Duchess Kate brought her family to the Queen’s first church visit in weeks

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There was a big royal appearance over the weekend as the Queen finally stepped outside, for the first time in weeks. Queen Elizabeth has been battling a so-called “heavy cold” (which I think was probably the flu) for weeks, even missing out on church on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. But on Sunday (January 8th), the Queen went to the local church in Sandringham. Surprisingly, she was also joined by her grandson Prince William. And William’s “real family,” the Middletons. Yes, all of the Middletons came out for the Queen’s first appearance in weeks. The Duchess of Cambridge was there, as was Carole Middleton, Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton and poor old Terribly Rich James Matthews.

You can always tell when Kate has been spending a lot of time with her mother because she brings out those fur hats which Carole loves. Carole probably thinks they’re so fashionable. Other than the hat, Kate repeated an expensive £1,541 coat by Sportmax. It was incidentally the same coat she wore to Christmas church services in 2015. It must be her “holiday coat” or something. As for Pippa… that hat!! Is she cosplaying Jecca Craig too?

The Daily Mail is making a big deal about how the Middletons were invited to Sandringham for this church visit, but I honestly think this is less about “the Queen approves of Carole” and more about “the Queen doesn’t even give a sh-t at this point.” Like, the Queen is old, she’s just gotten over a terrible illness, and if William wants to make some kind of point about how Queen Carole is his real family, so be it. I also think it’s more than possible that the invitation extension to the Middletons was part of the Queen’s gift to Kate for her 35th birthday, which was on Monday. Speaking of, the Daily Mail also had a passive-aggressive story about “Kate at 35” which is worth a read – go here. The basic gist is that Kate is such a simple country girl and her 35th year will be one of major transitions as she and William move full-time to London and she begins to work harder. That is, unless she gets pregnant again, which you know is totally happening.

Last thing – the Cambridges’ Christmas card has finally been revealed – it’s a totally basic shot from their Canadian tour. You can see the image here.

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Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.

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148 Responses to “Duchess Kate brought her family to the Queen’s first church visit in weeks”

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  1. Sarah says:

    Kate can’t even wipe her nose without her mother.

  2. MunichGirl says:

    Pippa’s outfit reminds me of Inspector Clouseau.

  3. MostlyMegan says:

    Those Middleton women and their beige tights! And Carol does look full on air-hostess here. Which is appropriate I guess.

    • TuxCat5 says:

      She also looks Jackie Kennedy, which is probably what she was going for…

    • paddyjr says:

      I was thinking maybe Russian Empress/faux Dr. Zhivago. Just no.

    • Lex says:

      The tights is protocol for Kate – royals wear pantyhose over bare legs.
      It was quite common for women I worked with (20s and 30s) when I lived in London – not weird at all. It lets you wear skirts/dresses in winter without having the heavy look of black stockings on.

    • Snowflake says:

      Isn’t that pantyhose? Maybe you guys call those tights? In the US, tights are the dark heavy pantyhose.

  4. Clare says:

    Ugh, given that we had rumors going around the Ol’ Liz had actually died just before Christmas blah blah, and how big of a deal this appearance was, it is really bizarre/ridiculous that the bloody Middletons turned up. Although, having said that, its not a surprise is it?

    • Delta Juliet says:

      Not a surprise at all. They knew there would be a ton of attention and they wanted some of it.

    • Lex says:

      Meh – a member of their extended family was unwell for quite a while and this is the first event she feels well enough to attend. Wouldn’t you go to see them and wish them a Merry Xmas, particularly if they were the matriarch of your family? Maybe they also wanted attention but it’s silly to insinuate it was all for attention.

      • Clare says:

        I really don’t think The Queen counts as the matriarch of the Middleton family. Perhaps your argument applies to William and Kate (who by the way couldnt be bothered to see their ‘elderly’ relatives for Christmas), but why did the Middletons need to be there on parade? Because they are straight up attention whores.

  5. justsaying says:

    The DM had an article yesterday about Kate’s hat, that it is real fur etc.

    • Lisa says:

      Yes, BABY ALPACA FUR!!!! What a disgusting person she is.

      • Hazel says:

        Yeah, supposedly all these baby alpacas are dying in sufficient numbers to support a hat industry or something.

    • notasugarhere says:

      A big deal was made of the fact that it is from baby alpaca’s who die of natural causes. Just like some of her other fur items through the years, she skirts around the anti-fur argument by wearing things remade from older furs (or accepting freebies through her mother of fur items that are brand new – skiing hat, possum-fur lined mittens).

      • LAK says:

        Are baby alpacas dying naturally in sufficient quantities to sustain a long term economic enterprise?

      • Digital Unicorn (aKa Betti) says:

        U have to wonder what’s causing baby alpacas to die young in such numbers. Judging by the size of Waitys hat there was more than one baby involved. Just gross.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I doubt they are dying in sufficient numbers. She knows that she gets in trouble with some when she wears fur, she wears it anyway because she wants to, but tries these outside avenues to try to make it ok with anti-fur folks.

      • Jen says:

        It doesn’t even make any sense. Alpaca are raised like sheep for wool–you can get a fluffy alpaca hat without any harm at all to a baby alpaca!

    • Deedee says:

      That baby alpaca on her head makes her look like a gray Q-Tip. I loathe it.

    • Merritt says:

      Alpaca’s can be sheared like sheep though, so you can take the fleece without harming them. There is something odd about this story.

  6. Birdix says:

    William looks like a naked mole rat in these photos. Kate really bought at the top.

  7. Llamas says:

    I just find this so odd. WK never make random church appearances and yet here they are! This clearly wasn’t a royal family church visit and yet WK tagged along with the whole crew on the queen’s visit. The message is brutally obvious at this point-it’s time for the public to accept the royal middletons. I mean this is two pap strolls in a matter of weeks. WK and the middletons are making a statement. I’m so sick of these thirsty people and their smugness.

    Also, this is the 6th year we’ve heard about how “Kate is going to step up her game and work more!!!!” and this narrative is so f-ing predictable at this point…she isn’t going to do jack sh*t.

    I wonder if James Matthew realizes his greater purpose in life has become to tag along on the middleton’s royal family. I’d be so depressed to be just an accessory to the BS. He is now a lemming bc he is getting married into this faux RF. How sad.

    And lastly, I can’t deal with PEOPLE’s “princess Kate” crap. It’s absurd. How much were they paid to call her that? She’s a duchess. NOT a princess.

    • Harla Jodet says:

      Hi Llamas, I personally think that all the royal reporters get together and draw straws to decide who gets to ruin their career for a year by writing the new year “Kate’s going to step up her game and work more” articles. I mean, they have to know that it’s dribble and that Kate has no intention of doing any more than she absolutely has to.

    • notasugarhere says:

      TR James’s greater purpose in life is seemingly to provide a freebie vacation spot and funding for any number of failing Middleton businesses. And eventually a (purchased with the estate) title for Pippa.

    • Mamunia says:

      The sad thing is that she is really a princess. She takes on ALL Prince William’s titles. They are given the Duke/Duchess title at marriage to avoid confusion over succession. Then when Charles ascends to the throne, they will be given the Prince & Princess of Wales titles. It is disgusting considering their work ethic and how little interest they have in upholding tradition.

      • lavins says:

        Sophie, Prince Edward’s wife is a Princess too, Sarah Ferguson was a Princess too, married Prince Andrew but PEOPLE Magazine never made the mistake of calling either ladies Princess at least not after they walked out of the church on their wedding day.
        Much of the press LAUGHS at People Mags continue attempts to TRY to make Princess Kate thing Happy, it’s NOT happening. She’s called Duchess or Kate by most. It looks ridiculous calling her PK at this point if they didn’t do it to the others.
        Let’s see if they call Harry’s future wife Princess, no matter what title given on the wedding day? I doubt they will. They just want Kate to be called Princess when it looks ridiculous at this point.
        People Mag will probably call Kate , Queen Consort as soon as the Queen passes, even if Camilla is still alive. PEOPLE keeps wanting to try to make Kate but she is so lackluster, I doubt any title will help her or PW at this point, both are so dull.
        PEOPLE will probably call Kate Queen, as soon as the Queen passes, If they could get away with it.

        P.S. I just see high level GRIFTERS when it comes to the Midds family.

      • Moneypenny says:

        She is a princess, but wouldn’t she be Princess William of X, never Princess Kate?

      • Llamas says:

        Yeah I guess. I just remember some people commenting when billy goat threw a fit to get waity labeled as “princess of the U.K.” when she wasn’t. Regardless, PEOPLE is ridiculous. They kiss the ground she walks on. I can’t read them anymore because they drip with adoration for her. It’s kind of gross. They probably WILL call her queen consort. Or they’ll say she is the new and improved princess of wales. Or the people’s princess. It’ll be OTT whichever they choose.

      • LAK says:

        Ducal titles are higher status than princely ones by dint of being peerage titles. Princely styles denote child/grandchild of monarch, but without a ducal title are as commoner as everyone without a peerage title.

        Further, the only ducal titles that are important in the line of succession are Lancaster (held by Monarch), Cornwall (held by heir), York (held by second son of the monarch). All other ducal titles have nothing to do with the succession.

        By creating William a duke, HM was actually elevating him to the peerage. As a result, he is known by his higher ranked title aka The Duke of C, rather than Prince William. Kate is using the courtesy style of his higher ranked title rather than his other titles.

        Finally, in terms of the history of royal ducal titles, Cambridge is rather low on the totem pole. Lower than the ones in current usage and any that are vacant.

        Moneypenny: whatever title Kate hold, it’s courtesy of her marriage. She doesn’t hold it in her own right. For that reason she can’t use her first name in the title because she wasn’t born to it like Princess Anne or Princess Charlotte.

        For that reason she is not Duchess/Princess Kate ( i realise it’s easier to call her Duchess Kate for ease of gossip etc). She is The Duchess of Cambridge + all other courtersy title derived from William’s titles.

        The only way her name appears in her title is when she is divorced. At that point, she loses the definitive ‘the’ infront of her title and gains a comma ie Kate, duchess of cambridge or Diana, Princess of Wales post divorce.

    • Maria says:

      I think they (Willy and Waity) were invited by the Queen to attend church. The queen had a special request for a hymn to be sung. It’s called “Work”, you probably know it, it goes something like this:

      Work for the night is coming
      Though tiredness descendeth upon thee,
      Thy work shall be never ending,
      Or though wouldst find thyself homeless be.

      Something like that.

    • Alix says:

      @Llamas: Alas, Waity IS a princess (Princess William, to be exact), but “Princess Kate” is not her proper form of address. “HRH the Duchess of Cambridge” (no first name) is, but try telling that to People.

      • lavins says:

        PEOPLE is ridiculous. As someone else stated in above thread, “I can’t read it anymore!” (either)

      • Fiorella says:

        Wait for it, PEOPLE will have her as Queen Katherine l who rules in her own right.

  8. littlemissnaughty says:

    I don’t know where this is coming from but I suddenly need to know who does her Maj’s makeup. Does anyone know? A quick Google search tells me that Annie Leibovitz said she does it herself. But for every occasion? If so, she’s a total pro at it. Maybe Kate can take lessons.

    • Tourmaline says:

      I agree the Queen’s makeup is softly flattering and on point always. She’s 90 year old cosmetic goals for sure.

      • paddyjr says:

        And 90-year-old fashion goals. Although she usually dresses in one color (or shades of one color), she rarely looks boring and always has interesting statement pieces.

  9. Squiggisbig says:

    I don’t really get why the Midds aren’t trying to buddy up to his dad given the Queen’s poor health?

    • Nic919 says:

      It’s probably too late. Charles probably saw that family for what they were and now they are foolishly holding the grandkids from him. That won’t be forgotten once he is King.

      The Queen is a great grandma with tons of grandkids and great grand kids so she doesn’t care at this point. And she is letting Will and the Middletons hand themselves by their own petard. The DM comments are never positive about the Middletons.

    • Kori says:

      Charles is too shrewd for that? But, yes, you’d think they’d try—especially in encouraging W&K to let him see the grandkids more. (I’m still hoping that’s just tabloid stuff otherwise it’s very sad. When I visited Clarence House in 2015, the tour guide did mention, in relation to a question, that George frequently came to CH on Sundays to see him. And there were personal, non-official photos there that my beady little eyes caught. 😉 Maybe it’s just not papped like when Carole has the kids? *fingers crossed since I loved spending time with my grandparents*)

      • graymatters says:

        I think Charles is in Highgrove on Sundays, and the Cambridges aren’t usually seen in London on weekends, so I don’t know how much truth there would be to the Sundays with Grampa Wales idea. Shame, really, since he’d have so much to offer grandkids. But I think he’d be even better with slightly older kids and I can totally see him winning the “cool grandparent” game when G&C are schoolage.

    • Digital Unicorn (aKa Betti) says:

      Chuck dislikes the Middletons, esp Carole. He sees the hold they have on his son and how they r using William to further their own ambitions/delusions of grandeur. Carole won’t quit till SHE has a title and is at the centre of the BRF. She continues to chase after something that she will never get; the deference and respect of the aristocracy.

      As for William I have to wonder what has gone down to sour his relationship with his father. He may have been a bad husband but he was a good father who had a close relationship with his sons. This shadow court with the Middletons at the centre is William baiting his father. Plus the rumour is that he asked TQ to give Ma and Pa Middleton a title and was told no, hence the snit at Xmas with the trolling.

      • Kitty says:

        They will never get a title, and secondly, why does Carole need the respect of the aristocrats? Isn’t she the grandmother of a future king?

    • Imqrious2 says:

      Have you seen “Reinventing the Royals”? It’s up on YouTube. Apparently Charles tried to prohibit its showing; it gives a lot of examples of Charles’ machinations and times of him throwing William and Harry under the bus for his own ends (showing himself as a “good, caring father, propping up acceptance of Camilla, etc). Very eye opening.

    • lavins says:

      I think Carole sized William up the day Kate brought him home. She and the Midds figured out how to maneuver a young emotionally weak boy-basically and worked on him emotionally. I will always believe it was a two woman effort .Carole(Mike) did the emotional and Kate the girlfriend, waity katey job and they just waited and waited and waited for the proposal.

  10. Lucy says:

    I do like a nice fur hat. Not particularly that one, but there are some lovely ones out there.

  11. Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    Another tantrum by Willy to ensure his ‘family’ were included in the v obvs pap stroll. Sadly I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more of the Cambridges shadow court on display. I really can stomach the smug Middleton mugs. Even terribly rich James seems to have the same smug face as the rest of them. Guess Donna Air isn’t rich or titled enough to b included.

    The Middletons should enjoy their march as Chuck and the courtiers r circling, waiting for the right moment to bring them all down. William included. Carole isn’t the mastermind she thinks she is, she ain’t got nothing on Charles. Their blind ambition and arrogance will be their downfall and it will be epic. The press and PTB will surely have a dossier somewhere on the finances of Party Pieces and Uncle Gary’s involvement in it. Given how super secretive they r with their business they have something they r desperate to hide.

    • Lisa says:

      Exactly, Betti. Charles have better be getting his ducks in row as he will not be as popular as HM and will all the ammunition he can get his hands on to deal with the Willnots and Middfakes when the time comes. I can’t wait.

    • Maria says:

      Right on! Well said!

    • kaiko says:

      isnt Donna the beard for Jimmy?

      • Digital Unicorn (aKa Betti) says:

        Allegedly but he treats her like crap, u should treat ur beard a bit better if u want her to keep her mouth shut. I’ll wager that little Jimmy is the worst of the 3 mid siblings, he seems to have the same attitude as William.

      • Tourmaline says:

        Was James van der Boomf at the church appearance? Don’t think I saw him in pictures.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Yes, he was there, just not in any of the pictures CB selected.

      • Tourmaline says:

        Thanks @nota, I figured James Midd would not be separated from the family pack and would not miss an opportunity to church with the Queen.

        I am kind of worried for Donna Air’s heart. I think he is just stringing her along.

        Can anyone identify some of the others at the church? I thought I saw Sophie Carter the godmother to Princess Charlotte in some. The What Kate Wore site also ID’d the Chlomondeleys were with them.

      • bluhare says:

        Sophie carter was there with that Von Strawberry dude. She had this awesome red velvet coat on. At least it totally looked great from the side.

      • LAK says:

        That van strawberry gives me the creeps. Every bit of gossip about him, true or false gives impression of a creepy dude.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Sophie was the one they took along with them on the secret French skiing holiday, complete with Carole, days after Thomas van S’s divorce from Missy Percy came through. Vacation set-up, or were these two already dating by the time the divorce was finalized?

      • Lorelai says:

        James van der Boomf! Von Strawberry! You ladies are KILLING IT with the comments today! 👏🏻😂

      • lavins says:

        “James van der Boomf ” ROTFL LOL , Oh my that is TOO Hilarious.

    • Megan says:

      Did anyone else notice the Marquess of Cholmondeley and his wife are walking with the Midds?

    • lavins says:

      I think the fact that Charles has been so quiet about them for the most part, should WORRY Carole and the Midds.

      One of Charles old acquaintances, said something like “Charles believes revenge is a dish best served cold.
      Excuse me, if I messed that saying up, but basically, it was something about, Just when you think it’s safe, or you have won or when you are relaxed , he strikes HARD!

    • sarah says:

      I was just surprised to see that Michael Middleton is still alive!! Haven’t seem him in ages – thought I might have missed an announcement of some kind about him. 🙂

  12. hey-ya says:

    …Im tired of all this sniping…in the old days the parents of the future queen would have been enobled…so….message to hm…just hurry up & do it….

  13. Maria says:

    Looks like Terribly Rich James is wearing jeans. Not that it matters really. Or maybe they just look like jeans. And where was James Middleton? Working on his marshmallows I guess.

    • notasugarhere says:

      James Middleton was there, he just isn’t shown in any of the pictures CB selected.

    • Cdoggy says:

      I was just coming here to post that. Is he wearing jeans to church WITH THE QUEEN?? I’m from Alabama, USA and even I know better! Hell, I’m from Alabama , USA and I can’t wear jeans to church with my mother.

      • Maria says:

        I think he is ticked off at being dragged to church for the second time in a month.

      • Lorelai says:

        I’m a damn atheist and still wouldn’t wear jeans if I had to go to a church!

      • LAK says:

        Lorelai: me too.

      • lavins says:

        I hear James (Pippa’s guy) is a climber too,, although rich, he wanted the Royal connection which Pippa brings him.

      • Shirleygail says:

        Ah, c’mon now Team, I’ve worn jeans to church (maybe not with the Queen….). Seriously, God doesn’t care what anyone was wearing, S/He’s just glad you showed up……

  14. Odette says:

    I feel like being a betting woman, today. So here’s the question: Will 2017 be the year that Kate and William actually get “to work”?

    I’m gonna take the odds and say, “Yes.” (But with a caveat: If Harry and Meg get engaged.) Regardless of how you feel about Meg, there’s no denying she’s a hard worker. After reading up on her the past couple of days (old interviews, et cetera), it became clear that Meg is absolutely perfect for “the job.” If I believed in conspiracy theory craziness, I’d believe that she somehow knew her whole life that she would be in the public eye, and acted accordingly, her entire life. (Now, all this reading I did about her made me, personally, like her less — but that’s just because I have an irrational chip on my shoulder against Perfect Type-A people — and she is pretty much perfect and Type A. Which, hey, PRINCESS MATERIAL! So, I do hope they work out.)

    But getting back to the bet. Yeah, if they become engaged, W&K will step up their game — or at least Kate will, because she is competitive. No way is she going to risk being out-shown by the new princess on the block — one who already has an impeccable record — and, judging from interviews of other people, is well-liked, and most definitely respected, in her field.

    • Digital Unicorn (aKa Betti) says:

      I’m gonna go with a no, even if Harry and Meghan get engaged she’ll pull the 3rd pregnancy card to get all the attention on her. A 3rd baby is coming, there is no way either of them will up their game even with the additional orgs they got dumped with.

      • Odette says:

        Good point Digital Unicorn. Baby factors in. Oh man, imagine if H&M get married and get pregnant right away — and still out-do W&K in the work department?

      • msthang says:

        Good luck gettin Chopper to even sleep with her, I personally think they lead separate lives, much like Chuck and Cammie, Invitro anyone????

    • Tourmaline says:

      I am going to wager No.
      I think a third baby is coming this year followed by an epic maternity leave.
      If Meghan marries in, Kate won’t try to outwork her. Instead I bet she will double down on her I’m Just a Simple Country Wife and Mummy Making Chutney in Norfolk shtick. After all with all that Meghan is, she’s never going to be Really British and Kate (and Carole) will play that up.

    • Sixer says:

      I wager a pound to one of Sixlet Minor’s (very) smelly socks that the answer is NO.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Step up work, no. Use their pull with certain media outlets to throw Harry and Meghan under the bus, yes.

      They skipped Mustique January 2016, rumored to be over Zika concerns. Skipping their annual beach holiday? That would make me think a 3rd child is a possibility.

      • Citresse says:

        There was more age difference between Pippa and James so Kate may follow same pattern but if Willy is the boss then no more children.

  15. AfricanBoy says:

    Has anyone noticed here that the DM has published many negative articles when it comes to the Dolittles this year? And it’s only January 10.

    • HK9 says:

      Yes, but the real question is, do the Dolittles notice?

      • AfricanBoy says:

        The Dolittles probably know it but they don’t care what people say/think about them.

      • graymatters says:

        I think the only reason they do anything even remotely like work is because they care about what people say. But they’re only willing to do as little as possible to stop people complaining.

    • Citresse says:

      Yes, I sure noticed the actions from the DM and they really only recognize the children’s birthdays. Diana was honoured by many on her birthdays. Sometimes she was working on her birthday visiting community workers or lending her support in some meaningful way or she was at her desk writing many letters.

  16. Jennifer says:

    That wasn’t their Christmas card, like we’ve seen from others. That was their reply postcard that they send en masse to anyone who sent them a card. Their Christmas card, for family, friends & associates, either didn’t happen or remains secret.

  17. wow says:

    People should be use to The Middletons by now. Yet it still amazes me how just their presence alone can still manage to ruffle some feathers.

    • Llamas says:

      Because it’s so absurd!!! They act smug and haughty. No other family has acted like them. Even the RF doesn’t act like them. People are used to it that’s why no one is surprised to see them prancing around, doesn’t mean people want them to act snottier than the queen could ever act.

      • lavins says:

        Other family’s didn’t climb on their daughter’s fame and royal connections. That is what is so troublesome to me. I have no problem with Kate being close to her mum, but the Middleton’s act like GRIFTER’S all on the make to get in on every opportunity they can to act like Royals.

        Titles are coming, just give PW time if he gets the Crown.

        I want to see how the press reacts if Harry marries Meghan or whomever and the woman brings her sisters, brother’s, in-laws, mom or dad to Church with the Royals.

  18. Ever bloom says:

    It was her 35th birthday yesterday so I am going to write something nice about her, I like her nosey.

  19. Joannie says:

    I think she looks really pretty in that hat! I like Pippa’s outfit as well. There’s nothing that keeps a person warmer than fur. I know many who wear fur coats. People in the far north wear sealskin boots. My boots and shoes are leather as is my purse. If youre going to criticize her for wearing that hat you’d better be vegan!

    • Deedee says:

      Leather is a byproduct of the meat industry. There’s also a difference among wearing a vintage fur or people whose lives require wearing an animal skin out of necessity to keep warm and a rich person with many options wearing the skin of a baby animal as a new hat because “it’s fashion.” The idea that the baby alpaca died “naturally” is thrown out there as a smokescreen to make the wealthy feel better about an expensive accessory, Kate included.

    • bluhare says:

      I do not eat meat. I try to avoid leather anything, although I have leather shoes. However, I do not buy baby anything. No kidskin, calfskin, lambskin, baby alpaca hats, nothing.

      Am I a hypocrite? By your definition, probably. I can live with that.

      • Sixer says:

        It’s impossible to live in today’s society, try to be an ethical shopper, and not be a hypocrite, bluhare. Don’t you find? I do my best according to my own principles but sometimes there just isn’t an ethical option.

        That hat though – that’s just egregious. End of.

      • bluhare says:

        I do the best I can, Sixer. I try to buy local and humanely.

        And the hat is awful. In every way!

      • Megan says:

        Everyday I do my best to be a vegetarian, but it isn’t always easy. I read a lot of labels and ask many questions at restaurants.

      • Sixer says:

        My focus is more on exploited human labour. There are a LOT of products it’s virtually impossible to buy without exploited labour somewhere in the chain.

        You guys might like The Good Shopping Guide website. It’s for UK shoppers but a lot of brands they cover are international so would be useful for you two and they have a table on each product type through which you can sort out which brands are best for a) vegetarians and b) animal welfare even in non-food products. Here’s the make-up page:

        http://www.thegoodshoppingguide.com/ethical-make-up/

    • LAK says:

      I’m vegan so………..HA!

      • Sixer says:

        Actually, are you? Serious question. We’re omnivore but we eat vegan (and vegetarian) quite a lot on environmental grounds.

      • LAK says:

        Yes i am -ish. I am 99% vegan except for cod-liver oil supplements and cow milk in my cuppa.

        I’ve tried substitute milk eg almond, soya, rice, hemp, but they don’t taste right and they have a strange smell.

        It helps that i’ve never liked animal products even as a child. Texture, smell, touch….yuck. ditto material leather goods eg handbags or shoes or belts smell really rank to me. Don’t get me started on fish. I could write an entire essay on the creepiness of fish!!

        My poor parents (and relatives) were bewildered that i loved veggies as a child. They finally stopped trying to force me to eat meat products at 8yrs old. And no cheating with veggie substitutes like Quorn or veggie cheese – products i feel are oxymorons and also yuck.

      • Sixer says:

        This is a cool thing to learn about you, LAK!

    • sarah says:

      Surprise!!! Joannie thinks Kate looks wonderful!! This is about as predictable as the fact that Donald Trump will insult Bernie Sanders soon because Sanders called him a pathological liar.

    • Meg D says:

      Which would be a perfectly acceptable argument if Kate was in Alaska, but she’s in ENGLAND. It’s not even cold, I was walking around (in the West Midlands) in just a sweatshirt today.

      • Maria says:

        And isn’t wearing gloves. Have you noticed that she seldom wears gloves. She has to be showing off her bling, won’t let the peasants forget who she is even for a second.

      • Maria says:

        And isn’t wearing gloves. Have you noticed that she seldom wears gloves. She has to be showing off her bling, won’t let the peasants forget who she is even for a second.

  20. Kitty says:

    William visited a charity. Of course no attention today. He is the future king.

  21. Starlight says:

    I am still trying to work out if it was this blog that the DM referred to when talking about the changes for Kate in 2017 re workload. Moving swiftly on… Carole also clutch clutches has she got a sneaky desperation to be in her daugters shoes by copying. Are box hats in vogue as it looks like Kate’s friend is wearing the same hat as Mrs M. I wonder if the church get together was for Kate’s birthday and they were all staying at Amner till after the weekend. No sign of the other royals but I suppose they were already in work mode and back in their respective homes.

  22. Redgrl says:

    The link to the Christmas card (which is an article from People mag) has a hilarious Freudian slip – they talk about the Canadian tour as being another “vacation!” Which considering these two are so committed to doing the minimum, of course it was. Paid for with my Canadian tax dollars. Poor value for my money and I want a refund. So over these two.

    • Kitty says:

      I read that tour was a failure and didn’t do anything at all.

      • Joannie says:

        @Kitty, I think the women from Sheway would strongly disagree with your comment. The charitable contributions have gone up tremendously since William and Kate’s visit.

      • Citresse says:

        The tour wasn’t a failure for Trudeau and RCMP- they cooked the books and CDN taxpayers continue to suffer. What else is new?

  23. Guesto says:

    I like Carole Middleton and that she makes people so snottily and snobbishly mad adds to my enjoyment of her and her ambitious ways. Carole for queen.

  24. I find it bizarre that they can’t seem to do anything or go anywhere unless they’re all together. They are all adults. Don’t they have independent lives? They’re like a bunch of bananas – can’t be independent.
    Also, I’m so weary of Carole being in competition with her daughters…she’s lost the battle of age awhile ago. Her photo with her knobby knees from the bottom of her coat is a bit much. She’s too old to wear clothes that short. A lower hemline would’ve been much more attractive.

    • lavins says:

      It was a group effort from the second Prince William came home with Kate…., no way Carole or the Midds were going to let Kate have this to herself. They all worked on bringing in Willie.

  25. Cerys says:

    What a surprise! The Lamebridges and Meddletons crashed the Queen’s first public appearance since her illness. Maximum publicity guaranteed.
    I thought Kate looked ridiculous with that huge fur hat. If it is cold enough for a warm hat, why wear light tights and court shoes? It didn’t match her coat either.
    Carole seemed to be reverting back to her air hostess days with her outfit although I thought she looked good in it. I liked Pippa’s coat too but not the hat.

  26. emma says:

    I like the fur hats!!!

  27. TuxCat5 says:

    The smug level in these pix is off the charts.

  28. weegiewarrior says:

    Who is von strawberry? And what is up with Williams face in those pics? Lol

    • LAK says:

      His proper name is Thomas Von Straubenzee and he is a lifelong friend of William. Said to have met in prep school. Charlotte’s godfather. William’s wingman.

      It’s fun to mangle his name to Von Strawberry when he is discussed.

  29. Starlight says:

    The Middletons have had more coverage as a family than the genuine blood royals this Christmas which makes me wonder if it is a definite PR stunt by Wills to show his dad that this is his family now. This is the beginnings of many acceptable together moments. The new power house. Wouldn’t it be nice to see some photographs of granny Camilla and Grandad Charles with George and Charlotte at Sandrngham or Highgrove. It really does look to the public that Charles has been shunned and only gets a small amount of time with his grandchildren whilst the ambitious Carole s determination to be the middle class granny Middleton is more acceptable to Willie.

    • Kitty says:

      Don’t worry once Harry is married and has kids Charles will have plenty of time to be with Harry’s kids. I mean Harry is his favorite son.

  30. carolind says:

    I cannot stand the Middletons but it is the British media printing all these photographs presumably because there is a demand.

    Although it was not correct Diana was often referred to as “Princess Diana” even by the BBC and it was what the British called her. On the other hand I refer to Kate as “Kate Middleton”.

    • Citresse says:

      I think the biggest reason the press and others still refer to Princess William or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as Kate Middleton after 5 years of marriage and 2 children is due to the fact the insiders recognize her and her extended family for exactly who they are.

      • Kitty says:

        Or she was in the public eye for 10 years before she married William so Kate got stuck. Diana in the public eye for about 6months to a year.

      • Fiorella says:

        Because she’s more a prominent part of her family than the royal family and emphasizes that fact, she’ll always be Kate Middleton to me.

    • lavins says:

      Richard Kay said basically out of everything she is called in the press the one name that gets clicks, is” Kate Middleton “, it gets HITS. When they write Duchess of Cambridge it gets hits, but Kate Middleton is always put in the headline or next line,

  31. msthang says:

    I just really love “CHUTNEY”!!!!!

  32. A says:

    I’m not surprised Will & Kate went. They received a TON of flak for not going to the Christmas service at Sandringham, especially given the Queen’s illness. They are probably here as a way to demonstrate that they do in fact care about the Queen and her health and are keeping up with her etc. etc. I personally think it’s a load of garbage, and I’m sure they’re doing this so as to cultivate good will, but it’s going to be something that goes over well with the crowd of folks that don’t really keep up with this sort of thing so.

    I’m so frustrated that the Midds showed up en masse. What the f*ck. Why. What is wrong with them that they feel the compulsion to stick their nose into EVERYTHING? I don’t understand this at all. Can’t they just go away?

  33. Barbara youlton says:

    Well such a lot of comments…..took ages BUT we’ll worth reading.
    Well we all know the full story…Kate was sent to the same university BECAUSE she heard PW was there….she planned all this from way back…..and had Kate as her accomplice…Kate needed to get into that RF that is what her mom planned….they are both Kaniving …hope Wills sees through the whole plot…he must be blind ….when all the previous planning has been out there …The Middelton are sick sights….all to get in the media…shame….especially Pippa…..her so called pending marriage…..don’t be fooled for one minute….this too was planned….grab the richest available….no love lost between them for sure…Pippa just wants the lime light…SHE WILL NEVER EVER BE ROYAL….NOR KATE….Carol just cannot wait to get a the I’ll gotten gains she dreams of…so just James now …she must be looking hard for a rich female to match up for him….then they don’t have to have their business.
    Pippa just wants to up stage her sister Kate….can the Queen not see through this family from no where.
    The MIDDELTON NAME …..JUST SICKENS ME….I NEVER BUY MAGAZINES WHERE THEIR NAME APPEARS.
    Harry’s Megan has more class in one finger than that whole Middelton family put together….hope she puts them all to shame….as for Camilla and Charles….he is a tampon and she is ???? disgusting !!!! How can she be given a title…..she broke a royal marriage….The Queen must be going senile to have given her a title ….but Charles again…what is he….he destroyed Diana….but still stands in line…he is a disgrace to the Royal Family….Queens Uncle had to abdicate for less…..?

  34. weegiewarrior says:

    When u thonk george is 3 already and charlotte one idont think I have seen one photogrpah of them with charles and camilla, unbelievable.