Here are even more photos of Duchess Kate from yesterday’s Jubilee kickoff events in England. I’d like to thank all of the eagle-eyed commenters for talking about the hair situation, because I didn’t even notice it yesterday – this was the first public event that Kate has done where she wasn’t constantly touching her hair. Usually, she can’t go five minutes without flipping, tossing, twerking, stroking, or fingering The Hair That Saved A Nation. Do you think someone on the Queen’s staff said something to her? Probably. I hope it went something like, “Yo, Waity. Stop playing with your hair.” Also: where is the mysterious “scar” again? I looked through lots of photos of the left side of her head – I don’t see the “scar”.
My favorite photos from the day’s activities are the ones of Kate and Her Majesty, The Queen sitting together on some sort of dais. The Queen looks kind of pissed off, and she keeps saying stuff to Kate, and Kate won’t even meet the Queen’s eye. For goodness sake, Waity!! Look at the Queen when she speaks to you. Don’t stare off, trying to make eye contact with the nearest photographer.
In addition to that, People Magazine has a very sympathetic Kate story – Kate told some random person that she’s “missing William terribly.” She probably is.
Kate may have a full itinerary these days, traveling around the U.K. with Queen Elizabeth on her Diamond Jubilee tour, but her husband is still on her mind.
During a visit to Leicester on Thursday, the Duchess of Cambridge met with well-wishers and gave one an update on Prince William.
Physiotherapist Laura Murphy, 30, asked about the royal who’s currently working in the Falkland Islands, and Kate replied: “He’s well, but I’m missing him terribly,” Murphy told PEOPLE.
Earlier in the day, Kate and Queen Elizabeth watched a fashion show at De Monfort University and met with locals near Leicester’s Clock Tower where they took in a dance celebrating Holi, a Hindu spring festival.
Kate, 30, chatted animatedly with assistant city mayor Manjula Sood, who was explaining the moves.
Later the two were welcomed to the city by the mayor – and Queen Elizabeth was presented with a commemorative photo album from her other visits to the city.
[From People]
I’m not going to make fun of Kate for that. She and William haven’t even been married for a year, and going six weeks without him if probably difficult for her. Of course, she had lots of practice during the nine years they were dating.
One last story – for World Book Day, some English school kids wrote to various public figures, asking about their favorite books. Duchess Kate responded! Or someone on her staff did – she told the kids that her favorite book is Anne of Green Gables. Can I admit something? I never read it. It’s a children’s book, right? What does it say about Kate that her favorite book is Anne of Green Gables?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
i’m canadian and i have never read anne of green gables either. seems a rather childish choice. what is she? eleven years old.
but, i guess she, or her people, made a choice geared to the audience….i hope.
It wasn’t an audience pick [ie addressed to age of person who asked].
She let it be known that it was her favourite book on her canadian visit, and they obliged her with a visit to author’s home [or was it museum…can’t remember.]
It was tailored to the audience in this instance, at least. David Cameron picked a somewhat twee children’s history book called Our Island Story: A History Book For Boys And Girls as his favourite – and you’d rather hope his literary horizons were wider, given he’s an Oxford educated Prime Minister! So I’m assuming they asked a range of public figures for their favourite children’s book for World Book Day. (Nobody ever bothered with that when I was a kid, but it’s HUGE now. They all dress up in costume for it. Bit of a nuisance, to be brutally honest, because my sewing is awful.)
It was one of my favourite books as a kid, too, along with the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Enchanted Wood. I know Blyton’s a horrible writer, but the idea of that tree entranced me!
No way. Anne of Green Gables is awesome. Still one of my all-time favorites, and I have an MA in Literature (which I only mention to prove that I regularly read non-“childish” books, too).
I believe a wise woman once opined that escapism can be smart. 😉
Cosign. This fact makes me like her more. Anne and gilbert.. One of my fave fictional couple
I love Anne of Green Gables – I reread the entire series in grad school (helped me sleep – grad school is hell) and I ALWAYS watch it when it’s on PBS. I still cry when Matthew dies. I’ll start crying right now if I’m not careful.
Darn you, Ellen! I’m only on chapter 14.
Anywho, Anne of Green Gables isn’t the kind of book that blows you away with it’s mind-blowing writing or it’s sharpely accurate characterizations of people you feel could exist. It’s mostly a pleasant story about a little girl who flits around the town in childlike wonder. Wait. This might actually describe Kate now that I think about it.
Agreed. An awesome book. Have read the entire series over and over and I am a lawyer who has read many books in her life from Jackie Collins to Tolstoy. What does it say about her? That she’s cooler than she looks! 🙂
Agreed. An awesome book. Have read the entire series over and over and I am a lawyer who has read many books in her life from Jackie Collins to Tolstoy. What does it say about her? That she’s cooler than she looks!
I still love Anne of Green Gables.
I think it’s sweet, Anne of Green Gables,a and the accompanying books were my favorite when I was little. Than I read Gone With The Wind and stayed there-I’ve read dozens of fantastic books, but GWTW is my favorite. But I think I may now dig out my old copies of the Anne series are reread them. =)
I have read Gone With The Wind at least 15 times…it is my all time favorite book…I watched the movie once and could barely sit through it…I laugh when people say what a great film GWTW was…obviously, they never read the book…and I think Kate only named Anne of Green Gables so that it would be relatable to the children who asked her the question…
Wonder if the Queen is telling Kate to sit up straight.
LOL – That would be a hoot!! LOL
The Queen is saying to Kate:
“First off, didn’t I tell you that your skirt was too short?!? You better keep holding your clutch down hard on your lap! And I hope you’re wearing underwear! If I hear of any underwear-showing photos, I’m going to have your ass! AND LOOK AT ME WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU GIRL! I’M THE DAMN QUEEN!”
Poor gal. The scrutiny looks to be so intense that it’s a wonder that anyone could live up to the expectations.
Let her and her husband just back out of the limelight and enjoy their life together for a while. Let her have at least a few years of happiness before you throw her to the wolves…
Seriously! I cannot imagine living with that kind of criticism. Hair, nails, shoes, clothes, a comment that seems too opinionated, a polite comment that was too boring, the right accent, the wrong tone, outfit too cheap, outfit too expensive, the wrong charity, not enough charity time…
Throw her to the wolves? She fought tooth and nail to get this job! She offered herself to the wolves with a big raw steak around her neck as bait.
Agreed. She wanted this stupid gig. Granted, she’s rich and famous. I will never feel sorry for her…bored, lonely, no (un)attractive prince around, making small talk with the queen, staying thin. Tough life, I’m sure. *eyeroll*
Thank you Kaiser for acknowledging my comment that the famous “scar” was not in evidence. I don’t understand why so many commentators said that they saw it. They must be suffering from cataracts, etc. It definitely was not there. Confirmation of Hair Extensions.
I disagree. Look at this picture:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/08/article-2112023-1214A083000005DC-445_964x645.jpg
Yup – exactly the picture I was thinking of, too.
That’s the picture i referenced too!
Again, that is not a scar. It is a light reflection as I stated yesterday. Everybody take another hard look.
For that to be light, it would have to be falling at a completely different angle to all the other light reflections in the image. I think you need to have a harder look – not at the scar/weave mark (could be either, I agree) but at the way all the other light falls. Just not possible at that angle when you see how it’s falling elsewhere.
That’s not a scar. How can a scar be over her hair? That looks like a line of light or a refection of some sort shining on her hair.
Well, most people have thinner hair around their hairline, which would make it easier to see a scar through her hair there.
As I understand it, extensions would not lay in that direction on her skull, and not that close to the hairline, where it would be easily visable. Well sometime I believe she wears pieces for fullness on important events, I believe that this is a scar.
I know, eh?
I looked and looked and saw… light.
nothing like the “scar” that was once seen.
There appears to be a scar at her temple that extends into her hair. It is up swept and is concealing it into the hairline and beyond. I believe before and right after the wedding she might have had some thinning of hair due to stress and dieting. She looks to be around 5 lbs. heavier so that might have helped much with her hair thickness.
I had hair extensions a few months ago and I had a “scar” that looked just like that. And how do you not notice that Kates “scar” yesterday was longer than it was a few months ago? Did she have another operation?
There is a light reflection in the daily mail picture-but that’s not what we’re talking about. You need to look right by her ear.
Compare this:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/08/article-2112023-1214A083000005DC-445_964x645.jpg
To this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/kate-middleton-scar_n_1035813.html
Same location. Same length. It’s a scar.
waity kate wears her skirts far too short. I know she is young but she is not going out on one of her boozy night outs with some of the clothes she wears, where her dirty washing was always to be seen getting and out of taxis when she was plastered !!!! wonder what grandma secretly thinks ?
The forlorn look on Kate’s face indicates she’s thinking,
“Gawd, I wish this old biatch would shut-the-“F”up (or in the new English-STFU).
That’s no way to think about the queen.
That face isn’t natural. Look at her second picture: those cheeks, that chiseled jaw…
Don’t know what you mean when you say her face isn’t natural. I think that’s a very attractive image of her.
It kind of frozen maybe too much make up. But I don’t found it natural.
Why is this a story?
Anne of Green Gables is an excellent book. I’m 26 and I still re read it (and the rest of the collection). Makes her look good in my eyes.
It is a wonderful book and this makes me like her more — and I never read it as a kid, but as an adult! It is well-written with lovable characters, I have even re-read it (still as an adult!).
Anne of Green Gables is my favorite book next to Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Your Blues Aint like Mine. I dont think its childish. I read the book at 8, 10, 11, 13, 16 17, 19, and 21 (my copy no longer has binding) whenever i get nostalgic for being kind of young and free and full of mistakes like Anne was. she had a total fierce spirit and out of the whole Avonlea series that is the only one i read over again. the later books kind of sand her edges a bit (guess thats growing up)
“*Their Eyes were watching god,” and “Madam Bovary” changed my outlook on life
*even though Halle and Oprah almost ruined it for me.
Come on, she’s a royal addressing a child’s question, she can’t exactly say her favorite book is Story of the Eye.
It’s a great book. But I also agree with you that she couldn’t exactly pick something controversial–though I’d never heard of Story of the Eye before this and had to Wikipedia it. All I can say is ick and whoa…
I agree! Ick and whoa describes it perfectly!
My FAVORITE books as a child. For real. The movies were great too. And how f*ing awesome is the queen in that last pic. Looking at the photog like “I know this sh!t it for me, but I miss my corgies”
You’re both right, its horrifying. There’s a song that mentions it, so my friend and I decided to read it. Worst. Decision. Evs.
(Supposed to be a reply to above, sorry)
She probably doesn’t have any friends. Having to be at man’s beck and call for nine years can do that. And I don’t think anyone in the royal family respects her. I think she’s lonely. She probably does miss William a lot because she doesn’t have anyone or anything else in life. That’s kinda sad for a 30-year old woman. Hopefully she’ll mature from this.
She definitely has no friends. Only her family. When she is photographed relaxing, it’s always with William’s friends. Even when he broke up with her and she launched the getting william back campaign, she was hanging out with HIS friends. Girl ditched any friends she may have had when she hooked up with William.
Whilst i think family is awesome, i also think it is really sad NOT to have any friends
You do realize they went to the same school, right? It’s entirely possible that she and he have mutual friends from there.
That was her choice. She made her bed and now she has to lie in it.
@Linney – i am taking into consideration mutual university friends. KAte has no friends that are not HIS friends. from all walks and stages of HIS life. Many of the girls in their circle are HIS ex-dates, attempts at dates etc> the arrangement is not reciprocated in their MALE friends.
For a girl who attended boarding school at which she mainly had a good experience, it’s sad that she graduated with no school friends.
We might rib Pippa, but she definitely has friends.
it is sad that this is one of many disquieting details that it took to land William. Maybe now she’s married, she can explore her own interests, and most importantly friends that are not about him.
@snappy fish – kate’s life is pretty much an open book. Her life has been very well documented and it’s pretty clear what she did/had to do to land the man. The friends situation was susupected for a long time and pretty much confirmed by the wedding guest list. And before you ask, the wedding guest list was made public so am not guessing, and as I said earlier, when she is photographed ‘relaxing’ with mutual friends, it’s always with HIS friends. Otherwise it’s only with her family.
Say what you like about pippa, but she really has friends outside her family.
As for her book choices, I won’t judge because we all have our favourite books.
It is common knowledge that they have mutual friends. They were housemates at St. Andrews with 6 other friends. As for the 30 girls at her hen party, I’m just going to guess they weren’t exclusively Will’s friends. My hen party included my friends not my fiancé’s.
I just think it is ridiculous how everyone jumps on everything this girl does. As for Pippa, I have no thoughts about her except I do find it interesting that she is lauded for working in family owned business & Catherine was ridiculed. It was v v sweet that Catherine had her sister as her maid of honour, as that is traditionally a young honorable or lady’s position in royal weddings & that she chose a dress that made her sister look fabulous.
Even some of the girls from her hen party were allegedly part of William’s circle. Yes, they may probably be her friends now, but they were William’s friends before that. Did she run out of her OWN friends to invite that she had to smuggle some of William’s own?
@snappyfish – The entire world knows about St Andrews, the hen do etc which is why i am stating that her life is pretty much an open book. ie easily tracked. seeing that they dated for the the better part of 8 years, of course they have mutual friends as would any couple. Except that in her case, all the people that ended up in the ‘mutual’ category were previously only HIS friends. He has friends from all the different stages of his life in the ‘mutual’ category. She doesn’t have any friends in the ‘mutual’ category that were originally HER friends. And she really does not have any ‘separate’ friends. That is the point i am making.
The only people she appears to spend any time with apart from the royal family are her own family.
I don’t think spending time with your family is a bad thing, neither am i snarking on the bridesmaid thing etc.
The comparison with Pippa that i am making is in the friendship arena. Whatever amibitions or aspirations she may have, she is surrounded by friends from High school, University, post-university life.
I love the Anne of Green Gables series– it’s not childish at all, people write entire theses and books on L.M Montgomery’s works. I grew up reading them and they are still my favorite books
I still love Anne of Green Gables and often read through the entire series again. I also have read many more of L.M. Montgomery’s books and stories. She is one of my favorite writers. The Anne series isn’t really just for kids — she grows up, has kids, etc etc. If you haven’t read them, I highly recommend you do!
I’ve seen other photos of this day and the Queen and Kate actually look like they are enjoying themselves, laughing and smiling. It was quite sweet.
I really think that she does miss him how could she not? They never seem to look out of sorts with each other and you know that the press is constantly looking for that.
As for her hair, if she does have extentions they are probably “great lengths” which is attached with a bond to the hair in small sections and it is not noticed easily. That’s why I don’t believe she would have a weave done.
Waity could have at least faced the Queen’s direction. Her reception to the whatever it was Queen E was saying smacks of passive-aggression. And, in re: Anne of Green Gables, she was likely attempting to connect with the children to whom she was speaking.
One of my favorite books from childhood is the Hero and the Crown, and I re-read it every few years. I don’t think that’s childish.
Maybe she has a nervous compulsive disorder when it comes to her hair. That would explain scars or bald spots along her hairline too. As someone who’s suffered from trichotillomania since I was 13, I can sympathize if that’s the case.
The Anne of Green Gables books are wonderful. You should try them before you knock Kate for loving them. She was talking to school kids about books, of course she mentioned a book that they might be able to relate to.
I always feel uncomfortable around my husband’s grandmother when we are at family functions; she and I are total polar opposites and she goes out of her way to mention what about me bothers her. Generation gap or not, it’s hard to grit your teeth and smile when that happens. Poor Kate doesn’t even get to grit her teeth. That last pic of the two of them, you can just tell the Queen was reminding her how she’s supposed to be seating, legs demurely crossed!
Yeah, when I saw the pic I instantly thought maybe the queen is saying some slightly weird old lady thing and Kate doesn’t quite know how to respond. I know the older my grandmother gets the more odd old lady quips come out.
She really needs to get a stylist. Thank goodness she had a clutch bag or we’d be seeing her crotch. As for the Hair, whatever. I think she’d look younger if she lopped it off to shoulder-length. Too much like Pippa, maybe? As for missing William, wouldn’t surprise me. Her entire adult life has been spent in his shadow. She probably hasn’t developed any outside friends or interests that aren’t his.
What she needs is a dresser. Someone who knows what is appropriate attire for any given occassion and will tailor/advise accordingly.
Stylists are more concerned with looking Fashionable etc.
Given how much effort she puts into her clothing choices, it’s amazing how many little details are always off. A dresser would sort that out.
You’re right. She needs a dresser. I bet she’ll have one after this week. It might have been a polite suggestion/offer after the wedding. It’ll be an order after this week.
Really? You are criticizing her for answering a child’s question with a perfectly nice, appropriate answer? What did you want her to say-Silence of the Lambs, or The Story of O?
Haters gonna hate…no matter what.
Actually yes, I do want her to say, “The Story of O”. Because it would be one of the most amazing, hilarious moments in modern royal history.
Thank you, that’s exactly what I thought. “Matilda” is not my favourite book but that’s totally what I’d tell a group of schoolchildren if they asked. I think “Anne of Green Gables” is an appropriate answer, especially because the kids might want to read it now!
If she had said “Crime and Punishment. Dostoevsky is my favourite author” people would be saying “Gosh, Kate is so pretentious.” She can’t win. I think she’s doing a wonderful job.
In your case, you’d believe everything the sycophantic media says about this woman.
I’d rather be a hater than a blind follower.
The scar can only been seen in a few pictures – there’s one in the daily post from yesterday where you can see it. I think the hair has to be tight to her head for you to be able to see it.
I feels sympathetic towards William being gone. My boyfriend starts his medical school rotations in June and will be gone 6-8 weeks at a time as well. Not looking forward to it 🙁
Yep. “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” is still one of my favorite books. And I still love “Annie” and “The Sound of Music” — there’s something comforting about those childhood classics.
But yesh, people will stop at nothing to criticize Kate…
I think it says a lot more about you. You have not read the book but are critiquing her for choosing it.
For my daughter’s 10th birthday, I got her a slew of Judy Bloom, Beverly Cleary, and Harriet the Spy.
I re-read them all, and still love them.
oh, and Gordon Korman!
dude she’s just picking her favorite children’s book. why so much hate for her?
I probably shouldn’t, but I do feel sorry for her in these photos.
Although she is very pretty always, she looks stressed and a bit ill here, not well at all. At this very low weight, she looks older than her years.
I teach literature, and I can honestly say that I would even recommend the Anne series to young adults who are unaccustomed to reading literature – as a starter book. The prose is quite sophisticated for a children’s novel, the characters are well developed, the female protagonist is complex and intelligent, and the historical details offer an interesting snapshot of life in that time period. Sure, it’s a safe “favorite” book, but it is also about a young woman who prioritizes education & career (written more than 100 years ago). She marries eventually – for love, not money or respect – at an appropriate age.
Completely agree, 100% cosign. I loved these books as a child and as an adult.
It is not a children’s book so much as it is a book about a child. The story is quite complex and well-written, the characters diverse and multi-dimensional, and the plot quite involved. It isn’t too late to read it if you haven’t, and you’d probably enjoy it! Young Anne is a riot.
I agree with you as well. I think the book is suitable for older readers…indeed, I think they’d appreciate more nuances than a younger reader would.
I’m 23 and I still love Anne of Green Gables – I reread the whole series a couple of years ago actually. And, when LM Montgomery first published the book in 1908 she actually didn’t intend for it to be a child’s story – that’s just sort of what happened over the years. Plus, as other commenters have pointed out, she was answering a question that came from children – she was hardly going to answer with the title of a book that they hadn’t/couldn’t read. Judging by the way you report on Kate, I don’t always think that you really grasp how KAte/the British Monarchy works, in any way…
I also read somewhere that when Kate was asked how she was “holding up” without William, she responded “I’m being well looked after.” To me, that seems like a very strange response for a 30 year old woman. I think she’s a hopelessly dependent person and this new schedule is wreaking havoc on her. It’s obvious judging from these photos that she’s incredibly stressed, underweight, and out of her element.
Go to day life and you will see pics that paint another picture. She seems happy and she and the queen smile at each other.
True, she appears to be very much over her head without William there to hand-hold her through every public outing. I think she’s going to lead a much quieter life than Diana as she’s a lot more introverted and not at all comfortable being in the spotlight.
I agree about the part that she’s very dependent, but I don’t think that she needs William to guide her all the time.
Actually, I think she will be better off without William by her side. These latest events have shown that while she has no charisma and is as boring as they come, she can be on her own. She is more relaxed in Camilla’s company that when she’s following William around. She is more relaxed and happier talking with Harry than with William.
If she would develop a good work ethic and genuine interest in her role, I think she may improve and she can “wean” herself off of acting like a lost puppy with William.
I also think that part of the problem is that William has kept her dependent on him for so long that she half-expects to be told what to do all the damn time and she doesn’t do anything without William’s approval. It’s quite sad that she hasn’t been able to form her own life and identity because she’s spent the past 10 years catering to William and her family’s needs.
She was manipulated by her family (esp. her mother) to go for the gold and never give up until she gets the ring. She had to deal with William’s affairs and indifference to her all those years they were dating. There have been many stories of William cheating on Kate with different women, and when she confronted him about it, William told her, “Don’t you know who I am? I am the future King of England. I can do whatever I want.”
It didn’t help that Carole Middleton is a barracuda when it comes to social climbing that she kept pushing her daughter to marry a man who cheated on her and disrespected her and even went on a campaign to get William back. Now many people see Kate as someone with no life and no self-respect.
And now we’re at this point where Kate is a shell of herself. She’s always been bland, but she looked healthier and happier back in 2005. She had more life in her eyes. Now she’s so frail and uncomfortable and awkward. She loves the cameras, sure, and she loves to preen and pose. But she is obviously out of her element here and she seems overwhelmed. And this is only the initial part of her duties. She hasn’t even begun to do more serious, heavier responsibilities.
I still remember what Kate said at that event when she and William went to the opening of a hospital wing:
“William is in charge.”
I believe her.
Brilliant. Agree 100% with your assessment.
That is the best comment I have heard in a long while…let’s hope she finds it in her to pull herself
You are so right Sachi. I do feel sorry for her too but this is what she wanted. Yes, William is in charge and I am sure she is totally controlled by him as well as by that mother of hers. I wonder how long it will be before he cheats on her. It is inevitable that it will happen…..it is only a matter of time. Poor Kate.
Seems you missed the pics of Kate and theQueen smiling at each other.
Anne of Green Gables is still one of my absolute favorites and it gets better each time that I read it, despite being nearly 29. This makes me like Duchess Kate even more.
I am almost 50 (EGAD!) and still love reading childhood favorites such as “The Witch of Blackbird Pond.” I fondly remember a series of Child Craft books from circa 1949 and was able to find a set on eBay a few years ago. I so enjoy rereading the poetry and folklore within. I don’t think we’re ever too old to embrace our past sources of entertainment.
They were specifically asked about their favourite children’s book, for World Book Day (it’s a big deal in schools here – the kids all dress up as a book character). Or at least, I really, really hope they were. Because David Cameron is currently head of our government, and if his absolute favourite book in the world is genuinely a cutesy Empire-lauding kid’s history book called “Our Island Story: a History Book For Boys and Girls” and dating from the 1930s, then I’m quite scared.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Island-Story-History-Victoria/dp/1902984749/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331326511&sr=1-1
I think it’s sweet, and it may have a lot to do with the fact that she was responding to school aged children so she used a book they would likely know. If not, a lot of my favorite songs, books, TV shows and movies come from my childhood because of the nostalgia and emotion associated with them.
One of the best things about being a parent is buying all the amazing books you had as a kid, and discovering a whole new world of fantastic ones published since, too. It’s lovely. Some kids’ lit is superb.
Word. I love children’s literature.
Anne of Green Gables is about a bright, spirited, creative orphan girl who navigates life with hope and a great attitude. She is inspiring, and touches your heart. You get caught up in her world, and fall in love with the way she handles set backs. Read it before dismissing it.
If Kate does indeed like this book, then she earns some brownie points in my books, even if I might not agree with her other actions completely.
Anne is awesome. Green Gables is a classic. My hardbound well worn copy has a prominent place in the bookshelf and always will.
The Anne of Green Gables books are some of my favorites. I re-read them all every few years. I have a PhD in Literature. Take that for what you will.
Oh, I don’t know. Aren’t most Austen novels about pretty girls from the bottom echelons of the gentry managing to land hugely rich, sought-after bachelors and make that marriage their career path?
I say that as someone who quite likes Kate, I should stress. But still. It’s not a story most girls would identify with in this day and age, and she certainly can. Plus Austen isn’t exactly a demanding read. She’s not Eliot, is she. She’s writing bog standard romance novels – it’s the prose and characterisation and dialogue that lifts them into classic territory.
Anne of Green Gables was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery, not Jane Austen.
@ Hercules – that was Asli’s point; that she wouldn’t choose Austen given she was replying to kids, but instead went for LM Montgomery, as it was a more child-friendly rec. The discussion moved from there.
@ Asli – I love Jack London too! The Call of the Wild was my favourite. And as we seem to share book love, I shall now have to read the Bridges of Madison County.
If that’s her favourite book, then points earned. L.M. Montgomery was brilliant, and her personal story very complex, which lent itself to her rich and varied storytelling abilities.
Anne of Green Gables has inspired much discourse, with some comparing the character of Anne to a Christ-like figure.
It’s a must-read.
Lucy Maud Montgomery was a remarkable woman and role model. Her stories aren’t so simplistic as assumed, many (including AOGG) contain dark and nuanced content; she’s even been plagiarized by author Colleen Thorn Birds McCullough, cough.
http://www.amazon.com/Selected-Journals-L-M-Montgomery-Vol/dp/0195415124
WTH is wrong with naming Anne of Green Gables a favorite childhood book?
You should also make a point of seeing the Anne of Green Gables miniseries that Kevin Sullivan created in the 1980s.
Anne and Gilbert <3
I LOVE Anne of Green Gables. The story is cute, I think they’re really in love.
That being said, she clearly wears weaves and/or hair pieces. and there’s nothing wrong with that. She’s so obsessed with seeming perfect. I want her to gain a couple pounds (she’d still be really skinny even with a bit more weight), ditch the fake hair (or just tell everyone she does it), and RELAX a bit! She’s prematurely aging from how much all this is stressing her out.
First off, I really wasn’t trying to come across as judgmental, I was really asking “What does this choice say about her?”
Second of all, it was my understanding that she was asked what was her favorite book, not her fave children’s book. Maybe I’m wrong on that.
Third… where’s the love for Louisa May Alcott, yo?
Well children did ask her, so I’m guessing she was trying to keep it to children’s books. Anne of Green Gables is one heck of a children’s book.
Waity also said it was her favourite book before her trip to Canada. Anne is a beloved Canadian character. I think this shows that Waity is getting pretty good at the whole public image manipulation thing. Maybe she isn’t as vapid as she looks!
Or maybe she loves Anne of Green Gables and fancied a trip to PE Island where the series takes place? I know I would love to go.
Having read a lot of Louisa May Allcott and the whole Anne of Green Gables series IMO the Anne books are a better.
Eventhough I will always have a place in my heart for Jo and her sisters I would never reread that story way too sad and I am still mad about the way it ends. AOGG and its’ sequels are the more satisfying books I wouldn’t say they were my favorites of all time but I can respect the choice.
And the PBS miniseries is awesome I haven’t watched it in ages.
What about Frances Hodgson Bunett? I liked Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, but The Secret Garden and A Little Princess were my favorites!
Anne of Green Gables is NOT a children’s book. It’s about a young orphan and follows her as she grows up, marries and starts a career. If you’re not into books, watch the mini-series, which consists of two sets: Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea.
Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books from my childhood, and I would definitely read it again as an adult–it really isn’t “juvenile” in my opinion. It’s a very sweet story about an orphan girl adopted by an aging brother and sister who wanted a boy to help out with the chores, and instead, the orphanage sends a girl. It is quite humorous, very touching and sentimental. Loved that book–no shame in admitting that.
Well, she isn’t dressed as a boy, but as soon as Matthew (the brother) goes to pick her up at the train station, he realizes there was an error. But Anne is so joyous and is talking non-stop about how happy she is to finally have a family. Matthew is a quiet, rather shy old man, but more importantly, he is a “kindred spirit” (that term will make more sense if you read the book), he didn’t have the heart to ruin Anne’s day. By the time they get to the home (Green Gables), no-nonsense Marilla (the sister) sees Anne and voices her displeasure about the orphanage’s mistake. They live on a farm, they are both aging, and this was back in the day when male children were adopted to help with farm work. Anyways, I won’t tell the whole story–you’ll have to read to book to find out what happens, and I promise you, you will love, love, love it!!!!
Hello! This has prompted me to actually delurk for the first time in months.
Two summers ago, I spent all of August on Prince Edward Island. It was the best month of my life. I visited L.M. Montgomery’s home in Cavandish, PEI., ate so well, saw the two plays based on the Anne books (fantastic), and generally had a fab time.
Every night before bed, I’d read the Anne series. I was in PEI, it was in the air, in the food, the people, everywhere! I read those books as a kid, as a teen, and in my 30s – and I’ve enjoyed them each time. Give them a try before you trash them!
Thousands of Japanese and Canadians, A Duchess and …well me – can’t be wrong right? Cheers!
In the 90’s I loved the television version of Anne of Green Gables…the Canadian version ran on PBS and was popular similar to the way Downton Abbey is today.
Agreed that AoGG is not just a kids book. I am 30 and I still love that series.
As far as this appearance goes, I really do wish she’d wear slightly longer skirts. This skirt is fine when she is standing up, but as soon as she bends forward or sits or anything it’s a crotch flash disaster waiting to happen. And you KNOW the photogs are all going to be jumping right on that opportunity the instant it arises. I am convinced that if she had been wearing a dress that was even just 2″ longer and just the tiniest bit less fitted, she would have seemed 100x more comfortable.
i totally knew the anne of green gables comment had something to do with the load of comments! hilarious!
And, Anne of the Island… I have my grandmother’s set of all three and they are worth about $60,000 each, CDN or more as per Sotheby’s.
FIrst editions… They are in my safe.. but well “worth” reading if you haven’t yet.
Re: her hair-touching. I also think she is clutching the clutch in a desperate way to stop herself from grabbing at the hair.
It’s funny because I think a woman moving hair out of her face is actually a pretty, feminine gesture… it’s just that she usually is touching it every minute!
Kate looks natural and lovely. “Anne of Green Gables” is a great children’s classic. What’s wrong with that? My fav is a picture book… horror! Don’t ever downgrade children’s Lit! A Librarian just saying…
Kate always looks so good. But I’m sure she wishes she gets to hang out with younger people soon.
I love it when the Queen dresses like a licorice Allsorts- they are yummy good.
On a par with Little Women? Anne of Green Gables wins hands down. Mark Twain re: Anne -” the dearest most lovable child in fiction since the immortal Alice”
I’m glad I’m not the only one who wants to gobble up HM when she looks like my favorite childhood candy!
Excuse me, but she is with the Queen of England, and her grandmother in law, a very powerful person. I would still be very awed and uncomfortable in her position. Also, I hear better with my ear towards the speaker…just think of the background noise.Learning a position while doing it is not easy.But the Hair has to be shortened a bit and her legs are a little too slender. Otherwise…she’s just fine.
The extreme thinness is taking its toll on her face.
I think Kate and her family are cheap, publicity-seeking people. Kate got what she wanted … but just maybe … it didn’t quite turn out to be what she wanted. “Be careful what you wish for” is what comes to mind here. And this is Karma towards the rest of the Firm for the way they treated poor Diana. Enough said.
I know it’s all Kate’s fault William married here because we all know this little girl can make the ENTIRE royal family, grey men included accept her…NOT ONLY that THE QUEEN!!!! Kate is EVIL!!!!She MADE them make HIM MARRY HER!!!
what is wrong w you? how dare you talk to someone like this? learn to control your temper, or better get a therapist ’cause frankly u r freaking me out…anger management!
Right, and besides, she was answering a child, so she named a childhood favorite. What else would she say, 1984, or A Clockwork Orange?
1984 was a “set” book when I did English literature “O” level! Required reading at age 14 or 15!!!!
Your comment – “My favorite photos from the day’s activities are the ones of Kate and Her Majesty, The Queen sitting together on some sort of dais. The Queen looks kind of pissed off, and she keeps saying stuff to Kate, and Kate won’t even meet the Queen’s eye. For goodness sake, Waity!! Look at the Queen when she speaks to you.”
This is totally unfounded.
Just imagine every motion you make being photographed. It’s obvious you chose the pics showing the queen initially getting her attention.
All you have to do is look at any of the hundreds of other pics taken at the same occasion to see there was plenty of interaction and eye contact between the two of them. Why make a story where there isn’t any?
So true, which is why you should have various sites for information. I like gossip to be REAL especially if it’s juicy and then I go to other sites and see Kate and the Queen laughing and talking??!! Kate laughing and engaging with the children and then read the posts here ready to have Kate committed?? Come on people….Gossip is fun but it is better when it is true.
Count me in with the Anne lovers! I also remember Kate requesting to visit PEI because she loved the books growing up.
My nephew loves musicial theatre and was in a musical version of AOGG done by our local community theatre group. I wondered how they’d do it, but it wasn’t half bad!
You know what would have been a boring answer by Kate? Harry Potter.
Anne of Green Gables is a wonderful book full of funny moments and it’s quite symbolic that Kate mentioned a book by a Canadian author. The royal family has always been very close to Canada and I am very proud that our country will contribute to the celebrations of the Queen’s jubilee by several commemorative items produced exclusively for this occasion to express the fact that the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Canada is still very warm and friendly.
I have a BA in English and a) Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favourite novels, I re-read the whole series every year and b) I actually covered it in English lit in my third year AND wrote a kick-ass essay about it. It’s a children’s book yes, but it’s a classic.
I liked “anne of Green Gables” but I LOVED (and still love “Little Women” and the other Louisa May Alcott books. I would list them as amongst my favorites.
Lainey and a bunch of other sites had photos of Kate looking quite happy, relaxed and engaged with the Queen at this event. I love this site, but can’t help but think that these particular photos were chosen to create a negative story about Kate.
Anne of Green Gables has and always will be my favourite book and I’m much older than Kate. It only says positive things about Kate:)
Maybe you should read it before passing judgement.
Um…I’m a kid and I read Jane Austen, charles Dickens, to kill a mockingbird, and the Father Brown series.
Why is it parents think we don’t read? Just because you don’t see us reading? hello? It’s not like you guys take an hour off to notice!
You have to reach pretty hard to insult this woman over citing Anne of Green Gables as a favorite book. The Little House series was my favorite as a child, and I still find them worthy books. If a child’s organization asked me for a favorite, it would be those books I answered with. I still list them among my favorites as a middle-aged and very well-read woman. Seriously. The hair-touching…go ahead and tease her, but only someone being catty just for meanness’ sake or someone who had never read the Green Gables series would insult her on that point.
Anne of Green Gables is by Lucy Maude Montgomery. It is for older children and it is a decent read.
Maybe she’s not touching her hair because it’s not windy?
I see her leaning her ear to the Queen in that first pic… not being disrespectful. Perhaps it was noisy!
Finally, Anne of Green Gables is a great book. A great series. I’m glad to hear Kate considers it her favorite.
Kaiser didn’t pass judgement or criticize Kate for citing Anne of Green Gables as her favorite children’s book.
Read what she said. How is it insulting?
“Can I admit something? I never read it. It’s a children’s book, right? What does it say about Kate that her favorite book is Anne of Green Gables?”
Her supporters are a bunch of idiots. I can’t believe Kaiser didn’t write an article about Kate’s visit to Picadilly, when she asked staff if they could “Test the smell [of tea] by smelling it?”
I like the new royals, it’s fresh and of the time 🙂
But in while he’s away she plans to spend a ton of money she didn’t earn on luxury items she doesn’t need. If you want to see a massive waste of money look no further than the royal parasites.
Does the Queen still “do” anything? What do any of them actually “do” ?