Meghan Markle

Prince Harry has taken a step that is equal parts unusual and forceful.

But all parts admirable.

Being born into a royal family is generally a pretty sweet deal.

Sure, the days of beheading some peasants while downing a few goblets of mead and gnawing on a giant turkey leg may have come to an end, but you still get that whole unfathomable wealth and privilege thing.

It's only been two years since Meghan Markle left the USA Network show that made her semi-famous.

But let's be honest:

It's possible that no royal in modern history has inspired such a sharp division in public opinion as Meghan Markle.

(Although we guess that depends on how you define "modern history." Edward VIII received a mixed reaction from the peasantry when he abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson -- but you didn't come to The Hollywood Gossip for a freakin' history lesson!)

There are many weird corners of the internet in which regular folks rally around public figures with the same fierce loyalty that sports fans demonstrate for their favorite football teams.

There's nothing wrong with this fervent devotion, per se, but when it leads to viewing famous people as inhuman competing factions in some never-ending popularity contest, well ... that's when problems arise.

Prince Harry celebrated a pair of milestones on Sunday:

1. His 35th birthday.

We probably don't need to tell you that Hollywood and Buckingham Palace don't have an awful lot in common.

One is the last bastion of an outdated institution -- a place where people born into fabulous wealth and privilege spend their days basking in the adulation of the peasant classes.

Meghan Markle has found herself in the hot seat once again.

And this time it is all because she is too dang good of a friend! (seriously) 

Back in May, Meghan Markle welcomed her first child.

But because she lives in a civilized nation where you can stop off for some bangers and mash without fear of some dodgy wanker blowing your bonce off, Meghan was able to take a full four months of maternity leave.

It's been a few months since we last heard from Thomas Markle.

In case you were wondering, however, the bitter father of Meghan did not exactly change his angry tune during this mini media hiatus.

As many of us were reminded today, British monarchs are not impotent figureheads, as we're so often told.

In response to a request from Boris "Bowl-Cut Trump" Johnson's request, Queen Elizabeth II agreed to suspend Parliament until October.