Last week, The Daily Mail’s sources claimed that the Queen was still refusing to invite the Middleton family to the official royal Christmas celebrations. This should be no surprise – when anyone marries into the royal family, the commoner in-laws are never invited to stay at Sandringham for the holidays. But the press makes a big deal about it because William and Kate have chosen to go to her parents’ house for the holidays at least once since getting married, and there’s always a big “where are they going this year?” fuss. Well, People Magazine has some new details about this year’s holiday plans. There’s also an interesting aside about what William has been up to these past few months:
Like generations of married couples before them, Prince William and Princess Kate have wrestled with that age-old family conundrum: where to spend Christmas. Since their wedding three years ago, the couple have gone the diplomatic route of alternating the yuletide holiday between their two families.
On their first Christmas, in 2011, it was the traditional royal family gathering at Sandringham House, in Norfolk, the Queen’s sprawling country estate located some 110 miles north of London. The following year, it was off to the Middleton family mansion in Kate’s hometown village of Bucklebury. Then, last Christmas – their first with baby Prince George – it was back to Sandringham.
Now, they may have found a perfect halfway point: The couple’s own country home of Anmer Hall. Located on the grounds of Sandringham, the 10-bedroom home offers the option for the Middletons to occupy a guest room – while William and Kate could make the short trip to Sandringham to attend church and lunch with Queen Elizabeth and the extended Windsor clan on Christmas morning.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, and a palace spokesman won’t comment on any plans for Christmas, but a friend of the family says Anmer “makes a lot of sense in that it is just down the road from Sandringham.” The proximity could keep both sets of in-laws (and great in-laws) happy while making the day low-stress for William and Kate. “They could wake up at home, open their stockings and then head to church and join up with the rest of the royal family,” says veteran royals author Judy Wade.
The couple, who split their time between Anmer and Kensington Palace, are set to spend more of their life at their “dream home” in the country after William starts work as an air ambulance helicopter pilot. (He’s currently studying for the exams.)
With 15-month-old George more active than ever, and another baby due in April, the expectant parents have made clear their wish to base themselves largely in family-friendly Anmer in the coming months and years. Wherever they spend the holiday, one thing is not in doubt: “This year, for the first time, George will be into it all, thrilled with the sparkling tree and unwrapping the presents,” Wade says.
Anmer Hall isn’t really a “halfway point” – it’s part of the Sandringham estate, which is privately owned by the Queen. The Queen gave William and Kate the Anmer mansion as a gift/bribe to keep them closer to the royal family. But I guess the Queen is probably fine with the Middletons staying at Anmer for the holidays. Just as long as she doesn’t have to invite them to the main house.
Oh, and People also had an interesting story about Kate’s jewelry too – you know how Kate loves wearing small pearl drop earrings? They’re made by British designer Annoushka Ducas and apparently Kate has two pairs of Annoushka’s earrings plus a diamond eternity band. Annoushka told People that Kate drops in and picks stuff out for herself, and that she buys them for herself too. It was widely believed that William bought Kate the eternity band, but I guess not.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
She bought her own “push present”? (I hate that term) The passive aggressive dynamics in that marriage fascinate me.
I buy my own jewelry. My S.O. tried picking something out once, bless his heart, and I’ve since let him off the hook for any future purchases. Not that we have anything in common with Cambridges.
Me too. As sentimental as I can be, I’ve redone my wedding rings, bought earrings pretty much everything. He doesn’t buy me jewelry. He knows if I want it and we can afford it, I already have it. 🙂
I can’t believe after Diana we have twirly Waity ‘I buy my own earrings so I’m self sufficient’ Kate
It’s porbably more like William can’t be bothered to buy her jewelry and won’t do it anyway.
This.
Diana was emotionally stunted and did all kinds of crazy things (i.e. stalking married men). She went through friends right and left. She may have had a stronger work ethic than Kate, but I truly believe that she did a lot of charity work because she really felt like she had nothing else. I do wish Kate and Will would step it up-but I think people over romanticize what Diana was like.
•Happy Mom•
From what I’ve read, she didn’t stalk the men. She was in relationships with them and was needy but wasn’t stalking them as the media (or the people that hated Diana) claimed. Still wasn’t right…
And Diana absolutely threw herself into her work to fill the void her marriage left her with.
You forgot about the phone calls to Oliver Hoare. I count those as stalking.
Right. The late night phone calls were something. If his wife picked up she’d hang up. I’m leaning more towards harrassing in nature than stalking, but it’s apples and oranges.
•bluhare•
•Florc•
She was in a relationship with Hoare and honestly thought they were going to get married. In fact, in ‘Diana: Her Transformation’ there’s a quote that she apparently quit her public life for him. Her ‘Time and Space Speech’ was her way of showing him how serious she was about the two of them. (Problem was Hoare had no money — his wife did). And several Diana books state that the number of calls were hugely inflated too. Again, don’t know how true that is but she and Hoare were fairly serious for quite some time.
They were having an affair, LS. That’s a relationship, for sure. And he ended it because he wasn’t going to divorce his wife. She then placed many phone calls to his home (traced to KP) that were hang ups or whatever. IMO, it was probably downplayed as it was hugely embarrassing to her. Whether they were fairly serious or not does not mean she didn’t harass him and his wife after he ended it.
LadySlippers
I’m leaning with Bluhare. The calls might have been downplayed to spare Diana a bit. It wouldn’t be the 1st time history was rewritten for such reasons.
Wasn’t there some common ground found that calls from KP went to Hoare’s residence during hours when most people would be well asleep.
I’m not thinking Diana stayed on long enough to have words. Only that she did likely call during those late hours and Hoares had a very upset wife over them.
I doubt the media downplayed anything to “spare” Diana. That certainly wasn’t their normal procedure. And while I think it’s wrong to call a married man at home, well I think it’s wrong to be involved with the married man to begin with, but if Hoares had a “very upset wife” he could look in the mirror.
Also-Diana had an affair with English rugby star Will Carling, who she met at the gym in 1995. This relationship led to the break-up of his marriage to TV presenter Julia Carling.
According to the Transformation book, there was no affair with Carling. Carling apparently wasn’t tall enough for Diana. Lol
As for Hoare, again I’m not condoning her behaviour (there WERE calls made), but Hoare only broke things off with Diana when he realised he’d be screwed money-wise in a divorce. Apparently they were more serious than what people know (house hunting, discussing how many children they wanted, and such). The book asserts (as have others) that because Diana had legally separated from Charles that she was now fair game. And those phone calls were exaggerated in order to test the waters with Diana, the press, and the BRF.
Does it matter why Hoare broke things off? He ended it, and she harassed him and/or his wife. Whether it was downplayed or not is one person’s opinion vs. another, but she made the calls and they were unwelcome. I remember at the time I was amazed more wasn’t being made of it which is why I wonder if favors were called in to keep the story down. Don’t know; just wondering.
•bluhare•
I’m trying to show intent — sorry if it wasn’t clear. Diana got needy with anyone separating from her but she wasn’t trying to harass anyone. I think (in her mind) she was trying to demonstrate how much she loved him. Even though she had numerous other ways that didn’t involve other people…(again not condoning).
LS, no offense but you’re putting words in Diana’s mouth. How do you know she wasn’t trying to harass anyone? And prank phone calls in the 100’s don’t demonstrate love. One could also hypothesize that all those phone calls were designed to get the wife out of the way too. THAT is harassment, in my opinion. Because we all know if you love someone, truly, you let them go. I think someone wrote a song about that . . . . .
You don’t threaten to divorce your husband on the grounds of his adultery whilst publicly naming his mistress if there is nothing there. It’s what Julia Carling did and given her very public accusation, no rebuttal from Diana. Don’t forget this is a woman who downplayed her extra marital affairs by saying whilst she adored them, they let her down. Thus putting a romantic spin on her activities that got her a pass.
Further, Oliver Hoare’s wife received so many calls that the police put a tracer on the phone in order to locate the source. Again, something the police don’t do unless you are receiving a high volume of calls. Neither Oliver Hoare or his wife knew the source of the calls until they were traced, which forced Oliver Hoare to come clean to his wife about the nature of his relationship with Diana.
William has always been cheap with jewelry. He once gave her a rope and stick bracelet whcih was given to him at a wedding as a party favor memento. He’s cheap or maybe just lazy.
I often wondered if the reason he gave her Diana’s ring was just because it was the cheapest, easiest option for him. All he had to do was take it out of safekeeping and give it to her, no work on his part,
P.S. Sophie’s father was invited for Christmas at Sandringham, it was when Sophie’s mother died , the Queen made the gesture to invite him and he went .
•Someonestolemyname•
Or he’s super practical — he reportedly bought her the expensive watch she wore 24/7 on their NZ/Australia tour.
Well that’s true too. He is practical, but also I think he can be very cheap.
•Someonestolemyname•
I’ve not heard cheap though. Careless, not always that romantic, practical — cheap I just don’t know.
Lots of stories of his cheapness.
•LAK•
Really? Oh please elaborate!
LS, he also reportedly bought her the eternity band, which we now know was a false report. Maybe she bought herself the watch.
Rumours are the Middleton’s even paid for William when they invited him on trips.
They even stayed at Uncle Gary’s on the Ibiza trips, Pr.William. Freebie stay,freebie room and board, freebie yacht use.
You’d be surprised how much PW did not pay for over the years with Kate.
Mustique house when PW and Kate went was on loan too, freebie usually
Even Kenya..Jecca’s family conservatory could have easily made the entire Proposal trip a Free deal.
Yes, he’s rumoured to be on the cheap side.
I don’t tink William paid anything for that Kenya proposal trip…..maybe plane fare, but the rest, I would bet was covered by the Craigs ,jecca’s family, somehow.
Room, board, meals, the works and heirloom ring on hand. Kenya didn’t cost him anything the entire proposal trip, I would bet, except maybe plane fare.
I could believe that he’s cheap or willing to take freebies. His personal net worth is “only” something like $20 million. I realize that’s nothing to scoff at, but it’s also not at the level of “oh my gosh, I could NEVER spend this much money, EVER”, and frankly, not that much relative to their high-end public image. If it’s true that he financed the purchase of the Middleton’s new Georgian pile, he may be more into sinking his money into stuff with lasting value (real estate), rather than vacations (especially if he can get the vacations for free). While he can expect to eventually come into quite a bit more money, I can see why he might not count on that being immediate–the Queen could easily chug along for another 10 years or more.
So interesting! Although, did William ever buy anything? Or did he get funds outside of his private money and purchase that way? If so he’s cheap and lazy imo.
Jenna
Isn’t it far more than that? Correct me someone, but didn’t he inherit around a number like 22 million pounds and has it within a high interest account? While barely touching it will only grow and grow. He should be worth far more.
If you google “Prince William Net Worth”, 20 million is the first number that comes up. Who knows if it’s for real or not.
I seem to recall that his original inheritance from Diana was something like 10 million, can’t remember how much more he was supposed to get later (at age 30?). I definitely recall thinking that his wealth, while impressive, did not seem like enough to support his apparent lifestyle. He’s definitely wealthy, he’s just not (independently) at the level of so wealthy he never even has to think about money.
It would not entirely surprise me if William has considered either abdication or the possibility that the monarchy will be dissolved before he becomes king, which might also make him hold his money a little tighter than he would otherwise (as he would not be able to benefit from taxpayer subsidies as much in those scenarios).
Yeah, he is cheap – I get the sense of it from everything I read about PW. However didn’t he help out financially her parents to get that house? Pretty sure he’s invested some if his funds in it and it can’t be a small sum..
The stories are usually couched as “frugal”, not cheap, but they are out there.
OK There’s one theory on the home purchase. It may be out-there and totally untrue as with any rumour concerning someone famous or royal…..but the theory goes like this basically …
The theory…..The home purchase is actually a preemptive move, in the event of a Divorce….
…The home goes to Kate and her name may actually be on it……,if a divorce occurs then there is no squabbling over a home(ala Fergie) a place to live in the Palace(ala Diana) …….No need to set up a divorced wife in one of the Royal homes…if a Home Purchase was already made on the quiet, making it seem as if it’s the parents home only….but what if it’s ALSO Kate’s home, as in a good portion paid for by husband Prince.
Just one of the theories floating.
SomeoneStoleMyName
That is a theory i’ve never heard, but i’ve only heard 1 regarding this topic.
That the Middleton’s networth is extremely inflated and they’ve had multiple mortages so far. William stepped in to finance/loan/gift the Middletons the funds to buy their estate.
2 extra theories tag onto this one.
That William helped furnish their new home by loaning privately owned royal furniture in storage.
And another that the Middletons were still so stretched on funds their had about a million pound renovation paid for by taxpayers when Kate and George moved in after his birth for 6(?) months. Because it was for George and Kate it was for security purposes and to accomidate their extended stay as well as the staff and security they would have with them. Kitchen, Gym, secure wing added on and staff quarters among other improvements (bombproof doors, secured windows, etc…).
I find this all fairly interesting because PP seems like a company that can’t explain it’s outragous success. And Uncle Gary and his extremely terrible history of se# trade and drugs.
….it is interesting that the Middleton’s could not afford this home until AFTER the marriage.
Diana’s original will and testament, http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9803/04/diana.will/index.html
In 17 years with good investments, it should have increased significantly.
I don’t see how William tagging along with the Middleton’s on their family vacations counts as being cheap. One extra body isn’t all that expensive, especially considering they usually rented large accommodations to begin with and budgeted for 5 people already. What’s one more?
As for William’s net worth, until his 30th birthday he reportedly had received or inherited money from: Diana’s father and mother, and QM. No one knows if those funds came with strings attached. Diana’s money did have strings, so he only had the interest available to him as an adult and got the bulk on his 30th birthday. £20-£25million sounds about right but only after he turned 30. Before that, the only known amount was Diana’s father gave both Harry and William a ‘gift’ at their births reportedly in the £1million range. That, over a few decades, would have grown nicely. But that might be speculation too.
Does anyone know in the UK, if Kate’s name was on the deed to the Bucklebury pile, wouldn’t that be public information? In the U.S. mortgage loans and property deeds are public documents that can be viewed at the local county recorder’s office.
IIRC LAK posted awhile ago that Carole/Mike Middleton obtained a mortgage for the new place from a Scandinavia-based mortgage company.
I have always thought the strange thing about the new Middleton home was that they paid above list price. If the real estate market was in a slump in the UK in 2012 like it was in much of the western world, how did they manage to get an appraisal high enough to qualify for their mortgage? Lenders won’t give mortgages for a penny above the appraiser’s value.
But….on another note, There are ways to transfer the home to Kate in the event of a Cambridge divorce ,even without her name being on the deed at the moment.
Also there could be any number of quiet ways to have made sure the home goes to her, without public knowledge, unless parties want it revealed. Numerous ways.
Their home in Berkshire prior to wedding was a $600′ 000 to $800,000 purchase and fixer upper.
Their home after William married Kate was a (4 or) $6Million purchase.
Something is not adding up somewhere.
JMO
It would make sense; any cash they got out of the sale of the first house goes into trust for the two other children. That would explain the rumors of William putting the down payment on the new (much larger) home. It also makes sense that Charles is paying for the decorating for KP and Amner. None of that would be joint martial property, since father-in-law owns all of it. The BRF (or Charles) have learned their lessons about divorce settlements.
Take it with a grain of salt, but this article states the family made a nice profit off the sale of the old Bucklebury home. The DM also ran this story.
http://www.capitalbay.com/headline/295693-middleton-family-win-gagging-order-on-banker-who-bought-duchess-of-cambridge-s-2m-childhood-home.html
This is an interesting piece on “The Manor”.
http://mylusciouslife.com/royalty-kate-middleton-family-home-in-bucklebury-berkshire/
What perks! No wonder that mama Middleton was all into making this marriage happen. I thought that it had been because “they loved the prince”.
Buckleberry middleton pad is heavily funded by P Wills / Duchy as alternate – in case; and for PG use. Hope they keep PG away so he don’t become workless self indulgent like miDdletons siblings.
Waity made a serious error with Malta – phony HG.
Lady Diana of POW defy the royals The Firm on her disclosure of POW, but she did her duties, dedicated to the people”s charities and her boys.
Workless DooliTtle is no Lady P Di, and to ignore her duties place HM, the monarchy centuries tradition and longivity of HMs ethics in great risk especially now. . A lowly ‘commoner’
DON’T want to give to her subjects.
All other EU commoners turn Queens, King consorst, Princesses, Prince are all accomplished before marry in – and hardworking – but we have. a 10 year workless Waity doolittle middleton. That’s so wrong!
P Di is her son or the other way – I am former HRH P Diana – how dare you Hoar end a relationship; P Wills Ai I am regular ike you and, I don’t think the monachy should exist/I don’t want to be King- Oh, , but. Ill take all the perks, wealth and previledges as heir, and provide a heir and spare!
But to maintain all the work dedication of HMs – keeping of the monarchy after POW, we will need King Henry or the Yorks to save the monarchy!
Her jewlery should be bigger in scale. She is too tall for very dainty jewels.
•Barrett•
She’s actually not that tall — only about 5’7″. Plus, she has a slightly smaller bone structure than Diana which is why Diana’s ring always seems to be more noticeable on Kate than it did Diana.
Yes, I’ve heard similar too. 5’8″
Lady, Notasug
+1
Wwaity is not that tall – only a bit over paded butt Pips (one is padded butt the other bare .., what’s up with these workless commoner middletons!).
Look at the train station when she was hauling two big bags and Wills with dog, she’s nop 5’7″+.
Waity in serious prob with P Wills – via HM/ POW- The Firm! Better shape up and start being grown cut carole hold at 32 and be a wife and mum to PG and a Royal member living at KP. Heck she wasted millions renovating), or countdown to permanent Buckleberry stay.
Look at the mess with security and a family the other day in buckleberry. Flat tire and nearly got shot. She must be saving face – leaving Buckleberry to Scotland. With Wills PGTips then back to KP.
I could get excited about a story where Kate takes on, and becomes passionate about a cause – other than herself, William, or the Middletons.
Vava
Same. This is just another story that directly contradicts a sweet version sold to us a while ago.
W&K love their newlywed cottage. W&K barely live in cottage.
Will bought eternity rung for pregnant wife to symbolize love. Kate bought own ring.
Meh. I’m no longer shocked.
I love the free form necklace she is wearing in the light blue v-neck dress. Anyone have any info? CB? Kaiser?
monica Vinader
http://www.monicavinader.com/riva-diamond-cluster-bib/rose-gold-vermeil-riva-diamond-cluster-bib?search=%2Fshop%2Fnecklaces
$3340!?!
That looks like the jewelry you’d find at Khols or Macys! And it would still be gold. Just with cz. When diamonds get that small the quality falls away for me. I’ve heard it refered to as scrap jewelry.
FLORC, Perhaps Kate is coming to the end of her budget year (12/31 – is that the fiscal year end for Charles?) and it’s use it (her wardrobe budget) or lose it. That’s my explanation for the new necklace.
That does look like a piece of costume jewelry you’d find in a department store. I’m really not impressed at all by that necklace, but given her propensity for her hair flopping all over the place and obscuring the statement jewels she had been loaned i.e. the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, maybe these are the types of pieces she should wear. For me, the price far exceeds the quality of that necklace.
None of the Middleton women seem to have any really exquistie or good jewels,and that includes Carole. Everything looks hodge podge and on the cheap side, even though Kate has purchased a few things that are said to have been costly, after,the marriage.
Maybe they aren’t jewel gals,or,….or any number of things…….
I think that she wears jewelery like Sunday fare. She seems to have little other experience of it.
As a royal member, if you’re not wearing expensive diamonds pearls and tiaras (which doolittle waity have not earn or acting close to the royals), then don’t wear. cheap commoner -like jewelry and clothes- otherwise what is the use of having a. Monarchy. We want great regalness in our royals like HM or we don’t need to have royals!
(Wearing a short bedroom wear to charity event- I (think Deacon was so excited to get on work, she send the car around too early for doolittle, who just jump out of lounging before changing!).
EU Queens Prince/sses consorts are soooooo out of Waity league. Waity brings NO value to our monarchy for GB UK and the Commonwealth – such shame for Wills.
After all these drama commoner consorts drama (Fergie, Wallace, Waity doolittle) – P Harry chose find a royal bride.
Kate looks Cruella DeVille-level unhinged in that photo. Wow.
Agree. Someone commented in the Princess Bea article that Kate and Pippa “have it”, as in charisma/charm. I had a good chuckle over that because Kate is often pictured with an exaggerated grin (or open mouth), OTT facial expressions, or odd hand gestures, all the more emphasized because of the heavy make-up. And, Pippa…well, maybe she’s different in person, but her wide-eyed, stiff demeanor in photos isn’t exactly what I’d call charismatic.
As to Lady P Di ‘dirty laundry” she had no D laundry
really.- She was unmarried looking for love. And did what we. All do with relationships in our youth (baring the middletons stalking Wills); looking after divorce instead of before marriage.
I love that William’s entire occupation is to “study for an exam.” Ahhhh, to be rich and famous.
My husband and I agreed that I will buy my own jewelry after I finally admitted I don’t like the pieces he chooses.
Not to excuse William who has qualified advisors to help him select jewelry for a princess, but I’d rather pick my own pieces. Never surprise me with jewelry.
Same. I love my husband and he really tries! He just has a terrible eye for jewelry. We’ve settled on I buy and he pays:)
BettyRose
I tend to agree a bit. William could refuse help. Could ask friends for advice. Ask Kate her style. Have professionals help. He has the time and resources. My husband has tried by watching what I wear and asking what I like while I browse online jewelry. The effort is minimal and an eternity band is so simple.
End of the day this story is only good for contradicting an image sold of the push present. I’m not faulting William for what so many men have issues with too.
Gah! There’s nothing worse than opening a jewelry gift and feeling your heart sink, you hate it, but he was so sweet to get it, and he picked it out by himself, just for you, and you want to love it, but you just don’t…well, there are worse things, but it’s terrible. We do as FLORC said – he says I’d like to get you some nice earrings (or whatever) for Christmas, I pick them out and he buys them for me. Works for us.
I think it is fun to make a list of things and let the SO choose. “Here is a list of links for 5 pairs of antique earrings I like.” You get something you want and you also get a surprise (which pair did they choose).
I wouldn’t shade anyone for that either. I’m lucky, my husband is a jeweler and we have compatible tastes. He makes most of my jewelry and I love it.
Gritting my teeth out of jealousy right now Vava! And that’s very romantic he makes the pieces. Jeweler or not.
Latest UNCONFIRMED twitter rumor: Bill, Kate, and PGTips on a plane to Scotland on the 26th. https://twitter.com/Shannon_Dyer None of the royal reporters seem to be re-tweeting, so we’ll have to wait and see if they really turn up in Scotland.
And Palmer retweeted Harry greets BenMcBean after he finished 31 mile big poppy race. Damnit Harry! Looking so handsome when you’re involved in charity work. If a kid runs up to hug him it’ll be too awesome.
The Middleton parents and Pippa flew out of my local airport in the north of Scotland a week ago today, by Easyjet, with no special treatment. Reference Diana, although she had many good qualities, I think she was inconsistent and an actress. Genuine? No. In the book the Mitford Sister letters, the recently deceased Dowager Duchess of Devonshire referred to Diana as “mad, quite mad”. Diana is also reported as having made a play for Gary Lineker but he kept well away. There was also the police bodyguard and Hewitt and Gilbert as well as the doctor and Dodi and the others mentioned. She and Charles nearly destroyed one another and yet… on those early tours they were magic together and I do believe they were certainly in love early on in their marriage.
Reference William and the ring, I believe he gave it to Kate as he wanted to honour her and his mother. It would have been no hassle to get a jeweller to produce a tray of rings and I seem to remember reading it could even have been the Queen who arranged for the jeweller to bring the rings for Diana to choose from. As I read in a newspaper ages ago that ring was too big and flashy to really appeal to Kate who likes small, discreet jewellery. Yet, she always wears the ring. By the way, Kate’s height is given on numerous websites as 5’10” – just fractionally smaller than Diana. Regarding other jewellery, maybe Kate who comes over as liking everything perfect, prefers to choose her own jewellery. My husband has only ever bought me one piece of jewellery in our over 30 year old marriage but I was more into jewellery for presents before meeting him. I honestly think though that William is bound to have picked Kate jewellery even if it’s been a case of her maybe giving him a choice of a few things she likes. Although he was a different kettle of fish, Charles certainly had jewellery designed for Diana and I believe has done the same for Kate. William and Kate seem to be a very conventional couple to me. Every couple has their ups and downs but just because they live their lives differently from me, does not make them wrong or unhappy and me the perfect one.
“Charles certainly had jewellery designed for Diana and I believe has done the same for Kate. ” Have you ever seen KM in an unknown piece of jewelry? Every piece she wears is tracked down by “fans” and posted on sites. From what I’ve seen, the only custom items are pieces like the Kiki McD earrings she orders for herself.
This has been used on multiple sites as an example. In this photo they are walking side by side. She is wearing shoes that add 5-6″ to her height, as shown on the designer’s website. William is 6’2″ or 6’3″. She is no where near 5’10”
http://assets-s3.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/articles/46700-kate-middleton-wears-loose-fitting-silver-gown-to-palace-dinner/1320964696_prince-william-kate-middleton-467.jpg
•Caroline•
I’m slightly taller than 5’10” and I can promise you that in heels I’m in the 6’1″-6’3″ height range. Heck I’m over 6′ just in normal tennis shoes/sneakers/trainers. If Kate, were in fact my height, she’d be almost as tall as Harry (6’2″) or William (6’3″) depending on heel height. Except, even in heels (she tends to favour the 3″-4″ kind) she’s *still* shorter than I am in comparison to either Harry or William. That’s why I guess she’s 5’7″ because in 4″ heels she’s still under 6′. She might even be only 5’6″.
I challenge you and others to go find pics of her barefoot. Many are with William and you can see the huge disparity in height. There’s no way she 5’10” barefoot.
•notasugarhere•
Great pic! I’m still taller than her in comparison when I’m barefoot. i need to find some of her barefoot.
:ETA:
William (who looks great in this colour) and Kate both barefoot. The angle is a bit off but you can see that she only comes to his chin. Perhaps not even that.
http://m.nydailynews.com/news/world/kate-middleton-wins-legal-battle-topless-pics-article-1.1161898
•Caroline•
Part of the reason so many call Diana ‘mad’ is she broke the rules that are held deep by the aristocracy — never let the public know about the dirty laundry. Affairs are very, very, very commonplace in the British upper classes and are tolerated (if not encouraged after the heir and spare are produced). What’s not tolerated is making the masses aware of what’s ‘normal’ and ‘commonplace’ in the aristocracy. Almost everyone that breaks the rules is ostracised and avoided.
See:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0761171959?pc_redir=1414048243&robot_redir=1
Nota
Also, much of Kate’s jewelry/accessories are “gifted” to her by Pippa, James, Carol, etc. And they are gifted items customized for Kate. It’s a loop hole around accepting freebies. Which we know they already do and have admitted to in a palace press release.
Nsugar – That’s a great photo for estimating Kate’s height because she and Wm are standing side by side on a hard floor.
I calculate that Kate is 5′ 6.39″ tall. See calculations below based on the photo.
Calculations
6′ 4″ Wm’s height with shoes (6’3″ +1″ heel height)
5′ 11.5″ = Wm’s eye level in that photo (eye level in men = height – 4.5″*)
5′ 11.5″ – Kate’s height wearing her Jimmy Choo sandals (top of Kate’s head aligns with Wm’s eye level)
5.11″ **- Heel height of Kate’s Jimmy Choo vamp sandals
5′ 6.39″ = Kate’s barefoot height (5′ 11.5″ – 5.11″ = 5′ 6.39″
* FAA ergonomic data
* Saks Fifth Avenue specs for Jimmy Choo “Vamp” sparkle sandals
On the day of the engagement the papers quoted her height at 5’8″ from inside sources.
I also remember photos of Chelsy and Kate together and Chelsy and Kate did not have much of a height difference, both were wearing the same size heels, I think Chelsy was said to be 5’6 or 5’7.
Also Michelle Obama in very small, tiny heels, towered over Kate who had on tall stilletto heels. Same with Charlene Wittstock, she was bit taller than Kate and Charlene had on smaller heels, while Kate had on bigger heels.
MinnFinn, great calculations! Here’s another one that shows her barefoot standing in a slight depression. It also helps show how much she conceals her leg length proportions with the heels and waistlines.
http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article139942.ece/binary/kate-casual-outfit-image-5-154176664.jpg
Here she is standing directly opposite Michelle Obama. As MF said, Kate was wearing her skyscraper heels, Obama was in kitten heels.
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Michelle+Obama+Kate+Middleton+i6164_DaABfm.jpg
She usually wears at least a 4″ heel plus platform, not 3″. That can be seen on the designer websites. No matter what insiders might have said to exaggerate proportions, I’m going on visual evidence for 5’5″ or 5’6″.
Nota
I think your estimates are very low. You’re not taking in that Kate has poor posture. We’ve all seen it. She’s rarely standing up straight unless there’s a camera getting her head on.
With that taken into account i’ll say 5’8″. I’m 5’6″ and think that’s too low for her.
And she doesn’t usually wear 4 inch heels. Maybe for galas. Her event size heel appears to be2 3/4 at least with no platform.
FLORC, I think her poor posture shows in her rounded shoulders, not in her height. WhatKateWore usually includes descriptions of the shoes. Rarely is there anything under 3.5 – 4″ at a minimum in heel height and most are platforms which add more height.
The Queen didn’t actually give William Anmer, he doesn’t own it , he just has the use of it, it still belongs to the Queen. There were also some reports about the Queen selling ‘The Lodge’ to her son Andrew where he lives with Fergie and his girls (it’s located on the Windsor estate, former home of the Queen Mum) but apparently he was just sold the lease on it.
Flower
For all intents and purposes William has Amner Hall. It’s his to do as he pleases.
*LadySlippers*
Diana, as well as Charles, had dirty laundry. Was the supposed madness not also based on the fact that she threw herself downstairs whilst pregnant, slit her wrists (?) and made hundreds of silent calls to Oliver Hoare. Her father (and I agree he was certainly no angel) also reportedly stated before the marriage that she was unstable. I don’t know whether she was mad or not and let’s face it we probably all have some degree of madness but I am merely quoting what the Duchess said. It is very easy to dismiss all the “bad” things about the person one likes as rubbish or to defend them. Charles too certainly had his faults.
Regarding photos of Kate barefoot, I think there are some at a mosque in 2012.
Regarding the jewellery Charles had designed for her, was it not his wedding gift?