Duchess Kate celebrated her 34th birthday on Saturday. I always forget that she’s a January baby. She’s a January birthday girl who gave birth to two summer babies! There’s no word yet on what Kate did for her big birthday, although I’ll say this… after you turn 30, you really don’t feel like celebrating any more birthdays. At least that’s how I felt. Like, “Nope, maybe if I don’t celebrate it, it’s not really happening.” My guess is that Kate probably had some kind of quiet day with William, her children, her parents and maybe her siblings. Possibly everybody came to Anmer Hall for a birthday party? I know Pippa and James returned from their tropical vacation a few days ago, so they might have come back early to celebrate with Kate. And Buckingham Palace even sent out a birthday message via Twitter:
Wishing The Duchess of Cambridge @KensingtonRoyal a very happy birthday! #HappyBirthdayHRH pic.twitter.com/BQh4HxZs3o
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) January 9, 2016
Meanwhile, on Friday, Kensington Palace announced that Will and Kate would be adding another country to their April tour. We already knew that the Cambridges would be heading to India in April, and now they’ve added Bhutan to the same tour. But… George and Charlotte will not be coming with them. Just as well. George would have caused an international incident by punching a yogi.
She is known as the Dragon Queen and the most glamorous woman in the Orient. He has been dubbed The Prince Charming of the Himalayas, a ruler with the populist touch who is known to invite his subjects into his home for tea and a chat. And this spring the young King and Queen of Bhutan, dubbed the ‘William and Kate of the Orient’, will host the real Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on an official visit on behalf of the British Government.
The hugely-anticipated visit will coincide with the couple’s previously announced tour of India and is likely to take place in April. Revealed by Kensington Palace today it has already prompted much excitement in Bhutan (which means Land of the Thunder Dragon), a tiny and remote kingdom nestling in the Himalayas between India and China.
Although William and Kate are leaving their own children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, behind when they embark on the trip, there will no doubt be much baby banter as the Bhutanese rulers are expecting their first child, a son, in a matter of weeks. Royal aides say the Duke and Duchess are looking forward to the trip – their first – to such a ‘fascinating’ country.
I for one am looking forward to what Will and Kate get up to in India, and now Bhutan. The photos should be great, although I hope they forgo the obvious “posing together in front of the Taj Mahal” photo-op. There’s a lot of amazing work being done in India on women’s rights and anti-rape/anti-sexual violence. But Kate seems to avoid those kinds of initiatives. We’ll see!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Didn’t expect Kate and Wills would bring the children.
If April is known as rainy season, particularly in Bhutan, then we won’t get great photos of fashions outdoors except for the latest in trench coats etc….
ps- for anyone interested in viewing photo released from a private dinner last August attended by Kate and Wills, go to hrhduchesskate(dot)blogspot(dot)ca
Well at least when she’s wearing coats there’s less of a chance of flashing innocent bystanders!
Guess its a holiday away from the kids for baby no. 3 then.
Well at least at today’s ceremony marking Galipoli she turned up and behaved appropriately and the mop was up, even thou she wore another brand new Michael Kors outfit that looks just like the one she wore on Christmas day. Someone should have told Pippa that a mid thigh length outfit isn’t appropriate but she must be desperate to catch Harry’s eye 😉 Thou her grasping family were there, Sly Bill must’ve chucked his toys outta the pram to get them an invite, didn’t any other in-laws there. He’s really pushing them hard isn’t he. At least the Fail article focused on the commemoration, rather than what Katie Bucket wore and how she looked.
Sorry for the snark – hungover and in no mood to be nice to twit and twat.
I was wondering who that was showing up in a mini coat dress? It was really Pippa? It didn’t seem to look like her from the side view (DM photos).
It was her – there are a few down near the bottom of the article that are more clearer. One must make the most of whatever occasion to look good and show off our best assets in the great titled, wealthy husband hunt.
Who is the younger gentleman walking beside Carole? (DM photos). The (indoor since we’re off season) UK pool boy?
The DM Is stirring the pot…. “Michael Middleton leaves the service with a female friend.”
The female friend looks like an aide or lady in waiting to me, but can’t be sure. Can someone ID?
Young woman walking with Michael looks like Emilia d’ErLanger (friend of WK) whilst the older lady in red is indeed a LIW.
Overall, most of the people walking with them are the usual suspects that hangout with William minus the more notorious ones like Guy Pelly or Tom Staubenzee (sp?).
(Hoping this isn’t a serious Royal Knowledge Fail . . .) Isn’t the older woman in the red coat Margaret Rhodes? She wrote a book, as she and HM are cousins and friends.
Bluhare: Margaret Rhodes is retired these days.
That looks like Diana, Lady Farnham.
Sigh. And here I thought I had a great factoid!! They look sort of alike though don’t they? I hope she’s well; she looks a little ill I thought,.
Bluhare: yes they do. Margaret Looks very old these days. She seems to have aged more than HM even though they are more or less the same age.
My *favourite LIW is always Lady Susan Hussey. It makes me giggle how they all seem to be afraid of her.
*meaning she’s perfected the art of being regal and imperious. Everybody behaves better around her. They all seem to stand up straighter, no fidgeting. Best foot forward.
At first I thought she was wearing a coat over another (very short) outfit but when I saw your post calling it a coat dress I looked again. It is indeed a very short coat dress. It’s nice, if only it were a couple inches longer.
LAK, someone over at Duchess Kate ID’d her as Mary Morrison, one of the queen’s ladies in waiting.
Bluhare: yep. double checked. That’s Mary Morrison.
Don’t know how i could have mistaken the two ladies. Diana is bigger and usually styles herself like Camilla.
It’s funny that Pippa is still dressing in as eye popping a fashion.
Kate, by comparison, has toned down her clothing. She’s not trying to be seen anymore. It happens with everyone thrust into the spotlight, including celebrities. At first they dress for maximum media advantage, but as time goes on, except for special occasions, they tone down their peacock tendencies.
Pippa on the otherhand doesn’t appear to have received the memo. She’s seriously failing the aristo husband hunting class based on visual presentation!!!!
She’s also failing the fitting in with country aristos class. Grrl needs to tone it down pronto!!
Pippa is no spring chicken re- the aristo husband hunting game.
Either she’s super choosy or she’s (once you really get to know her) not a great catch, or a bit of both.
yes, thigh high, mini dress -for church- is a bit *extra* Reminds me of the bright, hot pink dress at that country wedding, remember? After the gun incident, article after article suggested that ‘pippa is lying low’ and what did she do? Put a bucket of flowers on her head like she was chiquita banana, throw on a pink copy of her sister’s engagement dress and stare into the pap’s camera like a fame-ho on a mission from Pemberley.
maybe this James Matthews isn’t (yet) on board with pippa-as-wife, so she’s still trolling?
Regardless of the type of person Pippa is she’s tainted by her grasping family – aristo’s will give her a wide bearth, same goes for James. Kate in a way ruined it for her siblings with the big catch, the royal connections are not enough for the type Carol wants them to catch.
If she’s still after the aristo she needs to go abroad or wait till the ones in her circle start divorcing.
But she’ll be bait for people trying to establish connections. Brother in law to a king/queen isn’t a bad calling card.
I actually don’t hate what Pippa’s wearing. Yes, it could be a couple inches longer, but the material is heavy and she’s wearing tights so there’s no real chance of a Marilyn moment. I’m surprised by just how tired Kate looks though. Maybe it’s because she turned off the maniacal grin for the occasion, but she’s definitely looking haggard.
Pippa’s dress is too short. And the puffy brown hat is unflattering. I liked Kate’s outfit.
Ok — isn’t’ Kate channeling full-on Lady Mary of Downton Abbey here????
http://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/472177/Michelle-Dockery-is-elegant-as-she-reprises-role-of-Lady-Mary-on-set-of-Downton-Abbey
OMG! Did anyone else shriek Hyacinth Bucket at the photo of Carole at the tail end of the line walking up to the church sporting Kate’s brown hat she wears every St. Patrick’s day? The look on her face screams B U C K E T! I was waiting for the photo of her waving to her admiring crowd (or so it is in her dreams)
Another observation, so Michael Middleton was there but not walking next to his wife? Isn’t that a bit odd? Maybe rumors about them splitting up are actually true!
I noticed Carole looking exceedingly happy too. 🙂
Yes both she and Pippa were looking rather smug and pleased with themselves, particularly with the close up shot of her walking alone behind Pippa and James.
Love some of the comments on the DM article. My fave is the one where one poster says it looks like the Middleton women mistook the service for an episode of Downtown Abbey. LOL. But Kate is looking more and more like Carol as she gets older – they both have that same hard, determined look.
James always looks worried or startled? I think the poor fellow should move to Venice Beach and open a cake shop for awhile.
It’s a certainty that they will pose infront of the Taj Mahal and the headlines will included side by side pics of them and the infamous Diana at the Taj Mahal photo.
We’ll see if KM copies Diana’s outfits this tour too.
I am the only one who’s surprised the phrase “the Orient” is still appearing in newspapers?
Also, I believe Diana did one of her most famous photos in front of the Taj Mahal. I wonder how that’s factoring into their plans for their visit.
No, you aren’t. I was surprised too.
Unless the Taj Mahal visit has been officially mentioned, they may give it a miss.
Citresse: the schedule hasn’t been announced, BUT WK never miss a chance to recreate his mother’s iconic moments.
LAK
I don’t know, the KP courtiers are seeking to re-brand the image of the Cambridges, so perhaps new locales (India), new photos.
If Arthur Edwards is there, he’ll try something new (different view of the Taj Mahal background) to keep it fresh.
Nope, you’re not the only one. I narrowly avoided getting coffee all over my keyboard when I read that… like, really, “The Orient”??? It’s 2016, Daily Mail. Check your outdated, colonial terminology.
I’m annoyed that …
1. Kate is a capricorn, she gives the sign a bad name with her laziness.
2. We are the same age and she looks so much older! Choose your face over your ass girl!
3. I also regret cutting bangs and am suffering the bangs trauma.
4. I haven’t been on a vacation in years and she goes on more than me in my lifetime with NO REAL JOB, I’m talking W2s people.
victoria – why are you annoyed at #3? you should be gloating – despite not having Kate’s blank cheque to make whatever “improvements” are necessary in the nameof youth, you STILL manage to look younger.
I’m annoyed that people assume that Art History is an easy study or a Mrs. degree just because Kate is a lazy twit that never used her education for anything.
She doesn’t appear to have been educated, quite frankly. She’s fluff with Art History – has she ever given us *any reason* to believe otherwise? To me, the study of Art History is the study of culture, and inspiration and aspiration. Kate’s only focus is her own class consciousness. I think that she went after this degree with the hope of fitting in with the royal family – and she takes photos of her children and vacations that show small talent. She seems to have no awareness of the Great Ideas of Humanity. Her greatest struggle in artistic endeavor is for a new gown – I would recommend a study in royal women portraiture , and how to properly wear jewels.
@Wolfie: I thought it was common knowledge that it was announced before Will went to uni that he would be studying art history, which is why St. Andrew’s saw a spike in ladies — Kate being one of them — applying to be in their art history program. So her interest in the field was Will, not the field itself. Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, though.
Agreed. Art History kicked my butt in college!!
I never looked at Art History as an easy major, but I always imagined it was designed for a more sophisticated, erudite person than myself! 🙂 The younger me was more *black and white*, so I stuck to the sciences. After observing Katie these past few years, I’m thinking she should have just majored in Art since, per the DM, she is an artist who can draw exhibit-quality portraits of her children.
i have a Capricorn friend who loves clothes has mountains of them, likes to ensure she is trim and thin to the point of eating one meal a day, will fight to the death to ensure her kids are best at everything, is meticulously tidy in the home to the point of sterility, tries desperately to be spiritual but is very material, will clear out any competition if the man she wants starts to eye up another girl, is very choosy about friends who she can trust, has a relationship with her daughter that borders on being a sister, is sensitive to other people’s plight but doesn’t want to get nvolved. I could go on but as a friend I only hear from her when she wants to know what I am doing and to see her I have to literally make an appointment !
– the young King and Queen of Bhutan, dubbed the ‘William and Kate of the Orient’ –
It’s kind of insulting to compare the Bhutans with the Dolittles.
So true. The wangchucks are so down to earth! And really work to connect with the people of Bhutan. They decided to cancel their honeymoon in favour of traveling the length and breadth of the country to get to know it better.
I think a cheesy photo in front of the Taj would be great. But I whole heartedly agree that she can focus on what is going on in India with women’s rights. Serious work followed up by a cheesy photo is how most “normal” people operate. And don’t they try to convince us peons they are as normal as you and I???
Funny how Tanna tweeted about Bhutan long before it was announced by the Palace.
Missed opportunity to post photos of the arguably most attractive royal couple in the world! The King and Queen of Bhutan are gorgeous.
The King and Queen of Bhutan are gorgeous on the Inside, and not the mere Shell of birth-blue-bloodiness, and all that has been accomplished previous.
I know, I Googled the couple, and they are absolutely gorgeous!
Wow, they are both gorgeous and it sounds like they’re extremely accomplished and easygoing. Way more impressive than the Cambridges…
Just did a Google search. And yep, that is a good looking couple.
If I were Kate, I would put Will and the king of Bhutan (and a handfull of randoms) between me and the queen of Bhutan for the pictures. She is probably one of the most beautiful woman in the world.
I don’t care much about Will and Kate, besides enjoying the snark through their way…
But…In hopes of finding plenty of Brits and ex-pats here, can y’all give me feedback on something? I’m wanting to watch BBC iPlayer here in the US and I require a service that does geo-unblocking. Do any of you have any recommendations?
Try Hola Nutballs, works like a charm!
KaitX, I’ve tried Hola and yes it does work, but it screwed with my computer and I lost functionality. I’m wary of the free services since they aren’t trustworthy to keep from messing up my computer in other ways.
I was looking into UnoTelly, but wondering if others had good experiences with similar fee-paying services.
If you use Google Chrome there is a plugin called Hola, as KaitX above mentions but it only works on Chrome. I use it and it is v good.
Be wary of some of the fee paying ones as they can be a rip off, i read that some charge per country you want to pretend to be from.
Nutballs: search “best VPN” and then browse through the articles on the computing sites you trust for recommendations. That way you can work out the best choice for a) your set up and b) your level of expertise.
Oh, and if and when you’re sorted, don’t forget it’s not just iPlayer. You can also look for good Brit drama on Channel 4 (http://www.channel4.com/now) and ITV (http://www.itv.com/hub/shows).
My technical expertise is limited. Interestingly, this site said that if geounblocking was my primary concern, than I should use a SmartDNS service instead. so I’m checking into those services now.
I just want to watch iPlayer here for not-too-much greenbacks. Got “And Then There Were None” now and “The Night Manager” coming up next month.
ETA: ITV and another channel??? Oh my, I just may have to give up mountain running if I have that many choices… I’m still waiting for Inside No 9 and Jonathan Strange to be available on Netflix. I have to pay per episode on Amazon.
How long does it take for current BBC shows to stream? Is it available online at the same time as it’s televised or is there a delay?
Cost for this type of thing is quite low here. A couple of pounds a month for something that will do the job and isn’t dodgy. Hope you find one!
Um…. they can be put up within minutes of screening but always by the next morning. Oh, but the BBC sometimes only keeps stuff for 7 days. So don’t delay cos you never know what will get a month and what will get a week!
Thanks for the info Sixer, will get on it right away!
If you’re still looking for a good VPN, I would recommend private internet access. It costs about $50 per year and works like a charm. I was able to watch itv and bbc shows without any problems. I was using Hola before – and was happy with it – but then my mom (of all people!) alerted me to the HUGE security issues with Hola, and I decided to stop using it. If you’re leaning towards Hola, do google the security issues you may be exposing yourself to.
through = thrown.
She really needs a facial – a good peel and microdermabrasion. Then she needs a regular prescription retanoid.
Considering how dry her lips always look, i’d say that all she needs is to increase her intake of water.
And possibly increase her oily foods intake.
The increased water/oil combo should take care of her skin internally without resorting to cosmetic solutions.
Agree, LAK – water and *oil* on the inside is key! – I look at my face in the mirror at 60, and see the troubles of the duchess – but I am so much older!
I wonder what you think of the Huffington’s photo essay about her look – are they making fun with the duchess here? They’ve always been so respectful previously… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/duchess-catherine-hair_568fd07ee4b0cad15e646780
those Huffpo suggestions are dreadful. all of them. though the point might be an unsubtle hint that she’s stuck in a rut.
personally, i’ve always thought her hair looked good before she started adding pieces to it eg
http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/wenn1231781.jpg
now it’s overkill, even though i remain eternally amused by the overkill.
regarding skin, i’m always amazed at the lengths and costs people go to ‘improve’ their skin when a simple change in diet will do the trick.
And people rarely think water/oil [inside] at all.
I think they were just having some fun with her. Frankly, there are a few styles there that, in her own hair color, would actually look quite nice on her… including the Diana cut *ducks head and moves out of the line of fire!* 🙂
Oils, fats, hydration are all Wonderful for the skin! Her lips always appear chapped and the lips themselves look very stiff. It’s a true tell tale sign of proper hydration and nutrion to look at someones skin. I speak to that as in my professional and evaluating health. The skin tells us so much.
Kate is almost unrecognizable as her former self in the photo you posted LAK. She wears gobs of make-up, compared to the rest of the royal family. She wears the amount of make-up that a pageant queen wears, and it is curious to wonder about the underlying structure of her plastic surgeries. In my opinion, she constipates her natural self.
Kate’s makeup is just awful right now, has been for a couple of years.
Please, please, please – have her birthday present be a stylist and a makeup professional!
Geez, she looks absolutely shattered in these pics! Maybe she’s massively hungover from her birthday. My first thought was how totally inappropriate pippa looks in these pics- I actually quite like her dress but it’s defo not something you wear to commemorate a disaster like the Gallipoli campaign. Surprised no-one had a quiet word beforehand!
Also (and I am going to sound like such a cow here but I am tired and just don’t care) what’s with this whole ‘lady in waiting’ crap anyway? It’s 2016 fgs – surely this is the sort of archaic job title that could be dumped back in the 20th century along with mandatory corsetry, campaigning for women’s suffrage and naff doilé sets. Do you reckon the Salary’s good? Or do you just do it for the honour? Such bollocks all of this. I wish we could just bin the whole system after the queen dies and elect some awesome people for a specific term instead. I would so vote for posh and becks. They would get on amazingly with the Bhutanese royals- jigme (who is amazing irl) could teach beckham about archery and David could coach a kids’ football session- what would be not to ❤️
Interesting how William cut his hair short (DM article today) within days of us discussing his lacklustre balding head/nowhere hairstyle. Looks better already than his planned comb-over? Now, is the goatee next? Hope so. He could really pull it off given his size and build, plus it would be a nice addition, (competition really), to Harry’s beard.
I think his shorter hair is a massive improvement for sure. Methinks he even looks mildly attractive again, from certain angles…
Not from any angle I can see!
Wise decision to not bring the kids on this trip.