. Now a days pretty much everyone has a cell phone and use it to take pics.

Most people don’t distribute those pictures through Backgrid, the celebrity photo agency though.

I don’t think there’s anything nefarious about it, but almost all famous people in Hollywood do use arranged paparazzi photos as part of their PR. In this case, I suspect it’s one of several steps towards branding Meghan as more relatable and down to earth. It just doesn’t seem likely to me that a photographer whose camera is capable of shots like that just happened to be standing in the In and Out line and noticed Meghan AND knew to distribute the image through Backgrid.

 

[TLLK]

Maybe the person inside taking the photo asked the cashier to move so they could take a picture. Don't know about anyone else but sometimes when someone is standing in front of a picture I want to take I politely ask them to move aside for a minute so I can take the photo. Doesnt mean this was a set up. Now a days pretty much everyone has a cell phone and use it to take pics.

While I do agree that a high percentage of the public likely has a camera in their phone, I find it difficult to believe that a customer took the photo. This photo is too focused upon Meghan who is in the drive through. I believe that this was clearly arranged ahead of time.

 

[TLLK]

Might it be that the photographer was placed inside the I&O to be able to get that particular shot?

Yes I tend to believe that this photo "opportunity" was pre-arranged and not spontaneous.

 

[shady lady]

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...arkle-in-and-out-invictus-games-b2409625.html

"It’s really fun to go through the drive-thru and surprise them.”

Oh yeah?

 

[muriel]

Yes I tend to believe that this photo "opportunity" was pre-arranged and not spontaneous.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...arkle-in-and-out-invictus-games-b2409625.html

"It’s really fun to go through the drive-thru and surprise them.”

Oh yeah?

Oh how cynical you all are! ?

 

[kalnel]

Oh how cynical you all are! ?

No, cynical would be if we said she was trying to get an endorsement deal with In-and-Out Burgers.

Or if she was doing this to differentiate herself from her vegan friends.

Or if she had the munchies after getting stoned.

Or if she's going there while Harry's away because he thinks she's getting fat.

Or if she ordered dozens of burgers to feed the homeless of Montecito. (Not that you'd need "dozens" in that town.)

Or that she takes the kids there the way Diana took her sons to McDonald's.

The list of cynical possibilities is almost endless!

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Most people don’t distribute those pictures through Backgrid, the celebrity photo agency though.

I don’t think there’s anything nefarious about it, but almost all famous people in Hollywood do use arranged paparazzi photos as part of their PR. In this case, I suspect it’s one of several steps towards branding Meghan as more relatable and down to earth. It just doesn’t seem likely to me that a photographer whose camera is capable of shots like that just happened to be standing in the In and Out line and noticed Meghan AND knew to distribute the image through Backgrid.

Well, if you want to make money off of it, you do. Which is smarter than just posting it on some social media where it would be circulated without you making anything off of it.

And honestly, lots of phone cameras are capable of a shot like that

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

Most people don’t distribute those pictures through Backgrid, the celebrity photo agency though.

I don’t think there’s anything nefarious about it, but almost all famous people in Hollywood do use arranged paparazzi photos as part of their PR. In this case, I suspect it’s one of several steps towards branding Meghan as more relatable and down to earth. It just doesn’t seem likely to me that a photographer whose camera is capable of shots like that just happened to be standing in the In and Out line and noticed Meghan AND knew to distribute the image through Backgrid.

Exactly. I would say it is almost definite this wasn't random - the photo was far too polished and her and her passenger were looking directly into the camera. Smart phone photos are good, but this was done with a professional camera. It was staged and for PR. Do I think it's wrong - no, as Meghan knows this is how the Hollywood/LA media machine works. All celebrities pre-arrange paparazzi to get these types of shot - it is almost never random.

I am very interested to see what her new brand looks like. I truly hope it isn't another wellness/mindfulness blog, shop or both. We have been saturated with those types of brands and they are ubiquitous. I'm wondering when she'll be back on Instagram - she announced it last year that she would

 

[RJC]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...kshakes-doing-school-run-leaving-Germany.html

She's arrived!

 

[Maryrose]

So what is the great benefit of having her picture taken through a drive thru? Is it to have her photo in the papers? She accomplished that by arriving at the IG today. Its almost as if she cannot leave her house to live her own life. Everything she does is staged or there is an ulterior motive for her leaving the house. There is just a lot of interest in her every movement that when she does appear than people take pics and even professional photogs are waiting for that moment too.

 

[TLLK]

So what is the great benefit of having her picture taken through a drive thru? Is it to have her photo in the papers? She accomplished that by arriving at the IG today. Its almost as if she cannot leave her house to live her own life. Everything she does is staged or there is an ulterior motive for her leaving the house. There is just a lot of interest in her every movement that when she does appear than people take pics and even professional photogs are waiting for that moment too.

I would say that this drive through photo, along with the one where she was seen driving and the one outside of her dentist office were taken specifically to keep her in the public eye.
Los Angeles based paparazzi are not going to station themselves in Montecito, when there are many more subjects available in nearby Los Angeles and Orange counties.

 

[Leopoldine]

Her public remarks at the Invictus gathering earlier included a mention of picking up milkshakes. It all seems choreographed -- the pics at the drive-thru, the milkshake mention, soft nostalgic tropes. The only thing missing was Fonzie kicking the jukebox.

 

[Maryrose]

I would say that this drive through photo, along with the one where she was seen driving and the one outside of her dentist office were taken specifically to keep her in the public eye.
Los Angeles based paparazzi are not going to station themselves in Montecito, when there are many more subjects available in nearby Los Angeles and Orange counties.

I respectfully disagree. There are plenty of celebs in the Montecito area and pics of Meghan and Harry make a lot more $ than pics of some Hollywood celebs. It is worth their while to station themselves there for the money shot.

 

[TLLK]

I respectfully disagree. There are plenty of celebs in the Montecito area and pics of Meghan and Harry make a lot more $ than pics of some Hollywood celebs. It is worth their while to station themselves there for the money shot.

We will have to agree to disagree.
Meghan will likely continue to arrange for these types of photos to be taken when she and her PR firm believe that she requires the exposure.

 

[Asteria12]

Well, if you want to make money off of it, you do. Which is smarter than just posting it on some social media where it would be circulated without you making anything off of it.

And honestly, lots of phone cameras are capable of a shot like that

Speaking as a photographer, no, most phone cameras are not that good. This is an image taken from inside, through the serving and preparation area and out the serving window outside. Most phone cameras would struggle to get such a clean shot.

 

[Asteria12]

We will have to agree to disagree.
Meghan will likely continue to arrange for these types of photos to be taken when she and her PR firm believe that she requires the exposure.

Agree. Meghan's PR are arranging all of this to ensure the optics are right for whatever she's planning on doing next.


Nothing wrong with that, mind you, its what every celebrity does, so she's following a well-worn, paparazzi littered pathway there!

 

[HRHHermione]

So what is the great benefit of having her picture taken through a drive thru? Is it to have her photo in the papers? She accomplished that by arriving at the IG today. Its almost as if she cannot leave her house to live her own life. Everything she does is staged or there is an ulterior motive for her leaving the house. There is just a lot of interest in her every movement that when she does appear than people take pics and even professional photogs are waiting for that moment too.

A lot of PR is to influence how the public views someone. In this case, the photo combined with the speech mentioning she was late because she had to buy milkshakes and do the school run communicates that Meghan is an involved mom who is down to earth and who shares great food with her family and doesn’t obsess too much about diet. This is really helpful positioning if she moves toward her own lifestyle brand or pairing with popular existing ones.

I don’t begrudge her that at all, I just see it as deliberate.

 

[TLLK]

A lot of PR is to influence how the public views someone. In this case, the photo combined with the speech mentioning she was late because she had to buy milkshakes and do the school run communicates that Meghan is an involved mom who is down to earth and who shares great food with her family and doesn’t obsess too much about diet. This is really helpful positioning if she moves toward her own lifestyle brand or pairing with popular existing ones.

I don’t begrudge her that at all, I just see it as deliberate.

Yes, this form of communication is highly effective. We can expect that her PR firm will utilize it to promote a "new and improved" image of their client. One that is in direct contrast to what was revealed in The Cut interview and cover photo. A client who has seen her popularity dramatically dropping in the U.S. in the past 12 months.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Speaking as a photographer, no, most phone cameras are not that good. This is an image taken from inside, through the serving and preparation area and out the serving window outside. Most phone cameras would struggle to get such a clean shot.

As a photographer, I assume you've personally been to the Goleta In-N-Out then since you speak in absolutes about the restaurant's layout and how it is and is not possible to get a clean shot

 

[Asteria12]

As a photographer, I assume you've personally been to the Goleta In-N-Out then since you speak in absolutes about the restaurant's layout and how it is and is not possible to get a clean shot

I've never been there, no, but its layout would be very similar to so many fast food joints (like McDonalds, KFC etc), with an area where you order your food (at the counter) and an open kitchen behind. Looking at the photos its obvious that the photographer was standing at the serving counter and photographed through the open kitchen area to the outside service window. By "clean", I mean that the photograph is very sharp so it was taken with a proper zoom lens on a DSLR, not your spur of the moment photo taken with a mobile phone, if you know what I mean?


Just to be clear, I have no problem with it, this is commonly done by PR companies to help their client's profile.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Right, that's all I needed to know Speculating like the rest of us.

 

[Hallo girl]

The only comment I am going to make is that in the past Meghan has complained about photographers, e.g when she was out walking her dog with the security in the background.. In one of the interviews she claimed she had to leave the UK because she would be hounded with press (paraphrasing) she wouldn't be able to do the school run for photographers (wrong) but here she is happily smiling for the cameras. Maybe Meghan has settled into the position and is quite happy to be photographed when she is out and about. Or maybe it is the PR. who knows..

 

[Asteria12]

Right, that's all I needed to know Speculating like the rest of us.

I'm not sure what your issue is?


Obviously I'm speculating, I never said I wasn't? I'm speculating that the photo was taken by paparazzi with a proper camera, not someone who just happened to be in the takeaway joint and took a photo with their phone.

 

[Maryrose]

The only comment I am going to make is that in the past Meghan has complained about photographers, e.g when she was out walking her dog with the security in the background.. In one of the interviews she claimed she had to leave the UK because she would be hounded with press (paraphrasing) she wouldn't be able to do the school run for photographers (wrong) but here she is happily smiling for the cameras. Maybe Meghan has settled into the position and is quite happy to be photographed when she is out and about. Or maybe it is the PR. who knows..

I agree. I think there is a difference of being photographed by by professional photographers sitting in wait,snapping your pics unexpectedly and selling your photo to every news agency such as when you are running out to walk your dog, walking down your driveway etc as opposed to agreeing to be photographed. There is nothing you can do about cell phone pics or videos. It is a matter of choice.