Here are some photos of a casually-attired Duchess Kate and Prince William doing a “royal duty” event in Portsmouth today. This event was for the America’s Cup World Series and Will and Kate were supposed to spend the whole day hanging out with yacht people and watching a sailing race. But the event was canceled due to inclement weather (strong wind and rain). The organizers released a statement about an hour before Will and Kate arrived:
“After discussions with the America’s Cup organising committee due to extreme weather we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel today’s racing and Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event programme, and the site has been closed for the day, Sunday 26 July. We had hoped to go ahead with early racing, but with winds gusting in excess of 30mph we could not risk the safety of the crews and public, and their welfare is paramount. Due to high winds the Waterfront Festival Arena and Fanzone Arena is now closed, and we ask public to leave the event site. For everyone who booked tickets in the Fanzone Arena and Grandstand today, refunds will be issued through Ticketmaster.”
Still, Will and Kate came out to spend some time with Sir Ben Ainslie and the team. This still counts as an event! And Kate had already picked out her outfit and had special pullovers made reading “The Duchess of Cambridge” and “The Duke of Cambridge,” so they really did have to go. Kate was also wearing sensible shoes! GASP. No wedges! Her ensemble, per the Daily Mail: “a pair of ankle-grazing black skinny jeans, her favourite Breton top, a pair of Sebago ‘Bala’ boat shoes and a Henri Lloyd jersey pullover.” She also had her hair pulled back into a sensible ponytail and her minimal jewelry included only a pair of pearl drop earrings and her sapphire ring, of course.
Meanwhile, did you guys read this Daily Beast article last week? I’m pretty the royal reporter is just making a guess when he says that Will and Kate will likely keep up this meager pace of royal events for years, perhaps decades to come. But what really bothered me was this idea that Will and Kate really do think that they’re just simple, middle-class people. Like, they don’t acknowledge that their whole lifestyle – complete with a ridiculous amount of security, palaces and an epic country estate, plus a dozen staffers – is funded by taxpayers, the Queen and Prince Charles.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I think they both look great. God, I want her figure but would need to lose 60 pounds. Ugh…
And you had to stop eating properly. I’m sure she just eats vegetables.
I don’t think she’s especially thin. Granted I haven’t had kids but I’m pretty much the same size/shape and I’m a little older than her – and I don’t watch what I eat. Different people just have different body types.
My sis i n law is like that, she put on 40 lbs with baby and a month later she was thinner than b4, skinny regardless what she eats. I have no problem, xpt my mom in LW likes to rub it in how I have still not lost the baby weight.
Ugh Fee that’s awful. Mother in Laws can be major pains in the arse.
@Jane, I agree, she looks nice here. She has an amazing figure to have two children and one being so recently.
I’m cracking up because a couple days ago some people hypothesized that Kate would wear her skinny jeans, striped shirt and boat shoes to this event and SHE DID.
I’ve read that keeping this “casual public uniform” is something the queen mum did and it’s a way to stay incognito when Kate’s on her own. Similar to what she’s doing with Prince George – dress him in repeats when she knows he’s going to be seen so when they are trying to fly under the radar he won’t be as easily recognizable in his everyday clothes. Does anyone else think she dresses in the same thing over and over again for this purpose? Is this more Kate/Will strategy to keep their public and private lives separate?
Yes, I agree!
Incognito?? Her sweatshirt literally says “duchess of Cambridge”!! LOL. The two of them together look like Dr. Seuss characters with their titled sweatshirts.
Ha! Thing Two’s (Kate) jeans are just awful.
I think you’ve missed the point. Kate and George wear repeats so that the public is conditioned to see them in that clothing. Then, when they are out and trying to stay low-key, the public is less likely to recognize and attempt to approach/photograph them.
Right?! That looks so silly.
I think her sweatshirt looks ridiculous. This is a semi-formal kind of uniform / team clothes and the Dolittles have their aristo titles on their back. I bet most aristos would find that hilarious.
It reminds me of a scene from Game of Thrones:
“Any man who must say I am the king is no king.” Tywin Lannister
( Game of Thrones 3×10 joffrey lannister challenges Tywin Lannister )
“Any aristocrat who must write his title on his back is no aristocrat.” 😀 😀 😀
Goats on the Roof – Fair enough. I thought she meant that their bland attire was an attempt to seem incognito. Now I understand that the theory is they wear the same clothes in public appearances so that they’re less recognizable when dressed differently on private outings. That’s sort of clever, actually, but it doesn’t detract from how hilarious their titled pull overs are! 😉
@Betty
The pullovers are ridiculous. With as little work as these two do and the comments these pullovers were bound to inspire, you’d think someone with a clue would have nixed them posthaste. As per usual, these two are missing the mark.
The sweatshirts were given to them to commentate the event by the organizers. They were even gifted infant sized shirts for their children. Many organizations do this and the royals are usually good sports about donning them for the publicity photos. I don’t really think they would have their titles spelled out in big letters on their volition. If anything they might have an item monogrammed with their royal cipher, but seldom on an article of clothing. An exception is clothing meant for sporting events (such as polo shirts) but those usually have a single name such as Wales or Cambridge.
Olenna-
Blasphemy!!! Skinny jeans are the best thing in the world!! And I am 51!!
Thank you Julaine, as an event organiser I am always made to put together some ridiculous piece for sponsors and special guests to wear for publicity photos, which all guests wear begrudgingly. For people on here to bitch about how snobby these two are to wear the tops provided by the event organisers really irks me, as they were “doing their job” to wear them.
@ Palar
They could have simply put their names on the jackets. Or their titles AND their names. But just the title is ridiculous.
The Cambridges aren’t ordinary people who have to do sponsor work. They can choose where they appear and what kind of sponsor clothes they wear. And yes, the whole thing is planned in advance and I bet they knew that only their titles would be on their jackets. And yes, one can blame this on them.
Goats – no I don’t think I missed the point, that was exactly the point I was trying to make, I must not have articulated it as I planned 🙂
@Jeanne
My comment was in response to Betty. You articulated your point well.
oh Lord, I just saw more pics and she’s also wearing the navy blazer with the gold buttons… this woman… I don’t understand… It’s all just too literal and obvious. She looks like a budget 18th century admiral of the seas.
LOL……….Kate certainly is a theme dresser.
Jeanne – IMO, the “casual public uniform” only works if you dress to the nines for all your engagements. If Kate is wearing her casual clothes to “work” then she can’t very well use them to go incognito. I can’t imagine the queen mum, or QEII for that matter, dressing in skinny jeans/jeggings (or their era’s equivalent) to go out and “work” so, I do think the casual uniform might work for them…but not for Kate. Wasn’t it the queen mum who said that she always dressed her best when meeting “the people” because that’s how they dressed to come out and meet her? Something like that.
Plus, I doubt the Queen ever had camel toe, which Kate looks,like she’s sporting in that one picture.
And of course they didn’t cancel yachting. Yachtsmen round the world are sighing in relief that they have the patronage of these two.
And thank goodness I found this site! The sycophants and gushing over at GFY has made me rarely go there anymore.
Is it just me or do Williams pants look funny in the back? Thats all I got out of this story.
Yeah it kind of reminded me of the butt eating bathing suit shot from their last trip to Mustique.
Just looks like he’s trying to hold in a fart.
Both William and Harry have the worst pants. These two men have tailors and staff, but their pants are either too wide, too short or just don´t fit on the whole. Harry has some ugly, ill fitting suits. He has natural charm to distract from it most of the time… but William not, it´s the way he carries himself: bland meets “why the effort”
He looks like he is really flat back there. Reminds me of when Carson Kressley used to describe guys like this as having a wall butt on “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy.”
The name printed on the back of those tops? Given the amount of time they actually spend representing the BRF is it to provide formal identification? Even to a fashion imbecile like me it’s a tad tacky but then they probably have a sticker on the car windscreen with the legend ‘Bill ‘n Kate’ – just to prove how incredibly ‘normal’ they are.
Maybe the event host gifted the pullovers?
That would be my guess. They were gifts from the organizers.
So they could identify them as well then – fair enough 🙂
LOL. I think it’s for all the pensioners who came to see them, so they didn’t have to squint to see who was who! 🙂
LOL I love it when you get wickedly accurate bluhare…
Imaginary PrinceW: We get an extra ten appearance marks if we put on the jackets!
Imagainary DuchessK: But the letters will make me look fat! Like, there’s enough space on me for a whole “Cambridge” – my god, it’s ‘orrible, in’t! And after I’ve worked out ten hours a day after ‘avin’ that borin’ awful little spare, Carole Charlotte! Not to mention I spent hours with Mister Xavier-Carlos havin’ me ‘air put into a flatterin’ skinny-tail when I could’ve been shoppin’ with Pips and Mum! And, a jacket like this doesn’t go wiv me lovely new ‘sailin’ tiara!
iPW: But it makes you look sporty and simple like a common school-goer, so the rabble will roar with gushing love, old thing! Remember how they loved you by the water in New Zeastralia, eh? Eh? And we need points from the rabble, like they told us in our brand meeting this week! That old ginger tosser brother of mine has something planned, I can feel it, they can feel it! The Firm’s just tryin’ to help us now that even Gran is wavin’ the finger as if she’s forgot my mum’s a saint! So, also wear the boating shoes for the crowds, eh, jolly good!
iDK: — well, okay, but I get to keep on me fancy ear-bobs! Me mum said me ‘ead always should look like it’s worth at least two thousand quid when I’m out’n’about in front of the punters! Oi, hold on a bit, d’you think Angelina would wear shoes like these with her black skinnies? Angelina never has to do what she doesn’t want to do! Angelina doesn’t have to go to some old yacht party! If I was Angelina I would be havin’ a nice time buying things what grateful orphans made me, bracelets and scarves and slippers’n’such, in some nice hot sunny place right this minute, not draggin’ about in this blighty weather in boggy old shoes!
iPW: No time for a wobbler now, old thing! Tell you what, put them on, and we can send a pair to old Angie when we get back, and invite her to the south of France with us and you two can walk about in the same shoes for the paps, I’ll order it!
iDK: Ooh yes, smashing! I say look at me now! I look quite nice really! This jacket makes my legs look lovely thin, quite like Vick’s! And me hair is a nice color for the jacket, n’it? Ooh, wait until the old bogs see me! Are we here? Why, no one’s ‘ere? Cor, where are the people with flowers and presents for me? Oi, I hope they’re not fannying around somewhere! We ‘aven’t all day!
iPW: let me find out – ‘allo, I say, Ben, you old ripe mare’s ass, where’s the party? Where are the adoring crowds of punters and all that, you foul old goat? I only see one camera, and it’s my own man, what’s on with that? I need pictures for double appearance points, I told you that! I’ve a little vacay coming up! Need points!
iSBA: Ever so sorry, Sir, Miss Kitty, but we have bad weather as you can see, so the people really, and actually —
iDK: What about me prezzies!? Gifts for Carole Charlotte and Gary George and all that? Knitted vests and teddies and all that? Wee caps? Jams for me staff’s bonuses? And them ladies’ club homemade soaps for me loo — I have a great many loos, I don’t mind saying’, y’know!
iSBA: Indeed, my dear, actually, the thing is, you see , we are pleased you could make ii because, actually, this way to your tugboat ride to the Tower. Your Gran asked us to get you there safely but discreetly, so you can start working your public Tower Appearance hours right smart on Monday! Quite the idea, Sir, if I do say, the people will love it, seeing you both about, and especially the carnival idea your Aunt Anne and Harry had, of course, doing that “Dunk the Duchess And Help the America’s Cup Sailors’ Retirement Fund” game – lovely bit of fun, our thanks in advance for that, Miss, so sporting of you! And, I must say, Piggyback Ride His Nibs The Duke, to raise a few bob for Miss Anne’s World Horse bucket, so good! Duke’n’Duchess Banger-Eating War, for Harry’s blokes too — so kind, we’ll be out to watch that three days a week! Now, put on your slickers, won’t you, it’s a longish trip and the winds are getting blowy —- mind your hair – oh I say, Miss, Her Majesty asked me to collect any jewels you might be having with your person, for safe keeping only, of course – the jackets are yours to keep, of course, we felt they would be quite the thing for the crowd promotions you’ll be doing at the Tower through August, eh? Lovely great big sports, the pair of you! Well, off you go!
Back atcha, frisbeejada!!
Bwah! “Dunk the Duchess”. I love this Tower story beyond words! Thanks!
Liberty, I’m in love!!!! You remembered New Zeastralia!
But what really did it was having iSBA sail them to the tower. You are a goddess a continuity goddess!!
I’ve been waiting for this and I’m ready, I’ve got Tena pads. I needed one by the time I got to ‘Dunk the Duchess. I don’t know what it is you’re doing but stop it immediately and go and write for TV, you’re far funnier than anything on it!
you most-royal ladies inspire me with your amazing banter! 🙂 happy Sunday!!
bluhare, yay! I don’t wish to disappoint you!
Liberty, I would like to apply for the position of muse.
bluhare, consider it so. You are now Most Esteemed Lady of the Muse, allotted the Most Noble Order of the Nightingale Garters.
As this is in addition to your already holding (with a few others here, do I recall?) the first ever awarded New Zeastralia Companion of the Queen’s Service Order, you’re quite the fancy girl now, aren’t you? Use your powers judiciously, and wear the personalized popover jacket sparingly.
I suppose they thought those special pullovers were very witty.
They’re made by Ben Ainslie’s company (or he’s associated with it anyway) so I suspect they were gifted to wear today.
Witty, yes + attempting to appear middle class and tops embroidered with one’s name or title is their newest apparel theme?
George was photographed looking out a KP window wearing a blue jumper with “George” embroidered on it. But the middle class message was lost when it was widely reported his jumper was $150, cashmere and from royal warrant holder Johnstons of Elgin.
I don’t understand why they didn’t just put a name or something where the breast pocket would be…….thats how we tend to do things with our pullovers. But hey, whatever, I’m no aristocrat……..
“Hey Look I’m Working!” in Garamond, gold thread?
Love the titles on the back of their tops. Is that so we remember who they are or so they remember?
I know, right?
Reminds me of Chris Christie wearing a sweatshirt “Governor” during Hurricane Sandy.
Kate’s shoes are way too casual. She’s wearing the kind of shoes you slip on to grab the paper/mail from your mailbox.
The girl just can’t win, can she? Her shoes are fine for this type of event. She could have worn sneakers instead but would that be too casual as well?
M.A.F.
Sneakers and even better: high end running/jogging shoes would’ve been great. Something sleek, stylish and bold colours like white with lime green mixed with pink. Then matching accessories in her hair. She needs to grab those cameras and start giving more speeches/visits to her charities. C’mon Kate, we know you can do it!!!!!
What? Taking an extreme comment in a sea of balance ones and making a claim she just can’t win is pointless.
Her shoes are fine and they do grip fine. And its not about winning or losing.
It’s about doing her job. She’s there. She’s doing it. And this behavior should be applied to her other patronages. Dress appropriately and show up to support them.
If there were plans for Kate to board one of the yachts, true boat shoes serve an important purpose. Their soles are specifically designed to provide traction on a boat deck and they don’t scratch the deck.
MinnFinn
IMO her shoes for this were fine. Here’s why.
Shoes might have been provided for her when she would board. Also, because things were cancelled she might have had no intent to board. Her assistants have carried shoes before for changes.
And Not all non-deck shoes will scratch. Some can grip and not scratch just as well as sactioned footwear. I’m willing to give a great big pass on this.
I thnk her shoes are perfect for a boating event
The reason for the shoes (and the Breton top): Kate is a theme dresser. If she was there to sail, I think she would have worn laced boat shoes. The slip-ons are cute, but not really practical for competitive sailing.
They look sort of like boat shoes to me, although they aren’t top siders.
Agree. They’re they same slip-on Sebago boat shoes she’s been wearing for the last few years.
The shoes make sense for the event. I don’t hate them.
I love the boat shoes. Am I the only one?
I have those shoes, so no, you’re not the only one. 🙂
They look like a pair of sperry’s i have.
I’m surprised her shoes aren’t blue because she loves to be so matchy-matchy.
I think she wore pearls because she figured that since pearls are from the ocean and yachting is done on the ocean that there’s a connection and it fits in with the theme-styling she likes to do.
Anyhoo, I think her huge drop-down pearls don’t fit with the casualness of her outfit. She might have thought that because her outfit was too casual, she needed something to fancy it up.
I suggested hoops elsewhere and was told no one under 85 wears them any more. 🙂
The OTT earrings are Kate’s version of a tiara. One must never forget her position.
Whaaat?! I’m well under 85 and I wear hoop earrings all the time! I have three piercings in each ear, and at any given time I’m wearing at least one pair of hoops, often two or even all three. Off to donate all of my clothes and shoes and replace them with slippers and houseboats, since clearly I must be an old woman. 😂😐😔👵👎
From a brief google search; there are so many choices of footwear for sailing, running shoe style included.
I think people are tired of the skinny leg/jegging look of navy blue or black, Kate keeps repeating along with the simple, neutral tone boat shoes.
It would be nice to see Kate in other fashion choices with bold colours, rather than the repetitive casual looks.
Well, of course they did Ben Ainslie is their friend who came to their wedding. Need to keep those meagre numbers up! And yes this is what we are going to have to expect from these 2 – turning up to events that only interest them or where they can hob nob with celebs who fawn over them.
And as for the Kate apologists who say that she’s shy – not so shy here. She looks relaxed and confident – clearly enjoying herself. Why can’t she do and be like this for her charities – charities that she can support while Willy plays at being a helicopter pilot.
She does look healthier with a bit of weight on her face but that eyeliner has got to go – it makes her look older.
The linked Tom Sykes piece is a huge piece of sh!t stirring, me thinks. He describes a modern, normal middle class life that is anything but. WillKat must realize their lives are far from ordinary.
Godparents racing up from London in the middle of the week to attend a child’s party is hardly normal. Neither is a staff of six and a live in mother in law. Nor wearing your ROYAL TITLE on your pullover.
William’s trousers are oddly pulling across the butt. Kate looks good, although the rear side by side should provide a definitive answer on her height – she’s a good six or so inches shorter than her 6’3″ husband. And very long torsoed. But she is certainly slim and fit.
All I have on the visit.
I think they feel entitled to their lives, due to being photographed at work, being forced to work with charities, etc. They see nothing unusual in the way they live, and probably think the taxpayers are lucky to have them. The Little People should consider themselves lucky any time they get a glimpse of the rarified W&K.
To William this may seem middle class, because kicking the Family Firm in the teeth and doing whatever he wants? He probably equates that to the perceived freedom people in the middle class have to choose their own direction in life. Going on vacation whenever they want, not sticking to a mean royal engagements schedule, being catered to by the in-laws. He never sees the reality of life, struggling to pay bills, work your 60 hpw job for not enough money, getting into a good school district, etc.
If he wants the freedom to chose his own path, he has to free himself of all the perks he gets for being part of the Family Firm. We all know he’ll never do that. What they will never understand is that they owe The People for their lifestyle and they are required to give back.
Or maybe they think this is enough, that they are giving back more than enough in exchange for how difficult they think their 1 percenter lives are. That they should just be allowed to live in the country off the taxpayers and wave their hand few times a year in their direction.
Nota: I think they want to live like they did as students. All the privileges accorded to them without any scrutiny. They never had to struggle, even as students, didn’t hang out with poorer, struggling students, resolutely stuck with their own social circle and William only emerged when he felt like it.
That’s how I see it, LAK.
LAK, totally agree on that one. I think that’s exactly it; William thinks a press embargo should be in place his entire life.
LAK/Sixer– do you know if there is anywhere in London you can go to see hedgehogs? My hedgehog obsessed kid and I are in London. We dropped off her sister in Richmond Park and, after admiring the deer, she was the oddball kid peering under every hedge…
LAK, I agree — they got used to that life and haven’t quite been able to transition forward fully.
Aww Birdix, I remember your little one and the love of hedgehogs!
You’ll have trouble seeing them in the wild as they’re nocturnal. Most of the rescue centre are too little to allow visitors and, in any case, you have to be careful of ringworm and scabies (the ones in the hospitals aren’t the healthy ones!)
The only hog centre I know that has a good visitor centre is St Tiggywinkles. It’s about an hour outside London.
http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/top-navigation/visitor-centre.html
Thanks Sixer!
Tom Sykes is a mystery. I’m going to put him in the Katie Nicholls column of columnists who used to snark on the royals and are now sycophantic though one isn’t sure if it’s tongue in cheek or serious. .
Beyond that, the only thing I took from this story is visual confirmation of Kate’s height. She’s definitely not 5ft 10in.
And she’s definitely back on the diet though she’s still at the ideal weight side of her frame. Any less than today and she will look gaunt causing people to accuse her of disordered eating/body dismorphia/anorexia – take your pick.
Yeah. I put her at around 5’7. The height thing was one of the first things I took note of too.
I’m going to suggest to Liberty that Tom would be an excellent source for her new column in iStar! 😉
Yes, I noticed the height too. I was actually pleasantly surprised to see her in flats because I fully expected some sort of WEDGE shoe.
Vava/Dena: we spoke too soon.
She changes into the Wedges of Doom.
She’s at the height she’s normally quote as being once she has the Wedges on. It’s amazing how much a difference those 4inch (of the wedges) make.
Bluhare, Tom is the brother of Lucy and Plum (author of the snarky Bergdorf Blondes, and a fashion writer etc — it is said her wedding gown inspired Kate’ choice of look and designer). He wrote that book, What Did I Do Last Night? About his stints writing as a journalist while drinking and social scening in NYC. From a family of baronets. so yes someone like him would be an imaginary source character, lol! He must have W + K in his sights for some writing.
LAK, the Wedges of Doom are back?? Please say it isn’t so! LOL…………….I had hoped her assistant Rebecca had confiscated them.
I know this isn’t important but those shoes…ugh.
OMG the titles on the back of their tops is just the worst. The. Worst.
Thing One and Thing Two.
“I’m with stupid”
It really is embarrassing. They should not have worn them.
I was looking for some type of indiscreet, small lettering on the sleeve or chest. Then – BAM – scrolled down to see such huge lettering on the back.
Me too 😀 I thought, “What? Did they put their names on those patches somewhere? Like a name tag? Why? Because it’s hard to recall their names? To help out people who wouldn’t remember what they looked liked otherwise? Perhaps they haven’t seen them since the wedding?” And then, BLAM! The titles, and on the back too. Which makes no sense. It’s silly looking. It just makes me laugh.
In terms of hair, it looks like the Duchess has opted for a bit of red highlights.
Maybe, United Kingdom should really consider to bring back a Republic?
I mean when the Queen and Charles died, make a referendum and ask the public what they really want…
This couple is turning themselves more and more pointless…
I can’t get over just how bald william is. I knew he had lost hair on top, but he’s actually bald bald!
it really is unfortunate.
I read the article in the Daily Beast. I thought it was dangerous in it’s tone & word choice.
I don’t usually make comments about Kate’s clothing but she needs to kill that whole ensemble.
Its
I was left wondering what agenda Sykes was pushing. There seems to be a strong distaste for WillKat there.
Yes the sarcasm was strong in the article. A thinly veiled dig at the ‘middle class values’ that they are trying so hard to push on us.
As an American, I really don’t understand why William is trying to portray the image of a normal, middle class guy with wife and two kids (Kate could hardly be bothered; she’s rich and she knows it). Everyone knows this is BS. Just yesterday, the DM ran an article about his air ambulance flights being tracked by a publicly available app, which stirred up security threat issues. Normal people don’t have assassination attempt concerns, they’re not accompanied by bodyguards 24/7, and they don’t live in palaces and mansions subsidized by taxpayers. To me, they both present themselves as entitled, self-involved wealthy people, nothing more, nothing less.
I have to agree with you, Olenna.
I’m sitting here giggling at their names plastered in huge font on their backs. As if we could forget who they are, even though they frequently forget what those titles mean to the Crown.
I’d love to see the Queen in a pullover with her title, but it would have to be quite small font to get it all… Her Royal Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, several commonwealth nations, a few occupied lands no one even remembers, etc etc etc and so on and so forth.
Don’t forget the ‘gracious’, and ‘god’s grace’…..
Charles’s titles are also equally long. We tend to stop at his POW, Scottish and Irish titles, but his full lot is as impressive as the Queen’s titles.
perhaps a trench coat would work? 🙂
Ha!
Seems like the only “work” she claims to do involves going to galas, concerts and sporting events. In most circles, that’s entertainment, not working. Whatever happened to charity work? Didn’t she read her job description?
Apparently they are re-writing the job descriptions to only includes events that take their fancy and involved either their friends or celebrities they like.
As a Brit i really don’t want Willy to be King.
And i take offence at their ‘middle class values’. I know a lot of middle class people who are very hard working – they don’t laze around all day doing nothing with 6 full time staff and they don’t have a little job that gives them self esteem. They have jobs because they need to support themselves and their families to provide a decent standard of living. They don’t sponge off the tax payer or their family.
Betti, what you reference & other pieces of that article really stood out to me as being reckless & dangerous. It refers to W/K as being older millennials. Yes, the parents (boomers) of some of the millennials have done financially well and have been able to bankroll a certain lifestyle for their children. But there are also a whole lot of millennials out there who are unemployed, underemployed, working several jobs & struggling with debt. In terms of social recreation & music, WK may be like the others of their generation but in terms of privilege, roles & expectations they are not. WK, IMO, are both lax and short-sighted re: the latter.
In another post, I talked about institution building (QEII) and adding social value (Charles). By only showing up to yachting events & Wimbledon what are they buikding other than a lifestyle brand? How are they adding value? I’m American, so I really don’t have a dog in this fight but I simply don’t think their ‘just like you’ strategy is going to work for them in the long run especially if the ‘just like you’ target audience is the 99%. Wait, I will be generous–the 90% which doesn’t include the Beckhams (a brand), Jay Z & Beyonce (a brand), Angelina & Brad (a brand).
Betti, I had made a comment in agreement with yours but it wasn’t posted. Basically, I think those two are working in the wrong direction with the just like you angle. The article talks about WK middle class values. Not all boomer parents were able to provide lush lifestyles to their millennial offspring. A lot of millennials are struggling & will continue to do so if economic reforms aren’t passed that are favorable to them. The article states that WK see royal duties & life as pointless/purposeless. Well, a financially struggling people, may just begin to see them in the same regard.
Dena, I like the cut of your jib.
You can publicly eschew the royal life and royal values all you like, but people aren’t deaf, blind and dumb.
They notice that your father-in-law pays your clothing bills, that you gratefully snap up the royal residences gran offers, and that you are happy to pop on gratis taxpayer funded helicopter rides when you fancy a fast transport.
When you stop doing those things, you might gain cred as a card carrying member of the (super upper upper) middle class.
In agreement, Dena! And I’m with you, too, Suze except I wonder if they do “gratefully” accept or just figure it goes with the title.
Agree with all the comments above. I think to these two ‘gratitude’ is an alien concept, along with ‘service’, ‘duty’ and ‘unselfishness’. They are, always have been (and in all likelihood) always will be a pair of spoiled, sheltered brats. Suits me just fine, as I’ve always said – William is the best thing that’s happened to the Republican movement in a long time. The longer he remains selfish, lazy and useless the more people will see through this whole farce and the faster we can get rid of them.
Dena well stated and I think pointing out the state of millennials is very apt, and something they (or their PR people) should be thinking about.
what are “Royal Values” exactly? Historically, they’ve basically amounted to one thing: do whatever it takes to keep the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family in power.
Basically they’ve been lucky that we’re no longer in the days where Kings/Queens are overthrown in wars etc.
YA: ‘Royal Values = charitable and good works. The concept of Noblesse Oblige, but on speed. It’s the only reason we keep them. George V devised this particular whizz at a time when royals were being toppled across Europe. Not that royals weren’t charitable before, but in repurposing their existence from remote, expensive figureheads to charitable ones, he was able to divert the British public from thoughts of toppling his house for several generations.
If WK don’t start on that, the public will start to wonder why we keep them and voila!! Viva Republic!!
Doing charitable & good works for what reason though? Especially when they are not particularly qualified for anything, and they are living in the lap of luxury while they do what they’re doing. Ultimately it’s about maintaining a certain public image. And is it “charity” when they’re paid by British tax payers to do it?
I work at an NGO on human rights issues for instance – do I consider what I do charity? No.
Once the Queen passes away, I’d think that Charles could spend day and night on this type of stuff and he’ll still face criticism from the public.
YA: who said it made sense? or that it was right.
It’s literally the only reason we keep the royals. We can have the endless arguments whether they are value for money vs someone like you as long as people are distracted from the Royals using charity as a distraction so that the plebs don’t stop to weigh that argument properly and do something about it .
That is not to belittle or devalue what you do. It’s simply fact that more people pay attention to them vs you and are dazzled by the special celebrity that is royalty. It’s the concept of celebrity vs non celebrity. Royals have always been the premier celebrities in the land, plus they managed to write laws that benefited them and turned them into tradition that is maintained for as long as possible.
They’ve kept up this charity whizz for 100yrs now to extent that the public expects them to do it or else. George V was very clear about the goal of charity as it benefited his family, and he succeeded because 100yrs later here we are.
That said, Royals do bring focus and funds when they put their minds to it. look at what Harry has been able to achieve in 4 yrs – I tend to think that WK’s wedding was the coming out and lift off for the young royals.
Yes, she did & she’s fulfilling them everyday. Her main duties are to keep Big Willy happy by filling in the gaps of his emotionally depraved & chaotic childhood, enabling him & keeping him a man-child, and creating the family life of his dreams. Honestly, Wendi, his agenda is her agenda & vice versa. Only time will tell but I don’t think we are going to get too much more out of these two either at all or for a very long time to come. He has too much emotional baggage and her ambitions seem to start, stop & focus on him.
In some ways I’m OK with that — Kate’s ambitions, that is — but only to the extent that it *help* him fulfill his role, not enable him to avoid it.
I think they’re enabling each other.
They’re both in agreement that they were born and raised to be entitled and live at a certain level of life that other rich, non-working or barely working people live.
They’re not encouraging each other to pretend at least that they should give back to society at large for all the wealth bestowed upon them.
I don’t think it’s a ‘job’ to get William to marry her and to keep him in the marriage. That’s her ‘desire,’ not a ‘job.’
It’s not part of her duty, unless that duty is to herself and her mother and siblings to make sure they’re at the apex of their social climbing dreams.
Would it be considered any other woman’s ‘job’ to keep her husband happy? If not, then why give Kate credit for having this ‘job?’
anne, are you addressing me or Dena? Thank you.
Bluhare,
Re: Kate’s focus on William. In some ways, I could be okay with that too. Who am I not to be? But!!! The “girls/women can run the world better than any man” part of me wouldn’t like it in terms of role models for girls but I’d be okay with it too.
My fear (yours too if I’m not reading too much into your comment) is making Big Willy her sole focus & ambition she may not be helping him to become a better man for the role he has inherited. Just because I was deprived of ice cream as a kid doesn’t mean that my significant other is helping me by having a truckload of it delivered to the house on a weekly basis. You know? But right now I think they are mutual enablers like Anne said. And with that I’m going to stop cause when I wrote that a picture of two junkies/druggies/alcoholics in a relationship flashed thru my mind. The relationship only works when both are users and it all falls apart when one partner reaches some level of sobriety. For their sakes, I hope that’s not the dynamic. Ok. I gotta go cause now I’m thinking about the movie Leaving Las Vegas or was that Leaving St. Andrews. Hmmmm?😃😀😊☺️
You definitely didn’t read too much into it; we do agree. And your Leaving Las Vegas analogy rings very true.
@ bluhare
Specifically no one. Just adding my two cents to the convo. 🙂
And I made my appearance grocery shopping in my Charter Club jeans, Aerosole loafers and Tommy Hilfiger blue-and-white striped top. I can name drop my designers, too!
LOL! I never left my *estate* yesterday, but I sported my Crocs Mary Janes and Balance Outdoor Collection dress while surveying my lawn and walking to the mail box.
LOL………….I didn’t leave my “estate” either. I was wearing J Crew shorts, a vintage t-shirt, and gardening clogs as I got my aerobic exercise by weeding and pruning the ‘extensive’ landscape. 😉
It sounds like we all looked fab! Too bad the paps missed us!
Well the paps did snap me at the off-leash dog park wearing my cutoff jeans and lawn-mowing sneakers. That’s because my signet ring (I never remove it) gave me away. You really should get a signet ring. It serves many purposes the most important being that it reminds the paps and plebs that I am better than them.
@MinnFinn…………….LOL!
I need a signet ring!
I did leave *my* estate yesterday, wearing designer sunglasses and a BMW baseball cap as I drove to the organic food market, and waved to the peasants (my mother) on the way. It was my staff’s day off. 🙂
Oh, that was you! I was trying the peasant thing for a lark, and you might have spotted me with my unraveling wonky-handled willow market basket filled with garlic and lettuces, wearing my vintage J Crew shorts, vintage pale blue boys’ oxford shirt over little silk black camisole with sleeves rolled, vintage Yankees cap stolen from Mr Liberty, perky orange fitbit thingy, designer sun goggles and my sparkly flat thong sandals (that look like the ones you wore when you were photographed last month slapping Daniel C — or am I not to mention that?)
Liberty, you should have sent your man over so we could have had a formal introduction! It is so difficult when one’s staff has the day off. One never knows quite what to do when one sees someone one thinks one knows over the organic leeks!
That was not me slapping Daniel C . . . and I’m hyperventilating at the very thought! What was he wearing? And how much did he like it? 😀
…bluhare, on the last Saturday of the month, my fine man Guillermo is always off volunteering with a group that helps women make the very difficult journey from wedges and nude heels, to the many heeled, flat and colorful options available today. I was thus experiencing the market alone, a sort of societal sailor, with a mimosa in a silver travel flute.
It was not….you….applying a ringed hand to the saucy cheek of Daniel C? But….I glimpsed the video and and, well, he seemed to mouth your name in sheer shocked hurt, and also, well, darling, it did say “bluhare” on the back of your simple summer weight cashmere cocoon wrap?
Sooo funny, Liberty and bluhare!
If Tom Sykes has hit upon W and K’s long game, it wouldn’t work logistically. Would William not be part of the diplomatic visits and entertaining or after becoming king, not read the red boxes?
Also, the current older royals like Anne, Edward and Sophie will have aged out by then, and as Beatrice and Eugenie have not been allowed to be part of things hopefully they will have moved on their lives, so unless they plan to dump all the factory openings kind of work on Harry and his future wife, W and K simply can’t reduce their appearances to about 30 a year.
The deference given to William is not based on respect for William. Diana’s death, the hacking scandal, Elizabeth’s longevity, even Charles’ efforts compose what protects W and K. This is the relative calm before the storm: moving back to London for George to start school, Philip passing away, Elizabeth passing away etc. -with each event, the criticism will get louder.
You made me laugh with the image of Harry and Duchess thinblondewellborn racing around to factory opening after shopping centre opening. But…interesting points.
If William wants to keep a part time civilian job and Kate will be picking up shifts at the local pharmacy while they are queen and king, who will do all the work of royalty?
Maybe that is why Harry is involving himself so deeply in Invictus ? Good cause and well thought out long term strategy?
Do you mean in terms of working with or outside the BRF? I hope outside, because Harry and his future wife has a thankless job ahead of them: less protection from the media, more scrutiny over perks and their children will be treated like Beatrice and Eugenie.
Charles maybe did Harry a disservice during the jubilee by including him on the balcony. Harry’s line will eventually be phased out so he should be focusing on finding his identity outside of the BRF.
@Natalie
I used to believe the same re. Harry and his future wife/children. However, I think the popularity Harry has amassed in the past few years may change the storyline – especially if he marries someone who is charismatic and able to work more than once a month. Willy may end up needing his brother more than he realizes (although I think he’s so tone deaf that he won’t realize it).
However, I also think Harry probably wants W & K to have a dozen kids so that he can quietly fade into the background.
The outfit and hairstyle look perfect for the engagement. (I personally wouldn’t buy those shoes, but they are appropriate for the event.)
I think it’s fine, too. The titles on the back of their jackets was OTT, in my opinion, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a gift from event organizers. I hate myself for remembering this, but didn’t they receive jerseys with their titles during their trip to Canada a few years ago?
@ Green Girl
Even they were gifts from the event organizers, imo, if it were QE2 and Philip, they would have refused to wear them because they’d know that those things would make them look ridiculous.
They wore them because they are more down to earth than the Queen. i think they look fine and show that Will and Kate don’t think of themselves as above it all.
If they want to “get down” with the plebs, the jackets should have read, “Bill” and “Kitty”.
To whom are they announcing their titles, anyway? So tacky.
Firebomber: from everything that’s ever been published on the Queen, by people who know her, including her own cousin, Margaret Rhodes who grew up with her, she is incredibly down to earth, with very simple tastes. Her only extravagance is her horses. No airs or graces.
She has a sense of duty, sense of occasion and sense of what she represents, and carries that with her. That doesn’t make her uppity or out of touch.
All these silly things that WK insist upon actually show how much they aren’t down to earth.
Lak I think you are missing my point or I didn’t articulate that well. Its not that The Queen would think it beneath her she’s just not that relaxed. I know that for a fact from someone who knows her and has spent a time with her. Prince William and Kate are of a different status and I do believe the sweaters were given to them by the organization so they wore them. I see nothing wrong with them wearing them or anything to criticize or debate. Theyre showing respect.
@ hmmm
LOL! Bill and Kitty! That’s probably coming next in their ‘middle-class’ PR scheme.
Bill and Kitty!
First time reading about royal gossip and wanted to know if I got everything:
Kate and William are lazy leeches. William is apparently a man-child who should not be king.
The Middelton family are social climbers feeding into William’s ego.
Harry is quite dumb, but works hard when it counts.
Charles is gonna make Will shape up when he takes the throne.
The Queen is flawed, but doing the best she can?
Well…
That´s the consensus opinion in the gossip-sphere
I think you have the narrative here down quite well. 🙂
haha – ya I think that’s what the majority of the commentors here feel.
I think they’re all awful – especially Charles. We’ll see what happens when the Queen eventually passes away – will the British public accept Charles as King?
I’m Canadian – we’re still a constitutional monarchy – I wonder if we’ll accept having pictures of Charles on our coins. I doubt it. We put up with the Queen now because it’s all most of us can remember.
Yeah. I think you got it in one 😄 with the exception of Charles making William step up. Charles is an emotional coward where Will is concerned or perhaps it’s more apt to say that William is an emotional tyrant & Charles caves when confronted with the beast. However, others on the board may have a more nuanced perspective😍.
Thanks guys! I always had a feeling about Kate. Glad to see I wasn’t imagining things haha.
@ya, That’s interesting about the Canadian money thing. Will be looking out for that when he eventually takes the throne.
@Dena, That’s so sad, but considering the whole Diana thing understandable I guess.
Ah royals… They’re just like us!
Lynnie – the only way Canadians can avoid having Charles on our money once the Queen passes away is to break away from the monarchy – that would require a change in our Constitution. We’ll see if that happens! I hope so!
@Dena – see I don’t understand why anybody thinks Charles is at all better than WIll and Kate.
@ya, I think Charles is better than Will and Kate because he actually does something, rather than hiding out like they seem to do. But overall, are ANY of them worth all the money? NO. Tourism would still continue if the monarchy was abolished once and for all. I doubt I’ll see that in my lifetime though.
I don’t think Harry is dumb. I think he had some learning disabilities and no one made sure he had help. And, like his mother, I think he has great emotional intelligence. He would be a far better king than his lazy, entitled brother.
Willy thinks his new job makes him look like a good guy – that’s what he told the press. I wonder if this is to attach himself in some way to his mother’s thread of “goodness”. For some reason, royal doesn’t hit hero for him.
Why bother going at all! Was it just to make their quota or a check mark?
She wanted to see Sir Ben, I’d say that alone is worth the effort! 😉
Her shoes remind me of my grandfathers slippers.
In the DM photos, William is looking tan.
He looked tan at the christening too. They have a pool; I think he’s been using it.
I have a feeling Charles wasn’t a fan of the pool at Highgrove when the boys were young.
LOL!!!!! I can’t see him in there playing Marco Polo!
bluhare
Perhaps Diana, knowing her love of swimming, banished Charles from the pool?
No, probably not.
I just don’t see Charles as a pool type of person. He likes to be bundled up all the time. In fact, I don’t really see him as a shorts and sandals type either. All that covering up esp in summer weather can lead to fungus problems. Poor Camilla!
Citresse: you haven’t seen all the ‘ Charles action man prince’ photos from the 60s/70s? There are quite afew of him wind surfing and or running around in shorts doing action man type things.
As for the pool at highgrove, there are family pics of him in it with the boys.
All on Internet.
Yes, LAK, but did he play Marco Polo . . . . . with the boys? 😉
LAK
Yes, I do recall the windsurfing Charles “action-man” photos. I think I first saw them when viewing a Lacey book.
The pool at Highgrove looked out of place, though I think Charles didn’t want it at all.
Wasn’t it added to the property around 1982 in an attempt to please an increasingly irritated Diana when all she really wanted was a faithful husband?
Camilla doesn’t strike me as a pool type person either. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Highgrove pool is now gone. Perhaps someone very familiar with Highgrove (now in year 2015) can provide insight on that?
his tan comes from all the hard work he does 😉
Yes, Farmer Bill, taking over the Duchy from his father.
I have these exact same shoes as Kate’s and OMG do they give you blisters! The back rubs against the skin of your upper heel and it’s so painful, yuck.
i had a similar pair and my heel was bloody after just a few hours. It happens to me so often with flats in summer 🙁
I think Diana never or rarely wore such casual shoes without socks while on an official engagement.
In casual settings on a day off yes. But during official engagements, I think she occasionally wore heels without nylons during summer.
Those shoes look as if they’d be comfortable, surprised at the blisters, TessD. But maybe Kate just walks from the house – to the chauffeured Range Rover – to the event, and back. 😉
Oh, trust me, they are most uncomfortable. In addition to the blisters issue, the soles (which I presume are intended to be worn on the boat hence the name) are so thin, you feel like you are walking barefoot. I really wouldn’t wear these to any special/official/public engagement. It’s like coming to the big office meeting in flip flops.
I have the same Sabago Bala shoes in blue. They’ve never once given me blisters, but I did have to buy them a size up. They run small, so maybe that’s why some find them uncomfortable? For what it’s worth, I wear them often on the boat in summer. They’re perfectly fine for boating on a sunny day when you’re not doing anything too strenuous, though I think for rain or rough seas you might want more grip for a wet deck.
The event was canceled, the public was told to stay home and get their refunds, and it was raining, however slightly or not.
Yet the yachting officials and club execs were forced to show up because W&K were not going to waste the opportunity to wear those specially-labeled sweat suits in front of everybody.
And they might as well show up anyways, because this (technically cancelled) event was one of those fun and easy ones they could get work credit for. It was an appearance in which they’d be receiving all the attention with rich people fawning all over them, instead of those ones in which they’d be forced to give their attention to other people.
…………….
Oh look, Kate-apologists! She appeared at a ‘work’ event without her kids. It did not cause her to fall sick from physical and emotional distress or her kids to forget who she is or her to lose all motherly emotions for her kids. Imagine that.
………………
Yay for W&K showing up at a ‘charity’ event! I’m sure all the rich folk it serves appreciate that. The less-rich homeless, sick, or disabled people can just keep waiting for a typewritten letter or a video speech or one of those super-secret visits that nobody can ever know about except when it’s mentioned at a PR-advantageous time.
……………………….
And yup, W&K are right. This is the way middle class people live. They get all the income they could ever need from their relatives and then they find themselves phony jobs and their supporters pretend that they’re aggressively hard ones.
…………………………
Btw, William was supposed to be on a four days on, four days off rota starting July 13th. So on Mon-Thur. Then off Friday-Mon. Then on Tues-Fri. Which means he would have been ‘on’ on Wednesday and Thursday, but according to the DM, he was off on George’s b-day & at the party and off again the next day.
The DM used a Flight app (mentioned upthread) to trail him. They were on the case from Tuesday to Thursday, which might have meant they thought he’d be following the four days on/off rota that he and his PR team told the press.
In short, did his bosses do him a favor and give him those days off so he could stay at home to be at George’s b-day party? So William doesn’t have to stick with the four days on/off rota if he doesn’t want to?
In the glut of articles about his work rota, the headlines and top paragraphs all said he would be four days on/off, however, towards the bottom of each article, which I nicknamed the small print, it was mentioned that he would only work 2/3 of the rota. Which translates to approximately 2 and a half days on every time he is scheduled to work.
What was interesting was that no adjustment was made for the 4 off days he is schedules to have off. Therefore in the 8 days working rota that they all undertake, he is really working 2 and a half days on, and 5 and a half days off. Assuming he shows up at all. And this is being sold as a full time job.
It’s a clear misrepresentation of the working rota of his colleagues to make it seem that he is doing the same, just as his RAF career was continually misrepresented.
@ LAK
Thanks LAK for that info.
So basically he’d work maybe 10 days maximum in every 32-days period.
It sounds to me as if he’s going to be using this ‘job’ (aka paid joy-rider) to say he’s too busy to do actual work for charities and other appearances that aren’t so fun for him.
And he’s going to be so magnanimous as to donate his (tiny) salary to a (so far) secret recipient. All that money they’ll get! *sarcasm*
Bill the Slacker rises to the occasion again. Geez. Should I feel badly for the EAAA?
Anne
I think we all know what would be normal hours for anyone else in his job will not apply to him. Special treatment is always given. At this point there’s no true argument against that.
Regarding this event. They showed up to suport a cause. Good. That the cause doesn’t actually need their support can be overlooked because Kate left her kids at home for this.
Now, They should both treat their other patronages like this. Show up, rain or shine. Be invested in it. And spend more than 45 minutes taken up by mostly greetings and photo ops.
If they can do it for this and a tennis game they can do it for the Charities that NEED them to bring awareness to the causes.
Kate’s weight, wiglet, spending habits all be damned. Just show up dressed appropriately and do your duty to your country and the charities you requested to be a patron of. There will still be buckets of time left for your family and leisure time.
Is this asking the moon and stars?
After what the Daily Mail printed yesterday about the app that can tell you exactly where he is, I won’t be surprised if he has to quit.
If he has to quit he shouldn’t be blamed for it. I would hope it reinforces he can’t live as he does and pretend like he can just be average. You can’t hold press conferences on your new job and expect people to then just leave you alone. The world just doesn’t wor that way. So, no time to cry about how unfair the world is. Time to move on. Live that quiet life or be royal. No more pick and choosing imo.
And still want to help the EAAA? Patron them.
Though, with LAK pointing out William is only working 2.5 of his 4 day rotations I wonder if another employee has the burden of being copilot? Or if the Heli, can be operated with 1? Or if no one can use it unless William is there? Or if the RPO is also pulled out when William is not there?
@ bluhare
One of the solutions mentioned was to request the apps to take off the tracker on the copter. Another could be to re-classify all rescue copters.
But I can see where he might use this as an excuse to quit.
I am sure that is part of his PR plan, bluhare.
Actually, I didn’t mean that he would use it as an excuse. I meant that it could be used (from his security people?) as a reason to make him quit.
@ bluhare
If it was a real issue, then I’m thinking his security people would have told him once they heard that he would be taking up this job.
If it didn’t bother him before, why would he be bothered now?
Or maybe he knew there was this concern and that if he ever needed an out (due to boredom or whatever), this would be the excuse he’d use?
I’m guessing Ben Ainsley and Duchess Kate have the hots for each other. I’m sorry, but there is chemistry between those two.
And, ummmm, 10,000 pounds for that sweater!? What the what!?
I think half of the female human contingent could have the hots for that man. Loved the photos in the Daily Mail though; William looked like he had something he really doesn’t like in his mouth!
That’s got to be a typo, right? Right?! What’s that thing made out of, anyway? Or, are they selling the ones worn by Bill & Cathy for charity?
Nope, not a type. It is actually £9,999.99 per the photo of the brand’s site on DM.
It’s a Land Rover BAR Aura Half Zip Women’s on the Henri Lloyd sales web page.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3175478/ROBERT-HARDMAN-Sailor-s-goggles-Kate-giggles-William-isn-t-quite-sure-royal-couple-attend-America-s-Cup-matching-n-team-fleeces.html
She looks so animated – she must be flirting with us.
Holy cow; it really is £9.999.99!! That must be how they’re raising money. With £10K tops. Wow.
She looks so young and fresh. I like her hair in a ponytail. Great figure!
Firebomber
Sincere question.
What is it about Kate for someone like you (a fan/supporter). Is it her image? Her hair, figure, clothes? And not that she showed up for work or causes to support?
I ask because often I only read praise of her from a superficial angle. Nothing going into her work or job. Just, people praising her appearance. Is her status in some’s minds or her value only because she’s slim and pretty? Would this carry over if she was thicker with less fluffy hair?
Only trying to understand as I don’t see things the same. No offense is intended. No attack. Just curious.
I like how she looks in this photo. It’s not about her weight or her hair. It’s more about my taste and what pleases my eye. Its ok if you are not in agreement with me. We’re free……right?
I can’t answer for Firebomber, obviously, but I’m a fan/supporter, and I appreciate your sincere and non-insulting inquiry, so I thought I’d answer as another fan/supporter. I don’t love her hair or her clothes. I think she seems sweet. Not brilliant, or particularly interesting, but like a sweet woman and a loving mom.
I know everyone around here loathes her, and I don’t disagree with the criticisms, necessarily. I just find myself feeling defensive of her.
Honestly I might only feel defensive because she is so loathed here, and because she is a mom with young kids. Those may not be good reasons. But around here, it often seems like the valid criticisms of her work ethic generalize to criticisms of everything she does and wears and is, and it feels extreme to me, so I end up defending her in my mind.
@akatefan, I don’t think most people loathe her. I really don’t like that she takes from those less fortunate in the form of her security and money from the royal coffers, which really comes from the people, and does very, very little in return in the way of obligations. I don’t like that Will’s grandmother does over 300 functions a year and she, the future Queen, does 40?? Being a mother doesn’t excuse that laziness. I had a job interview two days after giving birth to my third child.
And being a mom doesn’t mean you do no wrong and that those who criticize her hate her. That’s not a fair statement to me, at all.
Firebomber
We’re all free to like what we like. I’m not saying that isn’t so. Just curious ass to why. It could be traced back to values. Like Superficial over substance. I’ve often wondered this in things like political runners. How people can be so taken with an image over who would best fit the job.
akatefan
Thank You for your comment. It’s not often you can get a polite and balanced back and forth at times. So, it’s appreciated.
Regarding the loathing. I can take that position (defending) as well. Even on this thread. And yes. Sometimes because the other side of the argument seems off point from what I think is most important. Her role.
Being a wife and mother. Being happy. No one should want to take these values away from others who aren’t people like…Cosby.
All that stuff aside. Like how she lives off goodwill and is a poor example of her position. That if she wanted this life she could have married privately and not put up with William’s mistreatments.
My criticism stems from apathy. Apathy demonstrated by someone who is in a position to make a difference. It’s a platform almost no one else in the world has.
And all they are praised for is appearances. They are a role model for all the worst values. I mean waiting for a ring. Not broadening your intelligence. Relying on others for your lifestyle. Her as a person? I feel pity. Her as the image we see? Not someone a society should value. And when the rebuttle of sorts is to say how pretty she is it makes me pause.
I thank you for your insight on this. I just don’t think someone who ignores duties. Who spends others money out of entitlement. Who demonstrates no ambition in how platform. It’s hardly qualities that can be overlooked and dismissed because she’s easy on the eyes.
Florc my response disappeared for some strange reason. Basically I dont walk in her shoes so I feel to be too critical is unfair to her. We dont know what goes on behind closed doors. She’s a young mother. Give her some time and she may just step up to the plate and surprise us all. Why should it be on your or my agenda? Plus I’ve answered this question of yours in other threads. I have my opinion you have yours. That’s fine.
@Florc, I think your criticisms are very reasonable. I really hope she steps up at some point, too. Ultimately, I feel defensive/supportive because she doesn’t (to me) seem as bad as the level of criticism she receives, and that just makes me think “oh, gosh, she isn’t THAT bad.” And around here, I think that’s enough to make me a fan.
I once before wrote something defensive about her on this site, and goodness, did I regret it. I am not a big conflict person. So for the foreseeable future, I’ll just silently stick up for her when I find the comments particularly harsh 🙂
She looks good. (And props for sticking around; I know how daunting it can be when you feel like you’re in the crosshairs!)
At this stage it is so useless to debate these two. They do exactly what they want and its very little of nothing. Its the royal version of groundhog’s day. Wake me up when something interesting happens, like juicy gossip a scandal or divorce. Otherwise my fingers could be spent typing an opinion elsewhere.
If the event was cancelled, what award did Waity present to Ben Ainslie? And she (& Bill) changed clothes into her trusty blue nautical blazer and the wedges of doom. Does this count as 2 events, then?
Probably.
Looks like she hasn’t resumed the Botox yet, even though she is no longer pregnant. She kind of needs it, though. Years of tanning and being a smoker have not been kind to her skin. In any case, I highly doubt their schedule will remain this thin. If they continue to show this kind of contempt for the British public, I think the love affair the media has with this couple will come to a crashing halt. On the one hand, after the cruelty shown toward Diana by courtiers and how his mother was tortured by palace gossips and eaten alive by the pettiness of the court, I understand William wanting to protect his family by taking them out of London and Kensington Palace, but they won’t be able to play at being private citizens for much longer. William can protect Kate from the palace vultures without sniffing disdainfully at the public that financially supports his lavish lifestyle.
Botox? Really? She’s barely into her thirties ffs. While I agree she seems to be extremely vain and self-involved, overly concerned with her appearance, etc. (i.e. high maintenance hair with extensions, fake tan, shopaholic, starves herself and has a punishing gym routine), I think botox is unlikely at this stage of the game.
Don’t rule it – or any other more invasive procedures – out a few years from now though. I think a boob job is in the cards at some point, perhaps when breastfeeding is done and over and she is sick and tired of the heavily padded bras she uses.
She’s done Botox for years. You can always tell when she’s planning to get pregnant because the creases return to her forehead.
@Original Mia…………..yes, that’s true. The Botox will come out again and it won’t be long, either.
That said, today she looked about as good as she could look at this point. If she’d just lay off all that eyeliner, she’d look so much better. I hope she doesn’t starve herself in the next month, but my guess is that she will.
Amy K
Kate and her female family members have poor skin and deep wrinkles. She’s botoxed to smooth things out, but older photos she these. As well as some less touched up photos. Usually carrying a headline of how worn out she is. There was just a lack of tox.
She’s already started. She has a tired, drooping resting face. You can always tell when she’s botoxed because her face comes alive due to the lift the botox gives it. Particularly the ends of her eyebrows and the jowls.
I think she should totally get together with Ainsley. To hell with Wills. He is so moody, so oppressive, there’s never any PDA with him like “OMG, we, royals can’t touch one another in public!” Oh, and he doesn’t like her wearing bright colors, for God’s sake! Kate, stay married to this baldy but get together with the handsome Ben on the side and have fun. He is incredibly delicious.
who is ainsley?
edit: ignore my comment – i re-read the article. obviously i suffer from short term memory problems.
Ben’s married.
So is Kate 😉
Somebody should tell them that a strong family unit, hardwork and a sense of duty aren’t mutually* exclusive.
*or whatever one says for a set of 3
Well hello there Sir Ben *flirty eyes*. Kate looks really relaxed and smiley with handsome Ben around. Could he be her future “James Hewitt”? I mean if people are pairing Will up with the flying doc, let’s put Kate with hot sailor guy. This way we can at least all be wrong together. 😄
What’s remarkable to me is how comfortable she looks with him, when she usually looks awkward with people, and how uncomfortable Wills looks. He obviously isn’t a boat guy.
In the pic where Kate is handing hot sir ben that crystal trophy thingy, my thoughts immediately landed on “James Hewitt”!
I’m so shipping them. I don’t care if it’s against good morals and principles. I’m over William.
There’s a shot where Rebecca Deacon is walking beside her and dressed virtually the same. It’s not the first time we’ve noticed similar dresses on the same outing say. Is it really as simple as they have the same taste ? I cant imagine the eye rolling at my office if say I started matching my boss. I mean how do they do that. Rebecca checks some “daily dressing log” ?? Well, themed events like this Rebecca can guess as well as we did.
I’d say that’s a smart move on Rebecca’s part to mirror her superior’s tastes.
I like William and Kate and think much of the criticism against Kate in particular is unfortunate. I do not understand why people get so riled up about the number of activities Kate performs as if there is some quota that she is not meeting. Further, the vast majority of events the royals do are completely meaningless anyway so what difference does it make if she does 50 or 150 public engagements.
For example, I saw Charles on dailymail at one venue where he pretended to give some guy a haircut and then moved over to a pub where he stepped behind the bar. Most royals events are the same: 1) get out of car 2) greet public 3) accept gifts from children 4) tour facility 5) thank the hosts and 6) leave after 90 minutes -repeat.
I also think the comparisons to Queen Elizabeth and Diana are unfair. The Queen has been an amazing monarch but perhaps a not so good mother as she put duty above family. Diana was wonderful but she suffered from depression and had a eating disorder. Just because Diana did so many engagements by the time William was two years old does not mean Kate has to match or best her record.
If I found out that Laura Bush gave 200 speeches as First Lady and Michelle Obama gave 50, I would not assume that Laura did a better job at her position. Each woman has to carve out their own path and Kate is doing the same.
It doesn’t look like a path that she is carving – she looks like she is merely sliding.
You think raising money for charity is meaningless?
If the engagements do not matter, and you think they are meaningless, then the Windsors can give back all the money, land, palaces, Duchies, and Sovereign Grant and go away.
As long as this is the job, W&K will be criticized for working 1/5 the amount of a dozen pensioners in the Family Firm. If W&K think the job is useless and silly, they can step aside at any time. But they have to leave all the perks behind too. If they keep taking the profits from the Family Firm (mansions, palaces, $4.6 million allowance every year), then they have to WORK for the Family Firm.
p.s. The Prince’s Trust, Duchy Originals, WWTW, InvictusGames, and Sentebale are not meaningless.