Duchess Kate is keen to ‘carve out a more serious role for herself’

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the National Tennis Centre in London

Ever since Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge, people have asked what Kate does with her time. The answer, at various moments over the past six years, has been “she’s doing a lot of private meetings.” At some point, these “private meetings” even began to “count” as royal work for Kate for some reason. I understood the need to take those meetings in the first years of duchess-ing, when she should have been building her portfolio of charities and patronages and carving out a space for herself as an activist/advocate. But nothing ever came of those private meetings, so it seemed more like an excuse for Keen Kate being keen on looking like she’s working, vaguely. So is it a surprise that Kate hosted a private “roundtable discussion” at Kensington Palace yesterday?

The statement issued by KP was this:

The Duchess is keen to develop an understanding of the issues surrounding maternal mental health, and to learn what support is available. At least 20% of women are affected by mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child. If left untreated, maternal mental health problems can have significant and long lasting effect on the woman and her family.

[From the Kensington Royal Twitter]

You know it’s about Kate because they used the word “keen”!!! In all seriousness, this is an important issue. I suspect it’s an issue near and dear to Catherine Quinn’s heart – Quinn is Kate’s new private secretary, and this kind of “event” seems tailored specifically for Kate. Quinn was a busy bee yesterday, because Katie Nicholl at Vanity Fair talked about how this private roundtable discussion signals a Brand New Keen Kate, We Promise This Time It’s For Real. The headline is “The Sign That Kate Middleton Is Looking to Take on a More ‘Serious Role’.” Here’s the best part:

An interesting trivia note for the obsessive Kate-watchers out there (and aren’t we all?). This week’s appearances mark the first time Kate’s new private secretary, Catherine Quinn, has been seen with her at an event since she took over the position this summer. (Kate’s previous “Girl Friday,” Rebecca Priestley, left the post in August after years of being Kate’s right-hand.) Many believe that the pick of Quinn—who had been the chief operating officer at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School and has a great deal of philanthropic experience—indicates that, as the Daily Mail puts it, “the Duchess plans to carve out a more serious role for herself with her patronages and charity campaigning.”

[From Vanity Fair]

My prediction is that Catherine Quinn will not be Kate’s private secretary at this time next year. Think about it – Quinn will be able to coax Kate into working here and there during Kate’s pregnancy, especially since Kate will be extra-keen to be seen when Meghan and Harry’s engagement is announced. And then like all good plans involving Kate and work, it will all go to hell. Kate will go on an extended maternity leave, she’ll go shopping instead of passing out shamrocks, or she’ll head off for a Mustique vacation for months and suddenly we’ll hear that Kate is “looking for a new private secretary.”

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the National Tennis Centre in London

Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

150 Responses to “Duchess Kate is keen to ‘carve out a more serious role for herself’”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. lala says:

    Quinn and Keen look almost the same age.

  2. HH says:

    I assume we’ll be seeing this headline—or something like it—in perpetuity.

    Also, Kate is very clearly doing her “listening face.”

    • Saucy says:

      My endless arch republican (means something different this side of the pond) rantings on this site have resulted in…..yep, the dozy mare is coming to my workplace next week (I work in a highly stressful corporate environment so I suspect she has no idea what any of us do; I find it offensive on many levels). On the plus side any over-excited moronic co-worker will have the pleasure of me speaking at volume about the sheer idio-cracy to which they are happily subject! Pfft. If I do catch a glimpse of her (because I occasionally have to wander about for my own sanity) I will report back as to whether she is as medicated as she looks on this site…

      • FluffyPrincess says:

        Um, even if your sanity doesn’t need a “wander about” that day, could you “wander about” anyway? 😉 You know we (cough* cough* “I”) need details!

      • Nic919 says:

        Perhaps you can ask her when she plans to visit her neighbours at Grenfell Towers? They are experiencing mental health issues right now too.

  3. Cee says:

    LOL this never gets old, does it? She’s feeling the Markle heat.

    • vava says:

      Seems like that to me, too. Keen probably won’t be keen for very long, though.

      Keen looks pretty good at that tennis event.

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      +100
      Quinn very well may have been hired by HM/The Firm/CH as consultant to teach waitie keen middleton how to perform Royal work/Professionalism ( Willnot and waitie keen save face by claiming Quinn as PA hire); especially, with potential King Henry Sparkle Couple work ethics/upcoming engagement- begin Royal duties appearances; the elephant of the MP dispute of waitie and Throne Idle Willnot spending millions of Tax payers Duchy funds, perks and very little serving GB and the lest of us.

      We all predicted more pregnancy in play as the last child grows – for keen to continue to disappear with HG/kiddies as PR excuse. Will see how long Quinn will hold these forced appearances, for keen middleton to hide away on extended months holiday to the new year – delivery and disappearance with staff -nannies -carol.

  4. Natalie S says:

    Kate is the girl who cried keen. Do they have no one to tell them to stop putting out the same line year after year when even their supporters know it’s not true? The fastest way to losing support is to appear sly and insincere. And at this point, everyone knows there’s no “there” there, so why keep calling attention to it?

    Kate is expensively kept fluff and she likes it that way. She’s not a role model or a serious person so I genuinely don’t get it -why keep calling attention to it by pretending she has hidden depths and is going to do more? I do get that they’re saying this right before she disappears for a year because of her third child. Built-in excuse, but it’s a dumb move because it’s so obviously insincere.

    • Call me AL says:

      I do get tired of hearing this “keen” talk also (it reminds me of Jennifer Anniston’s “of course I want children” shtick), but I also don’t want to tear down another mother who clearly wants to be a SAHM. She doesn’t have to work if she doesn’t want to. She has 2, soon to be 3, small children. That’s enough work. I think we should lay off her on this site. It’s just misogynistic to constantly cut her down.

      • Natalie S says:

        It’s not misogynistic to criticize a women unless we’re criticizing her for being a women or having unfair standards because she’s a woman. I’m criticizing her for not owning that she clearly does not want to do Royal work. She should have the courage to own her choice instead of trying to pass the same con year after year. One thing Kate has earned is criticism for pretending to be “keen” year after year.

        And I grew up with nannies. My parents were fortunate enough to be able to afford help and have family help. Kate is not an ordinary SAHM but unlike my parents, the public pays for her life. The Windsors can afford to pay that bill but they don’t and instead walk a disingenuous line that she wants to work. Kate has definitely earned criticism for that as well. And so has William.

      • notasugarhere says:

        “She doesn’t have to work if she doesn’t want to.”

        Yes, she does. As long as they are supported by the taxpayers via the Duchy, all their security comes from the taxpayers, they live in a 50 room Palace provided by the taxpayers with $7 million in reno from the taxpayers, plus have a 10-bedroom weekend home provided by his grandmother by virtue of his royal position (but all security paid by taxpayers).

        If W&K earned their own livings and paid all their own costs, they could do whatever they wanted. She didn’t marry Bill the plumber, she married the second in line to the British throne. If she wanted to be a SAHM, she pursued the wrong man for 10 years.

        All the other royal women managed to work and have small children at home. They did so when they (or their husband’s) were much further down the line of succession than this pair. Why this woman of the two housekeepers and multiple nannies is constantly infantilised is beyond me.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        The RF and forced stalking for a decade to an heir / BRF/Status, is really the wrong place to look to become SAHM – meaning staff and nannies raising your kids (except time for PR) and on other people’s millions in funding. Stay in buckleberry with mum carol.

        As the DM article stated, Willnot looked in shocked on his wedding day – maybe wondering who/what he got himself walked into ….

      • Llamas says:

        Being a SAHM is fine when you don’t live off of the taxpayers money but Kate does live off of other people’s money. Her job is to give back to these people; she knew that when she married William. There is no problem with criticizing her for taking people’s money without giving back.

      • Shannon says:

        ^^^this

      • Ravine says:

        The answer to whether Kate has to work or not depends on what you mean by “has to”.

        She *should* work, for the aforementioned taxpayer-funded-lifestyle reasons.

        But I submit that she doesn’t “have to” work, no. If she actually had to, she would face personal consequences if she didn’t. But we all know that even if Kate (or another member of the royal family) decided to flash her middle fingers and put up her feet at Anmer for the rest of her life, no one could really stop her — any goodwill towards her would obviously disintegrate, but her lifestyle would remain the same, no? There are no constitutional responsibilities attached to being a royal wife, so really, everything she does is technically volunteer work. And I’ll give birth to a solid gold garden gnome before the U.K. Parliament ever gets around to abolishing the monarchy.

      • Sharon Lea says:

        She doesn’t have to work? She spent 10 years chasing William, she knew full well who he was and what the job entailed. There are countless documentaries and biographies of the Queen and Diana. Stop putting us down for her obvious lack of motivation, interest and effort.

      • dodgy says:

        If Middleton wanted to be a SAHM, she could have swerved, not marry William and marry someone else and not live off the tax payers coin. As a Republic (as in, someone whose anti monarchy – not someone who voted trump because I’m a Briton ) Middleton’s laziness and having a third kid (when the rest of women who have third children on the public purse is subject to a rape clause). Her laziness and complacency is really rather… hard to swallow.

  5. AmandaPanda says:

    Sorry that pic of her at the round table BEAMING whilst everyone else looks normal is making me laugh big time. The caption should read: “look everyone! I’m at a meeting! At a round table! Like a real business woman! Teeeeeeee heeeeeeeee!”

    • Natalie S says:

      Lol, I though the same thing. Hi guys! I’m here to do a business. *5 minutes go by* Well, that’s enough of that. Off to go shopping. Bye, everyone!

      • msthang says:

        Natalie S, why buy all those clothes if you don’t even get up and go to a job, I’m not gettin it!!

    • Nic919 says:

      With bows on her jacket and everything. Like Office Barbie.

    • Angel says:

      +1 I don’t usually comment on her wide grins but she does look So Keen! In that picture.

    • Yup, Me says:

      This actually makes me think of something that I’ve always noticed- she’s more familiar with playing than actually working. Even when she’s “working” she seems like she’s still in that fake it till you make it phase. She’s never really had to do anything where it mattered if she showed up (as opposed to “insert well dressed woman with sufficient celebrity status to get a camera crew here”) and she doesn’t seem to have found a field that she’s deeply passionate about. She seems like she’s playing adult dress up in most settings (except if her kids or sports are involved).

      I hope her new social secretary can help her grow up some because she manages to often still have the vibe of a little girl who joined mommy at Take Your Daughter to Work Day.

    • Sushi says:

      I have the same though but could not put into words like you.

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      +10000

      Keen grown up meeting!

      Only good at flashing and ‘socializing’ at sporty events where no serious use of the brain is needed.

    • Scarlett says:

      Yes, it’s ” Barbie goes corporate” , comes with keen accessories.

  6. Red Snapper says:

    i’d be fascinated to know what Carole thinks of Ms Quinn. Either she’s fuming about losing her grip on the apron strings, or she’s relieved to finally share the burden of the needy, clinging albatross that is Kate.

    • Enough Already says:

      Needy, clinging albatross? This says more about you than it does about her. We should focus on her lack of a work ethic, imo.

    • Indiana Joanna says:

      Carole is most likely upset. She was the one who engineered this marriage and she plays a major role in their day-to-day relationship so she may feel she’s being coopted. She coddles Bill to the point of negating her own family and takes constant care of KM who reminds everyone that she needs looking after above all else.

      Catherine Quinn could be a great mentor and influence on someone eager to learn and work. But KM has shown over the last 16 years she is not that person.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        Seems carol middelton is banish from KP – not as much daily access as in the Forest at AH, to harassing staff by Kg carol.

        Paps would be sure to publish her frequent appearance at KP from the middelton M/Boss. The neighboring RF members wouldn’t put up with the constant intrusion at their doorsteps.

        Also a recent appearance of Princess Alexandra at her duties – looking very regal and grand as a Royal should.

    • notasugarhere says:

      delete

  7. Maggie says:

    Hmmm, appears Kattie Do Little and her work shy husband are a tad worried about the actual work Harry and MM will undertake that will illustrate their laziness. Can’t have the peons paying them expect too much, can they?

    • FLORC says:

      Are there 2 Maggies?

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      +10000
      This seem to be the huge reason for Willnot to request Waite stay home with staff and nannies to raise her and the kiddies….. cant have the bold comparison of how little the Do littles do – compared to potential King Henry sparkle Couple.

      And the countdown to Prince Henry’s M Sparkle move /engagement in November. The upcoming Royal holidays – Sandringham will be great to watch – will Whiny middletons hold buckleberry Court this year – HG Waitie possibly wont want to stress/be with the RF …

    • Curiosity says:

      Is there really any work that the Royal Family can really do? You know the British taxpayer is paying Pounds 40 Mio + Millions in security costs for this family. And all they seem to achieve is making Brits feel good about having a monarchy. That doesn’t seem to be much work for the money? That isn’t really improving living in Britain considering these astronomous costs.

      Both William and Kate have proven that they can’t really bring in donations for any kind of charity. Most of the money for hospitals and charities is actually being paid out of taxes. Royals do not cause donations to increase much. Nor does their “patronage” enable any institution to build a new ward or branch or wing or whatever.

      For example, if Will and Kate somehow help a charity fundraiser to raise Pounds 2 Mio then this money doesn’t pay for a new cancer ward either. It is simply not enough. And you don’t just need a lump sum but you need to finance that cancer ward for years to come. You need an annual sum.

      “Every little sum helps” – maybe. Maybe not. Because this royal patronage and donations system does work like a smokescreen for the mechanisms who actually pay for hospitals and doctors and cancer wards: the taxpayer by government laws. Government laws and policies do organise the payment of these blessings of civilisation and that is what people should concentrate on.

      Alltogether it seems rather delusional to pay Pounds 40 Mio plus some more Millions for a Royal Family who doesn’t make living in Britain any better except that some Monarchists/Royalists are made to feel better.

  8. Tess says:

    Lol at her goofy grin on the meeting pic. Oh Kate never change! I feel like she’s going to totally implode with Megan…

    • Carrie1 says:

      50/50 on that. I’m clinging to hope that Markle will end up teaching Kate how to be her own person a bit, within her royal identity of course, and the two become genuinely supportive and caring together.

      That’s a freaking pipe dream probably but the royal family has had so much pain, it’s enough already. They either need to become a genuinely caring supportive family or stop having kids. I can’t stand seeing dysfunction in a high profile family or person (eg. Trumps). A messed up royal family doesn’t deserve public funds.

    • dave says:

      Is it any goofier that the one of the lady two to her right?

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      Royal parenting: DM article on the King Qn of Butan and ‘little’ 1-year old Crown Prince Jigme (in training). The toddler C/Prince is beautiful and so well behaved – meeting the leaders. Mummy the Qn is beautiful!
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5043601/Crown-Prince-Jigme-Bhutan-wins-hearts-royal-fans.html

      NO comparison to Willnot Cannot keen middletons.

      • magnoliarose says:

        What a bundle of adorable. I have a little one who looks frowny like that but then giggles, and it is like sunshine.
        They are a beautiful couple.

  9. GRR says:

    KEEN! /takes a drink/

  10. Anastasia says:

    HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD THIS?

  11. Olenna says:

    Good Lord! I think she’s given keen a new meaning.

  12. Lainey says:

    We’ve heard Kate wants to be serious about her charity work since the engagement seven years ago. Still no evidence of it. And why is maternal mental health only something shes interested in now. Its her third pregnancy. Mental health’s been “her thing” since at least Charlotte if not George, but only now does she care.

    • graymatters says:

      Kate’s only post-graduate accomplishment is giving birth. Her children are all she really has to talk about. She was likely encouraged to say something about her experiences with mental health issues when she got going on the HeadsTogether initiative and so said that becoming a mother changed her sense of self (I think. I don’t actually remember). Now her new private secretary is working with what she’s got. Her boss has publicly committed herself to mental health issues and has alluded to her own feelings about becoming a mother. Voila! A serious new role is born.

      Kate was in her late 20’s when she married. She never showed any interest in anyone or anything other than herself, her future husband, or her family until then. As little as she does now, it’s likely in response to work pressure, not personal conviction. Not that it matters, though, if she’s able to effect genuine, positive change.

    • D Train says:

      In defense of women on their third children…I am finally feeling comfortable talking about the range of post partum issues I had following the birth of my first. Yes, she is pretty lazy, but I feel the need to defend this issue. I don’t think it is “just important to her now” but this might be the time that she is most confident to speak out about maternal issues.

      • AMA1977 says:

        Not a Kate apologist by any means, but I wasn’t even able to identify how significant my PPD was after my first until I’d had my second, 5 years later, and it was so, so different. Some moms are fine with their first, and then a subsequent pregnancy causes a different reaction.

        Sometimes you don’t know how bad it is until well after the fact, and I for one think that if Kate’s involvement can help even one new mom, it’s worth it. I hope she will actually dedicate her considerable time, resources, and platform to this issue, because it is definitely a worthy cause.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        After dancing with Paddy, Tennis swings, etc. continuos grinning – I put waitie keen middleton out for months to, always on point with Laziness and a touch of morning sickness. Except dozens of staff and doctor/s living on call at your huge unearned Palace apartment!

      • Enough Already says:

        You make an important point – thank you for sharing this.

      • D Train says:

        @AMA

        I agree 100%. Can you imagine how much strength she would give women who struggle with PPD (amongst other PP issues) if she really dedicated herself to this cause? When I started talking about my feelings I had friends and family open up, too. To know that I wasn’t along and that what I had felt was normal made the healing process easier. The more we can give light to how common these issues are, the better!

      • Enough Already says:

        D Train
        Glad to see you here – you handled yourself well on the Carol Alt thread yesterday 🙂

      • DTrain says:

        @enough already

        Thank you for being so eloquent and thoughtful in (all of) your responses! I appreciate your support and look forward to observing, learning, and hopefully, contributing.

      • Enough Already says:

        D Train
        Yayyy! *hug*
        Okay I’m finished threadjacking lol

        Btw, my youngest sister suffered from severe PPD but at the time we had no idea what we should have been watching out for. My mom’s generation called it the baby blues and that term sounded so nonthreatening that we just decided as a family to handle it and surround my sister, her husband and the baby with support and lots of hands on, structural help. That was nearly 15 years ago and fortunately everything worked out but so many new moms and their families are under educated about this and aren’t getting the vital help they need.

      • DTrain says:

        @enough already
        I am so glad your sister made it through and your family sounds like an amazing support network. PPD is an ugly beast and I am glad we are talking about it more and destygmatizing it.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Should we make the Elvis song the new theme for these Katie Keen posts? A Little Less Conversation A Little More Action. Pairs nicely with the Flying Elvi dreams for another royal wedding.

      • frisbee says:

        Ooh we can all get together and sing it acapella as she’s going past in the coach, Elvi’s zooming overhead and fluffy white chickens everywhere, it will be so wonderful!

    • msthang says:

      Lainey, may-be she has mental health issues dealing with Chopper!!

    • notasugarhere says:

      “The sheer fact that being Mrs Future Queen means that she is able to command wall-to-wall staff to help at any time, in any way, with the mothering of her two children. Does this make her any less of a mother? Of course not. However, if you wished to be picky, great wealth, nannies, domestic staff, palaces, princes and the like could be said to make someone a little less credible on the subject of the myriad pressures of modern motherhood.” – Guardian opinion piece, March 2017

  13. minx says:

    Deeds speak louder than words. If she wants to do something she should just do it, and stop the pronouncements.

    • FLORC says:

      Exactly this. For those paying attention this is the theme. Talk about being keen. Host a meeting. Get press. Forget about it. Abandon cause. Spend money. Pleas for privacy to not be called out on your statements.

      Also, this irks me… It’s a great cause. And she’s taken it on before. It’s been brought up before. And nothing happened because it became more about the cause and less about needed PR. Which is also a theme with her.
      As always… She can do a lot that’s right. Idc about her clothes or hair with exception to flashing no panties to children. Wiglet watch isn’t mocking. But what none of us should defend is a public servant that absolutely has her lifestyle heavily supported by tax funds be it through a 2nd party or land or housing. That person cannot be a private citizen and only show they care when they must for their own image. No one should defend apathy of a public servant. And that says more about them as people seeking to excuse that behavior.

      • bluhare says:

        I miss the wiglet wagon, FLORC. We don’t have any fun here anymore.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I want a chance to break out my tinfoil tiara (aka Swedish Steel Cut)…

      • FLORC says:

        Oh that’s no good bluhare! Let’s see about fixing that…. where is liberty and her latest short story installments?
        I’m sure MM Will give us some comic gold soon enough.

    • SoulSPA says:

      I hear you but I personally would need some words too. I mean, they can make all the photo ops they want. But I don’t buy their message. Duchesses was here and there doing this and that. Keen for whatever. Pun intended. I want to hear what she has to say about. Her actual opinions. I want substance. Not just press releases, badly performed scripted videos or videos with voice-overs by whoever, but not Keen Kate.

  14. Jb says:

    I could see Quinn be a great part of Team Harry/Meghan. Maybe she’ll land there. And it is truly a Keen joke at this point. The photo with the misplaced smile really sealed it.

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      +1000 (+ @FLORC)

      ELF is better. And dedicated professional working Meg Sparkle don’t really need a Quinn PR professional to give a kick … Meg knows what HM, potential King Henry/POW and The Firm needs.

  15. Talie says:

    She wants to carve out a more serious role because she knows Meghan is going to immediately hit the ground running. She already works with charitable organizations around the world, so it will be an easy transition.

    Also, the media training and public speaking already put her head and shoulders above any other normal royal bride.

    • Maren says:

      Kate doesnt know that Meghan is going to do any work at all. Meghan doesnt seem to have been doing much charity work since hooking up with Harry. Chances are that Meghan will become just like the 3 of them: lazy, entitled, and spending taxpayers’ money without giving back at all.

      • bluhare says:

        I hope you’re wrong!

      • FLORC says:

        MM appears to be making calculated moves. She’s done quite a bit of work and advocacy in the past. Once li ked to Harry a spotlight hits you and conduct is put under a microscope with the intent to find errors.
        I believe she will be active. She hasn’t appeared to be the girl who rests on her laurels. Same as with Kate. She gets the few weeks. Then the announcement of patronages. And the activity. We should judge from there.

      • CynicalAnn says:

        She went to India in January-and then wrote a piece for Time magazine about getting sanitary napkins and other supplies to women and girls in 3rd world countries. So I’m not sure what you’re talking about.

      • Andrea says:

        Marin you are wrong MM is an actress in a serial that usually runs 16 hr days fir 9 months out of the year. She does her humanitarian work during hiatus, Rawanda last year India this year. She also ran her lifestyle site and Rep Reitmans. Ingrained work ethic, nothing like Kate

      • Sharon Lea says:

        Andrea – I totally agree with your post, plus knowing she worked for the United States embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina in her 20s tells me she is serious minded about social and world issues.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Let’s hope you are wrong. In this day and age, we should see women in all walks of life showing strength and changing the world when they can.

  16. Unicorn_Realist says:

    Positioning herself to look good before all of the Harry and Meghan hoopla. The press will pit both ladies against each other regardless. Her image has taken several hits. Wonder what she will do to outshine Meghan. The kids will givs her some good will but really, nobody cares that much longterm. It would be good of her to establish something now and work through her pregnancu as long as she is able and resume those causes after. Put her head down and grind through it.

    What would be lovely of both ladies take control of the narrative and become friends and work together on stuff etc. Not tear each other down. Help each other out. They have strengths that they can leverage and help the other get stronger in those areas. Just saying. Shrug.

    • Princessk says:

      That would be the best thing for the pair of them. The problem is that even though Kate has been in and around the RF and in the public eye nobody has an idea of what her personality is really like. When she is in public she seems to be trying very hard to project a particular image…smiling, pretty, attentive, laughing at jokes, making sure she looks good in pics etc. But what is she REALLY like. What is her sense of humour? Is she introverted? Is she kind hearted? What does she adore, apart from tennis and sailing? What music does she like? What does she like watching on TV? All of these things will decide if Meghan and Kate can be friends, whereas Meghan is not even engaged yet and we have a very clear idea of her personality and what she is really like. But I feel Kate has been around for ages but we don’t know her at all. Please don’t tell me she is lazy…lazy people still have personalities and can be fun or unpleasant or kind or mean, intelligent or blank. I would love to know the true Kate.

      • Tina says:

        She likes Idris Elba (that is my all time favourite photo of her, because literally any of us would have had the same face). Apparently they like Homeland and Game of Thrones, and William watches Neighbours in the afternoons (because of course he does).

        I mean, look, I’m sure she is a perfectly nice person. If I met her at the school gate, which is the natural place where one would meet a person like Kate, I am sure that she would be able to make perfectly pleasant small talk about the strange games mistress and what on earth the head thinks by wearing those socks. But I don’t think there is any more there there than that. What we see is what we get.

      • magnoliarose says:

        I think we have all been looking for something that doesn’t exist. Not everyone has depth or intellectual curiosity.

  17. Elaine says:

    Sigh. That’s what Kate and the other ‘young Royals’ don’t understand. They ALREADY have a serious role.

    What the heck is the Queen doing all day, waterskiing?!
    And Charles, working on his DJ-ing skills?!

    No and No.

    She is married to the future fricking head of state of one the most powerful nations on Earth. There are more than enough serious things for her to do. The ‘grey men’ have files centuries thick with ‘serious’ things for her to do.

    Instead she holds another meeting. For her to ‘learn’. Learn what?! Is she is in training to be a mental health practitioner?!

    Or is her job to simply turn up, cut a ribbon, be pleasant and do it all again the next day. Yes and Yes.

    Consistency.
    And (Royal) work.

    They don’t understand Royalty, Kate, Wills and to a certain extent Harry. They’re obsessed with being ‘authentic’ and ‘real’ to the point where they neglect the very real good they can do. They are not, and never will be, Doctors, physical therapists, aid workers, psychologists.

    Those are the ‘real’ workers, the ‘authentic’ heroes.

    I think this is narcissism actually. Wanting to ‘be’ the thing, rather than simply point out the good things others are doing. Case in point, Kate saying ‘My work’ when speaking to a group of actual mental health professionals. And saying it with a straight face.

    Recipe for Royal Deliciousness as designed by HRH Queenie:
    -Turn up.
    -To the big things (London Marathon Heads together) as well as the small things (National Gathering of Cheesemongers in Somerset).
    -Do it a lot.
    -For about 50 years.
    Voila! You got yourself one Beloved Queen.

    Works every time 😉

    • Natalie S says:

      Hey, don’t count out DJ Charles. He’s going places.

    • Deedee says:

      You’ve said what I’ve been thinking for a very long time.

    • CynicalAnn says:

      I agree. I don’t understand why they’re trying to recreate the wheel. Just go out everyday, cut ribbons, smile while children are handing you flowers, and make small talk. You don’t need to create new causes-you just show up for the myriad of important causes that already exist.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Charles does big things but he is involved in the minutiae of them, from Prince’s Trust to Dumphries House. Plus he does 500+ day-to-day engagements each year.

      What they’re pushing is the idea that they don’t do the bread-and-butter, meet the common man, participate at the local level regular engagements. No time for the cheesemongers for them.

      They want to do less work day-to-day, be seen as spearheading/shining-a-light on big things – but not doing the actual work. Shown with William creating an umbrella organization related to conservation; all the other organizations’ employees do the heavy lifting, he takes credit as the figurehead of a figurehead organization. Ditto the Royal Foundation Of …

      • paddingtonjr says:

        W&K (and Harry to a lesser degree) don’t seem to understand that it is the commoners and cheesemongers who are among the biggest champions of the BRF and keep the “mystique” alive. It is not the self-made billionaires or “up-from-the bootstrap” lawyers, doctors and business owners who still believe in the prince and princess fairy tales (the Middletons excepted); it is the commoners and old-money aristocracy who want to keep the traditions. Without the bread-n-butter ribbon cuttings, balcony waves and hospital visits, the BRF has no purpose.

      • Enough Already says:

        No one understood this better than Mary, Queen Consort. She was absolutely tireless in her resolve to show the public service side of the rf. What happened?

      • Maren says:

        I agree, and I think Harry is just as bad as Kate and Willy. I sont get why he always gets a pass. He has said similar things to what Wills has said recently.
        It’s too bad they can’t learn from Anne and Sophie. Do your work, do it tirelessly and with gratitude, and stop acting like spoiled rotten brats. They are all in their 30s, the age Diana was when she died! Grow up!

      • notasugarhere says:

        Anne has had plenty of nasty moments on the job, plus she often gets a pass on giving her kids posh lives behind the scenes off the taxpayers (living free at her place in SLP and Gatcombe). Sophie does well, especially how she juggled job, royal role, young kids, and marriage – but she could do more. They all could.

      • Tina says:

        What paddingtonjr said. x1 million.

    • bluhare says:

      I couldn’t agree more, Elaine. Those boring engagements are what keep people on your side. Open a bridge, hospital, and taste a little cheese. People remember those things for their entire lives.

      • notasugarhere says:

        People attending those events are often predisposed to like the royal showing up, which makes it even harder for me to understand the reluctance to perform them. These B&B engagements are the way to gather intel, learn concerns and ideas in the field, bring them to the table with everyone else. If things reach critical mass and you begin to see patterns of need, to figure out what things you can do to help.

        Goes back to what I’ve written before, from watching the Great Estates of Scotland series. The Bradfords, the husband and wife duo who run Kincardine Castle, show how much work it really is when you’re “doing it right” as lord and lady of the manor. The royals aren’t asked to do anywhere near that amount of work, but some still drag their feet and scream, “No! I won’t!” at the idea they should show up and pretend to care more than 30 minutes every other week.

  18. Harla says:

    I just love these bi-yearly stories about how “keen” Kate is to be taken seriously and how this is the year (pick any year) that she’ll really buckle down and start taking on more engagements.

    I’ve often wondered if all the royal reporters get together and pick straws to see whose going to ruin their career by writing these obvious pieces of dribble? I bet they’ve made “keen” a drinking game too, that’s why they use it so often!! One would have to drink often just to make to through writing one of these articles.

  19. Who ARE These People? says:

    The first thing to notice is that the table is actually rectangular.

    (Sorry. I just love the idea of holding a “round table” at a non-round table.”)

  20. Curiosity says:

    Yep, same believes over here.
    This is the same song we have heard for years: Kate is keen to step up … She will really put her largesse into … She is going to work hard for … they are really energized to work hard for …

    That is what KP communicated for years and each year. It never happened.

    It would be interesting to find out why Catherine Quinn left such a high position at Said business school to work for less pay a much less prestigeous job which has much less opportunities for advancement with Waity Katie? Sceletons in the closet many?

  21. AngieB says:

    I don’t see why she can’t just focus on being a good mom and raising the next future king or queen of England. It’s such a love hate with the royals. Abolish the system if it makes the tax payers so unhappy. You guys want them to be perfect puppets because well “we are paying them to be”. That’s just a gross attitude imo.

    • lala says:

      You know what is actually a gross attitude? monarchy, and the colonialist horrors they have perpetuated throughout history, because of the dear BRF. They (their family, their ancestors etc) lived off of the backs of others, off the exploitation of people and resources, off of the belief that they are somehow “better” than us plebes. So no I don’t think it’s gross to expect them to get off their lazy butts and do something in exchange for the insane power, wealth and privilege that has been afforded to them.

      I say this coming from a Commonwealth nation and wishing we could get rid of the monarchy

      • nic919 says:

        I am pretty sure the indigenous people in North America find it “gross’ that their culture was decimated and in some cases extinguished all so that British kings and queens could colour another area of the world map.

      • LAK says:

        Nic919: That would be the British, French AND Spanish with some Dutch thrown in.

      • frisbee says:

        And that would be British until they all signed the Declaration of Independence at which point they became American I believe and took over decimating the indigenous population all on their own.

    • Kimsan says:

      While I think that there are people who use “our taxes pay for them” as a way to control them, I don’t think it applies here . Kate wasn’t born into the royal family she made the choice of joining knowing full well what the responsibilities were. She spent a decade doing nothing so I don’t think it’ll be wrong to assume she knew she wasn’t up to working and she most likely knew she wanted to be a stay at home mother . Which is all well and good until the public become responsible for paying for your lifestyle . Being in the royal family is a job , so you wouldn’t apply for a job get hired, do nothing and expect to still get paid . So why should Kate expect that ?

      • AngieB says:

        She’s a housewife. It’s not a job, it’s a role. Different. Some women do it better than others but really she gets to choose how she wants to do it.

      • bluhare says:

        AngieB, No, she is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, etc etc. She is not a housewife, and she knew she wouldn’t be a housewife going in. She might have been able to be a SAHM if she’d married someone a bit further down the pecking order. Taking that title then Princess of Wales and then Queen Consort means you take on more than wandering around expecting people to curtsey and ma’am you.

        I will say, though, I think that’s exactly what she wants. It’s clear. If she liked getting out meeting people she’d have done it. She has not.

      • Tina says:

        Precisely. Autumn Phillips is a housewife. Kate is not.

      • Curiosity says:

        Well,

        William wanted a wife he could control. He wants to feel superior.
        Kate wanted to marry William and to become a princess.

        Neither ever thought about working or that they couldn’t just keep going on holidays forever. For both of them “work” is just an annoying interruption from an otherwise taxpayer-funded aristocratic “fun life”.

  22. Starryfish says:

    You’d think seven years would be long enough to think up a different line lol.

  23. Mrs.Krabapple says:

    I know that citizens whose tax dollars pay for her lavish lifestyle probably want her to “work” in return. But seriously, WHAT is she good at? She’s not that smart, she can barely string two coherent sentences together, and she doesn’t seem to be able to even PRETEND to be engaged in a discussion. Wouldn’t these charities be better off NOT having to waste time meeting with her? Just give William and Kate their money, let them flit around on vacations all year, and chalk it up to the price of having a monarchy.

    • Enough Already says:

      Charities receive invaluable publicity and donations went a royal is attached. A hospital needs money to build a new cancer ward for children so they hold a benefit gala. If the honorary chair is the local, beloved podiatrist they will charge £85 a plate and raise £20K. If the honorary chair is the Duchess of Cambridge they will charge £5K a plate and raise £2M. The family of a little leukemia patient from Leicester now no longer has to worry about where she will receive top treatment. That is the kind of power that can really change people’s lives for the better. I’m not sure the Cambridges will ever understand and embrace this concept.

      • Curiosity says:

        Both William and Kate have proven that they can’t really bring in donations for any kind of charity.

        Most of the money for hospitals and charities is actually being paid out of taxes. Royals do not cause donations to increase much. Nor does their “patronage” enable any institution to build a new ward or branch or wing or whatever.
        Look at the numbers.

        Pounds 20K doesn’t even pay for a single additional nurse let alone for a new hospital ward or whatever. The machines for hospitals alone cost at least 4 figures and bigger machines like x-ray cost 5-6 figures. 20K doesn’t even pay for a research programme and even financing a part-time nutritionist or physiotherapist for just 1 year is difficult on 20K.

        2M doesn’t pay for a new cancer ward either. It is simply not enough. And you don’t just need a lump sum but you need to finance that cancer ward for years to come. You need an annual sum.

        “Every little sum helps” – maybe. Maybe not. Because this royal patronage and donations system does work like a smokescreen for the mechanisms who actually pay for hospitals and doctors and cancer wards: the taxpayer by government laws. Government laws and policies do organise the payment of these blessings of civilisation and that is what people should concentrate on.

      • Tina says:

        William and Kate aren’t capable of doing it, but that doesn’t mean that other royals can’t or don’t help in a significant way. Charles’s Prince’s Trust helps around 60,000 young people every year. He has a number of charities based around his particular interests, such as the environment.

        Could W&K raise the billions needed to save the NHS? No. Could they do a hell of a lot of good for Macmillan or Cancer Research? Sure they could.

  24. Vinot says:

    You cannot tell me she doesn’t look high and out of it in these pictures. It’s more than play-acting and smiling, she looks drunk.

  25. Maria says:

    Is she actually chairing this meeting?

    • FLORC says:

      I think she’s just hosting. The meeting would happen anyway, but they come to her on her timetable.
      Thank goodness those cameras were also there.

      • Maria says:

        My guess is this Quinn lady will go out of her mind working with Kate. Coming from Oxford, come on!

      • Tina says:

        I honestly think she was burned out and needed a break. After being the COO of Said Business School, there could be nothing more relaxing than attempting a reboot that is guaranteed to fail. Kate’s keenness is like tech’s planned obsolencence.

  26. Starlight says:

    Willie cut the apron strings maybe it’s time to be Mrs Independent !

  27. Kate says:

    STOP SAYING KEEN!!!! She’s not keen to do anything!

  28. I too will be looking for a new private secretary. My social calender is abysmal! I have worked at least forty hours a week for two years without even one jaunt to the islands!
    I shall also be seeking a new bookkeeper. My present girl has not balanced the estate books once in years! It’s almost as though there aren’t enough fund to cover mere necessities!
    Indeed, I will need a new laundress as well because I cannot find the girl doing it presently because of the enormous piles of laundry that spring up daily!
    Of course a new cook will have to be found because I am surviving, barely, on air and chocolate, and (I’m so distressed to admit) “fast” food.
    Possibly, my gardener has gotten lost with the laundress as he’s certainly not tending the lawn properly. Shabby is NOT chic.
    I myself am beginning to think that none of them care to keep these positions. Almost as though there’s not enough time in the day, money in the bank, or F’s to give (as the vulgar American’s say).
    Truly hope you will advise me if there’s any good help these days. —Lady of Blueberry Manor

  29. Sod off?!
    Please feel free to reread my post as a tongue-in-cheek roast of all things upper class. You might even reread it as a vulgar American having a bit of fun at the British upper class.
    Or you could just “sod off” as you so eloquently put it.