I selected these photos especially because they reflect two occasions where the Queen allowed the Duchess of Cambridge to wear some big diamonds. A lot of sites are talking about Kate and diamonds this week because Kate is expected to attend the big state banquet at Buckingham Palace next week and everyone hopes that the Queen will give poor Kate some jewels. Kate wore the Cartier Halo tiara on her wedding day and honestly, that first foray into royal-tiara-wearing went well. The tiara worked well with her gown and everything felt proportional. The problem, as the Queen likely discovered, is that Kate doesn’t know what to do if she loaned a big, showstopping necklace – we saw that last year, when Kate’s untamed curls hair covered the Queen’s epic Nizam of Hyderabad necklace. So what will Kate get to wear next week? The Daily Mail did a rundown here. If I was Kate, I would ask to borrow the Cartier Halo tiara again, or failing that, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot.
Meanwhile, it actually does seem like Kate is going to do some actual work this month. Poor Jason had been promising and promising that we were going to be totally stunned by how she would hit the ground running and she was just going to do event after event. Three charity events and two rugby games in three months though… not really setting the world on fire with her work ethic. But Kate has truly scheduled some big appearances for the last week of October!
The Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, is well and truly back on the royal circuit following the end of her maternity leave last month. Kensington Palace has confirmed that she will carry out two engagements in London on Tuesday 27 October.
The first will see Kate head to Islington Town Hall in north London, where she will learn about Chance UK’s early intervention programme. The charity works with children aged five to 11 who are at risk of developing anti-social or criminal behaviour, and during the engagement, Kate, 33, will meet mentors, children and their parents involved in the scheme.
The Duchess will then attend a reception celebrating the work of the charity and meet some of Chance UK’s staff and supporters. The engagement reflects Kate’s particular interest in early intervention programmes, to prevent the development of more serious problems in the future.
Later that evening Prince William’s wife will attend the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala Dinner at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The evening affair is being held in honour of The Art Room, of which Kate is a royal patron. The charity offers art as therapy to children experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties, in order to increase their self-esteem, self confidence and independence.
Before guests sit down for dinner, the 100WHF 2015 European Industry Leadership Award will be presented. Kate is also a patron of the 100 Women in Hedge Funds’ Philanthropic Initiatives. Each year the non-profit organisation chooses a charity to raise money for and all proceeds from the evening are donated to it, in this case The Art Room.
On Monday 26 October, Kate will join her husband William and her brother-in-law Prince Harry for another engagement – a charities forum event at BAFTA, of which William is president. The trio will also see the premiere of Shaun the Sheep.
It actually sounds like these events are probably going to padded a bit so they won’t count as two events, but closer to four or five. Like, Kate will visit Chance UK and see their work (#1) and go to a reception for the charity (#2), then she’ll do a big gala (#3), which is the only way anyone can get her to do any work with those old charities that she doesn’t care about now that she’s “energized” about mental health issues. I’m sure #3 can be stretched out to two events as well – one event is the gala, and another event is the handing out of awards.
As for the film premiere… October 26th is when the big royal premiere of Spectre has been scheduled, so it seems like that day will be full of royal-calendar events. Poor sausages will really need a Mustique vacation after all of this hard work.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
That was such a beautiful necklace, please let her hair be up at the state dinner
I thought her hair and makeup looked a mess on her wedding day and her hair looked awful like cousin it when she wore the beautiful necklace.
I agree, I hope she can for once get her hair out of her face and neatly coiffed for the State dinner.
She can leave her hair down, but I wish she would comb is backwards like Princess Madeleine did. I would not even mind her hair extensions, to build up the proper volume.
http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Princess+Madeleine+Nobel+Peace+Prize+Ceremony+-VDfzbVBbrdx.jpg
http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Princess+Madeleine+Nobel+Banquet+Stockholm+7Lh4k8-Pmotx.jpg
But, like the rest of you, I think she would look better with her hair up. Photoshop:
http://41.media.tumblr.com/06fc7f9e57a93eb7c55263e50648ed74/tumblr_nlkuavdupa1tch55to1_1280.jpg
Wowzers r-r, that red dress!
Lol that red dress photo! Kate’s waist is much smaller unfortunately.
And is it just me or is the 2nd link with the Tiara too far back on her head? A tiara has to be placed within a customized ratio according to your face and hairline proportions. Her’s looks too far back.
@bobslaw actually it is Taylor Swift in Elie Saab couture gown (CMA Awards), I just borroved her body and screwed on Kate’s head and a tiara 😀
@r-r & FLORC — Taylor Swift is pretty skinny and I’f I’m not mistaken, taller than Kate too. FLORC’s observation about Kate’s waist being smaller only serves to emphasize the results of Kate’s punishing diet & exercise routine – not healthy, not normal.
You thought her hair & makeup looked a mess on her wedding day? I’m no Kate apologist, but I thought she looked absolutely beautiful that day, just stunning in every way. To each her own I suppose!
I too thought her makeup was too hard-looking on her wedding day. I didn’t think she looked good at all, her face was all makeup coverage. I couldn’t see Kate’s skin and her skin looked like she piled on makeup to cover up bad skin. There was no naturalness coming through and her hair looked home made, stiff. Didn’t like it.
Kaiser! You just want to send me round the bend with ENERGISED, don’t you? Bloody woman. (Katie Bucket, not you.)
Am I the only one who thinks Kate is dealing with some post partum depression right now and we should give her some slack over her schedule. Having two children in two years is tough and she’s under constant scrutiny from the media. I don’t think she eats right, she has no real friends, and all her mom cares about is being “Queen”. Kate probably needs some good medication and a lot of support from her husband (but I doubt she gets that).
There was a weird story about a wedding she was supposed to attend and blew off the last minute.
PPD can not be diagnosed through a screen. If she has it I hope she is getting help.
But she is doing her normal routine. A flurry of engagements at the end of the year. Then back to vacation. Seems to follow their normal pattern. Not deviate.
If the bloom is off the rose I think that’s understandable. Gathering flowers, smiling, and meet-and-greets get boring quick. She’s over it. Just wants to do the bare minimum (like Will) and be beloved for that (like Will). Don’t see why she shoulders all the laziness blame: he’s the actual heir.
How many of us don’t get enough hugs? I think meet and greets would be great!
@Karen,
I think that one of the key problems, if not the key problem, is that neither Will nor Kate like doing bread and butter royal work. I don’t think he’s a workaholic like his father but William has a work ethic. Kate either does not have a work ethic, has not found a sufficient mass of royal related causes that she is passionate about and/or is more interested in and focused on things that not royal work related.
I agree that vis a vis William, Kate has gotten a disproportionate amount of vitriol when it comes to royal work related laziness, but in the past few months I have to say that William has stepped up. I am far from being his biggest fan, and tend to be more sympathetic to Kate if only because I do think that over time she has borne the brunt of the blame for their joint “laziness,” but William’s stock has risen in my eyes. I think that William may have finally found his groove, namely he’s found the right balance between royal work, a “normal” job and having a family life. Overall the jury is still out on William, but from what I’ve seen of him in the past few months, my disapproval level towards him has decreased.
aaa
If we use a measurement on what Kate appears to enjoy or be into regarding royal work it’s Meeting handsome athletes and being around celebrities.
Outside of that she appears to not be interested in a way past the moment and long term.
I haven’t seen Williams work ethic though. Excluding last minute involvement on Harry events and sport events he’s still lacking.
And agree with all saying he is the one who should be more active vs Kate being spotlighted as the laziest. This is mostly due to their PR praising her as an image she has failed to support with actions and reality. Meanwhile William’s actions are laregely unaccounted for and I thinkhe likes it that way.
@FLORC,
This probably makes me an outlier but I am 1000% OK with a significant portion of William and Kate’s royal work being centered around sports, other entertainment and other light-hearted engagements. When it comes to these two quantity has its place and think that the target should be for them to do several joint and individual engagements each month and don’t think that they should feel compelled to have a high ratio of serious engagements.
AAA
I don’t disagree with you, but watching a game isn’t “work”. For now they can sharpen and build skills needed for future positions. Even if they’re involved on some aspects beyond spectating.
IMO watching a match at Wimbledon is not work unless you are the patron, so IMO watching a sports event when you are the patron counts as an official engagement. Watching a sports event when you are the consort of the patron is iffy but I won’t get my knickers in too much of a twist if it is counted as an official engagement for a consort.
aaa – how is watching a game and being entertained “work”? seriously, regular folk PAY to go to these events and consider it the opposite of work.
People go to dinners. sporting events, plays and other entertainment events all the time as part of their jobs.
aaa – try again. yes, people do that, but in the context of doing/negotiating a business deal, wining and dining a client or an office get together and as you said “as PART of their jobs” — operative word “part”. With these 2, entertainment & sporting events comprise a disproportionate amount of their so-called work time. Most people would consider going to a game a “perk” (perque?) – not actual work – and an opportunity to get away from the office.
So I’m supposed to “try again” because you modified your position. #byegirl!
context, aaa, context.
Nope – she’s doing what they normally do, get in a flurry of engagements toward the end of the year to bump their numbers up. This is the pattern since they got married.
Engagements -> vacation -> nothing for 4-5 months => Rinse repeat
She allegedly whinged about the amount of events she did during the Jubilee year – saying it was hectic and exhausting and couldn’t wait till it quietened down. Think she/they did over 100, since then its been kept to well under 100 per year for the pair of them and was before the children came along.
Betti – it’s not alleged. There is video evidence of her whinging about her ‘busy’ year and the hope that it would quieten down later. She probably thought she was being cute, but as usual, it was tone deaf.
PS: did you see Camilla’s press call out advocating for better response to sexual violence today? They also mentioned her rape kit initiative news again.
Lak – thanks i wasn’t sure if it was correct or not as i couldn’t remember if there was any evidence of it (the old memory is going). She has a tendency to speaking before thinking.
Yes – am so pleased that a) this is something that a member of the BRF is really getting behind and driving it media wise; and b) she’s getting some credit for her behind the scenes work, of which she does a lot. Plus those after examination wash kits are such a really really good idea – its the small things that make the biggest impact.
Camilla was also out giving Marlon James (yay!) the Booker Prize yesterday. Imagine Katie Bucket introducing the Booker winner…
… or rather, don’t!
Sixer: Camilla also has a reading initiative and is frequently seen at engagements that promote reading, for all levels and all ages, so her handing out the Booker wasn’t the usual case of rolling out royalty to get news hits (not that the Booker needs it)
As for Katie Bucket, going by her conversation AND reading skills (she repeatedly mispronounces words of charity work she’s supposedly, keenly, closer to her heart patrons!) i’m not convinced she reads at all. I’d have been furious if they’ wheeled her out.
Yes, she does the shared reading thing, doesn’t she? Of ’em all, I don’t mind Camilla. All her initiatives are good ones and she hits the right note on all her interactions.
I’d believe this more if she went from doing a ton (a real ton, not a fake Katie ton) of events before she had kids to zilch after. But she’s doing the same lame job of one or two events followed by long breaks of nothing that she did after the wedding and before kids. It’s just continued laziness on her part.
She’s been attending a bunch of sports events that no one forced on her. She didn’t look depressed to me there (nor during that fancy christening parade). It hasn’t stopped her from exercising, shopping or fussing with her hair. Or is she just smiling through her tears?
She’s just a sloth. Why is that so hard to believe? Human sloths happen in nature; she’s living proof.
@ Hmmmm…..This is in no way a defense of Kate, but sloths barely move. Kate does keep busy, just not with the activities that are expected of her. She shouldn’t be knocked for staying fit, even if she is a little too thin. Or was your statement sardonic hyperbole?
@ hmmm
She might be a sloth. Or she might be calculating and be purposefully on negative behaviour. The first is human nature – well, you don’t have to like them. The latter is purposeful malice and that is disgusting.
Az
I don’t think anyone here is saying Kate is a sloth flat out. Rather when it comes to her work ethic she slows to barely a crawl.
We can all move with busy work and find actions to fill our days. It doesn’tean we’re not unproductive.
Elisabeth
The PPD talk came up on commentor threads after the “reclusive Kate” article hit. As a justification for why she wasn’t working and was called reclusive.
The reality is different. Kate has been out and about on a regular basis consistently since both births. It’s just not work related so it’s not covered in the press heavily. She’s been seen shopping, at polo, at sports spectating, and weekly shopping and hair trips. Also, the Jolie Pitt tea time, the Yacht event that was canceled, but Kate went anyways, and many shopping trips sporting events.
PPD would make sense if we exclude those times and only focus on how she appears to not leave her house for work. And when she started showing up for events right before this upcoming vacation that theory took a blow being countered by her own actions.
IMO it’s shameful the PPD excuse caught on since there’s no valid points to support it. It’s a serious condition. Unfortunately it’s the latest excuse to explain why Kate doesn’t work. There has always been atleast 1 excuse at all times.
So, when you look at the full picture and not just what is selected by the press Kate has never appeared sad or disconnected from her children. Only bored and only when she has to work a more serieous event. Outside of that small window she’s animated and active.
But unless people are experts in PPD they (imo) need to stop arm chair diagnosing this repetition of lack of duty. Because she’s acted the same way long before giving birth.
@FLORC, do you happen to have any links to back up your assertions that she has still been keeping up with the weekly hair/shopping trips? And a link to something sent out by Jenny Packham claiming her clothes “weren’t as bad” as they appeared on Kate? I just find it hard to believe that a designer of Jenny’s caliber would say something so publicly tacky and alienating to such a high-profile client.
And aside from this day in the link below, I believe the only “unofficial” / off-duty photos that we’ve seen of Kate in months have been at places like the farm and playground with George. I don’t necessarily doubt that what you’re saying is true, but it is odd that I would not remember having seen any of this because I follow Kate pretty closely (although I have been more than disappointed in her lately…). This is the shopping trip I recall but it specifically says her hair was looking gray so I’m not sure how you can reconcile the two…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2914915/What-difference-day-makes-Kate-Duchess-looks-sorts-trip-shops-transformed-returns-duty.html
Charlotte15, no footnotes required here. We all read in different places and have long memories. It may be that you’re following her closely on fan blogs and twitters, not the more critical ones that make note of the shopping and hair excursions. Packham also made public comments about the red outfit that flew up and showed the world full-frontal to the waist in NZ. She does comment publicly on her clothes and how they are worn.
Her hair color and style keeps changing, sometimes the grays are visible sometimes they aren’t. It has been speculated that she may allow the grays to show deliberately sometimes, as a PR move to gain sympathy for the “run off her feet SAHM”. When you pay $300 a pop for someone to put your hair half-up in a ponytail for an engagement, that person will tell you when the grays are showing.
Since they’re rumored to go to Mustique in November before Christmas vacation it isn’t surprising they’re doing a flurry of engagements to get their good will in (and court circular numbers up) before another extended break.
Off topic: why does this veil remind me of a net curtain….?
For some reason, Kate manages to make a lot of things she wears appear cheap or lesser quality. I’m not sure why?
I think she lacks style. I just don’t find her elegant or stylish at all.
That reminds me of when Jenny Packham(?) put out a letter on how the clothes weren’t as bad as they appeared on Kate. It was sort of funny.
IMO Kate’s posture needs desperate improvement and the hair is just too much. Her original hair is fine. No need imo to add more.
@evermore – i agree, she doesn’t know how to wear clothes and jewels, in fact they wear her. Its a mix of that hair, how she carries herself and a general lack of style. If she carried herself with a bit more confidence it would help somewhat. I sometimes think she isn’t really comfortable with what she wears to public events.
Look at Wallis Simpson, now there was a woman who knew how to wear jewels – she had style and knew how to carry it all elegantly and with grace. I have never seen a photo of Wallis looking dull or dreary – she ALWAYS looked great. She had impeccable style and taste.
@Betti
I agree with you about Wallis Simpson. There was a true fashion icon. She wasn’t a beautiful woman IMO but she had charisma, confidence and could wear the heck out of her Cartier et al jewels. And she came from a poor family situation so she was forced to work for a living early on until she became a social climber later on. Having an adoring husband and a non-Klingon mother might have helped Wallis as well unlike Kate’s situation.
There are lots of things to criticize about Kate, including this whirlwind of exhausting work. (We should all tell our bosses that two days of work that include fancy dinners are all that can be expected of us before we go collapse on a fainting couch while the maid serves us a restorative martini.)
However – complaining about her hairstyle when she does get the important jewels feels like we are really stretching it here. No idea why Kate doesn’t wear important jewels more often but I would seriously question the theory that HM didn’t like Kate’s hair. That sounds petty. And doesn’t Kate gave access to whatever William inherited from his mom, like the sapphire ring?
I think many of the jewels Diana had were Spencer family heirlooms that went to her brother on her death anything else was given to family members – Wills and Harry got to pick a few pieces but am not sure of the particulars of the will or how many were her own personal belongings. There was a Cartier watch and of course the ring, both of which she wears – Diana actually wanted Harry to get her engagement ring as it was in her will and Willy got the watch but now Waity has both which is not fair to whoever Harry marries.
In fairness, Waity might have gotten whichever piece belongs to Harry from Harry himself. It was his to give or loan and he seems like the type to do so. If/when he gets engaged it could be returned to Harry.
I doubt Harry even knew the ring was gone since it seems he, like the rest of the RF, wasn’t told about the engagement until hours before the interview. Class act, our William.
She’ll never get her hands on the Spencer tiara because it belongs to the Earl of Spencer. I doubt she’ll be given the Cambridge Love Knot because it’s too closely tied to Diana.
If she goes, she’ll probably be given her wedding tiara because Will is too cheap to commission one for her on his own dime.
Since she has the ring of doom, I hope Harry’s wife receives the gobstopper sapphire/multi-strand pearl choker necklace.
Every time there is a big occasion that Kate may be invited to, I always hope that she doesn’t show up in that necklace because there is every possibility that she might do so.
The boys shared Diana’s personal jewels, and that necklace was her personal stash.
It’s alleged Harry never knew that Prince Normal gave Kate The BigBlue. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s true.
Bill is a miser who loves freebies. And it’s not like the kitty’s empty. I’ve yet to hear of any substantial gift from him to Normal Mother.
I’ve also seen it alleged that it the ring wasn’t Harry’s either, so I don’t know what to believe any more. I have decided to not care instead.
After Diana died, the boys went to KP to get a few things. Will picked the Cartier watch & Harry picked BigBlue. I’m not sure what the will states though.
bluhare, if you believe Burrell’s account, they were allowed to choose one thing at the time of her death. William chose first and picked the watch. Harry chose second and chose the ring.
I’m in the camp of the BRF being surprised by the engagement, including Harry being surprised by the ring.
CoSquared, many of Diana’s original wishes with her will were overridden. Gifts to godchildren and other things were changed by the executors.
Ah – i thought it was in the will but it’s likely what COS said, they got to pick one piece each. As for Willy just taking it – that’s mean on many levels but I wouldn’t be surprised if she asked for it (indirectly of course).
Ooh you’ve just jogged(?) my memory, Nota. Weren’t the godchildren supposed to receive cash & other inheritances from Diana’s estate and it turns out they received zilch?
CoSquared
Ugh! Diana’s Will included her causes and godchildren. That her will was rewritten to exclude so many parts Diana held close was horrible. Also, wasn’t Harry intended to receive more because being the spare he’d have access to less than William, but William after the Will edits got more?
My post disappeared. She wrote a Letter of Wishes and signed it the same day as the will. The executors, including one of her sisters and her mother, ignored it. It gave one quarter of her “chattels” to her godchildren. Disputes raged over what constituted chattels.
Nota,Florc:Makes me wonder if Diana’s sisters & co. personally pocketed what would should have been given to others… LAK: Weren’t the Greville jewels personally bequeathed to QEQM? Also, thank heavens Camz has a head & neck that can carry huge pieces. I can’t see Kate pulling off the Honeycomb tiara, Greville jewels & those Saudi diamond breastplates(those should be dismantled into tiaras,imo).
I assume Big Blue was in a vault along with Diana’s personal jewels that William was able to take it rather than being in Harry’s possession. Because other than his asking Harry for the ring, how would he have been able to get it without Harry’s consent or knowledge?
And I hope to someday see that gorgeous showstopper of the sapphire and pearl choker make its reappearance, and hopefully around the neck of Harry’s bride.
Cosquared: yes, the Grenville jewels were bequeathed to the QM personally. Charles inherited a lot of her jewels. Since they keep turning up on Camilla, I assume he inherited the Grenville Parure amongst them.
As an aside, Charles was always generous to his women as far as jewellery is concerned. Obviously not as generous as David, but I enjoy this fetish of his.
@ Feeshalori
It depends on in whose vault BigBlue had been. Perhaps there was some family vault to which William had access.
Nevertheless it is quite interesting that Kate hasn’t yet managed to wrangle a tiara of her own out of her husbands pockets despite giving birth to two children.
I am sure Carole would love such a royal status symbol.
Yes, I agree that it seems whatever vault BB was in, William had freedom to access without any problem. But I can’t imagine him tiptoeing through Granny’s bedroom to access a private jewel vault where she stashed Diana’s jewels if she kept them. But most likely not. Now the image of a protective corgi on guard duty hanging onto his trouser leg makes me chuckle!
I cannot wait for the backlash our dear Sausage Princess is going to get after the State Dinner..My bitchey senses are tingling. **sips tea**
As long as Kate wants to keep the high school prom hair, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot or any other highly ornate tiara would, unfortunately, look ridiculous.
I’m hoping for halo or palm. I don’t want the Cambridge to be seen again for two generations. It was too much Diana’s signature piece, like the pearl and sapphire choker mentioned above.
For all concerned to spare the comparisons, it shouldn’t be worn until PGTips has a daughter or daughter-in-law. Give time and space for memories to fade. There are plenty of other tiaras to be worn from the BRF collection.
Speaking of the large tiara collection, I thought they’re circulated according to HM’s wishes, but other sources of information say some families more distantly related from HM, control certain collections.
I think Diana had better access to the collection because of her background as a Spencer.
It depends on the branch of the RF. Kent & Gloucester branches’ collections are based on George V & Mary bequests as the 2 dukes’ parents were G & M offspring. HM controls jewel handouts of her own descendants. The same will happen to Charles & his descendants compared to PC’s siblings & their descendants when Charles becomes king.
It would be interesting to know more details of how and where some jewels ended up after the abdication crisis of Edward VIII.
I agree, NOTA. The Cambridge tiara needs to stay in the vault.
The only piece of jewelry I believe that Wallis wore that was of Windsor origin was a 2 strand pearl choker. I think there were earrings that Wallis had. In general, the BRF jewels were unaffected by the crisis. Assets like Sandringham & Balmoral(George VI had to buy both from EVIII) were more affected by the crisis.
@Citresse,
Edward did keep some royal jewels / stones and had jewelry made for Wallis, he also gifted her with other jewelry throughout their marriage. Many of her jewels were auctioned off with the proceeds going to charity after her death.
There are also things like the Greville jewels, which went personally to the Queen Mum iirc. Some were given to Princess Elizabeth as gifts through the years by her parents, but others may have been left directly to Margaret or Charles too. Camilla has worn the massive Greville tiara and it suits her.
Nota: Camilla often wears the rest of the pieces of the Grenville Parure. The tiara that you’ve mentioned, the 5 strand diamond necklace recently worn at a dinner celebrating the Iron Duke – that’s the first time she’s worn all 5 strands, normally she only wears 3, the bracelet and earrings are also frequently worn at different times, and I think (though I could be wrong) that Camilla’s engagement ring is also part of the set.
My understanding is that the Queen Mother willed the Greville jewels to her daughter Queen Elizabeth in her capacity as Queen and they are now part of the royal collection. I think doing it that way was the most advantageous when it came to taxes.
Camilla gets to wear a lot more tiaras and bigger tiaras than Kate. I think it is not just the occasion. Kate can be bribed with holidays and clothes, so why does the Queen not bribe Kate with loaned tiaras?
I wonder if that means something.
Camilla is the most senior royal woman after the Queen and as such her tiara, the Greville tiara, is a big gun tiara. She wore the impressive Delhi Durbar tiara only once and that was to her first tiara event, since then she has either worn the Greville tiara or her family tiara.
If anyone is being favored it’s Sophie and even that is a question mark, Sophie has worn multiple tiaras but I don’t think that they were all from the royal collection, a couple may have been loans from jewelers or a personal acquisition.
Sophie is an HM favorite, but the odd wedding tiara still shows her husband’s position to the throne. Yes, it is made out of old bits of something of Queen Victoria’s but it isn’t winning any jewelry design awards. Another poster on here, ArtHistorian, may have some choice words to write about it. Or maybe she prefers to forget it exists
She has a necklace tiara with one center aqua that appeared a few years ago. I think that may have been a brand new gift from the family firm, but I don’t think it has ever been revealed. She wore another aqua tiara which someone (Order of Splendor?) eventually figured out the Queen had worn once in Canada decades ago.
I think Sophie’s wedding tiara works as a wedding tiara and a starter tiara, personally I like it better than the aquamarine (royal collection) tiara but the aquamarine is blingier. Has Sophie been seen in her wedding tiara since she started wearing the aquamarine (royal collection) tiara? If not it looks like she was allowed to do a swap but still only has access to one royal collection tiara. The other aquamarine tiara, the one that doubles as a necklace, looks like a loaner, gift or personal acquisition.
Re Kate if she attends the upcoming state dinner, it’ll be interesting to see if she wears the Halo Scroll tiara, Lotus Flower/Papyrus tiara or something else. I am hoping for the Lotus Flower/Papyrus tiara, from what was visible when she previously wore the tiara, I think she looked good in it.
Sophie’s wedding tiara is a horror. Full stop!! Not because it is small but because it is an extremely bad design! It is an example of a designed from disparate elements without much thought to structure. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the central element hadn’t been elevated – it would have been more symmetrical and visually pleasing if all three elements were similar and at the same height.
It ought to be dismantled pronto. It is absolutely the worst tiara that I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen more than a few!
http://royalista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/7.01419712.jpg
Here’s a close-up:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRrYBNQb-bw/TnVjsNR9r3I/AAAAAAAADes/S2RBDKibt54/s1600/Sophie+Wessex+Wedding+Tiara+Close+Up.jpg
I quite like the tiara with the large aquamarine that also can be worn as a necklace. I love aquamarines and the design has a slightly art deco feel. I also like convertible jewellery that can be worn in many different ways.
I would love to know more about it – like who made it and when?
https://theroyalpost.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/sophie11.jpg
Sophie has also worn another aquamarine tiara, which sadly isn’t an entirely successful design:
http://whatkatewore.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Princesss-Madeleine-Wedding-Sophie-of-Wesses-Head-Shot-Aquamarine-Tiara-June-6-2013-Splash-555-x-500-.jpg
AH, we are united in our appreciation of Mary’s Midnight Tiara and in our dislike of Sophie’s wedding tiara. They could have used the three pointed elements to make a shorter but matching tiara. The rounded center bottom element could have been converted to a brooch to pin her orders in place, keeping the set together.
It also looks like the frame isn’t the correct shape. It is circular but the elements are basically flat. It might look better if the front of the frame was gently shaped like half a hexagram.
I like the single aqua one of Sophie’s too. It reminds me of Mathilde of Belgium’s laurel wreath necklace tiara. That new 5 aqua one? I can see why HM put it back in the vault for several decades. It looks designed for bigger/taller hair. It might be more appealing if Sophie styled her hair differently, instead of the bare frame sticking up so far from her head.
The Midnight Tiara is indeed gorgeous – I love the use of moonstones and tiny tiny diamond clusters – as well as the use of different metals and surface textures. It is a wonderful piece of jewellery.
http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.dk/2011/11/tiara-thursday-midnight-tiara.html
https://tiarasandtrianon.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/midnatsdiadem.jpg?w=474&h=263
I recently came across a photo of a modern tiara designed by Cindy Chao who works in an organic, slightly art nouveau style – just with plenty of sparkling diamonds. It is a very beautiful floral tiara, mounted on a wide comb instead of a conventional armature. Sadly, I havn’t found any pictures of it worn.
Cindy Chao’s Four Seasons Maple Tiara (from the Black Label Masterpiece Collection):
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/0b/9c/a0/0b9ca0a13e988a215e8f7dc685b73a1b.jpg
http://thedreamteam.fr/wp-content/uploads/Product-Image-CINDY-CHAO-The-Art-Jewel-2014-Black-Label-Masterpiece-14_Four-Seasons-Collection-Maple-Tiara-side.jpg
That Chao is lovely. It would be more like a headband or the way the Halo was designed to be worn, right?
The Midnight line of jewelry from the Midnight Tiara designer is VERY tempting.
I hope George gets to see Shaun the Sheep too!
He’s probably ordered (and received) the director’s cut!
Kate’s hair and hair extensions sometimes added in, just look a mess to me. She looks unfinished with all that messy hair hanging in her face and her hand flipping it out of her face is annoying.
Post Partum Depression could explain those god awful bangs.
But she tried the gringe/fringe/bangs look back in 2012 and her comment back then was she was unsure about the look. Kate’s style is so unusual. She gets it so right at times but then looks frumpy, dowdy and downright silly at other times.
I have gone around and around on the bangs/no bangs thing myself. I got them and hated them like immediately (I was still in the salon!). Grew them out, and then a few years later started seeing a lot of people with bangs and thinking “Maybe this time it will be different!” Yeah, no. So perhaps if she’s changed stylists or a slightly different style, she might think they’ll work this time.
GreenGirl
Bangs are rarely a good idea.
And I think Kate has only changed stylist once because he was known for extensions and outed her as a client. Though not admitting he gave her extentsions it’s a logical leap.
And a seperate oncall traveling stylist.
She didn’t just change stylists after that. He was fired from that salon immediately following the public extensions debate.
Nota
Correct he was fired, but wasn’t he also branching out on his own? Naming his clients like he was going to publicly call them out and they’d follow him after doing so? Or maybe i’m remembering it wrong. That he was best known for being great with extensions and having Kate in a salon for several hours once a week seems damning she hasn’t been sporting only her own hair.
She has a regrettable fondness for mid-length sleeves, than which there is no likelier way to reduce an otherwise lovely dress to dowdy frumpiness. Sleeveless, cap sleeves, three-quarter sleeves, or full-length – never those awful mid-upper arm. Re the Lover’s Knot tiara – mmm it might be a good PR move as it was soooo associated with Diana, it’s the first tiara the Queen gave to Diana. But OTOH it also might draw an unfavorable comparison regarding work ethic…
I thought Kate’s hair looked nice on her wedding day. It was worn back away from her face which is her best look when it’s down, and it looked darker and shorter (the way it was curled). I don’t know if a dark rinse was put in her hair or if it’s just the colour contrast with the white, but IMO it looked darker. The darker hair suits Kate.
I recently watched a very interesting documentary about the abdication crisis and it talked a lot about the different personalities of the brothers and what struck me was that they could have been talking about Normal Bill and Harry. History is repeating itself with these 2 and there will be another abdication crisis – Willy is practically the reincarnation of Edward VIII.
King George VI/Harry
Both have a very strong sense of duty, very family orientated and were just good people.
Edward VIII/Normal Bill
Both were womanisers, lazy, not particularly intelligent, thought they knew best, wanted to do things their way, bare min of duties/engagements, willful and arrogant. Both wanted the easy and privileged life that the money and titles gave. Edward VIII lied to his brother about his financial situation (hid the wealth he gained from being PoW) and a result got a substantial yearly pension that let him and Wallis live a VERY comfortable lifestyle.
I watched that too and thought the same…..worrying. I have a feeling there is a crisis coming soon for the house of Windsor – and like politics its not always the common enemy they need to fear (i.e the opposition) people can be the architects of their own downfall….
Just realized i wrote in past tense – oopsie.
Yes something will give with them and it won’t be pretty for the Dolittles. I just hope it happens before he gets to the throne.
I read a biography on Edward VIII and I could have sworn that the author was describing Will. I think that there will be a lot of changes to the monarchy and the commonwealth after the Queen passes away.
I have noticed the parallels between Edward VIII and William too, but William is nowhere near the problem that Edward VIII was when it comes to “the woman he loves” or his fitness to be King. I don’t think that William will be a great King but I don’t see him leaving state papers strewn about like his great-great uncle did, along with consorting with high ranking officials from a country that the UK is on the verge of war with.
With William, will there be an abdication? Yes IMO.
With William, will there be an abdication crisis? No IMO.
I’m one of those people that’s in the camp that the ‘woman he loves’ story was a PR cover for the real reason he was forced to go – his very strong Nazi sympathies and the fear that he would have given the country to Hitler on a silver plate, he wanted to ally Britain with Germany. When Hitler died he said that it was a sad day for Europe as Hitler was a great man. In 1940 one high ranking Nazi official (German Ambassador to The Hague) claimed that he gave them Allied plans for the defence of Belgium – it wasn’t the only one and they have been covered up. I think it was Churchill that had dossiers on him destroyed to protect the royal family so we will never know the extend of what he was doing. There was more than 1 reason for keeping him away from the UK.
As for Wallis – not sure where her sympathies lay, I don’t know if she was a feverant supporter of the Nazis as he was.
There are other posters who know more about this than me.
There were concerns about Edward even before his father died with his father being one of those raising concerns.
Edward wanting to marry a woman with two living husbands was definitely a problem in and of itself but I agree that “the establishment” had other concerns. IMO it was not merely that he was a Nazi admirer, there were plenty of those running around Britain, the U.S. and other countries, but Edward was seen by some as mentally unbalanced, reckless, stubborn but at the same time very popular. Most of Edward’s serious offenses involving Hitler and the Nazis happened after he abdicated and IMO served as more of a confirmation that he was unfit to be King.
Wallis was allegedly sleeping with a high ranking Nazi and it was not always clear if the information the Nazis was getting came from Edward directly or if Wallis was passing on information that she obtained via Edward and his resources.
Betti
As much as I hated to find it out Wallis-Simpson was a big supporter/sympathiser and played a significant role in David/Edwards choices.
And I think you’re right that Churchill did have much destroyed to protect the image.
Regarding William… No crisis unless a crisis forms like WW2 did.
He wants to coast along and i’m curious if that would be at all possible as the Queen constantly has engagements that is built into a Monarchs station.
Maybe something more like he’s requested to step aside and is given a large pillow to ease his fall from the throne? Although imo it’s ego with him and a loss of control. The press would almost have to destroy him for the next in line to be boasted about.
PBS had a documentary earlier this year about Wallis SImpson and how she did not want to marry Edward. In fact, she was going to leave, only Edward blindsided her by announcing before she could tell him she was going, so she was essentially stuck. At least according to letters she wrote to Ernest Simpson.
It was really interesting, and shed an entirely different light on the “love story of the 20th century”.
@bluhare,
I did not see the PBS documentary, I’ll have to try and find it, but based on other things I read/watched, Wallis got in over her head with David/Edward VIII. At first Wallis was flattered that the Prince of Wales took a liking to her, and she really liked getting lavish gifts from him, but dealing with him became exhausting. Wallis hoped that the relationship with Edward would eventually run its course but in the meantime she would play along and collect a bunch of loot and when the time came she would turn her attention back to her husband. I think that Ernest Simpson and Wallis also expected to get titles when Edward became King. What ended up happening was Wallis and Edward’s affair became public and Ernest Simpson fell in love with another woman and wanted to end his marriage. Wallis had to contend with the bizarre problem of being a woman in her forties with two failed marriages and with whom the King of England was madly in love with.
I don’t think that in 1936 that Wallis loved David nearly as much as he loved her, and his love for her was not a healthy kind, but I think that Wallis, in her own way, came to love him. There was a “love story” there but it was a complex and twisted one.
Bluhare
I find this story around her interesting and revealing. That every few years another layer peels away and more of a picture comes out.
I bet she felt stuck for a few reasons, but not without love. In other letters she writes about how sad she is that she can’t lighten his spirits and if she was stuckk without love I doubt those thoughts would have come out as they did. Or be on her mind enough to write down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwZnXcDaDvo
I think this is it.
From Wallis’ letters we know that she didn’t want to divorce Mr. Simpson and marry the King. She wanted to be a royal mistress. I also think that Edward was exhausting to deal with. Because of her rather tumultuous past, I also think that she wanted to keep the security in being Mrs. Simpson. However, neither man could accept the situation.
I saw a documentary where one man who knew them both said: “She was tough as nails and she didn’t love him”. However, he did credit her with saving the British monarchy since Edward abdicated because of her.
Is it in CB’s contract they must have a Duchess Kathy story every single day even if it is she woke up and got out of bed. The dailies would be more interesting if they were more substantive…like wait three days and have a three in one special. There you go.
It’s in waves. Sometimes daily and multiples and sometimes not. Same with K threads. Sometimes lots with a week or more of nothing. It’s all in what you pay attention to and what other news is happening. For a while it was all Cumby/Hiddles all the time.
Don’t give them your clicks or comments. That’s what keeps stuff going on the interwebs.
When I read “interwebs” I heard the late Ted Stevens yell “A series of Tubes!” and it always makes me giggle.
The Spencer Tiara belongs to the Spencer family, NOT the British Royal Family, and def. not to the Diana’s children. While Diana was alive she was allowed to wear it, but it never was hers. Its her brother’s as he is the Earl and its his to pass down to future Spencers.
So no, Kate Dolittle can’t wear it, unless Earl Spencer decides to loan it to her (which I highly doubt). I don’t know what the DM suggested that and they are incorrect in their statement that Wills Dolittle and Harry inherited the tiara.
I am pretty sure Kate Dolittle to malign any tiara she is given to wear which too much hair touching anyway. IF she even bothers to wear a Tiara. Are the shops closed in London that say or something? Or is did her hair appointment fall through? Is that how she somehow managed to find time to go to a State Banquet?
I have a question… why the female royal doesn´t get to wear tiaras much often? Eugenie and Beatrice doesn´t have one?
I ask because theres so many photos of Letizia of Spain and others monarchies wearing them.
In these times, a royal wears a tiara during state banquets(4 the most per annum) and military corps balls. It would be highly frowned upon if royals donned tiaras every other week. Re:BeaEug. These 2 are private members of the RF & won’t attend tiara events. To be honest, some RF’s have more tiara events than others so you’ll find tons Victoria of Sweden wearing a tiara than Sophie Wessex. The BRF has few occasions to wear 1.
So I guess they’d be pretty upset to find out I wear mine while walking the dog.
Check out the European RFs – the Swedes and the Danes have many tiara events. I also think that the Dutch have them too – and Queen Maxima really rotates the many tiaras of the Dutch collection.
The Lux’s have an impressive collection too.
The two Chance UK events sounds like it might be in the same building. It sounds like first she’ll get a short tour of the facilities including a meet-and-greet and then followed by a small party. If they count this has 2 or 3 work credits, then they are really dumbing things down for her.
For those who say she has PPD, then where is the evidence that she’s getting treatment for it? Why would she keep this quiet but allow the HG rumor to go around unstopped? Is PPD embarrassing? She has what? About 5 patronages? She can’t add PPD awareness as her sixth?
Both rumours have been ‘allowed’ to propagate and somewhat take hold as they create sympathy for her and serve as a built in excuse for doing nothing. The only time she addressed a rumour was the ‘childhood scar’ one where the press picked up on what looked like a bad weave (thou i still think it was).
She cares about her image – they don’t complain about things that may give them sympathy, they only complain about the things that make them look bad.
Anne_000: that sounds like her aborted Malta tour where she was going to be credited for entering a building, walking across a courtyard within the same building complex, and finally re-entering a different building in the same complex. 3 events, Voila!!
Realistically Dolittle thinks she is doing a great job with so many many engagements. After all, in her opinion each handshake is an engagement.
Well, two is a ton more than she normally does in a month.
The DM ran another piece on Sophie Wessex and discussed some of the work she does and the charities she is attached to. She seems deeply involved, caring and goes way beyond being a “figurehead” who makes fleeting appearances at events. On a much more superficial level, the photos really did her justice. She looks even better as she gets older and is a natural beauty – minimal make up, no obvious surgical tweaks.
English is not my first language, so please be kind.
In our country in one of the ASEAN nation, we love Princess Catherine, we actually adore her.
But, as you may know, we know very little of the princess duty and she’s not very often showing in public to do charity or any works that concern helping people or create a better world, unfortunately she’s only came to posh party, polo or even to the Harry potter studio to do some photo op with other royals.
Even on her royal duty seems exclusive because she’s only care about sports (LOL) not that wrong, but, she can do more than that and attending banquet dinner or any light engagements including climbing or gardening LOL
She seems more exclusive than Princess Di, which is absolutely loved by so many people in here, because of tons of charity works, her genuine smile and actually, done something with her status. Of course, no one is perfect but we hope Princess Catherine, she need to understand how fortunate she is, and with her power she can do more, to help people, saving the endanger wild animal or anything that she can do, to make the world as a better place to call home.
That was a lovely post, mimi. Welcome.
Well said, Mimi.
@MIMI, considering English is not your first language I think you did an excellent job expressing your thoughts! Your last sentence says it all.
I know i’m impressed by that sentence structure!
I will pet peeve this “Princess Catherine” though. Outside of that I agree with you. She might not know how fortunate she is and her actions come across less genuine than Dianas.
There’s room for improvement and that’s not a bad thing unless there’s never a will to improve.