Uh-oh. Someone in the Cambridge household pissed off The Daily Mail. There’s going to be hell to pay. The Daily Mail has a VERY suspicious story this weekend about Carole Middleton’s presence at Anmer Hall. It’s no surprise that Carole has moved in with her daughter, Duchess Kate, and it’s no surprise that Carole plans on spending much (if not all) of the summer helping Kate, William, George and the newborn Princess Charlotte. We knew all of that months ago, and Kate has always spent more of her marriage with her mother than with her husband. No surprises there. But what is surprising is that The Daily Mail seems to be taking Carole to task BIG TIME for pushing her way into a royal household and running things like she (Carole) is the one married to a prince. You can read the full DM piece here. Some highlights:
Anmer is a full house: The Mail says in addition to Carole and the Cambridges, “there’s also a night nurse, a nanny, a housekeeper, a chef, an assortment of protection officers and Lupo the dog, currently sporting a new pink collar in honour of Princess Charlotte’s birth.”
The staff nicknamed Carole “The Gatekeeper”: One source says, ‘She runs the home, chooses the food — not too fattening, as Kate wants to regain her figure as quickly as possible — and the seasonal floral displays. She instructs nannies and maternity nurses. Basically, she ensures that the family never have to see or deal with anything unpleasant. Carole forms the front line between the Cambridges and the outside world.’
Michael Middleton sort of hates his wife: Michael, it is said, wants to keep his distance. He wants to give his daughter and her family some space to just be a family, without Carole interfering. A source says Michael is “ill at ease at the negative attention Carole garners over her constant presence.” This disagreement between Carole and Michael is “said to be causing tension in their marriage.”
Michael waited to see his granddaughter: Pippa and Carole were the first relatives to see baby Charlotte. Michael purposefully waited until Prince Charles had a chance to meet Charlotte, because Michael thought that would look better.
Carole wants to buy a home close to Anmer Hall: She’s already been talking to real estate agents in Norfolk. But Michael isn’t interested in moving.
William’s friends don’t understand Carole’s constant presence: A source says, ‘It’s a class issue. It seems very peculiar to his friends because, generally, upper class mothers are much less involved. That’s why they have nannies and maternity nurses.’
Carole wants to be part of Team Cambridge: Sources say she wants to organize their whole lives, and make all of the arrangements for George and Charlotte. Kate, it is said, “only really relaxes when her mother is around to keep the show on the road” and Kate “relies on Carole to manage the staff; most of whom have transferred to Anmer from Kensington Palace.”
Carole manages everything: She has a list of demands about how clothes should be laundered, what flowers should be on display, where the dog leashes go, which candles go where, the lavish-ness of the breakfasts and high teas. Carole likes to supervise George’s playtime, swimming lessons and his bedtime (Carole is the one reading to him, apparently). Carole eats dinner with Kate and William and no one is allowed to take any calls (except William).
Carole is organizing two parties at Anmer Hall. She’s even doing the menu with the royal chef.
While I think it’s perfectly understandable and reasonable for a woman to want her mom around during a pregnancy and immediately afterwards, I find myself growing more and more disturbed by the mother-daughter dynamic between Carole and Kate. If my mother ever tried to organize my life, my household or my (non-existent) marriage and children to this extent, it would drive me up the wall. It reeks of an arrested development/perpetual adolescence for 33-year-old Kate (not to mention William). And I really don’t understand how Kate can be four years into her marriage and still not have a basic understanding of how to organize her own household? Why does Mommy have to organize everything? Surely it’s not too much work for Kate to simply tell the full phalanx of staffers how she wants her eggs cooked and which candles to light?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Recall the photo of Carol driving to see princess Charlotte looking angry and mean and the fact that she was with Pippa and not her husband? This article explains the angry face. She is fighting with her hubby.
yes, something is different now. I don´t know if Michael is the one pissed or maybe William finally starts to fell out of love with his adoptive mummy. Or maybe both.
When George was born the Middletons stormed the hospital as the first, happily posing for the cameras (somehow understandable it was their first grandchild… and golden ticket).
This time no family posing in front of the hospital, just Carole and Pippa driving to their son in law´s home later the day. No Michael, no James. Just Carole and Pippa looking pissed…. yeah something has changed.
At least her dad has a better read on how PR works.
I don’t really care what Kate and Carole do (if it works for them, then I guess it’s fine?), but I am baffled by how they handle their PR, if that’s supposed to be important to them.
I took the “mean face” as her concentrating on driving and making sure she didn’t run anyone over. Surely, there were paparazzi dashing in front of the car, policemen in the road directing cars, etc. Plus, while she looks fabulous, bitchy resting face is a fact of life at her age.
I know all sorts of women “her age” that don’t have a ‘bitchy resting face’. So, no – that is NOT a fact of life.
Hell to the no would I let my mom or MIL rule MY roost! Sure, mom helping her daughter after a new baby is perfectly fine. In this case, however, This is not Kate’s first baby. She has nannies and housekeepers who they pay to do the heavy work. Go home, Carol with an E.
I think Kaiser is saying that this is with Kate’s approval. If Kate zand Wills don’t want Carole their organizing their world for them so they don’t want to, she wouldn’t be there. Royals and rich people usually pay someone to do exactly what Carole is doing. I hate this snobby attitude of the press towards Kate’s family. Kate and her children don’t below yo Wills family because she married him, both families should have equal access/influence. This is 2015, not 1520. And the royals are not ordained by God nor superior to the Middletons or me.
They just hired a new housekeeper. The problem is, Carole appears to be the one directing traffic and ordering around the housekeeper, instead of her daughter being capable of running her own household. That is the point here. W&K are acting like children not two 33-year-olds with two children.
Do you really think the royals or Mrs. Middleton treat the staff like they are equals to them? I don’t!
agreed.
I wonder if Carole treats the staff as equals?
I don’t know – just curious. She could well be extremely polite and courteous to them.
I read a very interesting book recently called “The Residence” about The White House from the point of view of the domestic staff. By far the favorite First Family (from the staff’s point of view) was the first Bush Family. They were beloved by the butlers, maids, ushers, and other domestic workers. The Kennedys were a close second.
All agreed it was because these families were rich and quite used to having domestic staff. They knew how to treat everyone equitably and fairly and were never fighting to find the right tone.
Just wonder if that might be the case here. Who knows.
Suze
By all reports and accounts Carole has never come off as down to earth to the staff. And while that is a good thing (establish boundaries/leader role) it can be awful. Rumors for ages Kate’s family has abused the royal staff as their own with many employees that have appeared to be life staffers and career based within service to the monarchy to rather suddenly update their resumes and leave.
@Suze Most likely not. The Middleton’s are not The Kennedy’s nor The Bush’s. They don’t have anywhere near the wealth these families have nor the lifestyle, regardless of them getting the DM to suddenly up their business’s worth to 30 million pounds or some such, although the Telegraph did a article that businesses in the same field and the same size as theirs, grosses around 100,000 a year. They didn’t have nannies, bodyguards, and maids as a general rule of thumb. As FLORC has said, we’ve definitely gotten reports of The Middleton’s being rude and mean to staff. These are people who see them selves as above domestic staff.
“While I think it’s perfectly understandable and reasonable for a woman to want her mom around during a pregnancy and immediately afterwards, I find myself growing more and more disturbed by the mother-daughter dynamic between Carole and Kate.”
Yes. I have defended their relationship in the past and I am very close to my own mother, but whoa! This is weird.
Exactly, I’m close to my mom too and I imagine it would be nice to have your mom around after you’ve just had a baby, but this is way too much.
it is total reasonable that you want your mother when you have your first baby. So when George was born i saw nothing wrong with granny Carole being there, but now it seems strange that she still hangs around her grown up daughter 24/7. Kate is already a mother and she has professionel help = the nannies are pros and Kate is experienced.
LOL yes I’m sure Kate is experienced….at shopping, hair flipping and eyeliner applying. But child care? Not so much…..you’re right though in that the nannies are pros.
It is perfectly reasonable to want you mother’s help no matter how many children you have. Actually, in my experience the second one was harder because I now had a newborn and another child to take care of.
My mom stayed with me for a month with both of my kids and it was Godsend. It is quite common in many cultures. Professional nannies can’t replace a mother.
Then she shouldn’t have hired on in the first place then.
@GNAT –
But its the Daily Mail though.
Their agenda trumps truth and facts. A LOT
They happily perpetuated the ‘doors to the manual’ story in their many passive aggressive Middelton tales, and are the ones that consistently made a big deal of Carole being just a stewardess and descended from coal miners.
A case of-
“How dare the likes of her, be close to the heir to the throne?”
This is true. And the DMO has also heavily praised Carole and her role within the Cambridges marriage and raising George. So, there’s truth somewhere in this all.
Seems at the root of this it’s still odd. By the numbers Kate has spent more time living with her mother and not living with her husband during her marriage.
+100000
My husband and I have been begging my mom to move in with us since the first baby, offered money after the second came. She keeps order and passes along wisdom from generations of raising kids. It doesn’t matter if you have hired help, they aren’t family and can’t be trusted the same. Also, in my culture it’s very common for the mother’s family to live-in after children are born. It’s a blessing as some people’s families hardly help out with anything (like my in laws). My mommy is the best!
Reminds me of an excerpt of Chelsea handlers last book I read and how she has a codependent relationship w her lesbian roommate who will raise a stink if things are unacceptable so Chelsea doesn’t look demanding/get a “difficult” reputation on top of her other image issues
Agreed. It also bothers me that Kate truly relaxes around her mother and not others. I think we all know that this part isn’t a rumor based upon the fact that she has no friends. Coming from someone who is introverted with a small circle of friends, I find this to be extremely odd. Part of me wonders if Kate was just groomed to be this way because it seems that Pippa and James are very different.
Exactly. It seems like Kate was always Carol’s project, and Carol sees this marriage as her own accomplishment and life at Anmer as her reward. At least that’s the consistent narrative of these articles. Remember when the staff quit? Who was blamed? Carol. So there’s probably some truth to her constant presence, but it wouldn’t be tolerated if William didn’t want it, which also plays into the narrative of William wanting a mommy.
100% with you on that @bettyrose
My mother and I are very close too. She is a control freak. However, she knows to step back and would never opt to move in with me even when my babies were newborn.the longest she stayed was 2 weeks. She says she respects my husband too much to “take over”.
This dynamic with carol and the Cambridges is rather strange. It seems like she has been given the green light to run the show?. This story almost seems too ridiculous to be real.. How reliable is the DM?
In many cultures, the mother living with the daughter to help her care for a newborn is normal : Hispanic, Indian, etc. But the royals have staff to help. So I feel as though Kate prefers her mother and I don’t blame Her. But according to the story, they still have a nanny and a night nurse.. But maybe they work the days the mother is not available or out of town.
I’d love to have a chef. That would free up most of my day!
I love cooking but having a cleaning lady and someone to the shopping for me would be wonderful and free up a lot of my time. A driver would be nice too – public transportation is generally good in Cph but it is not much fun packed into a bus or metro like a can of sardines.
Carol’s presence there is especially unnecessary if William is there. She should go home for heaven’s sake. It’s a different story if William is away for long periods of time, as then longer visits would be acceptable. Mother-in-law needs to learn some boundaries and spend some time with her own husband even if Kate wants her to stay.
I’m also close to my mom, but this is really weird. It’s weird to have your mom run your life as we’ve all stated. It’s also preventing Kate from growing and being a leader in her own home. I can imagine that it would be hard on Kate’s parents marriage. I also find it alarming that Kate doesn’t seem to have friends that are her age. It’s like she’s a wife and mother, but also a little girl who’s mommy is running everything. It’s really weird.
My mom and I were always close, but now that I’m 30 with a marriage of my own, I can say we are great friends as well. However, even I’m wondering what the heck is going on with Carole’s involvement in WK’s marriage! My takeaway is that landing and keeping William was such a team effort that Kate has gotten completely reliant on others for decision making over the last decade-plus. Every choice had to be run past the committee–her mother, father, dodgy uncle–and so she never developed any independence. It’s a shame. I couldn’t imagine being so incapable of making the slightest decision.
There doesn’t seem to have been a hand-off once the initial goal (marriage) occurred. In regular everyday life, I know a few 40-somethings who seem overly reliant on parents (financially, decision making wise, etc.), and I cannot fathom how they will make it in life once that person is no longer able to assist.
In this case, I really wonder if Kate’s mother isn’t doubling down on her efforts to ensure the marriage stays intact. After all, the first public cracks in the façade of W’s parents’ marriage occurred after the second baby.
I agree. I think Kate and Committee worked together very hard to “catch the prize” and now Momma Carole is there to make sure all goes smoothly for Wills, and that his every need is instantly met. No wonder he loves them! They seem to be enabling him in every whim, because Kate can’t do it on her own. She does see to be a “girl-child,” who can’t even run her own marriage and household.
Totally agree. i think that William , more than most, would appreciate having a motherly presence in the house AND knowing that his wife who is young and a new mum is being fully supported by those who love her most. Perhaps if Princess Diana had been in a supportive and more cloistered environment all those years ago she might have benefited. This is useless and harmful criticism.
Jeepers. You have to hand it to the Mail. Even within a probably justified pop at the Cambridges and their faux-real people schtick, their laziness, their – oh, just all their shite, you can rely on the Mail to find a misogynistic angle in there somewhere. Carole is now the evil mother-in-law joke, while Michael’s a decent (and properly deferential) chap. Nice.
Been thinking bout you, Sixer. I can’t even read the news anymore…
I’m still distraught. But never thee fear: even an evil government won’t keep me down for long. Especially one led by that sweaty forehead of doom.
Sixer,
I haven’t been able to respond to you earlier but I really appreciated your view on the House of Lords. I have always found it an odd institution from my non-British perspective ao it was nice and very informative to get a balanced opinion on it and its role in the British governmental system.
I hoped you saw it!
Here’s how it DOESN’T work though. A Conservative MP just lost her seat in the general election. Within days, the leadership is talking about nominating her for a political life peerage, which means she’ll still be able to serve as a minister in this new government as a member of the Lords rather than the Commons. Not good.
Without doubt, it needs reform. But I still think it is probably not as bad as it looks to outsiders.
Dearest, try not to be distraught, the little tit has won a poised chalice. He’s got to try and deal with Scotland determined to achieve Independence and win concessions from Europe to prevent the U.K. departing and to avert a rebellion from his own raving mad far right back-benchers. I’ll be surprised if he lasts six months. Ok the alternative might be much, much worse but we’ll worry about that when/if it happens. In the meantime you and Mr Sixer and the Sixlets can all bugger off to Scotland with me if you like.
I have friends in Dundee. We could start there!
AH, any news on the fellowship? (crossing my fingers)
Oooh, I love a bit of Dundee cake, that’ll do me!
Still waiting – it’s driving up the walls! The competition is fierce – there’s 400 applicants for 22 fellowships. However, if I’m not lucky in this round I can apply for two different ones this fall and one of them is far more specialized in the screening of applicants since it is only awarded to projects specializing in 19th century Danish art whereas the other has no subject restrictions. The specialized fellowship is also significantly better financially.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed but I’m not out of options if this one fails. Thanks for asking.
Yikes. 22 spaces and 400 applicants? Are there any tiara’s that count as part of 19th century Danish art? I’m still hoping for a Scandinavian tiara book. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Thanks!
My specialty is 19th century history painting and cultural memory. But the tiaras is a bit of a side project I’m slowly working on while I’m waiting and building up my health.
AH, that sounds interesting! I’ll keep fingers crossed for a fellowship and improved health.
Thanks! I appreciate it. It is nice to be back on the threads now that the baby mania is over. i don’t have any patience for that – so I’ve been nose deep in Donna Tartt’s new novel “The Goldfinch”, which is excellent and that I highly recommend. Tartt only cranks out a novel every decade but they are excellent. “The Little Friend ” is my favorite – also highly recommended.
Aww Fellow Celebitches. Keep strong!
No shock you’re a tough bunch!
Interesting, Sixer. I hadn’t even considered a misogynistic angle here. But is it really misogynistic if Carole really does fit all the checkboxes? She’s the one who’s stuck herself out there so I would have thought it might have been more of a classist issue than misogyny.
What stuck out for me was the family meals — don’t get me wrong, I think eating as a family is great; our family always did — and the rules of real napkins and especially no elbows on the table (my mother’s mantra!), no interruptions . . . . . . for everyone except William.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t passing comment on the veracity of the article or on whether or not this is a dysfunctional family set up. It could well be. The thing is, I’m really only interested in the Royals in terms of whether or not they fulfill their side of the constitutional pact, whether or not they abuse any vestiges of power left to them, and whether or not they waste my taxpayer money. So I don’t really care whether they’re living in some Brady Bunch nirvana or as the dysfunctional family from hell.
It just struck me that when the Mail writes a slagging story, it manages to cast Carole as an Evil Woman and domineering mother-in-law, but Michael as a Proper Deferential who knows his (lesser) place among the royals. If there’s a woman in the picture, that’s the one the Mail will go for. Never the man. The Middletons aren’t uppity people. Carole is an uppity woman. KWIM?
Gotcha, Sixer. I think it’s more classist than sexist, though I take your point.
That being said, if there’s even a grain of truth to this . . . . yikes.
I can go for classist AND sexist!
classicist and sexist often goes hand in hand.
Carole is definitely carrying the brunt of the media’s ire – but it begs the question, where is this anger coming from?
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. Carole Middleton has been the architect of her daughter’s entire life, including her campaign to vault to the top of the social and economic pyramid by hooking William: which unfortunately involved a Kate going through her twenties doing absolutely nothing except waiting for the prince to propose. It kept Kate stunted, vapid, docile, and dependent.
Carole Middleton’s interference is her way of living vicariously her daughter’s social triumph. William really didn’t know the domestic warmth of an ordinary household, and Carole provided that.
It’s hardly surprising that Carole finds her daughter’s life far more appealing to live through than returning to her husband’s side. For Carole, her daughter’s marriage is a dream fulfilled. Michael is just the long-time prop.
+1000 WELL Said.
Methinks William should have married Carole.
I think that’s what I find really weird — Carole seems to even execute the romantic details of their lives.
I think seeking help with the new baby is perfectly normal, and probably any other kind of assistance related to a few things in the kitchen is probably fine too (maybe?). But I wouldn’t want my mom picking out chocolates and flowers for the hubby (mine, not hers). I also wouldn’t want the hubby to start comparing how I fail next to my mother.
For me, the creepiest story about Carole’s alleged involvement in their sex lives is the one where the Middletons en famille rented a house in scotland anticipating William to join them after holidaying with the royals. Allegedly, Carole made sure Kate and William were assigned the biggest room which came with candles, double bed and roaring fire. Emphasis on the size of room, bed, candles and fire!!!
LAK, whenever I read about that story, I always hope its full of exaggeration!
Green Girl
Same, but as that time is referenced those details remain. And unless Kate demanded or expressly requested to have the largest room with bed and fire in a rented home her parents got it would be the parents giving her that.
And that story gets referenced a lot from how it played out.
I was skeptical about the story you reference LAK but video of Carole and Kate interacting while watching Wm at his military school graduation ceremony caused me to change my mind. A clip that gave me the creeps was of Carole with the most conniving look on her face leaning into Kate as she’s watching Wm in his uniform and saying in her ear “ooooooh, yeahhhh”.
I’m sure Carole would have been ecstatic if she had been the one to marry a future king.
I think you’re right. I think this is an excellent example of vicarious living.
Carole always struck me as the controlling stage door mother who is living vicariously through her daughter now that she’s achieved for Kate the royal life. She wants her piece of the action as her reward, hence her interfering ways. I also feel that she is the glue striving to keep KW’s marriage adhering together for, after all, in her mind how could William ever want to leave the pampered and cloying paradise she’s set up for him? If it gets too much for him, he could be running for the hills if he hasn’t already.
Feeshalori
William has the perfect set up (if much is to be believed and of that i’m on the fence).
He has Kate to be his wife. She will handle what William does as she did from dating. When it becomes too much or Kate wants to tell William to stop leaving her and be with her Carole steps in and sides with William (as some stories have been saying Carole takes William’s side over Kates). And steps in and keeps Kate occupied outside of worrying what William is up to.
It’s a perfect arrangement for William. And I’m certain if this is the case William steps out, but Carole can remain where she pleases.
FLORC, if this is how the marital arrangement and household are structured then Carole’s work is truly cut out for her. And for now it may be the perfect setup for William and Kate if any of this is to be believed but as others have observed, what will happen if he finds someone whom he genuinely loves and wants to marry her? The whole house of cards will really tumble down then despite Carole’s valiant efforts. And her own marriage may not remain in great shape if she’s devoting all her time and efforts to WK rather than to Mike. How absolutely exhausting!
Feesh
If this is the case Carole has put all her eggs in 1 basket. It’s possible it’s just keeping up appearances so William doesn’t feel the need to cut ties?
As long as Kate is kept away when he wants her away and doesn’t meet someone he falls hard for this arrangement will hold.
They’ve nearly perfected their living arrangements. With slight slips.
Now, if it fails Carole might have sacrificed her own marriage.
To. Thread- I’m sorry, enabling a lazy PW to disrespect his position as heir to…. HM the BRF traditions, duties service , while using the millions on palaces/wealthy lifestyke for he, waity caroi and children , is NOT ‘family warmth’. HM BRF, PC POW provided a loving upbringing to his sons and had a great relationship with his children -even DOCornwall with the passing of their mom (the same mom who instilled respect of duties to HM the monarch service to the people); carol the middletons is contradictory and disrespectful all for their carol gains by removing the PC the BRF from the royals own family.
Its also interesting that in recent weeks since WW move to the country – The Firm HM is enforcing HM heirs (DO York/P Bea, EO Wessex!Sopfhie along with POW and Prince Harry) and are more in place by HMs side.
Let’s wait and see King Charles first – and if PW remain relevant, in maintaining senior royal position staus and perks PW continues to enjoy with family/ kids and in laws.
Her involvement goes way beyond what a typical doting grandmother would do and it’s time for Helpless (Kate) and Hopeless (Bill) to cut the apron strings and try to manage without her. The amount of staff they have is beyond ridiculous and this does absolutely nothing for their already tarnished image.
I actually don’t mind the amount of staff they, helpless and hopeless (their new titles) have. That is the most normal thing about them.
I was explaining to my fiancé keeping a clean, organized home takes a lot of work (especially when you work full time) so I can only imagine needing help with a large manor. That being said, not being able to make a schedule or the inability to have a staff team meeting is spelling doom for the future rulers of England. That is where I am confused. Surely someone with a college degree can write a schedule since college was nothing but scheduling…unless her mom did that too.
What is very interesting about this is that there is a lot of setting up for an epic dose of karma with this royal family and it’s not going to be pretty.
Maybe I’m out of touch, but if a large house demands so much upkeep (STAFF, SCHEDULES), why not keep a smaller home?
I figured Kate’s job of heading a household would be fairly easy in abstract terms — just delegate. It’s not like she’s actually doing the grunt work the way actual housewives must do in their homes.
I spy with my Little Eye something beginning with T. .rouble!
Yes……A big D…..coming down the line when Mike has had enough.
Good Lord. That is all.
Carole sounds like a control freak.
Did William skip the VE memorial in London?
I would love my mum to help me like that! It is so busy when you have a full time job, two small children and a marriage relationship to maintain, that having your mum covering the “house maintenance” stuff is just perfect. Lucky (and smart) Kate.
What IS Kate’s full time job? Not title, but job.
Rhetorical question perplexed, but I’m jumping in anyway. She has a job serving and representing the UK and she doesn’t do it, especially anywhere near 40 hours week.
They have multiple staff (nanny plus night nanny included) and all the paid help they could possibly need to handle two children and one dog. They aren’t capable of telling the house keeper what they’d like for breakfast? Carole has to step in and do that for them so they aren’t troubled by anything approaching the responsibility level of a three year old. All so Carole can keep this unhealthy relationship patched together?
This is the second article like this, with insider information leaking from fed-up staff. Makes W&K look immature, incompetent, and spoiled beyond measure. I don’t understand how anyone can justify or defend their behavior.
Yes, I agree that her job is supposed to be representing the UK. Unfortunately, since she and Wills don’t seem to perform it with anywhere near the same level of commitment that us regular peasants must perform when we take on a job, I’m baffled as to why they need Carole to pick out the scented candles for date night.
Can anyone determine the number of days or weeks Diana returned to royal duties after the birth of her children? I remember she went to a Falklands memorial shortly after giving birth to William because I recall the blue dress she wore revealed her tummy post birth.
Ok, I found the date of the Falklands memorial. 26 July 1982
Has anyone else noticed the articles that have come out putting forth W&K’s plans to essentially disappear from private life to raise a happy family in their idyllic country home? [I’ve overstated that, admittedly, but it’s not far off. . ].
@Anne Yup. It’s code for we’re moving to the country to hide away from the public because 1) We don’t want to work, and we don’t want you to notice us not working, we just want to live in the lap of luxury and 2) don’t want anyone to notice our cracked up marriage
It really shows Kate’s lack of maturity and offers some explanation for their work-shy behavior…they’re essentially two children who everything has been done for them. They don’t know how.
I’m sure it’s comforting for William to have a mother doting on him tho.
I agree!
Why is this a surprise.
As much as i take whatever is printed in the DM with a grain of salt – they are usually on the money with how people perceive this lot. Carole is a hard nosed social climber and even marriage and 2 children won’t see her loosening her grip – its getting tighter.
This marriage won’t last and am sure her constant interference will play in a part in it. Her being there all the time could be why Willy is always somewhere else – she’s suffocating them both. Kate has never been the brightest spark in the fire and her mother has kept her on a short leash since she was a child – that much is obvious from the mother/daughter dynamic thats going on. She is unable to cope on her own and needs mommy there to do it all for her; Carole enables Kate’s laziness and self centred attitude.
And I agree its a middle class ‘thing’. I used to live in one of the most white middle class areas in SW London and in the coffee shops you would hear the stay at home wives/mothers bemoaning how hard it was to raise children with nannies, au pairs and both sets of parents, while complaining that they don’t have any time for themselves even thou they are in a coffee shop with the mates (no children) and have just been to the gym/yoga and are going to spend the rest of the afternoon shopping. THIS is what Willy married into.
That’s an interesting point. I had never considered that William might stay away because Kate’s mom is around all the time. I figured Wills liked Carole a lot but his leaving to go somewhere else because Carole is always around makes sense. Most people don’t like their in-laws THAT much…
Whereas I think her constant interference is the only reason this relationship has lasted this long.
and to her daughter’s detriment. they should have gone with Plan B and married her off to an aristocrat – she’d have the best of both worlds: money & privilege but no public scrutiny or “work” commitments
I called this one a long time ago. There was no Plan B in terms of a transition plan beyond capturing & bagging Big Willy. Nothing, nada, zilch, zero. That’s why Carole must continue to run interference.
In truth, I can almost see myself feeling a bit sorry for her somewhere up the road. Look @ what she’s working with? At what she/they have created in Kate? I can she Carole becoming pissed off & exhausted with Kate in that “d*mn, do I have to think of & do every f*cking thing for u” kind of way. Yeah. This won’t end well. There will be tears. But for now, I’m just disappointed with Carole. I’m disappointed that a tenacious woman–a tenacious social climbing woman–left herself exposed in this way. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
I betcha any kind of money that when she sends the Pipster in to close the deal, she won’t have to do all of this namby-pamby babysitting sh*t like she has to do with Kate. Everybody–hubby, staff & kids–will be on lock down. The Pipster won’t need her mummy to keep the paid inferiors in check. Pippa’s got that. She’s gonna handle hers😄😄.
But for now: the roses go in the great room, the dog leashes are never to enter the house & NO WIRE HANGERS!!! D*mn!😜
@Dena, LOL! Here’s wishing Mommy Dearest a Happy Mother’s Day!
I suspect Carole Middleton is there with William’s blessing. I don’t think her presence will hurt the marriage, but it may very well hurt public perception of W&K.
Yes it will. If your marriage depends on your mother in law’s presence, then it’s doomed from the start. Carole won’t live forever.
I used to wonder how Kate maintains her energy levels by so strictly controlling her diet in order to remain at her tiniest. Now I get it — her Mom does everything!
Anyway, what an interesting story for Mother’s Day.
Yes – that’s what I thought, too. Interesting story for Mother’s Day.
It’s not Mother’s Day in the UK, where all the participants (and the Daily Mail) are based.
LOL – she probably hands her the dumb bells and a towel to wipe her brow when she is working out in her home gym!!
LOL i wish we could post gifs…your comment screams for a Mommie Dearest gif 😀
http://www.thegailygrind.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/tumblr_m3z6ilNPIt1qb68tpo1_400.jpg
😀
Carole really needs to take note of this assault on her and make changes to protect herself.
She’s being juxtaposition as the third person in this marriage which means she will be blamed in the event of a split.
Plus, she’s being used as a proxy punching bag for what the DM *really* wants to say about WK’s shortcomings.
In the past, it’s been a sly dig, but now it’s out and out war.
It’s going to get worse too, if “Carol with an E” doesn’t back off. I’ve never thought much of her, so I’m glad this is happening, finally. I put her in the same category as Kris Jenner. Kudos to Michael for having some sense.
There is something very bizarre about the Cambridge marriage. In time, that will be revealed, too.
True Vava
What is difficult to understand is this. History often shows us secrets get out. More in this day of instant information. Much of their marriage seems to link back to her. And that will be an unsafe place should things go wrong.
Michael is playing this all very well.
As I read this, it felt entirely like fan fiction to serve an agenda. I don’t believe that anyone at the DM knows one thing about what’s happening at Anmer Hall but I do believe that, to borrow a line, “the knives are out” in the press. (Or, cynically, the ad revenue is up at the DM.)
It was the details that threw me right out of the story. Because this isn’t Tanna getting heads-up on the family’s whereabouts and it’s not “close sources” telling stories designed to force William’s hand. This is a bunch of intimate details about daily life that make none of the major players look good.
Bluntly, I don’t believe it.
Who is talking to the DM? All the royal reporters have gone on record complaining about the complete absence of leaks from the Cambridge household and social circle, but the DM knows that Carole makes William cheese toast and sets George’s nap schedule?
Tell me that Carole is out around Bucklebury with George often, and that Kate is often in residence there, and that William is back in lodgings on Sandringham estate. Tell me that all of the Middletons looked thunderous going into Kensington (although: if they’d been smiling, it would have been “the Middletons gloat to push Charles down the ladder again”.) I believe all of that.
That anyone at the Daily Mail has one clue as to what’s happening inside the Cambridge household on a day to day basis? Nope. Not buying that one for a second.
There are a lot of people fighting a lot of wars around the Royal Family right now, and this is just the DM’s latest salvo in their particular campaign.
The cheese on toast story came out at the same time two staff fled from Anmer and back to Her Majesty. There is the possibility that the previous story came from those disgruntled staff and this story is coming from new disgruntled staff.
Well, there is the theory that the information is coming from Charles or maybe Camilla -their way of reducing Middleton influence. It’s brutal but smart -if Kate stays away from Windsor get-togethers, it’s not because they’re cold and strange, it’s because she’s a basketcase
I was surprised at the level of detail as well. Question, though. If it’s wrong, couldn’t the DM be sued over it?
There is an awful lot of detailed information in there for it to be made up. I’d think made up would be more nebulous, rather than down to the details of the scented candles and breakfast menu. And the staff all signed confidentiality agreements. I’d think they’d all be grilled upside down and sideways to see who leaked it.
Disgruntled staff retuning to HM’s service don’t leak to the _Daily Mail_, though. They probably don’t leak at all — these are consummate professionals, and the leaks they give serve a purpose.
Charles and Camilla? Maybe. But I’m more inclined to believe that they subtly denigrate the Middletons among their social circle, those intimates pass along the whispers, and the DM makes up stories whole cloth on the strength of it.
Or they’d leak if HM wanted them too.
Ellen,
I thought the exact same thing – I severly doubt that the DM has access to some many particular details about the Cambridges household so a lot of the article reads as fiction me.
Frankly, I don’t give a damn about their private lives. However, I find the narratives that the press spins about them very interesting. I remember the coverage of Kate, the Middletons and to an extent William in the last year before the engagement and it was not complimentary! After the wedding the tune changed radically with a lot of gushing articles and they had a lot of public goodwill. Now, the press, especially the DM, appears to return to the much less complimentary narratives – and that is actually a big problem for W&K because it could get a lot uglier if they don’t make a concerted effort to change what their increasing negative public image. No wonder they had to hire a specialist in crisis PR but PR and spin only goes so far. In order to turn the tide, they have to get out and been seen to do their “work” gladly if they want to turn the tide. I think that is still possible but the longer they wait, the harder it is going to be to turn the table.
When it comes to royalty in a constitutional monarchy, perception is paramount! That requires a certain degree of cooperation with the press, which is something that most of the European RFs understand but that I think the BRF as a whole doesn’t understand very well. Most of the members of the BRF certainly gives off a vibe of entitlement that do them no favours in this day and age.
I can’t help but comparing the the press strategies of the BRF with the DRF, especially in the light of the festivities surrounding QMII’s 75th birthday last month. Granted the Danish press is much less intrusive than the British but there’s a genuine respect between the press and QMII – like members of the press say: “there’s no bullshit with QMII”. She respects their work but she’s not afraid to put her foot down if the line is crossed – and she has done that in the past, even during the LIVE press conferences she sometimes does where there are NO restrictions on what kind of questions can be asked (to the incredulity of the foreign press). Sometimes journalists try to bait her but she’s pretty good at gracefully deflecting such a line of questioning and sometimes she has to suffer inane questions such as “how is it like to have a dog” (I kid you not).
The bottom line is this: the royals are dependant on the goodwill of the press and in extension the goodwill of the general public in this day and age – and that means that there have to be a MUTUAL level of respect and cooperation between the royals and the press.
If there is any truth to this story, i’m pointing the finger at staff. Royal Staff are notorious for leaking stories off record.
And these ‘Carole at Anmer’ stories started when 2 staffers transferred back to Sandrigham.
Not saying that it was these particular 2 who leaked, but Sandrigham staff have supplied material about WK in the past eg the Christmas story where William allegedly switched out the staff Christmas film viewing choice to one to his liking then not showing up at all. This incident was made public because the staff were pissed off. And it was very detailed in the telling.
However, I think there are 2 things going on here. Carole and WK. If the DM has decided to take them down, how better to do it than via their achilles heel, Carole.
And Carole is merely collateral damage which ever way you look at it ie whether you think it’s Charles, staffers or the DM doing the take down.
I would think if these are blatant lies, then the Cambridges or Middletons would sue the DM for libel.
Agree, Vava. Especially the marriage problems issue.
According to Camilla Tominey’s twitter Carole was seen in a Bucklebury pub on Friday night. Quite at odds with the DM’s story that she has moved in to Anmer. She wasn’t at Kensington Palace when they came home the first night, and didn’t meet the baby until the next day – if Kate was that dependent on her you’d think Carole would be there for the first night at home with two kids. I absolutely do not buy the DM’s story. She spends a lot of time with them, but she’s not living there.
Unless CT personally saw Carole in Berkshire, it is up for grabs as to veracity. CT’s grasping at straws as much as any other royal reporter, believing or disbelieving leads. As someone else wrote, stories about Carole moving in to Anmer after this baby’s birth have been fed to the public for months now to soften us up. Too many stories to think it isn’t happening.
According to Twitter, she was spotted at the Pot Kiln Pub. That’s specific enough for me. I’ll believe that a lot sooner than I’ll believe the DM’s crap. I don’t have any prob with Carole moving in to help out for a bit, lots of people do that, but I still say that if Kate was as dependent on her mother as the DM would have her be, she would have been at KP for the first night with two kiddos. She didn’t even make it to the hospital this time.
CarolE might have slipped into the hospital under cover. Anything is possible.
And then she slipped into KP that night only to sneak back out in the morning so that she could arrive with Pippa at 11 a.m.?
Ellen, No way to tell if this story has any truth in it or not.
But it is possible this is a reasonably accurate account of what is going on right now at Anmer. History is proof that certain stories about the BRF that seemed 100% fabrication at the time were true. Examples include 1. rumors about Charles’ and Diana’s marital issues and impending divorce 2. Diana’s bulimia and 3. circa 2005, News of the World articles with detailed information about Kate, Wm and Harry that 8 years later, we learn were true because court proceedings revealed said info was acquired by hacking into their voicemail accounts.
LNG, Carole was reportedly seen entering KP on May 2 the day CED was born. Here is link to Niraj Tanna’s twitter account with that tweet.
And in an earlier Tanna tweet from May 2, Niraj asked “Will Carole be bringing Prince George to see his sibling tonight?”
https://twitter.com/ikonpictures
And since I am skeptical about everything about the BRF I even wondered if CED really was in the back of WK’s Range Rover on the day they were photographed leaving KP to go to Anmer. Reporters didn’t see WK arrive at Anmer. I think it possible that WK deceived the media about staying at Anmer but they went to Middleton Manor instead or perhaps just K and CED went MM.
Not implying that Carol is thinking this way, but if she and Michael divorced wouldn’t she then be free to marry someone higher up in the aristocracy? Stranger things have happened and when you look at the background of the last two women ( Diana and Sarah)who married men in direct line to the throne Charles and Andrew. Both women’s parents were divorced. Unfortunately in both cases those marriages also ended(Charles/Diana and Andrew/Sarah)I hope this is not a pattern that is going to continue with Will and Kate
Does anyone actually believe this? I mean….this is the Daily Mail. I’d believe TMZ over these jokers.
Don’t the Middletons leak stories about themselves? I wouldn’t be surprised if the Middletons gave the info in a matter-of-fact way (like they might not have seen anything abnormal in the info given), and the Daily Mail made some deductions from the info given.
The failed “Carole returns lost dog story” didn’t go over well recently. It is also rumored that the “doors to manual” comment was created by the PR guy (former DM editor?) that the Middleton’s hired post one of the many breakups.
Wouldn’t it be….interesting….if Michael Middleton was the leak this time. Like you, I’ve heard some pretty convincing evidence that Carole used to leak to the press. So, if that is true, I’d believe that MM decided to use a bit of Carole’s MO against her to get a point across.
How did this story of a rough patch in Mike and Carole’s marriage (if true) get leaked? Uncle Gary I bet.
This does not feel like Middleton leaking to me. Not by a long shot. They’ve gone very, very silent in the last few years, and anyway, the only spin they’ve ever done is spin to force William’s hand. (Go hunting with Jecca? We will give the laps photos of George.)
Instead, I think this is the classic DM move: take plausible circumstances and spin them as hard as possible, sprinkle with healthy heapins of made-up details that no one would ever be able to deny (William: “It’s all so ridiculous, I much prefer bacon butties” — ha), and make crazy money off the click bait.
@Citresse
Oh yeah, Uncle Gary! Hasn’t he talked directly to the press at times? I could see him leaking info…wasn’t he freezed out recently, which would give a motive?
I think the Middleton’s leak stories…..and have for quite some time.
I read the story in full at the Daily Mail and it says this at the end of the article: “Whatever Michael might think, that doesn’t seem likely to change any time soon. Such an efficient gatekeeper quickly makes herself indispensable.”
The part about the gatekeeper being indispensable sort of gives me the impression that even Carole could have possibly leaked the stories. The article does promote her organizational skills. We think she comes across weird in terms of the meddling in the marriage, but the article does seem rather complimentary of her skills as a hostess and multi-tasker who can keep peace around the dinner-table and makes sure everybody has good manners. The article doesn’t seem wholly negative towards her and ensures throughout that we know that she’s capable. So maybe she really did provide the info with the expectation that the article highlight her efficiency? (That is, unless the Daily Mail Article was trying to be cheeky and I wasn’t getting the British humour. I could have read the tone wrong).
That’s actually quite comical, the thought that CarolE did the leak. I wouldn’t put it past her, but I would be surprised if either Michael or William would see the humor in it. CarolE needs to calm down and go home.
Don’t know if it signifies, but the woman who wrote the article used to work at Tatler, so she may well have a lot of contacts from that time.
Bluhare: That’s what gave me pause too. She worked for Tatler magazine and she used to edit the Sunday times magazine. She also wrote for the evening standard.
Interestingly, the editor of the mail on Sunday was the editor of Tatler during the pre-wedding days of positive promotion of Kate and Pippa. He is widely thought to have been their press advisor during this time. He edited the evening standard and worked for the sunday times.
During all their tenures, whether they crossed over or not, Kate received positive PR from their publications.
Some people who are close enough to Kate or the royal circle work for those publications too, particularly Tatler and the evening standard.
One of them recently instagrammed an old picture of Kate with a snarky caption about her changed eating habits and by extension her new skinny self.
Any and all these people are potential sources.
Well, something is definitely afoot. Another article was posted this week in The Standard entitled, “Kate Middleton’s family and the Upper Middleton: the traits of Britain’s newest, potentially most powerful class”. In it, they basically satire the Middletons – creating a new phrase, “The Upper Middletons.” It’s….a…going for the jugular.
IMO, too many tropes for this to be believable (Carole as the scheming, controlling over-involved mother/mother-in-law, Michael as the man who disapproves, Kate and William as the helpless victims who don’t know how to establish boundaries).
Just borrowing from Downton Abbey here, but doesn’t the butler or head maid run the staff? Kate doesn’t have to command each detail, just express her wishes to the head of the staff who will take it from there. So is Carol basically stealing that person’s job?
Yes, the butler or housekeeper if they don’t have a butler would take care of staff. It was reported when the last two quit that Carole was taking on the role until they got new ones, which apparently they have now. I wonder what happened to the one who gave Kate the cooking lessons. It’s not like she’ll have anything to do in London if they aren’t there.
Actually, the Cambridge staff at Kensington Palace must have a pretty nice life. Kickin’ it around the palace without much to do. I’m sure there’s daily dusting and airing to do, but that’s minimal compared to upkeep on a house that’s being used.
Wasn’t there talk that Ms. Fresolone was training the newly-hired Anmer housekeeper?
Yes there was, nas.
I wonder how that works at KP, BettyRose, especially as it sounds that Anmer Hall is where they’ll be living. Actually, I’d be worried if I worked in KP. If these two only plan to use the palace occasionally, could the staff there be downsized?
Or perhaps the staff travels with them to the different households? It just seems extravagant to me to keep a fully staffed household at a few different homes when you’re only using one!
OT but whoever said Carole Middleton looks like Roman Polanski in drag, thank you very much because now I simply can’t unsee it no matter how hard I try.
OT here too, sills. Looking at Carole, now I know where Kate gets her awful posture from too. Its hereditary?
Disappointed with The Daily Mail: they missed the Pippa angle. Imagine explaining a mother like this to a potential suitor. No wonder she’s still unmarried. Poor, poor Pippa. /sarcasm off
Does Carol even bother with Pippa’s suitors at this point? She’s the grandmother of the future king; all Pippa has to do -from Carol’s POV – is not piss off the RF (again).
I’ve often wondered that if all this is true, what Pippa and James think to see their mother so involved in Kate’s life.
I’d bet they’re used to it, and possibly a little relieved. I’m sure there are hurt feelings sometimes, but their personalities might not be suited to having Carol shadowing them everywhere.
And most likely Pippa and James might be breathing sighs of relief that Carole’s gimlet eye isn’t focused on them and interfering with their own lives.
I have a feeling that Carole is living vicariously through Kate. Kate is clinger than her siblings perhaps by her mother’s own design. Carole may have always wanted to have been born into royalty herself, marry into the royal family, or maybe even just be born into the aristocracy. Social status seems to be very important to the Middleton’s. Why is class so important in Britain anyway?
Carole thinks what’s Kate’s is hers. From William to the grandchildren to the Anmer staff. I bet she behaves so nasty to the staff there. She strikes me as being that way with all the power she’s been given by Kate to run everything. But I don’t think William gets away from there to escape his pushy mother-in-law. He gets away because he likes being by himself doing who knows what. If Carole isn’t stopped soon she’ll take over everything and I do mean EVERYTHING. There will be regrets from within the royal family that William married into the Middleton’s then allowing them so much control. Even the press seemed in love with them so I’m surprised the Daily Mail would begin to turn on them now. Interesting hmmm.
This is absolutely correct. I have four children and I have seen and lived the temptation to live vicariously through ones children countless times. CarolE is living her dream. Kate will most likely need therapy in her 40s. I’ve seen that too, and their relationship is not healthy at this point in her life.
I got the vibe Michaek was not comfortable with all the attention early on. He is a handsome man and seems like a nice guy, CarolE would be smart to tend to her own husband and not Kate’s.
Probably the best thing Carole and Michael could do in a couple of months is go on a vacation abroad ALONE.
Wait a minute. If Carole is busy running Anmer Hall who is running Party Pieces? Is it Michael Middleton? Surely Pippa isn’t still pretending to sometimes work there lol. At least Pippa does a good amount of charity work. Does anyone know if the family company is doing well financially since the births of George and Charlotte?
My guess would be that Carole delegates a lot of the day to day stuff pertaining to her business. As others have pointed out now and on countless other occasions, I can’t fathom how she and Kate are so different in terms of work ethic, drive and desire to accomplish things. Now that Kate has the ring, why does Carole need to be so hyper involved with Helpless & Hopeless – further enabling them to be just that – helpless & hopeless? SMH
The butler and the housekeeper are usually a married couple. IMO, both couples won’t divorce: W&K will continue their PR-based marriage of so called “regal domesticity”(read that somewhere), while C&M will follow the same pattern i.e. the picture of marital bliss in People mag whilst keeping a polite distance in private. If C isn’t too careful, Pipster won’t nab someone of the desired money and lineage(remember the Loudons? & she’s def. in the friendzone w/Earl Percy). Be careful…
The butler and the housekeeper are usually a married couple who handle the staff. IMO, both couples won’t divorce: W&K will continue their PR-based marriage of so called “regal domesticity”(read that somewhere), while C&M will follow the same pattern i.e. the picture of marital bliss in People mag whilst keeping a polite distance in private. If C isn’t too careful, Pipster won’t nab someone of the desired money and lineage(remember the Loudons? & she’s def. in the friendzone w/Earl Percy). Be careful…
Did Katie Nicholl leave The Mail? She used to be the mouthpiece for the Middletons…
I think a lot of these stories are coming from Charles’s camp. I do wonder how this makes things behind the scenes. I mean, William knows what’s going on here. Charles really is trying him in the worst way.
I saw her on one of those US entertainment shows – ET I think – and she’s the fawning, rose-coloured glasses wearing royal correspondent/expert when they need one. What a tool!
How would Charles know that Carole and Michael are fighting though? I could see him knowing how the household is run, but I don’t think Charles would know about Carole and Michael’s spats, unless Carole confides in Charles or Michael confides in Charles, which would be even weirder. Do in-laws confide in each other about the inner-workings of their marriages?
Judging by the content, my guess is the leaks are friends on William’s side.
It’s Game of Thrones at KP! Maybe Charles has a Varys and some little birds planted among the staff. Seriously, though, I think most of this story is BS. Yeah, Carole is probably running Kate’s household, but the divorce and all the minute details about how she runs a tight ship sound like a good story but not fact. As for Michael, I don’t believe for one minute he’s not happily riding the royalty train along with Carole. IMO, there’s more to his character, or lack of, than meets the eye.
Meh. It takes a village to raise a child. It is a fairly new family dynamic for mothers to be expected to handle things solo. Throughout most of human history siblings, grandmothers, aunts and cousins were all involved in the raising of the children. I see nothing at all wrong with Kate choosing her mother over nannies.
They have a full-time nanny and a night nurse. It is Carole who appears to head up the household and run it, rather than either W or K. At age 33, it is just plain weird that these two aren’t capable of asking their housekeeper to please buy muesli.
+1
There is a nanny and night nurse present in addition to Carole.
I’m sorry, but I don’t buy that it takes a village to raise a child. And, isn’t William expected to share in paternal duties? So Kate isn’t doing all this herself!! Besides, she has STAFF, something that most modern families do not have. Parents raise their children, not nannies and nurses.
In an ideal world, yes. But in reality, child rearing has been left to the women throughout human history.
Not in recent history, Crumpet.
“Not in recent history, Crumpet.”— Vava
I totally disagree
Women are still doing the child rearing and vastly the house work
and yes this is happening in Western Europe and not in a imaginary ” backward society”
I thought the “it takes a village” mantra referred to teachers and community members: I.e. we’re all responsible for working toward a better world for the next generation. It doesn’t mean you need a village living in your house.
LOL……….right on, bettyrose!
A “village” could be either.
It could be family members or community members.
That still doesn’t equal people moving into your house and running your life.
Assuming this is true (and I do think Kate is more or less a ‘bot’ who lets Mummy run the show), then what happens if Carole cannot do it anymore? It could be illness, untimely death or forced dismissal at some point.
It sounds like there are three in this marriage, just in a different way than what Diana experienced.
it’s all fiction. carole was in a pub in buckleburry (sp) friday night or saturday afternoon….. it’s all made up bs so they get their clicks on their stories.
the royal corr. said all on their twitter feeds that this story was not true because carole was in her home town, she is not living with the cambridges
Others have said those sightings were from last weekend, before the mass decamping to Anmer.
That’s what I thought, too.
not true there were sightings at buckleburry people tweeted about it and the reporters picked it up, dm makes it up because it gets them the most clicks and clicks is money
Anyone can tweet. Show me a photo.
plz
Some point of reference please?
Claiming outright it’s not true and simply having an opinion it’s not true are different. 1 needs proof to support it.
a picture says 1000 words. anyone can say anything on twitter but there’s nothing like photographic evidence to back it up.
I saw those and I find it highly funny how they all have confirmation of where Carole was that night.
Someone (Jason?) working very hard to make it seem like she isn’t at Anmer?
I’d like to see photographic evidence of that.
I read that twitter feed. As one twitterer pointed out, if Carole really is in Bucklebury, the question becomes Where is Kate?
And as ever, Where Is William?
Maybe they are both with Waldo.
Or Carmen Sandiego?
I read that too, so either (a) the article is BS, (b) Carole knew it was coming out, and/or (c) she actually cares about her marriage. Personally, I think it’s a combo of B and C. There’s been too much reportage about the Middletons being at Anmer all the time, along with info about how Carole would be there for the first month helping with the baby.
@plz –
I don’t believe it either
Just because Carole may have been seen in Buckleberry on Friday or Saturday doesn’t mean that this story isn’t true (the DM article was posted on Friday). I don’t think it’s saying that Carole NEVER leaves AH and NEVER goes back home. I think the point of it is that Carole takes care of everything and everybody and that W&K let her.
Oh you can tell that the Middletons were looking at a social come up when they had a coat of arms made for the family before Will & Kate married. But the Queen sees them for the social climbers that they are: they are not permitted in the Royal Box in Wimbledon, they didn’t ride on the royal barge during the flotilla on the Queen’s Jubilee (but they got their own boat). Sooner or later the press is going to start the meme that William made a mistake with Kate. He has his heir and spare so he doesn’t need her anymore.
And their signet rings that they got…
I simply would like to thank whoever came up w/ the story embellishment at the DM offices. In terms of this story, there might be some sort of frustration from M’s side about C not cutting the apron strings I just think that all else in this story is BS. Divorce? No. Tension? Yeah.
Carole IS a worker, a doer, a women who makes things happen. She built a multi-million dollar business selling party party decorations out of her garage for heaven’s sake! Do you know how many balloons you have to sell to do that?? Kate is none of those things. She doesn’t work, doesn’t want to, never will. Kate’s full time job is Beauty Duty. Her parents supported her and now the English people do.
…and the rest of the ‘United Kingdom!
Beauty Duty….love that!
Party Piece is not a million dollar business
SJF
Yes, it is a million dollar business. At least a million. Not 30 million. Not 14 million, but worth 7 figures yes. Especially since the wedding. They got much promotional coverage.
Yicks. No one likes a meddling mother (in-law). If true, I agree with William’s friends feeling uncomfortable and Kate’s father embarrassed and pissed. Go home Carole – your home! Let this young family grow their own branch of both families roots.
Yes, I too can imagine how uncomfortable William would be to bring his friends over, because Carole might be there making sure nothing gets out of hand.
They are all in their 30s. They are adults. If someone’s mom being there is what keeps you from getting ‘out of hand’ at that age and stage of life, then perhaps there is some major examination that needs happening.
This is coming from someone who visits her parents cabin with friends, while my parents are there.
I doubt any of his friends are doing anything that could be considered getting out of hand. These men probably don’t even go to his house, as it’s very much believed that William hardly spends any time there. He most likely goes to their homes and they hunt or they come to his and they hunt.
I’m still trying to determine if William skipped the VE memorial today in London. It appears there was a write up at BBC online about the Queen, Charles and Philip (of course) and I was able to locate photos of Andrew and Edward at the memorial but so far no mention of William.
I am disappointed he doesn’t appear to be there. What on earth (other than laziness) is wrong with him?
He’s probably just tired of the family business but hasn’t yet figured out an escape route. He probably also has a lot of resentment against the royals because of the way things worked out for his mother. He’s in a complicated situation and often in such situations, people just avoid rather than tackling the conflict head-on.
VE memorial and parade is a big deal to miss. Something very serious is going on with William.
Maybe Carole is there to watch over the family if William has revealed he has severe depression.
I wouldn’t take it as an example of anything being more wrong with William than usual. He uses every excuse he can to get out of royal duties. He’s technically on paternity leave, so I’d bet on that being his excuse. William slacking off? Business as usual.
It sounds like business as usual for William. He doesn’t care about VE Day any more than he cares about other military historical moments. He’s on PATERNITY LEAVE, and he’s busy changing diapers and feeding the newborn!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOL
From what I can see he was not there.
I didn’t know that William was MIA for the UK commemorations. What’s his excuse – he’s a future king!
Yeah aquarius64, how can a future King miss VE memorial?
William could have made the effort and then traveled back to Norfolk to be with his family.
If I were a British subject I would really be annoyed. Not only the tax burden, but the obvious snub to vets is really appalling.
I was earlier in time willing to give W&K a pass since they’re a young couple raising children and William is behind Charles to inherit the throne, but a paternity leave is no excuse in this case.
And here’s another perspective; Camilla; a woman still detested by some, was there.
Maybe Kate “tattled” on her mom to get Carole out of her marriage. If she did, I don’t blame her…
Normally I find Kate utterly dull, but the weird dynamic with her mother is the simultaneously weirdest yet most interesting thing I’ve read about her. If she pushes back at her mom the way way Diana pushed back at the royal family, that would kind of make Kate seem sort of complex…
I just realized that I don’t find Kate particularly annoying — just dull. It’s probably her mom that I find annoying so if a battle ensues in the coming years I’ll be Team Kate.
Much ado about nothing. This all could be a story spun out of whole cloth. But even if any of it is true- it’s just a clash of the classes. Kate is stuck with people who think it’s normal to send small children off to boarding school and for parents to hardly ever see their kids. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kate is in over her head with these silly royals and their huge houses and staff and missing husbands. She may simply not be up to the stress level it all engenders. She should have run fast in a different direction away from William when she had the chance, but my guess is that she genuinely liked/loved the guy and just didn’t fully realize the mess she was getting into with the royals and the “royal work” that everybody badgers her about (royal make-work in my view, they could all disappear tomorrow and no one would notice). There is nothing wrong with her more organized mother helping, and it makes far more sense for grandma to be involved than nannies etc. who can leave at any time. Family is forever. William must know this, he was traumatized when his nanny left. All this stuff about Kate’s mother “interfering” sounds like a British soap opera script. Oh, the horror! A commoner instructing the staff! Kate must be getting lots of barely disguised attitude from staff also, that must be fun.
“(royal make-work in my view, they could all disappear tomorrow and no one would notice)”
If they are not willing to do the royal work, whether you see it of value or not, then they are free to give back every terrible, horrible, evil freebie mansion they’ve accepted from the royals and go live a normal life earning their own living.
They are free to leave at any time and take their kids with them. They choose to stay and take massive royal perks, so living free in those mansions and palaces must not be all that distasteful to them.
I find it a ridiculous notion that at pampered 33-year-old should be defended for being incapable of acting like a grown up. Mummy has to keep the mean people away from her? Hire staff you like, from outside the system, and learn to manage them. Run your own life, don’t rely on your mother to think for you.
Well said, couldn’t agree more.
I’m pretty indifferent to the royals as a whole and, even here in London, they barely cross my radar, but this constant sneering at the so-called uppity, ideas-about-their station Middletons makes me really cross. Fitting into the stodgy, rule-driven, protocol-swamped royal world is no picnic, so if Kate is ill-at-ease and feels she has a comforting ally in her mother, who can blame her for keeping her close?
@Guesto +1
Londoner here.
From Barnet actually and agree with you 100%.
I’m going to take a different approach to this. I remember when Diana first married Charles (yep, older than dirt) and even being a “blue blood” she had difficulty relating to her newfound forced lifestyle. I’m going to ASSume that with Kate, it’s like that only more so. I got the distinct impression that Diana was scoffed at and talked down to by the royal staff and it’s entirely possible that Kate could feel intimidated by some or many of them. It’s clear her mother harbors no such insecurities, so maybe she “only really relaxes” when she’s there because she knows it’s all under control and no one will steamroll her. IMO, Michael looks like a very hard person to get along with.
That’s a good point about Carole being able to talk back to the staff if they’e treating Kate unpleasantly.
If your staff treat you unpleasantly, you fire them. You don’t let Mummy go be mean to the mean girls for you.
But wait, that’s what Carole has always done. Calling aristocratic parents and begging them to have their daughters socialize with Kate Middleton. Mind you, she never asked any middle class parents to do the same thing…
Adding to that, the staff will never respect Kate Middleton’s (or William’s) authority if it is clear they don’t have any. Every time Carole deals with a situation instead of W&K, it teaches the staff that W&K are incapable. That can only increase any disrespect the staff may have for them and the situation.
No, this isn’t class based. The staff will base it on experiencing two overgrown adolescents incapable of working, running a household, or raising their own children.
I would think the staff would WANT to respect these two. Want to make themselves indispensable so they rise up through the ranks as W&K do. This cannot be giving them confidence in their potential future king.
What royal staff? Household staff is hired by W&K. The royal staff that may have harassed Diana would be more on the executive levels, not those doing the cleaning, laundry, and cooking.
That’s not a bad point at all. Thanks! I do think Kate needs to control her own staff though, and if she can’t, it’s time to hire people who will listen to her.
Kate is going to be queen so she has to learn how to run a royal household. Buckingham Palace will not take orders from Carole. They will hand Carole her lunch.
But wouldn’t it be cute if it were handed to her on a Party Pieces plate?? Lol. Hmmmmm. Sometimes I just crack myself up. I tell you. Big sigh.
How will she ever learn if Carole does it all? *If* this is true. I need to emphasize that.
Kate’s household responsibilities are only going to get bigger every year. Households will get larger, there will be more to manage.
Carole has a company, husband and TWO OTHER CHILDREN. She can’t run Buckingham Palace. Or if she ditches everything else to do so – and WillKate allows it – then they are all off their rockers.
Again, though, I really wonder who this article is criticizing. Is it William, Kate or Carole? Of the three, I have the most respect for Carole. Whatever you think of her, she has worked hard and made something of her life.
She has raised three adult children who cannot function without her. I don’t think that is something to admire.
Yes, Diana had a difficult experience, but that was a different time. Marrying Charles, the direct heir, in 1981 is, I’d assume, very different to marrying William in 2015. William seems to crave normalcy and is sensitive to the transition his wife is making.
Yes, William didn’t throw Kate into the royal life deep end from day one and at the time, I’d admired him for that.
However, it appears now it wasn’t so much a case of William being sensitive to Kate’s needs during a time of major transition, but rather, William wasn’t interested in working as a royal so why should his wife?
Keep in mind Kate is in her 30s and was about a decade older than Diana was when she got married. She’s not some teenager thrown into this lifestyle.
Even without the decade of dating. Kate had a great deal of time to acclimate herself to her role. Carole more should be wanted around, but not needed. And not taking on roles Kate should be able to handle in her sleep at this point.
Considering the source of this story (the Daily Fail), I would take it with a bushel of salt, never mind a grain.
Seems like a woman who won’t abandon her daughter to the suits. Good for her.
But really, all these people are so boring that this silliness is actually newsworthy.
What suits? The staff working at AH and KP are those that clean, launder, cook, etc. I don’t know though if Carole is the middle man between the BP executives and Kate. I would think that would be William’s responsibility to protect his own wife.
Carole isn’t running interference between Kate, HM, and Prince Charles. She’s managing the day-to-day aspects of running a household, something any respectable thirty-something with a boatload of staff should be able to accomplish on her own.
The “suits” running Anmer Hall?
Would be shame if their marriage were on shaky ground – (angry faced) photos of them arriving separately on visit to baby granddaughter. Maybe just typical marriage spat – with bad timing right before they were supposed to visit?
Carole always came across as control freak with a determined agenda – but now she comes across as obsessed. Would be difficult to live with.
She’s not doing her daughter any favors by treating her as so completely helpless.
Carole reminds me of my mother in a sense that she likes to take care of things and does it (let’s admit it!) pretty well. My mom and I are very close too. Personally, I’m not interested in running a household AT ALL and if I had such huge house with stuff and a baby, I would be thrilled if my mom would help me out. I could focus on being a mother and not have to worry about anything else.
I think their situation is great and I’m a little jealous of how lucked out Kate with her family 🙂
I guess we’re all different. My mother is controlling and smothering and I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for my independance. We’re not estranged but if I give her an inch, she’ll take a mile.
I have no idea of how true this article is but I did find the prashing about Carole shielding W&K from anything unpleasant somewhat troubling. Life is never just rainbows and roses, even for the extremely privileged. However, confronting and tackling hard times, traumas and conflicts, even though it is hard and painful, also helps you grow as a person – even if it takes years to acknowledge that. I’ve been through some very tough times since I was a kid and when the depression isn’t blanketing my mind, I know that I am lot tougher and a lot more resilient that I ever thought I would be. Life often sucks, bigtime! But closing your eyes and stopping up your ears doesn’t help. Growing up, becoming in adult is no walk in the park but that’s what’s life’s about to grow and try to be the best version of yourself.
AH, there are new studies out about that. Having resilience or “grit” is what helps you learn how to survive. If you are never tested, you never develop those necessary qualities.
That’s the point I was trying to make though you put it more succinctly. You don’t do your adult children any favours by shielding them from having to deal with anything unpleasant. People need to learn how to nagivate through life themselves – and if Will and Kate never learns to do that then how on earth are they going to help their children become adults in the future?
Well said Nota and AH
It’s the line between good and poor parenting. Your children should want you near and value your thoughts, but can thrive without you. If it’s true Kate needs her mother to run things and can only relax when she’s around it’s unhealthy.
If you had two siblings and a father would you like your mother to drop everything pertaining to them and tend to you?
What’s the point of guessing? I never had a sibling. I know what I know and Kate knows what she knows. It’s stupid trying to put on someone else’s’ life.
I agree that’s it is fine to get along with your Mom and to have her close just after the birth of a new baby, but she should be more of a secondary presence and it should be Kate making the decisions. I think it’s fine for her to ask her mom’s advice or bounce ideas off her mom, but her mom is acting like SHE married the prince and it’s her house and her staff…and it is not. I remember hearing about a longtime couple fhat worked for the Queen for years and were very highly thought of that were working for Will and Kate as housekeeper and gardener of something and they both quit recently, which was shocking. No real reason was given, but now I wonder. If this is true, I think she needs to take a few steps back …big steps. She should not be the one ordering staff about or planning parties there. She can help Kate, but Kate should be in charge.
Sounds like Carole is trying to be a British Martha Stewart on steroids.
In the DM article, there’s more detailed examples of how Carole takes care of EVERTYHING house-wise and children-wise. It’s like they’re living at a perpetual vacation resort where the resort staff look after your suite and babysit your kids 24/7 and all your time is spent thinking in permanent vacation mode.
Regarding Michael, in a previous DM article, it mentioned how Michael was in charge of planning out the landscaping. In the current DM article, it says that while Carole wants to move to a house closer to W&K, Michael doesn’t.
Commenters at DM said that it seems like Carole appointed herself the Major Domo or Head Housekeeper and asked why W&K don’t have that position already filled by now.
Jason, the PR guy, must be having a headache because this article makes W&K look like childish idiots.
Some people are commenting on how this situation is normal or even ideal, but there’s a difference between helping out and hindering.
The DM has articles with photos reporting that Carole has “unfettered access” to Kate’s wardrobe and accessories. There are photos of them wearing the same hat and dresses. There’s also a photo of Pippa wearing a red version of the blue dress Kate wore during the official announcement of her engagement. Of all the dresses to copy, why that one?
I know that families have shared the same clothes before. But I think that in relation to this HBIC story, people who say that Carole is living vicariously through Kate might have a point.
The DM article was exhausting to read.
I believe Carole is a disciplined, organized hard worker.
But no one person could accomplish what the DM said was accomplished at Anmer, *and* run a company, *and* run her own marriage, as well as be at all involved in the lives of her two other children.
Perhaps that was the deal between the Middletons and William regarding his marriage to Kate.
1. If you marry Kate then your marriage will in no way interfere with your interests. Go hunting with a former flame as often as you like.
2. If you marry Kate then you will not have any additional work due to the marriage. We will take care of all the grandchildren and all other organisational work.
3. If you marry Kate then Kate will never be any trouble. She can’t be trouble any way as she hardly manages to organise home life on her own. She is simply not capable to organise any projects which might take away the limelight from you. She will never outshine you.
4. If you marry Kate then you have a valid excuse to not become a working Royal. Because if you become a father then they must give you time for your children. As for that, see points 1. and 2.
____
This is, of course, a totally serious list. Absolutely. I practically heard these points myself when the Middleton parents listed them to Prince William. You see, I had been that fly on the wall moving my wings gently pretending I didn’t eavesdrop … you see I am a shapeshifter. Honestly.
😀
Does Kate do ANYTHING for herself??? No competent adult would let their parent move in and take over their life. Why doesn’t Kate want to take care of her own home and children herself? Why did she have children if her intention was just to push them off to someone else unless there was a camera around.
I am so tired of Kate being held up like the woman of the year and the mother to end all mothers when it seems she can’t wipe her own nose without her mother holding the tissue.
In some cases it could just be that the mother has never allowed the kid to learn the independence needed to manage on their own. A friend of mine was completely smothered by her parents from day one, absolutely breathlessly smothered. The poor girl couldn’t go anywhere, couldn’t do anything, she watched from the sidelines while we got to grow and explore. She got punished for things WE did when she hadn’t even been there. Her parents wouldn’t let her drive and they picked out her major at university so she’d be forced to stay at home with them while she studied. She’s travelled and had lots of interesting experiences but her parents still dog her every step of the way (we once went on holidays overseas together and her mother somehow managed to call us at the hotel – I still don’t know how she tracked us down). She’s my age, 34, painfully introverted, has never had a real boyfriend despite longing to meet someone and told me once she can’t make a decision without her parents approval even now. They picked out the car she bought last year even though they live interstate. So yeah, I can easily see how Kate could get into a state like that with her mother, however differently it may manifest.
Obviously something is wrong in the marriage if they need Mummu as a buffer. Also Will is more and more seeming like a major wimp, who has been brainwashed by Carole.
William is a helicopter pilot, and Carole is a helicopter Mom. I would hope that at some point Kate will tell her Mummy to back off a bit. Otherwise I can definitely see how problems would develop for William and Michael. A bunch of other posters here are absolutely correct… Kate is a 30-something year old woman who should be comfortable taking charge of her children, staff & life. It’s not like she was just out of her teens, like Diana, when she joined the Royal family.
If Kate told her mom to back off, I think I might find her interesting for a minute…or maybe even two…
Kate will never tell her mother to back off. She likes hiding behind her and letting her run the show and take care of everything. Then she can devote herself to beauty regimes so she looks good for the camera and gets everyone’s accolades for her appearance and beautiful children.
And William is just as bad. He can sit back and do nothing, knowing that Carole will take care of everything and have it done correctly. I would imagine Kate isn’t that capable.
Lots of assuming here.
So, let me start this off right… IMO Kate has shown herself to groom not for the cameras, but for William. The hair goes down and hemlines go up in his presence.
And William is not just as bad. He’s worse.
Harry needs to be King!! He wouldn’t have skipped VE Day!
Don’t the Middletons have a company to run? I mean, I know a lot can be done over the Internet (Skype, etc) but still. Maybe they just borrow the helicopter to fly to the office every couple of days?
I read this on the Mail, and came tearing over here to see Kaiser’s take. Score!
*If* any of this is remotely true, and I have my doubts, who on earth is leaking this? Staff? How fed up would they have to be? Who are they angry at? Carole? Kate? William?
We think the same as usual, Suze.
This story hurts Kate. It paints her as a dependent little child-woman. So who would profit from this?
This story makes Carole look like the controlling power behind the scenes. Who would profit from such a story?
It draws clicks either way and internet traffic. And maybe it’s not about profit, but a bit of lashing out from an overworked or resentful staff.
Take a step back – and look at this from a high level.
Who is planting this stuff
DM doesn’t just sit and make up stories. No Way
Now – who is it – and what is the agenda
Look at People MAg – they are a mouth piece for KP PR – the crap they write is unbelievable. (ghost writer, KP PR guy/Will/Kate)
This is how it works and there is some nasty stuff going on behind the scenes here. Really nasty! That’s what those harsh faces were all about last weekend
amen. I agree with you. Something IS going on, and it’s bad.
Well, the British media is not enamored with William’s reluctance over photos and his overbearing letter placing an embargo on pictures at Anmer Hall has definitely not endeared him to the press. Maybe they’re taking potshots at Carole as retaliation, and if there is a deeper motive to these circulating stories that punch holes in a supposed fairy-tale marriage I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
This seems likely. The press is lashing out over this behavior. William had better not make a wrong step in terms of a hunting trip, vacation, or what he does in his imte and duing of that away from Kate if she’s going to try this game of control again. The press will only take so much from him while pushing his agenda.
He’s allowed privacy, but the way he goes about this and tries to restrict basic press freedoms from them obeying the laws has been too much.
This is a trait that seems much like Charles. Only Charles has finesse when attempting to control things behind the scenes.
The courtiers would have an interest in limiting Carole’s power as her power limits their own power.
What a dutiful daughter Kate is! She fulfilled her mother’s plans for her. My mom had no such luck, lol. Carole must be flying high that she is in such control over the life of the future King George. But like folks have said…William has allowed this, for whatever his reasons.
I wonder if Carole will be as involved when and if Pippa starts a family. Seems like she’ll be driving with George and Charlotte to school everyday instead.
My take on everything is this:
I get the impression that while yes, KW are extremely priveleged (which some may argue breeds laziness) and not independent, maybe this whole “being royal” thing (as it’s near impossible to escape) has made them simply tired and even more lazy since the relationships inception. While this life is all William knows, he has obviously struggled with keeping up with appearances and duties. I’m not really defending KW, but I see Carole being the very controlling, aggressive woman she is by trying to hold it all together! behind the scenes KW may be struggling with their own lack of emotional development but it’s not of their own doing and now it’s getting to be too late for them to “grow up”. I can just hear Carole saying “you two have come too far now there’s NO going back! Your royal life must continue even if you don’t want it to! What will people say?! What will they think of you two?!” Carole’s obvious scheming and manipulation has gotten everyone this far into the game and she IS NOT going to let it stop. She’s invested far too much at this point and it’s obvious she has the mental and emotional strength to “carry” everyone on her back. She’s a force to be reckoned with!
The media needs a villain. People getting along doesn’t sell newspapers. The evil, controlling mother/evil stepmother is a classic and it’s being sold again. It’s too bad that they can’t just enjoy the new baby.
All they would have to do was to release a statement saying that Carole will be there for only a few days. Who could check that anyway?
Should they release a statement every time there’s an Internet or tabloid rumor? Going to be a really busy day for some hired minion.
I do find that weird, too.
Why does Buckingham Palace PR not just state that Kate’s mum is going to be there just for a few days? Then it wouldn’t look so weird. Then Kate would seem to be capable of organising her life herself and being independent. Now Kate looks as if she couldn’t change her newborn’s nappies without mummy’s approval.
Carole sure makes sure that the Middleton family won’t be cut out of the Royal Family. I think Carole tries to get some kind of “Queen/’s Mum” status.
Because BP doesn’t respond unless pushed to. They seem wise enough to understand the press move on rather swiftly to the next story forgetting if getting no fuel for the flame.
The rest in a way rings true. A simple gesture or not seeing/noting Carole’s high level involvement with her daughter and grandchildren at the expense of her other 2 children, husband, and business would go far. Very little about the picture given seems acceptable for the image trying to be displayed.
And the hand that rocks the cradle/Queen Consorts Mum status seems fair.