The Duchess of Cambridge is scheduled to do three big events today. These photos are from her first event, where she opened the “Magic Garden” at Hampton Court. The Magic Garden sounds absolutely spectacular, and like a really great place for kids – you can read about the Magic Garden here. Of course, Kate did not bring her kids to the opening. She did play with some children though. Kate wore this somewhat unremarkable Michael Kors coat – it’s a repeat, and we last saw this on Kate in 2014 during the Australia-New Zealand tour. I do like the coat in general, but I just get a little bit tired of Kate wearing dress coats almost exclusively – this would have been a great event for a pair of trousers and a sweater set, you know? Something nice: the coat is so heavy, there was no chance of a “Marilyn Moment.”
This event is part of a new (???) strategy from Kate’s “handlers,” according to the Daily Mail’s Ephraim Hardcastle. He claims that the handlers are organizing more “high-profile outings” so Kate can “shake off her ‘reluctant royal’ reputation. It’s also to deflect criticism when she and Prince William attend Wimbledon in June.” LOL. Someone finally told Kate that she needs to do work ahead of attending Wimbledon and going on vacation, I think. And how many times are we going to hear that her handlers really mean it this time, they’re going to convince Kate to work more?
As for Kate’s other events today, she’s due in London later on to make a stop at the National Portrait Gallery, one of her patronages. She’s going to view the Josh Olins photos from her British Vogue shoot. That’s the only way the National Portrait Gallery can get her to do an event: promise that she’ll get to look at photos of herself. Vogue UK has released more info about her shoot too – apparently, she drove herself and she arrived to the photoshoot with curlers in her hair, and she was accompanied by her full-time hair person, Amanda Tucker. Here’s a bit more:
The Duchess, who is a patron of the National Portrait Gallery which is currently hosting the magazine’s retrospective, had wanted the photographs to reflect her ‘private existence’.
The Duchess said: ‘From taking photographs of George and Charlotte, I have been struck by the wonderful lack of self-consciousness that you see in photographs of children, without the self-awareness that adults generally feel.’
Shulman adds in the article in this week’s issue that the royal was resilient during the shoot, which took place outdoors on a cold winter’s day. She happily posed on location in Norfolk in just a few layers. Shulman wrote that the rest of the crew were wrapped up on set while Kate ‘posed uncomplaining, often in a thin cotton shirt.’
Always with the “privacy” for the Duke and Duchess. It’s a wonder we get to see them at all, there’s so private.
Also – the KensingtonRoyal Twitter is posting some exclusive photos from today’s event – go here to see.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I remember her clothes as well as I remember Affleck’s nanny’s face, which is to say not at all. Basic all around.
“Gosh, so interesting”
Not.
I still believe all these events are scheduled as Harry is and will be so active due to upcoming Invictus event. No way they’ll let all the spotlight for Harry.
They’re really piling on Harry now, aren’t they? I wonder what stunt they’ll pull during the games.
I’m hoping that celebitchy will cover Harry and the Canadian PM at the hockey game. It was so cute.
So there should be a moratorium on Kate doing events while Harry has something on?
No Bella, it’s just that their PR is that obvious.
Yes, I agree, Harry and the Invictus Games are easily getting great coverage and it seems W&K know they have to look busy right now.
I think you’re right, and I’m chuckling at their strategy if that’s the case. “We’ll show him! We’ll go to work!”
Such a busy day. A park, some lunch and then the hard task of looking at pictures of yourself. The poor thing will need a holiday afterwards. Such a stressful life has our hard working duchess.
Let’s not forget how she toughed it out on that freezing photoshoot, too. She’s so normal and down to earth, even arriving at the shoot with curlers in her hair (and entourage in tow).
Because she is a real trooper when it comes down to doing a hard job. We should all be proud of her incredible courage, braving the cold for a Vogue cover. The selflessness. The dedication.
I don’t think people realize how stressful doing a public appearance is. She has to look and act perfect, always say the right thing, and then face unending criticism no matter what she says/does/wears. And let’s not forget, she wasn’t raised her whole life to do these public appearances. I think she did a fabulous job.
Being passionate about a cause, being interested in people and curious, being engaged with others mitigates the stress level. Endless practice reduces it further. You think an every day job is not stressful, that we don’t deal with the public every day? And yet all of us do it regardless of stress level.
Good point. You have to behave perfectly. Not say too much, not say too little. And be judged all the while. It’s not as stressful as a real job, but it must be horribly and relentlessly nerve wracking.
She’s what, 5 years in now? And we all talk like she’s a teenage intern.
Like everything in life that scares you – in order to improve you have to face the fear. As other family members have said the more you do it the easier it becomes.
At this stage our expectations of her have dwindled so much, not flashing someone gets her praise. I work with 20 special needs children every day. Its exhausting and stressful and emotionally draining.And that’s not including dealing with stressed, exhausted and angst ridden parents. I have to watch what I say for every minute of it and have to dress appropriately. I do this 5 days a week for 45 weeks a year. Kate does very little every now and again and I’m expected to be okay with it because she didn’t flash someone or say something inappropriate. Although going by the India tour she does it just doesn’t get reported.
Agree, Lainey.
My best friend is a social worker in the court system who used to work with children whose parents were facing charges — most of which were regarding abuse. THAT is stressful. To this day I do not know how she was able to compartmentalize what she saw and heard. Now she works with adults who do horrible things to other people. That’s stressful too.
Kate faces criticism for her performances. I think that’s a totally different level of stress, and one that could well be mitigated by some work and effort on her part. (Note I didn’t say that she doesn’t have to deal with stress, but I do think a lot of it is self inflicted.)
Who expects perfection? Because let’s see, the definition of perfection when we talk about her is:
1. not flash your bits (most women in every walk of life do that successfully every day while wrangling kids, groceries, laptop bags, moving boxes, on trains, buses, in busy parking lots etc. – not coming and going on private jets and limo cars.)
2. go easy with a professional looking makeup and hair. cost is no object, any talented professional in the world at your disposal, any brand you want, with the ability to take as many hours as needed at your disposal (because you don’t have to make breakfast, the beds, pack the kids’ luck, pop in a load a laundry, call a patient or a client overseas while hastily applying liner in the car).
3. be prepared for your very rare, brief appearances with something more intelligent than “crippled children? Gosh, how interesting” or “the Taj is really romantic.”
I don’t know – does that sound like an impossible job for a woman who hunted down the position for ten years, has held it for five, is in her mid-thirties and supposedly intelligent and well educated?
Lainey,
To me, you are The Queen. Thank you for your service. (Bluhare’s best friend, too!).
Thank you, hmmm.
Not only does Sue work with abused children and adults with immense problems, she also has an autoimmune disease that caused a rare side effect that required surgery. But the drugs she was taking for her condition had wrecked her immune system and the surgeon wouldn’t operate on her, so she had to deal with intractable pain for six months until the drugs wore off which of course meant no treatment for the originating condition. Then she finally had the surgery, and got rear ended by someone the third time she went out for a drive (which luckily did not mess up the surgery) which totalled her car and really set her back mentally. But she was still back at work FULL TIME within 2.5 months of the surgery.
She’s amazing. I can’t say enough about her. She’s also got excellent taste in friends. 🙂
bluhare,
I can feel the love from your song of praise. It’s wonderful. And so is she. And any friend she chooses.
It’s annoying that Kate only temporarily tries something new with her hair. Each time that she’s gotten it cut, or gotten bangs, she grows it out to the exact same hairstyle she had 3 months prior (which happens to be the same look she’s had for years). I would like to see a newer, more sophisticated look on her, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
Ok, is it a coat or a dress? I see something under it, so is that a blouse and a skirt, or is it just a blouse. I’m confused by these coats or dresses she always wears. They’re pretty enough, I just need to know what they are before I can relax. It’s a problem.
Also
The Duchess said: ‘From taking photographs of George and Charlotte, I have been struck by the wonderful lack of self-consciousness that you see in photographs of children, without the self-awareness that adults generally feel.’
Um, no kidding? They’re just learning to use a spoon. Did she expect them to strike poses and do duck lips?
SMH. The stuff that issues from her lips is so…erm…basic. Surely she’s not that dumb? It’s like she just discovered fire.
Well, she is working and kids are happy, they would probably remember the day they met the duchess of Cambridge.
I sort of get what she meant by saying about photographing, the best ones are those where subject is caught unaware; it brings out their true essence.
I am all for valid criticism but i don’t think this was a bland statement. Not everything she says is dumb unless one is determined to see it that way.
Nah. I usually defend her, and I’m not saying that what she said was dumb, but it was very, very, very obvious. Not exactly ground breaking news or even necessary to say out loud.
“Not exactly ground breaking news or even necessary to say out loud. ”
Exactly!
Sure not everything she says is dumb but her sentence is poorly structured so it makes her sound dumber.
This is definitely a coat. She took it off inside. It actually would’ve looked really good if she had just left it open. A little variety here and there could work wonders.
But I have to say, she does look engaged and like she wants to be there. Which is actually always the case with her, I just noticed that. Weird. She may not have tons of charisma but she does try. Let’s see for how long.
Thank you! I was afraid she just had on a blouse and knickers on under there and it was just disturbing. Lol
@goodnamesalltaken Firstly, I enjoy reading your comments very often. Dolittle says too little that the press has very limited quotes to report on, what with her fake accent and all. In her unique position, she doesn’t need brains to charm, she only needs to show up and that’s it. And yes, what she said is obviously obvious but at least her sugar crowd will learn something new, eh?
GNAT, the point is to remind the world that she is handy with a camera. She could have said “From taking photographs of Charlotte and George, I learned that one must take off the lens cap” or “From taking photographs of Charlotte and George, I discovered green scaly aliens living in Anmer” and it would all be the same.
Ah. Got it, thanks.
It was a very PippaTips thing to say. 🙂
LOL! Maybe Kate’s been studying Pippa’s tips in her spare time.
@Janis
She doesn’t have time for PippaTips, she’s too busy reading research papers
I think it’s a coat but if it were a dress she would have fit right in to the ad agency I worked at in 1989. Really, from head to toe she is so reminiscent of that era.
Weren’t those the Diana years?
Except for the mention of her kids, that’s probably a line from her masters thesis; I believe I read somewhere that she wrote about the Lewis Carroll photographs of children.
Ooh good catch, you’re right.
Bwahaha!
I like the coat/dress, and her hair looks lovely. Too bad about the shoes.
I don’t mind that coat, either. But it looks ‘wintery’. I like the dress she’s wearing under it, but in other photos, you can see she has a flat pancake rear end.
That Vogue photo shoot – all sorts of WRONG.
@Vava
It looks “wintery” because it’s tweed. In May. With everyone around her in cardigans and just shirtsleeves. SMH She must be roasting what with it being done up all the way.
Yup. Nothing like walking around the playground and sitting in the sandpit in an overcoat, high heels and a dress. Does she even think this through?
No. Or I hope not, because if she does she’s clearly not very bright. But neither option casts her in a good light.
“…wanted the photographs to reflect her ‘private existence’”. Well, she succeeded. It made her look like she lives alone and isolated, out in the middle of nowhere, without orientation. A perfect capture, IMO.
LOL. Very true. DULL.
Haha Such a strange thing to say. Smh
I don’t think she meant ‘private’ in the sense of secret, personal, guarded. I think she just meant it in the sense of ‘not related to her public-facing role’. In other words, her existence as Kate, rather than her existence as the Duchess of Cambridge.
The pictures with the kid who is more interested in the red sand bucket (as both a toy and a makeshift hat, more than her presence) crack me up!
Ha! I normally just read these threads (SO entertaining! God, I love all the usual suspects here so), but that little boy made me cackle. Finally, a personality that Kate’s mere presence can’t diminish.
The DM has pictures of her shaking hands with the children … is it just me that finds that strange? It doesn’t give an image of her being relaxed around children at all.
On the whole, she looks decent, especially if she has other, more formal engagements afterwards. I can’t help but wonder why she didn’t bring George with her though; that would have been so sweet. But I read somewhere recently that they haven’t yet told George that they are royals, so maybe they were worried that one of the other children might give something away?
I also find it strange that he hasn’t been told he’s a royal… Considering he met the president of the United States in his pjs the other day. Don’t know if it believe that one.
It was reported in TIME after William apparently said it in a BBC interview before the Queen’s ninetieth.
I agree, it’s strange – I guess he’s young enough that he doesn’t socialise much with children outside of his nursery, so he doesn’t have anything to compare it to and might not even realise the President coming to dinner isn’t normal at some level.
How do you explain the concept of ‘royal’ anyway? It’s not real, just a construct from a less educated and aware time. Surely an anachronism? There’s nothing special about any member of the BRF that I can discern. They are simply a family with huge hereditary wealth and to which, due to tradition, huge public funds flow. Really, countries can operate effectively without the crutch of a monarchy.
I hope George is spared the kind of nonsense inflicted on William when very young and told that he was to be king. Why does any child need to be told that he is superior to anyone else? That he will ‘rule’ people? Please. The best thing for those two children is to be brought up to be thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate individuals. I doubt the monarchy will exist in its present form, or at all, beyond Charles, nor should it. The children should have a robust education so that they have career possibilities and strive for such. It is hard, given their parents, so they are disadvantaged there.
I can actually understand this a bit. If you agree that William is a bit stunted by his status (and apparently lorded over all the other kids with it), and doesn’t like the responsibility he feels with it, I can understand why he doesn’t want George to get that until he absolutely has to.
“Considering he met the president of the United States in his pjs” Should his parents have changed their two year old into a tux (probably at his bedtime)? Moreover, what’s the president of the United States to them? He’s not their president. They don’t owe him anything?
So, they’re raising him to believe that everyone lives like he does? That’s going to be a shocker when he’s older. I doubt this is true, but not an unreasonable speculation.
Interesting, I never thought about how or what you would tell a child. Or when.
Fer gawd’s sake, George can’t even tie his own shoes, so how would he even understand what being royal means? In terms of child development he isn’t even fully individuated yet.
I hope y’all are kidding! Maybe I’m tone deaf here.
This is a bit different, but from the time I was two or three, I was told I was adopted. I didn’t have a clue what that meant, but I was lucky in that I wasn’t hit over the head with it when I was 12.
George is “royal,” whatever that means to his “subjects.” (Personally, I find the whole idea laughable and absurd, but I assume Wills and Kates buy into it) so he should hear it now, be told it’s not a terrible thing, so he at least gets used to the words. It’s only smart to ease him into his of-so-important role in life
I can’t imagine that the news of his lineage or the implications of royalty would have any effect on him whatsoever right now. He’s still way too young.
I remember there was an old story going round that when William was going to pre-school, and was known as Billy the Basher, he came home and said to Diana, “do you know I am a prince, and am going to be a king?” Diana apparently replied that she did know he was being very cheeky, and if he didn’t behave himself better he would be getting a smack! I always thought she had a handle on how to present the role that was truly important, being a good and caring human being, royal or otherwise. It is a shame that William seems to have concentrated on one at the expense of the other. The dye is cast, and doesn’t seem likely to change. I can’t imagine that this next generation are being brought up to believe themselves to be anything other than special, entitled (literally), snowflakes. This dynasty needs to come to an eventual end, and I believe it will, the peasants are revolting.
Yes, antipodean. They are such special snowflakes that they have to be protected from the harsh truth- that all this privilege and luxury and forelock tugging comes with a price- duty, and work.
There can be a balance between told that he is royal and being a normal child. Look at Estelle, the future Queen of Sweden. She’s been taught how to meet and greet people and it hasn’t taken away from the fact that she’s still very much a little kid that goes to day school with others her age. It can be done, but not preparing George for events like Trooping is only going to increase his anxiety when he starts doing those things on a regular basis.
Really great points, The Original Mia. They can be instilled with the notion of noblesse oblige at the very least. At the very most they can willingly accept a meaningful, charitable and very powerful, socially influential role on the world stage. Or they can be taught that they can be lazy slackers whose fragrant presence anoints the multitude of plebs.
George doesn’t have to understand the concept of “royalty” to be told that Mummy and Daddy have a job that involves serving the people of Britain (“where we live” for a 2-year-old) by talking to people and waving and having their picture taken. He can understand that and be told that he will probably do some of that job too, so here you go, practice waving.
If William wasn’t such a freak about the press, I’m sure they could work something out about the number of photographers or the use of flashes when George starts “working” as a young child. All he has to do is call Victoria and Daniel and ask for advice. But he refuses to slowly introduce his child to that world; this way, when he does start to get out there, he’ll be traumatized and upset, and that will be William’s self-fulfilling reasoning behind his hatred of the press.
Leo is lucky Kate’s frigid photo shoot happened after The Revenant, or she might have gotten that Oscar instead of him.
lol. I wish she had worn a pair of normal shoes to a park if she was going to get into a sandbox with kids. She’s so stiff and unnatural. I wonder if she even took her heels off to get in that sandbox.
Well she’s a princess.
I’m not going to rag on Kate today for actually being responsive to criticism and adding events to her busy shopping and hair schedule; I’m going to wait a month to see if this is a flash in the pan and criticize her then.
Yup. This. Well said.
All things aside–Really, AAAAALLLLLLL things put to the side–I do like the coat.
Look! I said something positive… Ok, the truth is Radiohead released a song yesterday. So it’s like I mainlined all the happy pills. It has nothing to do with Kate. I’m right there with @GNAT and Livvers. I’m just not in the mood to mock today… Although I will say that I’m noticing that the best way for me to say something positive about Kate is to keep it brief, not think too much, and keep it skin deep. And even then I might hate tomorrow’s coat. I’m just kidding. Like she’s gonna’ work (“work”) two days in a row. Ha ha ha 😀
LOL!
You made me look! I usually scan her and rarely notice unless it’s really not great. This coat reminds me of all her other coats. That’s all I’ve got- short but …..well, that’s all I’ve got. 🙂
And there you have it, Amber! That is the key to not getting too worked up about Kate. Because she’s not going to do any more than she already is so it’s better to just lower the expectations.
At least she has added more events to her calendar, we can hope this means that she’s realised that she has to be seen to be believed.
Why does she and William get it so wrong when they are out at engagements? Wearing heals and a floaty dress/coat to gad about with kids in a park is not the best choice of outfits. And why does she look so awkward meeting those children? Her body language is sooo closed – thou i have noticed that she’s more relaxed and open when William is there, she even talks with her hands (which I do as well). When she’s on her own that’s when we get the horrible clutch/crotch clutching.
Occupation: Princess of the Realm. Wearing heels and floaty coats are de rigueur in her position.
I was just wiping of tears reading The Rock post and realized why we dislike Will and Kate so much (those of us without rosy royal blinders on): you can tell when someone is genuine, loving, compassionate and does something with gratitude. That’s all it takes, not perfect outfits or hair or makeup. Just a bit of sincere interest.
There is nothing left to do but laugh, is there? She wants to go to Wimbledon but the nasty handlers say she has to do her chores first or she’s not allowed. She’s got the best part of two decades on the Sixlets and I don’t have to pull that shiznit on them to get them to empty the dishwasher. She can only visit a patronage if they have an exhibition about her for her to gaze at and dub “interesting”.
Nothing exacerbates feelings of deference more than being on the sidelines while Katie Laze Quitter hits the ground running!
It sounds like the speculation that they’re using carrots and sticks to get her to perform may be spot on. A bit of basic classical conditioning, like with pigeons or rats. She certainly doesn’t seem to be successfully reasoned with.
Exactly. It’s like handling a toddler with promises of a cookie for good behavior.
Isn’t it sad that a 34 year old needs to be bribed to do the job she chased for 10 years? I realize the job was attached to a reluctant Prince but still it’s laughable. I guess Willnot never mentioned what her duties would be when he proposed or she just pretended she didn’t hear and doesn’t care.
If she wears something again she’s criticized. If she buys a new coat she’ll be criticized for that. If she wears a dress coat..criticized. If she doesn’t wear a dress coat people will say how dare she wear a coat not befitting her position. It seems people will criticize her no matter what she wears or does, really.
Yep, it’s a hamster wheel. She put it there.
People discuss her fashion (or lack there of) because there is nothing of substance to discuss about this woman. She never seems to take a genuine interest in her work or add anything of value to the discussion.
People will discuss her fashion no matter what. Diana did tons of meaningful work but it what she was wearing led the news.
That’s true, but if she did some meaningful work, it would be discussed also. Instead, we get to discuss her clothes and her *lack* of meaningful work. I know which I’d prefer.
@ClaireB News media does do that. But the majority of royal coverage is produced by lifestyle and gossip media, which focuses on fashion and beauty.
I think your criticism is not honest and is disingenuous. Kate isn’t criticized for her clothes by most people. We criticize her lack of work. So if she would work more than 2 hours a week, she would get a LOT more praise.
Stop trying to make it out that she is a dedicated, hard-working public servant and anyone who dares criticize such a tireless worker is just evil.
She’s back the overdone eyeliner
She’s working, she’s trying, and I don’t see her royal vajoohah. I say it’s a win for Kate today. There’s some weird part of me that has a soft spot for her, and I don’t think this particular adventure warrants critcism.
LOL @ “vajoohah”!
I won’t lie, I have always admired Kate’s clothing style, particularly before she got married. I just love that tweedy British look mixed with all her ankle jeans and flats. But what has happened to her in the last couple of years? It’s so boring and frumpy!
I could not agree more. Those old photos are great; she really had great casual style back then and what appeared to be a little personality, flair and sass. Granted, I recognize dressing for Royal work is different than a trip to the clubs, but she’s lost something….and gained a ton of makeup too.
Yes yes yes on the makeup. I miss her freshness all around. I understand she feels a lot of pressure to look “right”, but she was doing just fine before. Even right after they got married she still wore dresses that really looked her style and were so classic and light. Now everything is so dark and heavy looking. It really gives me the sads.
Those beige shoes are unfortunate
Is she really in a sandbox with a dressy clutch and coat????
She really got it wrong (again). Working with kids=trousers. Not a bad outfit, just inappropriate for the event. At least she is working. Good day for a ponytail also.
Yes, she is! So dumb!
In order to go to Wimbledon without any backlash, she performs her duties. And we’re supposed to clap because she’s doing 3 events in a day…one of which is her gazing at her own bland, catalogue-style pictures. Yeah…no. She’s doing what she’s supposed to do because an entire country is paying for her and her family to live a life of immense wealth and leisure.
But this is their new approach – no sight of them for a few weeks and then 3 20min engagements in one day. Its the new Cambridge ‘flash and dash’ approach.
I’m still expecting them to turn up at the Invictus games. Her Vogue shoot, charlotte’s pictures and now today’s engagements are all about her trying to steal Harry’s headlines – she’s just as bad as William is for jumping on the Harry coattails.
I think it’s interesting that the press is flat out admitting it. No “Children’s Princess” labels, just she wants to go to Wimbledon in peace, so here she is, folks.
Everyone seems to want to give Kate a break because she actually left the house to work. But I’ve had it with Princess 1% and her fancy lifestyle that occasionally gets impinged on by “work.”
She’s doing three events today, two of which involve children, and she decides that grey and tweed would be a good look. Not a color, nothing playful. She’s lowered the bar so much that everyone’s just grateful she didn’t flash a small child.
I was googling yesterday and came across some lovely print dresses from a British brand that she could have worn. With a coordinating coat dress over top, goodness knows she’s got plenty to choose from, she’d have also been appropriately dressed to stare at pictures of herself. Here’s a dress with very little color just as she likes it, but with a wonderful whimsical print: http://www.bryonyandco.com/womens-dresses-c48/beatrice-long-sleeves-in-light-blue-orchard-p1161
And if she’d branch out a bit into a color that she would look great in, here’s another one: http://www.bryonyandco.com/womens-dresses-c48/beatrice-long-sleeve-lollipop-in-orange-p578
She could wear clothes that are fun for the kids, make her and her charity get noticed, and support a British designer. But no, let’s break out the dull grey dress (okay, London-based designer there) and the American tweed coat.
Sorry. The situation here in the American elections has got me seriously down. And now the DNC chair is supporting a bill that would model national payday lending “regulations” on the ones in Florida, where “the typical borrower pays 300% annual interest.” I live in FL and I see our crappy education system and our terrible public transportation and refusal to pay taxes to support libraries and parks, and I’m just at the end of my rope with it. This is not the time I want to live in, and none of my votes seems to count. Will and Kate are just typifying the complete disconnect rich people have from the rest of us. They’ve got no clue what it’s like to worry over the grocery bill or health care costs or any of the day-to-day life stressors that are, frankly, exacerbating my depression and giving me migraines.
I should go back on a media blackout, but it seems like a bad time to be uninformed.
It is a bad day in America right now. It has a lot of people on edge.
I’ve given up hope Dolittle will ever understand why so many criticize her. Never.
@ClaireB *internet hugs* stay strong. Things can -and do- get better! America lived through the Great depression. We can get through this.
Yes. Duchess Biscuits has not *flashed* and is at *work*. Oh joyful day! Keep it up Kate!
(And thanks for the links to Bryony and Co! Will definitely be ordering a little sumthin’ sumthin’ for meself ;-))
@ClaireB – you are spot on. Princess 1%, how her three events in one day are supposed to impress us all, how Will and Kate are perfect examples of being completely out of touch and reaping benefits because of it… and the state of American politics. It’s ridiculous to see the Duchess prance around in her expensive clothes while she “works. ” None of my votes count, either, and in the meantime, my taxes keep going through the roof. Sickening, all of it.
I’m going to go hide now.
@Claire B,
Big hugs to you. I’m in Canada, so a bit removed from the American political situation. If it were my country I would be apoplectic.
On a shallower note…how she chooses colours and clothes. Well, she is a Princess, so hence the style. As for the colour- she’s depressed at the notion of another boring encounter with kiddies or whatever, and this is her defiant stance.
All my sympathies to you.
Gosh we have a lot of Donald Trump always on the British T.V…
do you think he will get office?…
on subject of Waity she is boring fashion dolly…
no way has she learnt how to speak yet at 34 years of age
she went to university and still cant talk properly in public
no excuses I had to do presentations and practice practice makes good and cant believe with all the professionals she has by her and still cant do it .. I had to learn myself …she has no flippin excuse
she needs to grow up big time ……
I am shy and have social anxiety and still managed to teach science to high schoolers for two years. I think Waity could manage a 2-minute speech once a week.
@Magnoliarose, I don’t understand why Kate thought she wouldn’t have to work. And surely with her stalking of William, she remembers how much criticism Diana received even though she was a hard worker herself? The lights are on, but nobody’s home behind that eyeliner.
@Devereaux, thank you! I was just thinking of the Great Depression the other night. Yes, the world got through it, but *I* don’t want to live through it, especially since we know that a strong middle class makes a strong economy, so should be creating economic policy towards that goal. Ugh. We really do learn nothing from history.
And aren’t those dresses lovely? I was searching for the butterfly McQueen that Princess Beatrice wore to her cousin’s wedding, and I found one of those instead. It was on sale enough that I almost convinced myself to buy it! Such fun prints!
@OrangeCrush, she’s working so hard, being driven places to spend 30-60 minutes talking uselessly and grinning for the cameras (but she’s too shy and anxious to speak, you know). I’m sooo impressed. I’m with you on the hiding.
@hmmm, yes, I am just about apoplectic. That’s a good description: it’s the kind where I just go purple and speechless. And consider moving to Denmark. Or do you think Canada will give us political asylum?
Now I’m totally imagining Useless moping about her room after being told she had to work. She moans about how tragic and difficult her life is, and carefully selects the grey dress to represent her despair at having to go play in a sandbox for an hour. It would be amusing if she wasn’t making me so stabby right now!
Bwahahahahha!!!! The scary part is that this could be the actual scenario. Stabby away!
Oh, god, and I see on another site that she changed into her pink McQueen outfit to go see pictures of herself. Why didn’t she wear that to see the kids?? Why is it impossible for her to dress appropriately?
Except now I can see her humming happily as she picks out her clothing to go see pictures of herself in the National Portrait Gallery. The song is “I Feel Pretty,” but it’s out of tune, because she’s so tone-deaf.
I really wouldn’t want to swap places with her for anything, but I do want her coat collection. She has the best coats. Also, what is that thing about “repeating” a coat? Isn’t coat something you buy to wear a lot, even if you have tons of them and are married to a prince?
Last count, she had about 80 coats made/bought over the last 5 years, so she must have them in a warehouse somewhere.
I could definitely help her out if she feels she has too many…
The coat is fine. Tired of this style on her because it’s the same old boring thing repeated no matter what she wears. People do this when they feel something works but I can’t see why she’d choose this look again and again.
What gets me is her pushing this narrative always about how hard things are for her and the excuses but she’s Royal or having small children is so hard. How they have no privacy. How she needs gentle guidance. How she doesn’t want to raise expectations. 15 freaking years she’s been here and this fragile hot house flower routine is ridiculous.
Correct me if I’m wrong but did she mix Workshy up with some other regular William who is a gentleman farmer? Or did she just recently realize that her dolt hubby is supposed to work and so is she?
I thInk Charles is behind this new keenery of the two. Work or the purse is closed. Probably Hyacinth had firm words about the bad press.
Whatever if this holds up for a solid year then ok but I don’t think it will.
I really don’t think Charles can look beyond his own ego to lower the boom. He’s loving that, at the moment, the Doolittles are less popular than him. He doesn’t realize that this could all come crashing down around his ears when HM passes. I feel the tide is turning and he can thank his eldest son for what I feel is the coming implosion of the BRF. JMO
I think the idea of Charles as a huge egoist is a bit outdated. He’s probably still self-important, but I think he understands as a 70-year-old Prince that he’s only part of a long-lived monarchy which has changed from powerful rulers to service-oriented figureheads. He knows what he and his family have to do to keep the monarchy going and he knows that William and Kate aren’t doing it. Whether he, QEII, or anyone else has a plan to fix it, who knows, but they’re very aware there is a problem.
I think you’re right, ClaireB. Charles has kept his mouth shut about that daft plan to take over the Crown Estate (probably because someone in the government told him it was never going to happen). To my mind, the acid test that they realise there’s a problem will be if he backs down, and Beatrice and Eugenie start doing engagements.
Why should Charles fear being upstaged at this point? Workshy Willy isn’t working. Like the others say, at his age, he’s looking at the legacy and continuity. Even his ego can take a back seat sometimes, don’t ya think?
I’m really interested to see if Charles does “give up” on William and let Bea and Eugenie become working royals, or keeps hoping that William will straighten up. From William’s behavior so far, I don’t think he will bow to external pressure and he doesn’t seem self-aware enough to change or want to change.
I do wonder about Charles and the Prince’s Trust. He said neither of his sons wanted to take it on. But there have been so many stories over the years about how Diana (and probably others) told Harry he had to support his brother, that was his job, and now he never does anything to upstage William. If Harry took the Trust, he’d be doing a lot more official work, and that would definitely make William look bad. Then it wouldn’t be the “younger generation” of royals being lazy, it would be obvious to everyone that it was just W&K.
It’s a nice enough coat and dress. However I don’t think it was a suitable outfit for a children’s sand pit. Her hair even though it was partially pulled back was a mess. I wonder how long the new work ethic will last. Wimbers is not until July so she’s going to have plenty of time to “work” before she fets
Why is she wearing a gray winter looking coat & heels to a children’s playground in May with her flying all over the place??? I’m sure they could arrange for her to change prior to going to the National Gallery. Just ugh….
She did change before going to the National Gallery. Into something more cheerful and springlike, although she probably would have flashed the kids in it, so maybe she was being more thoughtful than we know.
I’m just here for the kid with a bucket on his head.
Lol!
I think she’s drop dead gorgeous actually. I’m tired of seeing t & a every time I read the news or look at celebrities. This woman is a class act and carries herself with such grace. She has her priorities straight, a healthy and loving environment for her young family and she’s championing mental health among other things. William did well in choosing her. Diana would be very proud. Yes we all have stress but it’s not under a microscope and plastered all over the world when we make a misstep.
Speaking of t&a, would you consider it “a class act” that she repeatedly chooses inappropriate clothing so that she’s more known for flashing her royal biscuit than for working for her charities?
Well she’s human and so am I. We aren’t perfect. Must be nice that you are though. And it’s pretty pathetic when people choose to focus on that rather than the charities she represents. She’s not alone when it comes to accidental exposure. It’s happened numerous times to others in the media.
@ Joannie nope, it did not happen to me. not even once. once it’s an accident. multiple times, nope. if it did happen that many times, i’d lose my job. end of story.
I’m happy to focus on the charities she represents. I just wish she would.
@christine – you are lucky. Last week I delivered a two hour presentation without realizing a critical button on my blouse was undone. My assitant kindly told me after the fact.
What about Hospices and drug addiction and whatever else was close to her heart last year, the year before and the one before that? I’m sure they are simply thrilled to be dropped because mental health is the chosen cause close to her heart, and MH will be so yhrilled to be dropped next year when she finds a new cause clise to her heart that she can dip a toe in.
Yes, it’s amazing how she can only focus on one topic at a time, isn’t it? Those other royals must be super-human machines, capable of taking on new causes and continuing to support their old ones.
I wouldn’t want to visit hospices, either, frankly, but if I’d committed myself as patron and was being taking care of in every other way (food, clothing, nannies, palaces), I think my assistants could probably get me there once a month or so.
Joanie, can you tell me what charities she focuses on? It used to be hospices, but they made her sad, so she doesn’t visit them anymore. Now it’s mental health, and she spent so much time doing research that she came out and said that mental health issues are caused by this:
“But of course many children are not so lucky. Since beginning my work in areas like addiction, for example, I have seen time and time again that the roots of poor mental health in adulthood are almost always present in unresolved childhood challenges.”
First thing wrong, I doubt she’s seen anything “time and time again,” because she doesn’t put any time into her charities. Secondly, she blamed parents for poor mental health, not genetics, brain chemistry or anything else. Families. It’s their fault they didn’t resolved their challenges.
I don’t understand putting time and effort into defending such a privileged twit.
She must be boiling hot, it’s tshirt weather in London today!
Good point.
Gosh we have a lot of Donald Trump always on the British T.V…
do you think he will get office?…
on subject of Waity she is boring fashion dolly…
no way has she learnt how to speak yet at 34 years of age
she went to university and still cant talk properly in public
no excuses I had to do presentations and practice practice makes good and cant believe with all the professionals she has by her and still cant do it .. I had to learn myself …she has no flippin excuse
she needs to grow up big time ……
What a trooper, posing for Vogue in a thin cotton shirt! The woman is amazing. Her resiliency is a beacon for us all.
And thanks for the glimpse into your “private existence”, Kate. WTH is that supposed to mean? That she was photographed in Norfolk, with her Range Rover visible in the background?
I can’t believe she turned appearing on the cover of Vogue and then going to the NPG to gaze upon her own image into a “work engagement.”
I find the whole PR strategizing around Kate and Will to be a million times more interesting than Kate and Will themselves.
Yeah, Tourmaline. It’s the strategy that is fascinating. And the showing off.
Are open sand pits in children’s play areas allowed in the UK? I thought ‘Health and Saftey’ would be all over that.
Why would you wear a coat and heels to a children’s playground? I am tired of all these coats and dresses – so boring. There are so many more smart modern options available – especially when you’re kneeling down in sand. She wants to be treated as normal? Well maybe dressing a bit more normal – but smart – might help. Princess Mary and Princess Letizia in Europe wear really great smart casuals – they’re not always in this dressy-up dresses.
First, there are two years old children in short sleeves on the pictures. It is off to wear a winter jacket closed up. It shows that she is not ‘there in the same event’ as they all are: in a park in May. It is weird. Second, what a great opportunity to go with her son, future heir of the heir. Yes, not bad overall, but still OFF by miles.