It looks like Prince William and Kate Middleton are taking a page out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s playbook…if only for a hot second.
According to Us Weekly, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be taking a break from royal duties in the next few weeks when their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte are on vacation from school. The six- and four-year-olds both attend Thomas’ Battersea in London and have a half-term break toward the end of February. Prince William and Middleton will also use that period to spend more time with 22-month-old Prince Louis.
This brief hiatus falls after Prince Harry and Markle unexpectedly stepped back from their royal duties in January, followed shortly by a move to Canada. Since then, it’s been reported that Middleton’s responsibilities increased significantly, causing her some stress. “Kate’s in a panic and has been having bouts of anxiety,” a source told Us Weeklyback in January. “She barely has time to rest, and when she does try to sleep, her mind is constantly racing.”
Still, the added pressure has reportedly strengthened her relationship with Prince William. Another source told Us Weekly that the duke and duchess have been “supporting each other” throughout the adjustment period. “The Cambridges are busier than ever since Harry and Meghan left the U.K. You’d think their hectic schedule would put strain on the marriage, but it’s actually brought them closer together,” the source said.
Prince William and Kate Middleton together on a royal engagement in Wales earlier this February
Max Mumby/Indigo
Prince Harry and Markle have been enjoying their life in Vancouver and are taking trips to Miami and Stanford University. They’re set to return to the U.K. for a visit in March.
“The queen’s hoping everyone will put on a united front when Harry returns to London in March—even though there’s still tension behind closed doors,” a source told Us Weekly. “It’ll be interesting to watch their body language and see how they are together.”
Is that because you guys are coloring your hair often?
LM: Well, I have to color my hair because…you know. But Maude doesn’t.
MA: I’ll color my hair sometimes, and the Olaplex masks are good for that. But with the Bond Smoother, you can use right after you get out of the shower every day. That one is so good.
Which one of you takes the most time getting ready?
LM: I can be ready in, like, three minutes.
MA: Yeah, that’s definitely me. I like to relax and do my whole routine. I just take my time putting on makeup. I don’t really know why…
LM: She does a really good job. She does great eyeshadow and brows.
MA: Oh, yeah, I love doing my eyebrows.
LM: I don’t wear face makeup. Usually, I’ll put on mascara and that’s it. So I’m quick.
Maude, did you pick up any good tips from the Euphoria set? We can’t talk makeup without talking Euphoria makeup, because it’s incredible.
MA: Donni Davey, who did the makeup on Euphoria, was so good at doing foundation and glowy face makeup without it ever looking cakey. It never looks like makeup! I sort of just watched her do it, and the way she did my eyebrows. She’s amazing. Working on that show made me want to try more fun makeup looks.
If you had to pick a character’s makeup to embody from the show, whose would it be?
MA: Probably Maddy. Maddy’s got the best look. And Kat. I mean everyone has great makeup.
Question for you both: What’s one beauty trend you wish you’d never tried?
LM: Plucking my eyebrows really thin. Oh, and a perm! I had a perm. I have really curly hair, and for some reason I thought that it would lighten my hair. I don’t know why I would want it curlier, but I did.
If you’ve been going to therapy for several months but don’t feel like you’re making any progress towards your goals—which could be anything from developing better coping skills to cutting out toxic relationships—it’s probably time to consider that your relationship with this particular therapist isn’t working.
You feel like you have accomplished the goals you set with your therapist.__
You’re not meant to be in therapy forever. That kind of defeats the point, right? The goal of therapy should be to get you to a place where you no longer feel like you need regular sessions.
If you’re starting to realize your therapist has done their job, and that you’ve also done the work, bring it up to your therapist so you can start planning your transition out of therapy.
You don’t feel comfortable with your therapist.
Of course, there are instances where unethical behavior could be at play, too. Unethical behavior from a therapeutic standpoint could be anything from sexual advances from your therapist, to fostering a dual relationship (such as following you on Instagram or trying to become friends outside of your sessions), to different displays of bias.
If you feel uncomfortable or anything feels off, know that you are well within your rights to address it immediately—even if that means walking out mid-session.
How to Break Up With Your Therapist
You don’t have to feel bad about cutting ties—not everyone clicks. “It can feel very awkward but remember (as with any relationship) it’s not necessarily about you as people so much as how you fit together that’s the issue,” says Brubaker. “You do not need to justify your decision any further than that.”
During your session say something like, “I really appreciate the time we’ve had together but I do not feel that this therapeutic relationship is working for me.” Brubaker recommends ending therapy either prior to your next session or during your next session and having a conversation about how to proceed.
Ghosting isn’t cool—unless you feel unsafe. “Unless there is serious harm or unethical behavior taking place, I would not recommend ghosting,” says Brubaker. Remember that your therapist is a human being, too; they’ve cleared an hour of their day or more to commit to you.
When there’s a specific issue—say, you want to check in on goals more regularly—bring it up before pulling the plug. “To me the first step is to communicate that you think there is an issue,” explains Brubaker. “When someone is direct and brings an issue to our attention, many therapists will be grateful for that information. I have found myself wondering about people who left my practice with no notice and what I could do to improve after that happens. If you feel comfortable sharing it, giving your therapist feedback is one of the best ways for us to grow professionally.”
Ending things with a therapist can be awkward, but it’s great practice for handling conflict. “Therapy can actually be a great realm to practice that type of communication because very often one of people’s goals in therapy is to work on issues in their other interpersonal relationships,” says Brubaker.
Your therapist will usually have recommendations for resources for you during your breakup conversation. “Typically, I will explore what the person is looking for and give them options for therapists who have something I do not, for example, being in a more convenient location or working with different modalities,” says Brubaker.
I finally ended my sessions with my therapist about a month and a half into treatment. I said I was too busy with school and couldn’t commit. Now, I wish I had been honest and explained my problem was with her and her approach. My experience there made me reluctant to try therapy again. However, when I did find the right fit years later, I realized how important having a therapist you trust and click with is. Sometimes, it just takes a few tries.
Molly Burford is a writer in Denver covering mental health and wellness. Follow her at @mburf92.
It’s only been a little over a month since the U.S. Women’s Soccer team won the World Cup. While these women (deservedly) took some time to celebrate in incredible fashion, they’ve also never lost sight of their off-the-field goals, which include closing the gender pay gap in their sport.
In March, the team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer over pay equity, as well as working conditions. “I think to be on this team is to understand these issues,” Megan Rapinoetold the New York Times at the time. “And I think we’ve always — dating back to forever — been a team that stood up for itself and fought hard for what it felt it deserved and tried to leave the game in a better place.”
According to the Times, both sides came to the table this week for mediation talks in New York City this week, but that those talks broke down.
“We entered this week’s mediation with representatives of U.S.S.F. [United States Soccer Federation] full of hope,” Molly Levinson, a spokeswoman for the players, said in a statement to the paper. “Today we must conclude these meetings sorely disappointed in the federation’s determination to perpetuate fundamentally discriminatory workplace conditions and behavior. It is clear that U.S.S.F., including its board of directors and President Carlos Cordeiro, fully intend to continue to compensate women players less than men. They will not succeed.”
U.S. Soccer then responded with a statement of their own. “We have said numerous times that our goal is to find a resolution, and during mediation we had hoped we would be able to address the issues in a respectful manner and reach an agreement,” U.S. Soccer said. “Unfortunately, instead of allowing mediation to proceed in a considerate manner, plaintiffs’ counsel took an aggressive and ultimately unproductive approach that follows months of presenting misleading information to the public in an effort to perpetuate confusion.”
This morning, Rapinoe and teammate Christen Press appeared on the Today show to discuss what happened with Savannah Guthrie. “When they’re ready to have a serious conversation about equal pay, I think the conversations will go better,” Rapinoe said. “We didn’t feel like they were there, or willing to get there.”
When asked if there was a particular sticking point in the negotiations, Press expanded on what Rapinoe said. “I think, unfortunately, it was just the concept of paying us equally. We never even got past that,” she explained. “We were very hopeful in our discussions with them that they were going to take our proposals and our positions seriously which is simply that every game that we play, we get compensated the same way a man would for playing or winning that game. And it broke down right there.”
“I think it’s fair for us to ask that when we play a game and we win that game, or we tie that game or we lose that game, that we should be paid the same as our male counterparts and I don’t think that’s an unrealistic or unreasonable ask, to have equality,” Rapinoe continued. She also said that while she doesn’t think anybody wants this case to go to trial, the women are “confident” in their case—and they’re doing this for more than just themselves.
“This is about so much more than just our case…Just from a social perspective, from leaving the game in a better place for women everywhere. If it’s not equal, there’s no deal that we can get to. This isn’t bargaining. You either value us equally and show that, or you don’t.”
Just one week after HBO aired its final episode of Game of Thrones, fans were treated to a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the show’s eighth and final season in the documentary The Last Watch. If you tuned in, you definitely saw how Kit Harington reacted to that shocking Jon Snow/Daenerys Targaryen scene in the finale—but there’s also there’s a good chance you’re still sobbing over Emilia Clarke‘s emotional goodbye to Dany. Truly nothing could have prepared viewers for the footage that shows the actress getting her hair done and the moment hitting her hard.
“There’s definitely an exhale of breath,” she tells her hairdresser, Candice Banks, as she gets her blonde wig put on for the last time ever. “It’s kind of exciting to sort of think: ‘Oh, who am I without this, then?’ I wonder.”
“That was Emilia’s last shot on Game of Thrones,” a crew member announces in the next clip after Clarke finishes up her final scene. She later hugs showrunner Dan Weiss and co-star Maisie Williams before heading back to her trailer to discover that someone had written “Goodbye Dany, Hello Emilia” on her mirror.
It’s safe that no matter how fans really felt about the series finale, it’s hard not to get emotional over Clarke’s goodbye.
If that wasn’t enough, she also bid farewell to Dany last week on Instagram, thanking her for shaping her “as a woman, as an actor, and as a human being.”
“Finding the words to write this post has left me overwhelmed with how much I want to say but how small words feel in comparison to what this show and Dany have meant to me. The mother of dragons chapter has taken up the whole of my adult life. This woman has taken up the whole of my heart,” she wrote. “But to you, dear kind magical fans, I owe you so much thanks, for your steady gaze at what we’ve made and what I’ve done with a character that was already in the hearts of many before I slipped on the platinum wig of dreams.
“Without you there is no us. And now our watch has ended,” she concluded.
Although there’s no more Khaleesi (or is there?), at least fans can hold out for the forthcoming Game of Thrones prequel that’s reportedly in the works at HBO.
Uh, what just happened on tonight’s The Big Bang Theory? It appears Raj and Anu have called off their engagement after three-plus months of dating, but their storyline ended so abruptly that I can’t say for sure. (And I re-watched the scene three times…) What I do know, though, is that they hit their biggest speed bump to date, and the whole thing raises a lot of questions.
Let’s go through this together, shall we? The episode—titled “The Paintball Scattering”—begins with Anu and Raj chatting about floral arrangements for their wedding. A chime goes off on Raj’s phone, and Anu says, “Is someone texting you?” Raj tells Anu that it’s his doorbell camera, and it’s one of the greatest inventions ever because that’s how he found out a raccoon was eating his monthly cheese delivery. Alrighty then.
Anu says she has a doorbell camera as well, but she’s just never bothered to install it. Raj says it’s super easy, and she’ll love it, so he’s happy to do it for her.
Then, later in the episode, Raj is at Howard and Bernadette’s for dinner when the chime goes off on his phone. He tells them it’s Anu’s doorbell camera, which he helped install. (Side note: In this age of non-stop smartphone alerts, why is everyone so concerned about this chime? It’s like they’ve never heard an alert before.)
PHOTO: Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment
I have no idea the protocol on these doorbell cameras, but I suppose you can have it connected to more than one phone. Otherwise, what’s the point of Anu having it if she can’t see who’s at her door? But I don’t think it’s that strange for Raj to keep the app on his phone. This is his fiancé—the woman he’ll be living with—so it makes sense to share access. It’d be one thing if I got the feeling he didn’t trust Anu, but he really hasn’t given off that impression. Then again, he’s never quite been the most mature boyfriend either.
Anyway, all this to say Raj notices a guy at Anu’s door carrying plastic bags. Anu gives him a hug—and not just any hug. It’s more like a, “I’m really happy to see you” hug. She then invites him into her house; understandably, Raj is confused and upset.
The next day, while the entire gang decides to play paintball (Anu included), Raj decides not to say anything—for now. While I don’t think he needed to apologize to Anu for what he saw, he should have brought it up right away. Anu knew he was installing her doorbell app; it’s not like he did it without her permission.
Minutes into their paintball outing, though, Raj blurts out that he saw a strange man going into her house. Anu is appalled and wants to know why he was “spying” on her. Raj says that’s not the point. I think he should have simply said that he wasn’t spying on her, because he wasn’t: When the chime went off, he looked. Of course, it’s never that easy on TV, is it?
Anu admits that it was her ex-boyfriend at the door, and he was there to pick up some stuff that he left at her house. Raj implies that “stuff” means sex (oh no), but Anu says that wasn’t the case. But when Raj asks if she’s still talking to her ex-boyfriend on a regular basis, Anu says yes and she won’t apologize for that. I get that she and Raj have only been dating for a few months, but they are engaged. Isn’t that something she should have told him about? That’s fine if she wants to have a friendship with her ex, but she didn’t handle that revelation too well. And clearly, neither did Raj.
Anu tells Raj to delete the app from his phone, but he says, “Why? Is it because you’re hiding something from me?” Anu says no, it’s “because you should trust me.” What both of them don’t understand is that trust takes time; Anu may want Raj to trust her, but the first step is opening up about an ex-boyfriend. In Raj’s case, he should have come to Anu right away without jumping to conclusions. Instead, Raj responds by asking how he can trust her when he barely knows her.
Ouch.
The fact is though, he has a point. While you can learn a lot about a person in three months, you can’t know everything. Anu asks Raj what they’re doing if they can’t trust each other. “Why are we planning a wedding?” Raj’s response? “I don’t know.”
In the next scene, Anu says she’s going home but he shouldn’t worry…she’ll wave to the doorbell when she gets there. (OK, that was actually funny.) He urges her to at least let him drive her home, but she says that’s OK, she’ll Uber. Meanwhile, Amy and Sheldon—who have had their own spat now that Super-Asymmetry is a thing again—offer to drive her home. And that’s the end of that.
Except it isn’t, because there are more questions than ever. Is the wedding called off? Postponed? Is their relationship over or just on pause? And who is this ex-boyfriend of Anu’s? Does she still have feelings for him? Him for her? And why do I have as many questions as I did after This Is Us‘ fall finale?
Welcome to 2019, you guys. It’s going to be a ride.
