Exhausted from doing one event in two weeks’ time, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have jetted off to France for a vacation. SO EXHAUSTING!! To be fair to them, they were somewhat busy at the start of July, doing public events all in a row, day after day. That was fun, but they were unaccustomed to the workload, which is why they got some time off to attend Wimbledon and go sailing. Those were Kate’s only events in three weeks’ time. And now they’re on vacation, but SHHHH… we’re not supposed to talk about it.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have apparently flown to France by private jet for a summer break. Kate and William arrived yesterday afternoon on the £8 million Cessna plane owned by the country’s richest man, the Duke of Westminster, who has leant it to the couple several times before.
The pair landed in the small south western airport of Pau-Pyrenees, close to the border with Spain, at 1.30pm yesterday afternoon and were swiftly transferred into two waiting blacked out Range Rovers, out of the view of photographers. Although the airport refused to comment, multiple sources told local newspaper, La Rep des Pyrenees, that the Duchess was on board and travelling to ‘visit relatives’.
There was initially no mention of air ambulance pilot Prince William or the couple’s children Prince George and Princess Charlotte although all three are believed to have accompanied Kate. The family party would have travelled with their nanny, Maria Borrallo, and a small security detail. Another group of Scotland Yard close protection officers were waiting for them at the location, having travelled out a few days earlier to ‘recce’ the holiday. The cost of the flight wouldn’t be billed to taxpayers as it is a private holiday, although the bill for providing their police protection would.
After a few minutes unloading and repacking their luggage, the UK-registered cars then headed off in the direction of north Bearn and Gers. It is not clear where they were heading but the airport is 70 miles from the coastal resort of Biarritz.
The couple regularly borrow the Duke’s jet for private trips and holidays, which seats up to eight people and would cost £12,000 a day to hire. And earlier this year William and Kate – who have been the subject of criticism this year for their lack of royal duties and being ‘workshy’ – slipped out of the country on a secret skiing holiday with pals, again on the Duke’s jet.
It always amuses me and frustrates me to see how much work Will and Kate put into going on vacation and avoiding work in general. Like, all of the effort it takes for Will and Kate to plan and execute “private” and secret holidays is astounding. The effort is takes for Will and Kate to carefully avoid doing royal work is mind-numbing. And what relatives do they have in France? The Middletons are mostly England-based, although Dodgy Uncle Gary still lives in Ibiza, doesn’t he? Hm…
Photos courtesy of WENN.
If she planned her appearances and outfits as meticulously as they do their holidays, I think I’d be on board. Not that I’m a taxpayer in the UK. But man it must be nice to be rich and lazy and not held accountable for anything.
What’s crazy about her outfits is that her style is so boring and consistent that it should be easy to focus on the event. THAT’S how you know she must be doing the MINIMUM.
Haha, I literally just said that to someone two days ago!
I’m sure they must have some hookup. They seem to go to repeated places (France, Kenya, Mustique), so I assume they get a discount or a have family friends.
Also, general question: Are any of the royals particularly well-traveled (outside of work events)? Or do all of them try to limit travel due to security costs? They all seem to have preferences, which I understand, but If I was wealthy, I’d see the world.
I’d especially work travel into my job way more if I was a high profile individual. I’d hopefully get the chance to be a UN Goodwill Ambassador and just hope to do some good work, with some good people, in some good places. 🙂
Harry seems to have traveled extensively. But I’ve always wondered if Kate traveled before she was married. It would be something I would want to do before being a future Queen.
As far as Kate pre-marriage, she went to Uncle Gary’s place in Ibiza and the family had the usual trips to Mustique. As a child she lived in Jordan which is pretty cool. Other than that, her travel history centers around William (and, apparently, in some pretty odd ways). Of course as a couple, they took vacations such as skiing in France and Kenya. However, prior to her even meeting William, she went to Chile on a gap year doing the same program as Will. She just missed him by a week. There was also an art history trip she planned to do in Italy that Will was also going to do but he backed out.
” Bizarrely, Prince William was rumoured to be joining the same study group as his future wife, but he never did.” – See more at: http://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/kate-middleton-and-her-gap-year-florence#sthash.JlKzFfZC.dpuf
While this could be chalked up to them perhaps being in the same social circles, Kate didn’t/doesn’t appear to have any friends from said circle.
ETA – However, Kate and Will did have enough common acquaintances that she could have heard rumors/mumblings of what he was planning to do in terms of Italy, Chile, and even St. Andrews. I know people want to think it’s cute coincidence in terms of a love story, but eh… it’s a little too much for me.
@HH – Kate and William knew each other before they went to St Andrews as she was very much on the outer rings of his social circle, by some accounts they were acquainted in a loose way throu mutual friends. Reports from people who knew Kate from her first year at Uni say that she was obsessed with him, always making sure she was where he was.
As you say, outside family holidays (and the odd holiday with William) she is not well travelled. Partly due to finances (she didn’t have a job) and the rest down to waiting by the phone for him to call. There is one story that he was away on vacay with friends and called her to join him, she turned up and left about an hour or so later. The story is that he apparently told her to go home – presumably after he got what he wanted. There is a reason why her nickname (given by his security) was the mattress – he only ever called her when he was in between GF’s and/or horny.
Neither of them are particularly nice people. Birds of a feather and all that.
The hour long trip was during his birthday celebration. She reportedly packed for the entire length. There was some argument and she was dismissed. I remember reading about that and the fallout. Tabloids were kind to her.
And Kate was thought to be on call during William not being single given some timelines.
I remember reading when they did their Canada/US tour in 2011 that Kate had never been to the either country before, which I thought was astonishing for a rich Brit. Not that everyone must go to those countries, but given her wealth and proximity and the fact that you can have all types of vacations in those places (skiing, beaches, historical cities, etc), it seemed really odd to me.
My experience being married to a Brit (public school educated which I suppose makes his family ‘posh’) is that they tended to travel in Europe with the odd trip to Africa/Asia.
Husband and his sister both speak 3 languages and have travelled extensively in Europe and west Africa, but he had never been to America until he went to meet my parents in his late 20s! Don’t think that indicated a lack of curiosity about the world, but rather a cultural difference?
@hogtowngooner – I remember picking up on that as well! The two big cities are NYC and Toronto that so many people visit.
@Clare – “Husband and his sister both speak 3 languages and have travelled extensively in Europe and west Africa” >>> That’s a TOTALLY different mindset than W&K. While the BRF probably has to bring a certain level of security, so I can understand if they may have to limit travel to Europe, but I don’t think Kate has even extensively traveled Europe (or even those countries she’s already been too). I think her European travels are simply skiing in the Alps, Ibiza, Florence (gap year), and…??? I can’t think of anything else. She’s an Art History major and I don’t recall even hearing if she’s ever been to the Louvre!
Interesting I read a comment years ago regarding Kate in the DM from a female posting which was very disparaging regarding the Mahiki days basically implying that anyone who dared to catch Wills eye was stared down even to the point of an accidental drink being spilt over the rival. A Capricorn female with their eye on a prize is a force to be avoided.
Many aristocratic Brits are very incurious. They like home, skiing, and the occasional beach (no interest in historical cities or culture). Most of what they like can be found in Europe most of the time (so a short, relatively painless flight), with the occasional winter jaunt to the Caribbean or South Africa.
Tina, you know it could also be the internet and cabal, you see so many places on line over and over, and once you see them in real life you are like meh, I think that so much mystique has been taken out, because the visuals are so perfect !!!
Just Normal Bill and Kathy, having a vacay.
Sheesh Kaiser, be a little more emphatic. Do you know all the effort it takes to promote a car, deal with cheap potential clients trying to negotiate an already low price, close the deal and look for a new family SUV that probably will need several weeks of additional conditioning?? It is a nightmare! Of course they have earned that secluded vacation.
I think it is nearly baby-making time again. This is usually preceded by a holiday somewhere.
I think she is too thin to conceive and successfully carry a pregnancy at this point.
Of course they did and in front of a load of tipped off paps. Poor snowflakes have been working very very hard what with their recent taxing sailing engagement at the weekend. Sounds like another freebie holiday with the tab picked up by someone else.
After the skiing vacation, the paps learned to watch the Duke of Westminster’s private plane. They’ve been using it for years for these secret trips (Wm’s hunting jaunts with or without Jecca), but now the paps know to watch it.
Countdown to their people trying to make the travel logs for the jet classified and unavailable to the public? For security purposes, of course.
I don’t know if anyone can access those logs now. As long as he keeps it at a hangar where photographers can photograph it from a piece of public land, it will be tracked visually.
I think Terribly Rich James Mathews’s plane has also been added to list of things tracked by the paps. That and Scottish airports.
They also announced they are going to Canada this fall.
God. Why? We hosted and paid for them once already.
When one owns a red maple leaf hat, one must create another occasion to wear it. #pippatips
That’s what I thought @mazzie. I guess PMSelfie needs to add to his autograph book.
I hope they have to visit Fort Mac like they did Slave Lake and look ‘concerned’ about the fire from this spring and ask questions like “has this happened before?”
@Deedee you made me nearly spit out my tea this morning.
Apparently, it is just BC and Yukon. No need to see the devastation of the Fort.
Sophie and Edward were just on tour in Canada at the end of June. Sophie toured the wildfire ravaged neighborhoods.
Hee! Points to @deedee.
But really, why? We don’t need them and we just had a Wessex here. I’m sure we could do better things with our money. And at this point I hope a bear scares the crap out of them.
Mazzie
You are a quick wit! LAK, does terribly wealthy James really own than single engine waiting for a disaster plane? Yes, it is lovely based on pics, but I always prefer a jet with a back-up engine. One engine only and there aren’t many options.
@Deedee Lest we forget the taco clutch!
http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article182461.ece/BINARY/the-duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-kate-middleton-and-prince-william-attend-a-citizenship-ceremony-at-the-canadian-museum-of-civilization-pic-splahsnew-369165.jpg
Another jolly for them which will require more expensive, never to be seen again frocks. Hope the Canadians will coordinate their towns and countryside to complement her clothes.
Yes. Canada, please check any national landmarks for scaffolding. Also, have pack horses on the ready for hikes and beauty salon stops in the woods.
I wonder how one theme dresses for Canada. Mukluks?
How to distract from the vacation? Announce that they’ll do some “work” in a few months. Tour will bump up their engagement numbers for the year.
Question is: will Prince George be with them when they visit Prince George, BC?
I am so pissed that my tax dollars are going to fund another vacation for these two idiots. They are going to do touristy things because they have zero connection to Canada and certainly don’t support any charities. It is the opposite of what Harry is doing with Invictus in Toronto.
I wouldn’t be shocked if they make a stop in Toronto during TIFF. Lots of celebrities in town then.
Me too! I quite frankly do not want one red cent spent on catering to these two insipid twats and their entourage. The thought of Waity’s super animated, maniac grins, hair flicking, and the wedges of doom are giving me serious nausea, which requires a soothing glass of red, or maybe the bottle!
@Nic919 It even sounded like a tourist ad in the press release. Do we honestly have to advertise the country in the hopes that these two will visit? They won’t even rule for another 20-30 years, and that’s if we decide to keep them until then.
I like the Queen and I like Anne, but for various reasons I’m all for a referendum on the monarchy in Canada after the Queen passes. I want to see what the country, with a very changed demographic from the time of George VI and the beginning of the Queen’s reign, thinks about the monarchy as it stands today.
Unless Justin is dragging them up to Yukon to highlight food problems in northern communities (prices, food not being fresh after long hours of transport), then this tour is an absolute waste of time and money.
Two more Will and Kate (and George) stories:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/prince-george-white-privilege-british-council-facebook-1.3696118
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/07/27/prince-william-and-kate-coming-to-canada.html
That story about George is awful in the sense that an adult is saying something about a child. However, I agree with her other comments. The BRF is so antiquated. How can a public justify having them around? Especially in times of austerity measures.
Agreed, HH. I’m an anti-monarchist but to put such a complex issue on a toddler is not only beyond the pale, but astonishingly ignorant.
They had a piece on the Today show yesterday about Will, Harry, and Kate and what they are doing for their charities. Harry did a BBQ with kids, an interview, and whatnot for their mental health charity and did the HIV testing live to remove the stigma. Will posed for the cover of a LGBQT magazine, and Kate “guest edited” a website, and that was the only work they’ve done. They really had to work to sell the effort Kate and Wills were making.
Since William is the only royal ever to appear on the cover of an LGBT Magazine, I think he gets credit for directly addressing issues affecting the LGBT community.
First of all the DM reported Kate was alone yesterday and now the whiny one is with her? Not so private a holiday this time. Bet the whiny one is raging that he hasn’t hoodwinked the press as he did earlier this year.
How nice of Westminster to loan them his private jet. What kind of payback is he getting from this?
Good question. I’ve often wondered what exactly is the deal?
He is one of Charles’ closest friends and his wife is William’s god mother. As the wealthiest man in England, Westminster requires nothing in return.
Except Charles or William leaning on government for things that benefit him, his money, inheritance factors and taxes, the intrinsic benefit of being royally-adjacent, etc.
There is always influence peddling to be had, especially among the wealthy who will use any means to stay that way.
Also the Duke of Westminster’s son and heir, Hugh Grosvenor, is a godfather to Prince George. Which was a little odd as he is about 10 years younger than both W and K. I see the godfather thing as an insurance policy that that the Westminsters private plane, hunting lodge in Spain, etc is *always* going to be at W and K’s disposal.
Cee, Their wonderful friendship and enticing intelligent conversations!!!
Do they pay for their security? French police can’t take it anymore and they have the fêtes de Bayonne right now near Biarritz area with thousands of people exposed. A priest was horribly murdered yesterday. It’s really bad in France right now. They have the right to vacation here but idk, I’m disgusted at it.
No, the British tax payers have to foot the bill for their security.
The UK taxpayers pay for their RPOs (probably what, 6-9 with them on this trip), overtime for the RPOs, all costs of the RPOs food and lodging, and the pre-vacation security reconnaissance trip.
When they visit places, often local police are enlisted for increased security patrols, etc. Happens in the UK, when she runs home to Carole. The Berkshire forces are used as added security, local ambulance reserved and on call for her when pregnant, etc.
France is on maximum terror alert. They have 3 heirs in the party. 6-9 RPOs is the minimum number they will be assigned. And it will be beefed up with by local french police.
The British taxpayers will pay for personal protection and French taxpayers will cover local protection in the form of local police and emergency services being on high alert and or diverted to support the efforts of the British RPOs.
Thank you all for the explanations. They have no shame.
Just one more indication that the Cambridges are STUPID.
Why are they a target? They do nothing. Ok, I guess for notoriety, but not for their value to Britain, like a President.
And is anyone surprised??? They’ve worked so hard! And I’d bet their kids are NOT with them. Kids are for when you want to avoid work.
Sarah: Someone once tried to kidnap Anne in the 70s. Didn’t succeed, but her RPOs were hurt in the attempt. She was already no 4 in the line of succession at that point. Imagine how much more important William and the kids are.
http://home.bt.com/news/world-news/march-20-1974-shots-fired-on-the-mall-as-gunman-attempts-to-kidnap-princess-anne-11363969509985
In recent years, people have shot at the Queen and Charles.
They are valuable targets even if we can’t exactly say what they do.
You are right, LAK. I remember that about Anne! I just forgot for a second because I know how useless Will and Kate are. 🙂
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has been out and about promote the Heads Together charity today – you know the cause (mental health) that the Buckets, Kate in particular, is ‘passionate’ about. Guess the really needed that private and secret holiday to Spain.
Plus, the Buckets have just announced another public funded holiday, sorry engagement, to Canada.
I think that Heads Together BBQ was a week or two ago. Harry is said to be back in Africa spending a few weeks doing more conservation work and Sentebale. That’s how he spends his vacation.
I think it was a couple of days ago. The snark is strong with me today and stories of these 2 are rubbing me up the wrong way 🙁
Isn’t there question about when it took place? Info was released this week but no date given. Sunday 17th vs. 24th? He was in South Africa at the AIDS conference July 18-22. Did he fly all the way home for this, then return to SA and Lesotho for his conservation and Sentebale working holiday?
Then people wonder why Harry is more
Poor snowflakes really need a wee holiday after all the work they do. I would love a job with the East Anglia ambulance service as their staff get a huge amount of holiday days to take. Lol.
Although the Duke of Westminster provided the plane, tax payers will be paying for everything else even if it is deemed “private.” With all the castles and palaces the royals have, couldn’t they holiday in one of those? It would also give them the privacy they crave.
But those castles aren’t sunny and warm!
Well of COURSE they did! #BecauseRoyalty.
They basically jet from Wimbledon royal box, to sailing on 100 million dollar boat, to private French vacay.
#BecauseRoyalty.
And that’s EXACTLY what the world needs now, in these frightening times. MOAR vacations 🙂
Wait, did I say what the *world* needs? Sorry, no.
I meant, its what *they* need at this dire time. *They* need. And we’ve got to give *them* what *they* need, cause it’s all about *them*.
#BecauseRoyalty
I agree…not only lazy, but tone deaf. With all of the violence going on in the world and particularly France, to add to the burden of the French police by visiting there instead of perhaps foregoing a vacation to not add to the strain is just stupid. And tone deaf.
That’s become my reaction to all their antics ie ‘of course they did!’ Individually and together.
This is why they were happy for thei future Terribly Rich brother in law: they can fly for free now.
They have an overwhelming amount of privacy if you compare them to Frederick and Mary who balance the family photographs which makes for a lot of respect from their countries people.
Irish Independent is reporting this is the first official (beach) holiday for Charlotte in Biarritz.
Mustique for George and Biarritz for Charlotte.
I’m sure she’ll have wonderful memories of this vacation./s
The Dolittles are shameless and now they’re coming to my country…off to call my MP. I don’t want them here and don’t want one dime of my money supporting their “Royal Tour of Canada”. (vomit)
Let Justin Trudeau fund their little trip!
Truedough will be happy to lend his own team of CDN taxpayer funded nannies to help of course, because little George gets “grumpy” on the long haul flights- that is, if the children are expected to accompany their parents.
However, at this point, I think only K&W are expected to arrive in western Canada this fall. George is expected back in school, most likely in London.
I don’t think they’d move to London until fall 2017 at the earliest. William started at Wetherby at 4 1/2, Harry weeks shy of 5. I can see them starting PGTips there at 5 and 2 months (fall 2017), or waiting until January 2018.
If W&K can delay a move, they will. Or they’ll break tradition and choose a school near Sandringham and not move to London. When both kids are in school or preschool, no excuses for their light workload. Cue baby #3?
Any word if the Middletons are along? I was thinking this could be a vacay to celebrate Pipps engagement.
The last reported on Uncle Gary’s Ibiza house (Maison de Bang Bang— ugh) is that it was still up for sale last fall for about 4M pounds. My theory is that Uncle Gary is estranged from the Midds now tho.
Good, now they won’t use their children for good PR.
I’m awaiting a detailed script of the flight from Liberty. Or some pithy comments from Sixer, who must be sitting incandescent at her laptop.
Disgraceful going to France when country in state of mourning at all terror related incidents its absolutely thoughtless of cambridges … vacation what have they done work wise to warrant holidays again
The country has enough going on without adding to their security worries with them there they are very cold hearted going on holiday at such a terrible time ..
These two have to be the dumbest royals. They don’t go to Brazil for very good reasons, but take their young children to France which is under a high threat level. Yes, that seems fun. 👌🏽
let me guess, she has an engagement 6 weeks from now that she wants a pass to get out of?
barf city on the way……………makin’ baby has commenced
She won’t get pregnant if they are going to Canada in the fall because it puts her in the middle of her “extreme” HG when they arrive.
Just like she would take precautions and make sure not get pregnant when facing her first solo 2 day tour (Malta) that was scheduled months in advance? What with her “HG” and all.
Trip announced third week of July, she ends up 5 weeks pregnant the first week of September. Oh, right. Then again, she *will* want to go on another vacation to Canada.
Kate looks younger and prettier in casual clothes.
well, first, they are normal family. Yes, they are royals, but they have money and friends and connections that possible to arrange this secret holiday.
I don’t think it is a big deal, I mean, the Cambridge especially the duke is an heir, and he would likely to do best for his family, include safety and convenience summer holiday with the wifey and the kids, so, why everyone so mad?
maybe b/c they are perpetual spongers?
Just as long as the Duchess 1) keeps her bikinis on during the holiday in France and 2) wears straight skirts on the Canadian vacay or Pits some weights in the hems of her flared short skirts. But then again she may want to catch the eye of Mr Trudeau?
with the body of an 11 yr old boy , she will not catch anyone’s eye
Pretty sure Sophie can take her. We’re tough and she could probably jersey the Duchess.
I don’t think Kate will be pregnant before end of next year as Charlotte will be at least three before a third baby. The Middletons are undoubtedly on holiday in France and they are the relatives W and K are joining. Don’t think W and K are serving the people which is the sole reason for any royal existence.