Around Christmas, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were facing down their annual barrage of criticism for their year-end event numbers, which are always shockingly low. They were also being criticized for deciding to spend the entire holiday with the Middletons rather than the Windsors, which was especially bad this year given that the Queen was so sick (the optics just looked terrible). So how did the Cambridges combat their bad press? They did a photo-op with the kids, of course, but they also let it slip to several media outlets that they would most likely be moving back to London this year and they really mean it this time, they would be really focusing on royal work this year. The idea is that William’s contract with the EAAA is up in March and that’s when he’ll probably leave and the Cambridges will return to London. Well, over the weekend, there was another update (with little new information)
Prince William is expected to give up his career as an Air Ambulance pilot to become a full-time royal. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to make a permanent move from Anmer Hall in Norfolk to Kensington Palace in September as Prince George starts school in London.
It comes as the Queen hands over some of her duties to younger members of the royal family. The 90-year-old will be stepping down as more than 20 national organisations in April, it was announced last month. A royal source told The Sunday Times that there was ‘no pressure from above’ to increase his royal duties, adding that he ‘has always been a lot less reluctant than people think to take on more work’.
William, 34, has faced criticism for his apparent reluctance to throw himself into royal duties and was accused by some of being ‘work shy’. Last year, he spent 80 days on official engagements, while Kate, 35, had visits and meetings on 63 days. In comparison, Prince Philip, 95, carried out official meetings and visits on 110 days of the year. The Queen undertook official duties on 80 days of the year. His piloting contract ends in March but it is thought that he may continue to work for the service until the summer.
William and Kate are reportedly hoping to expand their own Royal Foundation charity and want to focus more on causes like mental health.
So the news is that A) William will probably pretend-work until the summer (complete with super-casual photo-ops, naturally) and B) stop saying the Queen is forcing him into anything, William is super-keen to work, you guys. Just ignore all of the evidence in front of you for the past decade. HE IS KEEN TO WORK. Let me ask this: if he’s due to work up to the summer and then they’ll move to London by September, what on earth will they be doing all summer? One last three-month holiday, perhaps?
One last thing: The Daily Beast’s royal reporter/commentator Tom Sykes had another scathing piece about the work-shy Cambridges. Go here to read. There’s no real new information in the piece, but it’s fascinating that no one is really treating Will and Kate with kid gloves anymore.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News, WENN.
I don’t think that they will “work” more but ok. She will probably become pregnant again.
fact fact fact
I wonder how often he really is/was at work.
HM visited him at EAAA once so we know about that. After tea reception William made other plans.
This was expected as it was obvs he was bored with the job, plus we all know he was never there.
They will continue to do their usually bare min and he is laying the ground work to chuck Daddy under by bus by saying that he does so little as he doesn’t want to upset Daddy’s fragile go. While chuck does have a fragile ego am sure he’d love his son to step up and do more to support his OWN family, esp in their twilight years.
The family and the press r losing patience with them and it will come to a head. Am just waiting for it to hit the fan with the nuddie photos trial in France in March. I expect the French paps to come out swinging. I wonder if they will release the photos they have of them shagging on the balcony.
Kate will have a third pregnancy this year, there r so many reasons why she and they need the positive press and excuses.
“Pics of them shagging in the balcony”
Whaaat? I feel like i missed many things about the problems with french paps. I heard about the topless pics of Kate but nothing else
No shagging on balcony – William put sun tan lotion on Kate.
Gag! But then she is a proven exhibitionist. I hope the French paps take the Doolittles down. They more than deserve it.
Cambridge lawyer,’……paps photographed them in an intimate moment of marriage….’
pap defence lawyer replied,’they were naked on the balcony in full view of hotel staff and the road…’
And that was just the opening remarks of the court case on 4th Jan 2017. Next court date is set for May.
Citresse: when rumours of the existence of these photos first surfaced, the editor said they had intimate pics. Much more intimate than the ones that were published. IIRC, sun lotion and bikini changes were the tamest published. It’s been rumoured that the more intimate pics unpublished were sex acts.
“Those charged include Laurence Pieau, the editorial director of Closer; Ernesto Mauri, legal director of Mondadori France; Marc Auburtin, director of La Provence; and Valerie Suau, a photographer with La Provence.
“All deny any wrongdoing, saying the couple were public figures who chose to expose their bodies in front of hotel staff, and on a terrace that was easily visible from nearby roads.” — this is from the Sun.
Ok with everything you are all writing now I’m looking forward to this court hearing too!!
According to some news reports, the villa is a hotel with separate staff. That changes the narrative (and legality?) that this took place at Linley’s private residence.
I wish someone would leak the very revealing photos!
The Cambridges think that getting naked and down to it in front of hotel staff, their own staff and a main road is acceptable and should be treated as ‘private’. This will back fire on them in a big way – they’ve pissed off the UK media and are now on track to piss off the international media, who in some places are much worse than the UK tabs.
@NOTA – i was always under the impression that the ‘hotel’ was an exclusive resort owned by Lord Linley – a posh AirBnB.
I think that was the impression given in some reports. That it was all Linley’s private home and occasionally they would rent out a room to a posh visitor. If it turns out this portion of the property is legally designated as a hotel, with separate hired staff, that may change things.
Ha, that would actually be the most amount of public work they’ve done! Did they count it in with the end of the year numbers?
Wow LAK, I didn’t know that. Lazy, reclusive yet attention and thrill seeking at the same time. An interesting study – William is for sure, a control freak.
Looking at the accompanying photos to this article, I am appalled on behalf of the charity Child Bereavement UK. W&K not only look bored out of their tiny little minds, they seem to have a look about them that says “why am I wasting my time with these filthy peasants”.
I’m not at all surprised that charities want to drop these two as patrons. There really isn’t any value added, is there? I mean, picture the Countess of Wessex on this gig. Would she be sitting there, slouching, looking like she’d rather be smoking a pack of fags than listen to the speaker? No way in hell she would.
He may have been born a prince and she may have been raised in wealth, but these two have no class and no dignity. Disgraceful.
It has been announced that Mr Wallering is expected to give up his long-time secondary role as Director of Drones, within the year. His early retirement will take place “as soon as he has logged in eight consecutive work hours in a single month,” explains the head of human resources communications and relations. “This will allow him to continue to receive his salary and benefits, as well as personal use of two drones. We are projecting therefore an early November farewell, and thank him for his contributions to our drone program.”
Marketing adds this interesting tidbit in the January issue of the Widgetopia newsletter, “We salute the work of Mr Wallering in his hands-on, casual role in our latest engineering enterprise, and wish him well. Interesting fact for your lunch hour reading: a drone is also a male bee in a colony of social bees, which does no work but can fertilize a queen.”
Said Mr Wallering through a friend, “I find it appalling that work can take so much time away from positive interaction with one’s children and friends, and I encourage everyone to think twice about stuffing their days with hours spent in some room with a phone.”
“as soon as he has logged in eight consecutive work hours in a single month”
Dying.
Brilliant!
LOL! He’s no worker bee, that’s for sure.
Woke up really grouchy, thanks for the laugh:)
Well he hardly worked anyway.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he quit EAAA and took another gap year, as suggested elsewhere. I would be very surprised if they moved to London full-time at this point. I can see him quitting and them staying at Anmer until at least January 2019.
The idea of the kids staying in schools in Norfolk vs. ever attending Wetherby – I can see that happening. If they move to London it will be constant complaints from these two about pictures taken legally of them dropping the kids off at school, etc.
Many other royals are based in the country and still do more engagements than these two. The idea that moving to London means more work or that living in the country means less work? It doesn’t track when you look at the rest of them.
I thought it just came out that they are going to put George in a new branch of the school right near Kensington Palace and that the location of the school will make it difficult for paparazzi to get photos.
The alternative campus is as accessible as the regular campus.
Whoever wrote that article clearly doesn’t know the area if they think it’s inaccessible and or paps can’t get pictures.
Also, if the address of the new campus location is correct, then it is not near KP. Distance-wise It is farther away from KP than the original campus.
The Dolittles – lazy and work-shy. William will be one unpopular king.
I doubt he cares.
I know that he doesn’t care and I blame Charles for that. He should stop handling him with kid gloves. Charles probably feels still guilty because of the whole Diana thing.
Well he should.
What happened to this agriculture course? Did he finish it?
He’s “giving up” his “career”, ahaha.
A grown man with 2 part, part time jobs gives up one job to concentrate on the other job and immediately starts weasling out of other job by saying he doesn’t want to overshadow his pensioner dad who should continue to do that job too.
Really, we should just revert to an absolute monarchy, assassinate Madge and Chuck, and install Bill.
The Atlantic Bridge would work so much better if we had a useless and autocratic idiot with no idea what a day’s work actually looks like in charge on BOTH sides of the Pond.
Willnot really is a piece of work, isn’t he? Why won’t Charles and the Gre Men deal with him already?
Ultimatum time was months and months ago.
Well with all the extra load he is expected to do with the patronages granny dumped on him poor soul. You can’t expect him to have two jobs, princeing and co piloting a couple times a week. Peasants often work two jobs, but come on, he is the Prince of the Blood. Besides he is not good at juggling, and working stresses him out so he has to have at least one holiday a month.
Anyway, as he says he is a family man, and that’s where his priorities lie at the moment. And visiting Carole…
Every time I see a scowling photo of him, he looks more and more like Wallace of Wallace and Gromit.
Honestly, Harry is no different. He gets a pass because he’s charismatic and seems to enjoy working with the public. But lets not forget, Harry is under educated and unemployed. If you strip away his title he’s no better than a trust fund baby who does community service as a stipulation to keep the checks coming in.
Yep, Harry is charming and that’s why many people don’t criticize him, although he receives a lot of negative comments now because of his relationship to Markle.
Harry dies way more than WK it’s just not heavily reported because they need to make him look bad to prop up bill.
Agree.
I give Harry more of a pass because he spent years in the military and actually working in combat zones.
Don’t forget: Harry’s work with Sentebale and Invictus are NOT counted in his numbers, as they are considered “private” charities. So of course, his number of “working” days is lower. Could he do more “official” royal duties? Of course he could, and should. But let’s not knock how much more he does than Willnot and Cannot.
They look so miserable … by their mid30s they are able to choose: Make the most of their privileged situation OR decided to focus on their own lives but give up the rank. They seem to want it both ways and obviously it does not work.
With a move back to London it will also limit Carole’s influence on the Cambridge household as there is no way in frozen hell that TQ would allow the Middleton Mafia to decamp there for any length of time. So in that sense it could be a good thing. Thou i suspect she’ll move in with Pippa and James. Thou am sure if Little Willy threw another tantrum Granny would let Queen Carole move into Apt 1A in Kensington Palace, after all it has 22 rooms.
Did you know even though Apt 1a is the biggest apartment at Kensington Palace, the rooms itself are like storerooms. Not really that big and the Drawing room; where Obama was in, is actually the largest rooms. Once Harry gets married he will probably move into Apartment 4b which is the most lavish apartment at Kensington or Apartment 1 where the Gloucesters resides.
There is photographic evidence as well as plans of 1a before WK took up residence. Those ‘store rooms’ are primarily in the basement. Rest of the apartments’ rooms are big and airy. The drawing room seen in the Obama photos is not the only room that size. Unless they made them smaller, the dining room, kitchen, study, library and bedroom suites are equally large. Ditto the hallway.
As for 1, that flat was leased to the Gloucesters for life. Just ignore its existence as long as they are alive and wish to continue living there. Harry isn’t inconsiderate as to turn them.
There are other unoccupied flats he can take up.
Do you know anything about Apt 4B? I read it has 6 rooms and 6 receptions. But of course Will and Kate get the largest ones.
I’m sorry but you need to stop saying this about the Gloucesters. The Queen is not kicking out her cousins who have lived there since the 70’s. Who by the way, do more engagements then Harry. You have tried this nonsense at least three times now
Especially since they sold Barnwell. The Gloucesters have worked for decades for the family–and in a role he was never supposed to fill as the second son. He was going to be a full time architect. And in Nov he did more events than william or Kate.
Kitty: What Angel and Kori said.
I don’t understand why you are so fixated on flats 1 or 4b, and the Gloucesters whom you wish to be kicked out of their home.
I thought that they did create a “mother-in-law” suite when they remodeled 1A…? Also, I would swear I read that Carole *was* living with them there for a while (to settle in little George), before they ended up moving to Amner.
Prince Philip has a reputation for speaking his mind without a filter. I wonder why he hasn’t been firmer with William? Perhaps the Queen and Charles aren’t confrontational people, but Philip doesn’t seem to have a problem with that. William needs a good kick in the pants.
I can’t believe that Phillip hasn’t said anything, either. I can believe, however, that W ignores it, ignores him, refuses to visit, erases any emails from P, and tears up any letters that might hint at displeasure at W’s work ethic.
I suspect Phillip and others (oh to be a fly on the wall if Anne lit into these two!) might have said something around Christmas 2015, and that was possibly part of the reason why Willnot and Cannot completely blanked the entire family for Christmas 2016.
Chaz is an utter milquetoast when it comes to disciplining his kids. He had courtiers do it when they were kids, ffs, because he’s so non-confrontational.
It’s too late to try to put the fear into the lad now, b/c William has been coddled into unmitigated arrogance. His character is fixed, and it’s not good. The institution of the Monarchy will not survive Willnot if they leave him in the line of succession – that’s my prediction.
“Hoping to expand” their charity? Is that the best they can do?
Quit working for the EAAA? I didn’t realise he had started! He has been there so few times I’m sure they won’t notice he’s gone.
I wonder how long his “keenness” to become a full-time will last. I can’t imagine it will be very long before he takes up a bespoke course somewhere.
I agree with previous comments that said he has been handled with kid gloves for too long. He needs to step up once and for all.
He will need a gap year to decide on his next course of action that demonstrates his keenness for X bespoke activity as he contemplates taking up full time royal duties.
I would say he has quitted working shortly after he started. Who hasn’t worked can’t quit, right?
Oh and what about that expensive helicopter with the extra seat which was bought for Willy in order to accomodate his royal protection officer? Are they allowed to keep it? Or will it be refitted for Willy’s private use because that expensive helicopter is too expensive and too useless to be kept by East Anglia Air Ambulance?
Did EAAA finally manage to kick out William over lack of work ethics?
Or did William finally lose his wings over lack of flying hours (as he nearly did when he was in the Air force)?
can he just cut his little scrags of hair bald and grow a respectable beard….. his looks are KILLING ME….