Duchess Kate did her first or second event of 2016 today. Whether this counts as her first or second depends on whether you count the wreath-laying thing in early January as royal work. But this is Kate’s first solo event since December, and it’s her first event as the new royal patron for the Air Cadets. This patronage was assigned to her – forced upon her!! – by the Queen and Prince Philip at the Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace in December. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have decided to cull their patronages and pass along some to their children, grandchildren and in-laws. Which is how Kate ended up at the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Air Training Corps today in London.
For the event, Kate pulled out a trusty blue coatdress. This is McQueen, and it’s a repeat. We first saw this during William and Kate’s trip to New Zealand in 2014 – go here to see. I liked it then and I like it now, although I think her styling was better in 2014. Her hat seems to be a repeat too, according to royal-hat-watchers on Twitter. This is a Lock & Co hat that Kate previously wore last year in Bath. Kate did add something new (for her): the Queen’s blinged-out, diamond-encrusted Air Cadets Dacre brooch. I get the feeling it wasn’t Kate’s call to wear the brooch, it was something she HAD to wear, but my God, that thing is really gaudy. Also: Kate looks so tired! I wonder if the baby kept her up or something.
In other Kate news, we have a date for Kate’s “guest editing” of HuffPo UK – she will guest-edit (faff about at Kensington Palace for an hour) on February 17th. It was also announced that during Will and Kate’s tour of India and Bhutan, they will be visiting the Taj Mahal.
Photo courtesy of WENN.
I like the broach!
Me too. And it’s important, symbolically. Not everything has to be “pretty-pretty” all the time. It’s a great reminder of what patronage means (that sort of sounds bitchy, but I don’t mean it that way). It is, basically, the uniform. Everything else is just there to support it.
If you look closely, she is wearing a fall.
#wigletwatch
ooh, what’s that? Is it like extensions from the top of her head and under the hat? That area looks kind of weird to me. Otherwise, I can’t see anything, but I am admittedly easy to fool with a decent hairpiece
Whats the giveaway. I almost hope it’s fake because her hair is almost too gorgeous otherwise!
Color and texture in the fall are different from the rest of the hair. Also, the fall tends to move separately from her real hair. If it’s windy, it will “helicopter,” which we’ve seen before in photos.
The eyebrows are overdone. I love a Power Brow as much as the next girl, but the harsh daylight is not doing those things any justice.
It interested me to read your opinion. I have sparse, pale brows, so my first reaction was: she looks tired, but what gorgeous brows! I really do like them. I think the blue is a pretty color on her. I’m not crazy about the severe lines of the tailoring and especially the belt, but seeing her with all the people in crisp uniforms, it seems to fit.
@Nikki
I love Kate’s brows, in fact she inspired me to grow mine thicker. I just think they are a little too much today. I even bought the same Bobbi Brown eyebrow kit she uses. The kit is great but the colours are very dark, and like Kate I have also gone overboard with it a few times.
I like that ske is trying something different with her brows. However the color is too dark. As usual, she has on too much blush and eyeliner. She should chose a lighter shade of brown for her brow. Stop applying her blush with a paintbrush and over lining her eyelids. It would help to soften her face. Obviously she is following current beauty trends by strengthening her brow. Maybe she will change her blush and eyeliner application next.
Hello eyebrows!
I agree LadyJane, they look like Prince George drew them on with his crayolas! I do like thicker brows, but she needs a little lighter shade of brown. Her makeup overwhelms her face and ages her.
She doesn’t seem to understand the difference between heavier, red-carpet makeup and something lighter for daytime. So overdone, the brows, the blush, the eye shadow. She badly needs to softer her look.
I agree. I am a Princes Di fanatic. She always had it right, the hair, accessories, makeup, casual wear, formal attire. This women is the polar opposite when it comes to style. Maybe it’s just something you’re born with.
I’m not sure how I feel about the “something you’re born with.” For us mere mortals with no stylists, advisors, unlimited budgets…yes it is either there or it’s not. But for Kate…makes me think she doesn’t seek/accept advice, which is the opposite of what I would do. Someone that comes to mind in comparison is Jennifer Garner. When Rachel Zoe was guiding her through the red carpets and events…she always looked amazing. On the street on her own running to Starbucks….painful. I guess my point is…Kate should see her weak spots and seek guidance from her resources. We would never know the difference and admire her style.
Susan: I’ll use this as a comparison to being born, not necessarily with style but having an interest in it……I never leave my home without lipstick and a little blush. I don’t get dressed up, but could easily go to dinner in what I wear to go shopping. These are all traits my mother has. My twin sister comes to me to borrow lipstick and makeup and half my wardrobe if she’s going out somewhere special, she doesn’t have a clue. She looks perfectly fine naturally. We are in our late 30’s but have always been like this. Patty and Cathy Duke. So while I’m not saying Diana was better than Kate, I think she just had it down. She looked appropriate at all occasions and never like the bozo the clown the way poor Kate applies or has her makeup applied. Point being we’re all different. Just an afterthought; I would think the women who one day will be queen would have to had some sort of social training, hair, makeup….the Mother Queen has done well!
Nancy: I see your point and I totally agree. Perhaps I view royal life as a bit too much like “The Princess Diaries,” or an Audrey Hepburn makeover movie, but I would just expect she has a team of formal or informal advisors to give her good advice. Heck, I do and I’m far from Royalty. A nice makeup artist at the local mall could give her some MAJOR help. Skin-wise too, I have a great aesthetician who would clean her right up.
Put your hair up! Good lord. I really don’t get it; she’s wearing a hat and a brooch-what part of that calls for a down hairstyle? The light blue was a good call as the regular uniforms are navy blue but why does she continue with the bad hairstyles?
I agree. Why can’t she see that this hairstyle is so inappropriate and distracting? I see in the bottom pic, she’s flipping her hair again. It’s pathetic that she’s obviously obsesses by her hair like a teenager would. This woman is 34 years old and you’d never know it from her actions and choices.
Why does Kate look so rough in the face? Yikes. Pouches under her eyes. Heavy makeup.
Maybe if the BRF buys her a diamond-encrusted brush, she’d use it some day. I don’t get why her hair is such a mess sometimes. Does she leave the mansion without brushing her hair? Or is it a combo of that and her constantly touching her hair and any slight breeze that makes her look a mess?
Agree, and of course, she can’t make it through an event without touching it. If you’re going to be outside and it’s windy, put your bloody hair up! And as you note, Invader Trek, she’s wearing a hat and brooch; her hair SHOULD be up. It’s not that hard!
The other women either have shorter hair or have theirs up, and they look appropriate and professional. Then there’s Katie Bucket doing her hair flip.
Wow she looks rough. Not sleep deprived. Hungover rough.
Yikes
Some warm teabags would help her eyes, followed by cucumber slices.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so rough.
She doesn’t look rough. She looks the way she’s always looked. Minus photoshop.
In some pics, they haven’t bothered to colour correct her make up as they usually do.
Wow LAk I didn’t know she was usually photoshopped so much. Doubles yikes. Does she smoke?
Re: teabags. I use green tea as its what we drink. You just need them there for maybe 5 minutes, more or less. I’ve never experienced any staining
Off topic: a few years ago I had a terrible pink eye infection. I mean pus running down my face, major swelling and pain. It was awful. Teabags saved the day!! They really work.
Original Kay: yes photoshop.
It’s been so heavily used since the engagement that it shocks people when an unphotoshopped pic comes through.
She’s definitely looking better than she did in September/October when the Chinese visit happened.
She’s one of those people who have a natural face that always looks tired. Throw in dieting, smoking, sun worshipping and over-exercising and she doesn’t look good no matter how groomed she is.
Also, her face is transformed when she smiles, which I suspect is why she smiles so much in pictures. The smile increasingly doesn’t reach her eyes, but it’s a neat trick to make her face look better.
Do you think she still smokes?
L smoking is bad for your lungs but is a great appetite suppressant for super skinnies. Why do you think so many actresses and models do it? So, yes. Kate still smokes. That girl is all about her looks. Sadly, it ages you at the same time. So your figure or your youth? Kate chooses her figure every time.
At LAST! Someone to explain this whole teabag thing to me!! What kind of teabag do you use? I’m very pale, so I was afraid if I did regular teabags, I’d get 2 raccoon stains under my eyes?? Tannin or something? Do you use herbal?
This might be of some help:
http://coffeetea.about.com/od/teaandtisanebasics/f/Teabags-On-Eyes.htm
and
http://www.livestrong.com/article/93147-green-tea-bags-dark-circles/
I am pale pale pale and black tea has never stained my skin. Green tea bags have helped relieve allergy eyes for me as well. But the best ones to use are high in tannins and contain caffeine.
I began using teabags on the recommendation of a pharmacist when I was pregnant and couldn’t take allergy meds. He said it was the combination of tannin and caffeine that help. They work like a charm. If all you have is Lipton, they work fine. I put the bags in ice water, squeeze out, then apply. I also put an old towel under my head so that there won’t be any pillowcase stains. They also help after a big cry!
Thanks, thanks, thanks!
I was thinking the exact same thing, too much booze last night. Her eyes look a lot more baggy/puffy than usual.
I love this coat though, perfect colour for a RAF event.
She does look hungover, more than just tired. Her face is puffier than usual.
I like the coat, and while the brooch is super blingey, it makes me wonder if she’ll finally receive an order by taking on some additional patronages.
^^this
She’s not known to drink. Maybe she caught one of her kids’ cold-germy preschool and all. Her hair absolutely should be back in some kind of chignon or bun.
Yes a chignon, at the very least, to show the brooch.
Or even a long French braid. That would look dressier and keep the hair out of her face too.
That was the first thing I noticed. Do you think she’s expecting again.
Is that a bite mark on her cheek?
i bet the farm she is pregnant. and sick.
I wonder if she is still doing her own makeup. *She’s JUST LIKE US! But she really needs someone to teach her about occasion-specific editing. The eyeliner, blush and brows look very severe for a daytime event.
She looks younger and thinner with her hair pulled back, but then she wouldn’t have anything to fidget with. It’s a shame because while it’s pretty loaded, I think it’s a fabulous brooch and her hair covers it! I enjoy the Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor website, they have an entire section devoted to the Queen’s brooch game.
Its applied thick to show up on photo’s – if you ever go to a red carpet the make up the actresses etc.. wear is caked on, thou you don’t really see it under the glare of the lights on the camera’s etc.. but i agree for an outside day event its too much. If she toned down the blusher and eye makeup it wouldn’t be too bad. The foundation is on thick to hide her bad skin. I’ve seen her in person and you can see the dryness and sun/smoking damager underneath it all.
But as others have said the press have stopped photoshopping her – how you see her in the photos is how she looks in real life.
1. She has a sun kissed look to her skin that wasn’t there at the January wreath laying thingy. I think that week’s holiday from a previous thread was somewhere sunny.
2. She’s put on some much needed weight, BUT weight gain for Kate has always been about babies, so I expect an announcement for baby no 3 at some point this year.
3. I like this coat. And the shoes.
Re: 2. I’m expected a pregnancy announcement from them after the India visit and for them to milk that Taj Mahal visit for all its worth.
I heard Harry’s Invictus Games is in May, one month after W&K’s India trip. So if she announces a pregnancy after the trip, then it just stomps on Harry’s special event. If W&K were kind, they’d wait until after the IG was over.
Another thing, if they announce a pregnancy before the India trip, that would give her an excuse not to go to India, even though it’s only a 7-day event (including traveling?).
re- Taj Mahal, interesting to see if W&K will be photographed seated together on the “Diana bench.”
It’s a given that they will re-create Diana’s photo, and I fully expect Kate to wear the same colours as Diana in the photo.
She’s put on much needed weight??!! Where? Heavily padded bra makes her look chesty, but not in a “gained a few pounds” natural way.
Candice: definitely put on weight. Her face and legs are bigger.
Also if you see more at the DM, she looks overall bigger than she did a month ago.
Definitely not the padded bra even though most people assume that’s her natural chest.
Looks to me like she has gained weight because she’s thicker in the midsection than last time we saw her. It was Christmas I think.
I vote preggers. Looks like Willy is going to India alone.
I think she could actually already be pregnant but that would be really soon after the last kid. Then again, she seems like the kind of woman who wouldn’t want to have a baby after 35. Her face looks really puffy and fuller, that usually only happens during pregnancy for her.
She needs to wear her hair up more on visits – again she spent most of her attention pushing the mop out of her face. Carole Voderman outshone her easily and she’s a lot older than Katie Bucket. At least the outfit was appropriate for the event.
Can we have a story on Harry’s visit on Sat to the people in Lancashire that was affected by the floods? There’s a cute video on the Mirror website of him putting a little girls welly back on her foot.
I saw that video too. I think before that, he was asking the mother/grandmother which of the two toddlers he can take home with him. Very cute.
Yeah, he was there visiting those affected by the flood and the soldiers who’ve had to give up their Xmas holiday in order to help people.
And here’s my beef with the media coverage. Kate as the header article in the DM this morning, but I don’t think Harry got much more than a mention. Express had an article yesterday.
Woman goes to church!! Headline
Man visits flood area and visits with impacted people! Not so much
It’s almost as if Normal Bill’s press policy is attempting to make us forget the BRF are supposed to be doing things that are actually USEFUL, isn’t it?!
It’s depressing, Sixer. What use are the royals if they don’t go out and engage with people, and when one does (and appears to have done a bang-up job on it too), it barely rates a mention while a woman going to church gets the top of the page.
I know, . . . . rhetorical question! 🙂
In truth, I do believe this is what Normal Bill wants. The whole thing reduced to the royal equivalent of a pap stroll once a fortnight.
Sixer, behind barricades with only approved photographers and reporters allowed to cover the event.
maaaaaan she looks #pale and her boob have sagges to the tum….lol. I mean km’ s boobs were usually pointed
coo coo – I don’t see the sagging. She always wears a heavily padded bra so that would disguise any sagging…
I don’t like Newport blue and navy blue together. My husband and I sail, and you see that combination a lot on boats. I like both colors, but they each make the other sad.
Man, she looks aged overnight with that severe makeup and puffy eyes. 🙁
This makes me feel better. I can have mornings that show that I’m tired, stressed or slept funny on my face. Finally a human celebrity!!!!!
I’m a confessed Kate apologist….but man she looks rough. She looks like I do after I’ve spent an evening crying. I keep thinking we will look back on this time in history (as we did with Diana) and say, “Gee….all the signs were there.” To what….I don’t know.
I thought the same thing! She’s been crying.
Maybe she was crying the night before because of the thought that she had to get up the next day and do some work…
I agree Susan or maybe she’s coming down with cold/flu? Maybe the one of the kids are sick and kept her up all night? I’m not an “apologist” per se, just not a Kate-hater like most on this site. I can’t figure why people are so vicious to her. She looks deeply tired, bless her.
Again with the “hater” comments. I don’t hate her, I just don’t like that she and NormalBill are the beneficiaries of a life that hardly anyone else in the world has, they don’t work for it, and resent the little work they are asked to do to pay back some of the privilege that the British people buy for them.
So it’s not hate. It’s reasonable dismay and annoyance.
I think her make up is really not doing her any favors. It is SO SEVERE. Why?? If she can afford to get her hair done surely she can get someone to do her make up. My goodness it’s terrible. She needs to soften the colors and blend more.
She looks unkempt and unpolished. That scraggly hair ruined the outfit. And the makeup…lord.
I know it’s not easy taking care of kids, especially toddlers, but I’ve seen Mums who don’t have the luxuries and perks Kate enjoys and they’re still able to look fresh and put together. Kate looks like she’s fallen apart, and this is with her only working once a month with lots of shopping trips and salon visits in between.
I’m thinking that Life with Willy is not a bed of roses. She looks really bad, doesn’t she?
Lets not forget the holiday that they had last month. Life with Normal Bill is not going to be a bed of roses but she has always looked like this – the press have just stopped photoshopping her to within an inch of her life.
This is the first public appearance she’s done in what? A month? Geez, it’s not like work is killing her.
And Nanny Maria is around to take the kids off her hands for a few hours before and after events – probably for the entire evening before if she needs to gear up for an event.
I agree, there is probably something going on. I tend to think the Carole/Michael perfect marriage on the rocks rumors are true, and that might be it. Or something else. Who knows.
Suze, that may well be it. She does not seem like the kind of adult who has the emotional maturity to deal with her parents’ divorce, if that is in fact on the cards.
She looks fone. She probably had to get up early to attend this so she looks like a regular mom who has kids and doesn’t get much sleep.
Maybe she is pregnant?
It reminds me of the shirt dresses my grandmother wore when I was a kid. She’s trying to cover up her exhaustion (baby and toddler) with too much war paint, ages her badly. Less is more Kathy, you will look much fresher without so much cover girl royal sunset #4.
She just looks tired. Like 100% exhausted.
Someone needs to introduce her to day time makeup
+1000
…and MAC concealer.
Perfectly stated!
You can see her shoulder blades poking out in one of the photos. In what I assume is a fairly thick coat dress.
I didn’t notice that. I’ll have another look.
As usual, she looks very overtanned and it is now showing in her skin. Too bad. She looks tired and wrinkled just like her mom. In this day and age there is no excuse for this kind of Sun damage as we have known forever the sun is the worst ager for your skin. Otherwise she looks good with her choice of clothing and I love the brooch.
I doubt the kids kept her up at night. I doubt they’re even in the same wing or if so, then not on the same floor or not next door to W&K’s bedroom with sitting room suite, which I imagine they have. Instead, I think that whenever the kids make any sound at night, it’s only Nanny Marie that is close enough to hear it and probably has a baby monitor next to her bed. I doubt W&K&Carole have one of those next to theirs.
I doubt she had the morning hassle ‘regular moms’ have with a baby and toddler. I doubt she was running around changing diapers, clothing kids, putting their socks on, wrangling them up to get to the breakfast table at the same time, finding clean bowls to put their cereals in, trying to get Charlotte and George to finish their breakfast before Nanny Marie woke up to take over and she herself had to get dressed and slather make-up on and get to work on time.
As for her appearance, I don’t know why she’s been on this trend with the Joan Crawford/Elizabeth Taylor eyebrows. She had it when she was standing next to Queen Max at the memorial. The harsh red blush line and the blue eyelids with the thick block of eyebrows with the messy hair is not a good look.
This. I’m always puzzled that she gets so much credit for being a hands on mom when she has copious help and married into a family not regarded for its involved parenting. I’m sure she’s far more involved than most royal parents but I highly doubt she’s the one getting up in the night before a “work” day. If ever there was a time for Nanny Marie to step in its the when Kate needs her beauty sleep before working.
I think this is just how she looks. This is the result of chronic calorie deprivation, smoking, sun and genetics. I’m surprised she’s not using more fillers but I don’t think kate is a particularly attractive woman. Which is fine, but considering she does very little work and her primary draw is as a Diana-esque glamour lure for the royal family she’s doing a dismal job.
@ Tonka
‘If ever there was a time for Nanny Marie to step in its the when Kate needs her beauty sleep before working.’
You’re right.
I can’t imagine that it’s just a big coincidence that the first official outing Kate has this year, neither Nanny Marie nor Carole could be found and have taken care of the kids. Apparently one of the nannies and/or Carole are there all the time (as well as a household of staff), so I doubt the first and only official work Kate has had required Kate to play ‘regular mom’ and do all the work from the night before to the next morning.
She needs a total makeover, period. Long, poorly styled hair: gone. Caked on make-up: gone. And someone get her a proper clothing stylist. Then get her some public speaking training. And while they’re at it get her husband a charm implant and a willing-to-work brainwash.
Apparently, there’s supposed to be released today a video speech by her on children’s mental health. I don’t have high hopes for it being done well.
But where are the adorably gawky air cadets?! I was the gawkiest of them all in my day (Royal Canadian Air Cadets though). There were girls in my squadron who looked so fly (heh) in their high-waisted pants and tunics with the belt that sat right at lower ribs… I was not one of them. Like, a blue preying mantis. Anyway, I LOVE seeing cadets at Natal Day parades and Remembrance Day and stuff… I feel like I am missing out here.
Yeah, Kate looks fatigued. Baby is teething now, perhaps that’s it?
Kate seems to like to mix shades of her outfits. Some, depending on the lighting, appear to clash, meaning it looks like warm tones mixed with cool tones. Though, perhaps in person, it looks strikingly good?
Like the ensemble, including the hat, but the brooch really should be half the size. It completely overbalances the rest of the look. But her skin looks shocking and she looks not so much tired (what, really, does she have to be “tired” about? Cleaning those 21 rooms in Kensington Palace and the 10 bedrooms in Anmer Hall as well as the many loos in both places?) as dazed.
I swear to god she looks hung over. That is how I look if I over-indulge then have to wake up early. Maybe he was out carousing with the Ginger Royal.
I feel bad for adding to the pile on but that was my thought too. When I’m hungover or I have a cold, my makeup sits on my face in a weird way like hers is doing.
I don’t think the Ginger Royal spends more time with her than he has to. She would be bored with his talk of work, anyway.
The press are using the worst photos of her. This is weird to me. Out of the numbers of photos they take, these are the ones they pick? These can’t possibly be the best of the bunch.
Now I get why Diana kept her hair short at all times, I guess. I always wondered if she had the curiosity to have long hair far below the shoulders, but this particular kind of look. while nice on celebrities, seems like it might lead to unflattering photos if you’re supposed to look regal at royal occasions.
The bad photo’s of her/them are part of the passive aggressive game between them and the Buckets. William tries to control the narrative and the press responds with snark, showing us the truth about the Cambridges while being nice about it. Everyone can see that with these 2 its all about image, the unflattering and un-photoshopped photo’s of her show what the press think of them and their efforts to control said image. They pick on her as she’s an easy target plus she keeps giving them the opportunities; the bad speeches that she writes herself, the terrible outfits/hair, her grasping family, flashing her ass to everyone etc…
Why are they called Bucket? I tried Urban Dictionary and I’m guessing that’s not it. And when I see “Bucket” all I can think of is Hyacinth Boo-KAY.
@ KidVicious
Yes, it’s a reference to Hyacinth Bucket.
Why is it newsworthy whenever she repeats an outfit? Really who cares? Aren’t clothes meant to be worn more than once?
I’m glad she reuses her clothes. They cost enough as it is
I don’t understand any of the fuss around her. She looks like your average mum with little children that I see everyday. There is absolutely nothing special or striking about her–no “it” factor or star quality. She looks like a nice, normal girl next door. Nothing more.
She’s pregnant again. She suffers from really bad morning sickness but after two children it’s not that bad she has to go to hospital like the other two times.
Baby announcement before the Queens birthday.
The veracity of the HG diagnosis has been questioned frequently.
Am I the only one who isn’t impressed with anything about her look? Or are expectations very low?
I do agree the photos on this site are doing her no favours so I went onto the Daily Mail where they are much better. She has lovely skin and although may appear a tad tired looks beautiful and well dressed for the occasion. Gorgeous hair!!
Ah, the wonders of photoshop!!
Yes, the blur tool does wonders! And her hair grew so much so fast (cough, extensions, cough)!
She is looking rough today. I’m posting this to see if it goes through, my other comments didn’t make it, and they weren’t particularly bad, imo.
Haha Vava, join the club!
🙂
She looks awful; hair & skin are a mess. Hate the coat, those pockets just ruin it plus the hat doesn’t really match. I could pull together a better look than that…ugh
Oh my god, she looks rough as guts and as a mum to a 14 month old, I can assure you that’s not baby-up-all-night roughness…it’s a night on the vinos and getting up early.
When I’m hungover, no amount of Touché Eclat will make me look good…makeup doesn’t go on properly and I have this rough, red, saggy thing going on.
I have a lot of sympathy for this poor woman. Imagine marrying into the dysfunction that is the House of Windsor? William looks like he likes nothing better than going out carousing with a few pints and strippers if you ask me.
She knew what she was getting into, no need for sympathy. Besides, in this day and age, Kate is truly in the position to do some good – if she’d just get a spine.
Duchess of Faff out and about.. love the coat, and broach is cool.. hat is a miss.. and the ever present hair flip and Cambridge Crotch Clasp (check!)..
I think Willy makes her life “HELL”!!!!
That vogue fashion heavy look eyebrow doesn’t suit her because she in my view has such heavy bone structure. With the black hat it makes her look a bit dare I say clownish. I notice the DAily Mail has picked up on her eyebrows maybe they read CB. I wonder if the family took a secret break to Mustique and she looks a bit jet lagged.
3rd time
I hope there is as much dissection of Prince William’s appearance, including telling him how he should trim his eyebrows and use teabags, when he’s the subject of a post.
She looks like hell, such bad skin and those eyebrows, like the crazy 80 year old lady who draws them on with a sharpie. It can’t just be exhaustion from chasing the kids, she has enough help to get a good nights sleep, something is not quite right with her lately and I can’t put my finger on it. There have been a few odd references to adolescent/child mental illness in her recent speeches and I’m beginning to wonder if she suffers from depression and has done even as a child.
I think having Carole as a mother would depress anyone. People always say what a wonderful family they are, so close, etc., etc. but I have a different take. I think her mother saw her as a pawn to get to the top. It didn’t matter what Kate wanted, Carole wanted a royal for her family and she was going to do whatever it took to get Katie her royal husband. Remember the story that Carole always took Will’s side when they fight? Only a mother-in-law sucking up would do that.
As far as them being so close, it’s weird close. They don’t seem to have anyone else in their lives but their immediate family. I know some families like this, and they are unusually tight, but they are that way because they went through some really tough times together and don’t seem to trust anyone else: alcoholic, abusive father, runaway mother. I don’t think it’s anything that drastic, but I do think Carole is a tyrant and screwed up her kids a lot. Add that to having to live with Bill and I can see why Kate would struggle with depression.