Duchess Kate & her sister Pippa stepped out for some big events on Tuesday

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I’m mad that Buckingham Palace doesn’t release their own photos of the annual palace Diplomatic Reception. The reception is obviously for all of the embassies and assorted diplomats living and working in London, and it’s one of the big events on the Queen’s winter calendar every year. This is the third year in a row that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended the reception too, which tells you that Will and Kate will always be keen to do whatever the Queen orders them to do. The Queen is trying to teach both of them how to interact with diplomats and heads of state and important world leaders and leaders of industry. I would love to hear how well Will and Kate actually do at these events, but no one has said a word.

Instead, we just get endless half-blurry photos of Will and Kate in the car, arriving at Buckingham Palace. We can never see Kate’s dress, even. All we see is the borrowed tiara – Kate wore the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara, which is the tiara she consistently gets to borrow for big events. I’m pretty sure that the Queen loaned her that diamond necklace too, and my God is that beautiful. Look at how large those stones are!!

Anyway, while I love a good Keen Conspiracy, I don’t think Will and Kate’s appearance at the Diplomatic Reception was about anything other than the Queen ordering them to show up. Maybe they were a bit extra-keen this year, given the events of the past two weeks. Speaking of extra-keen, guess who popped up yesterday too, almost like she saw the Bat-signal that someone besides a Middleton was getting all the attention? Pippa Middleton! Pippa’s almost-royal, so she’s taking on big patronages. Eh, why not? She’s married to a terribly moderately wealthy man and she’s looking to fill some time in the tennis off-season.

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Photos courtesy of Getty.

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80 Responses to “Duchess Kate & her sister Pippa stepped out for some big events on Tuesday”

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  1. Maria F. says:

    I think Pippa looks cute. Love the shorter hair and the shirt is adorable.

  2. minx says:

    Love Pippa’s hair, very flattering.

  3. Becks says:

    I don’t like Pippa’s formal style, typically, but I really like her casual or business casual style. I feel like its a step trendier than Kate’s casual style and I think she typically looks pretty good (but I think it falls apart with her formal looks.) Here I think she looks great. Love the outfit, her hair looks good, and she looks relaxed and natural.

    I saw something in the daily mail or wherever about how Prince Harry missed the reception because he was at a charity event for their friend who had been killed in a car crash (I think I have that right) and Carole Middleton was also there as well as Pippa Matthews. It took me a full 30 seconds to be like, who the hell is Pippa Matthews and why do I care? then it hit me, lol.

  4. Alexandria says:

    I think both look nice, but Pippa looks very good in that cut.

  5. Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    I wondered if you were going to cover Pippa’s hospital visit. She at least looks more engaged than the real Royal. It’s telling that the only rag to cover it was the Fail – who the Middleton family have had a long standing relationship with. The awful editor in chief (Paul Dacre) is a family friend.

    • Olenna says:

      Thanks for filling in the blanks for me. I was wondering why Pippa was getting press coverage. I’m sure there are hundreds of socialites and philanthropists in the area that do as much or more for charities but don’t get national (and international) publicity.

      • Nic919 says:

        Kate may not be in competition with Meghan but Pippa certainly is. Her outfit was way too similar to Meghan’s outfit to be a coincidence. And it’s not like Pippa doesn’t like the press attention.

      • Bridget says:

        Eh, it’s not like those other socialites aren’t trying to get the same coverage. As much as people complain, here we are clicking and commenting on the article.

    • Sharon Lea says:

      Thanks for connecting the dots, I hadn’t heard of the Paul Dacre connection before. Loved one comment on DM, saying she should have brought some Boompf marshmallows with her ha

    • SoulSPA says:

      I don’t want to criticize raising awareness and charity. But what on earth is Pippa doing there? Especially now with Harry’s engagement. IIRC she’s been an ambassador for the BHF for some time, post her sister’s royal marriage. No one would have known about her except for the rich circles if Kate hadn’t been Bill’s doormat. I understand that a royal connection brings exposure for charities. But Kate is the royal. Other relatives of married-in royals stayed out of the limelight. Even the young blood princesses nowadays B and E.
      Now Pippa, also former party/event planner, failed recipe book writer and failed posh supermarket columnist, with some participation in sports events, is not only a posh wife but also a charitable figure. The Middletons are playing hard.

      • Scarlett says:

        If my child was in hospital there is NO WAY I’d allow some hard faced opportunistic royal wannabe use him as a photo op! I find her appearance here highly offensive and wonder WTH the BRF are going to do about this. Who does she think she is ?

      • katie3 says:

        Scarlett, I agree 100% and for that matter, I would extend that sentiment to Kate & William making hospital room visits – how intrusive and self-serving and there’s no way in h*ll I’d participate as a patient or parent of a patient.

  6. DazLondon says:

    The Middleton’s are feeling the heat of competition.
    Just another reason for the Queen to love miss Markle.

    • Beth says:

      Hopefully there doesn’t end up being a huge competition, and they all get along happily. I’m not even sure there really is any competition. Tons of people just seem excited to have someone new in the BRF like they are with every other marriage

    • loislane says:

      Yeah…I’ve been wondering why the Middletons plus the Bonas and the other ex are out all of the sudden. Meghan’s appearance has clearly been a “boom”….here are the after effects.

      • anon says:

        i think they are just living their lives but the press and bloggers want to see how they deal and if they trip up. I think that’s pretty ghastly. if one of his exes isn’t over him, i’m sure it’s going to be tough for her. very nasty to wait to see a person fail or embarrass themselves publicly.

  7. Erinn says:

    Love Pippa’s hair. I can’t handle mine that short – it adds more work than it’s worth with my hair. But it looks great on her – makes her look a lot more fresh. I also like Kate’s hair when it’s pulled back and up.

    • SoulSPA says:

      Pippa had a professional doing her hair for this public appearance. She was there to help raise funds. Clothes are OK, hair too. I admit it. She scored as compared to her Duchess sister. Got the image right.
      Otherwise she must have included a hair budget in her agreement with the moderately rich husband! No hair problems!!

  8. aquarius64 says:

    Pippa doesn’t look that engaged; and the child standing in one photo had that “help me” look on his face.

    • CynicalAnn says:

      Agreed. She looks uncomfortable. As she should-that kid is thinking wtf is she?

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        +10000

        And she is off standish – yet visiting sick kids – phony don’t care; to the kid: just ‘lie there so I am pap at hospital’ – fake waste of humanity – she should crawl back to her mansion.

    • SoulSPA says:

      That is a sick child in a hospital, most likely feeling weak, uncomfortable or in pain? Out of his comfort zone with all those strangers and lights and cameras and noise. I wish sick children were not exposed like that. There must be better ways to illustrate the needs for funding health issues.

      • Hazel says:

        Agreed.

      • magnoliarose says:

        I don’t like it either. Just visit the kids because it makes them happy and be a patron. There are ways bring light to an issue without showing up in stylish clothes and pretending to engage.
        Some stars do very generous things and never say a word because they don’t want attention. They just want to help.
        Instead, they talk about the issue or start a foundation and make sure it is active. Sick children like visitors but I don’t like them used as props.

      • SoulSPA says:

        Such failures, all of them! Those “brilliant” minds using Pippa and Pippa of course. I cannot help express outrage at the picture with the little kid laying on the bed, and Pippa smiling widely with her head thrown back and looking at someone in front of her, but not at the kid on the bed. No compassion nor tact nor honesty. Just self-promotion. Another wide grin but this time next to a sick child!!!!! This is not a papping session, Pippa! Nor an appearance at Wimbledon or whatever high society event! Shame on you, Pippa!
        The Firm should better tell the Middleton mafia stay away from such important stuff. They are unprofessional and too focused on themselves.

        And the BHF are doing this massive PR disaster to raise money. Having that particular picture posted. What a big failure. I’m lost for words. Find someone better at it, folks!

  9. aquarius64 says:

    Is Kate going to have the Royal Family Order and her order from Tuvalu this year? Not buying the ivory argument. Those are the only pieces of significance.

    • Nic919 says:

      The Queen takes the Royal Family Order seriously and gives it for more than just waiting around. Kate has not increased her workload from last year and so it’s unlikely she was given it. Sophie and Camilla got it much earlier in their marriages but they also were doing real numbers early on as well.

  10. JaneDoesWork says:

    Why does Pippa look more natural with people than Kate? Cute outfit, PIppa. Looks like Kate’s dress is a winter white, wish we could see it!

  11. Goodvibes says:

    Look at Will’s face in that pic. Says it all. He must be a bear to live with.

  12. Jayna says:

    I wanted to see Kate’s gown. Pippa’s outfit is very fresh and pretty on her, and her hairstyle is much more flattering. Her hair is much thinner than Kate’s, so is usually lifeless looking the length she usually wears it.

  13. Lainey says:

    A little bit of how Will and Kate do at this engagement was in a documentary earlier this year. William referred to the national costumes as fancy dress IIRC.(Mightn’t be the exact wording but he defiantly insulted them) Which i think tells you everything you need to know.

  14. PettyRiperton says:

    Marsha Brady Middleton is really living the life I love Meghan and like Kate but lil sis got it. A kept wife without all the stiffness and protocol. Lil sis need to stay away from The Sun or stop smoking she looking older than than Kate.
    Another thing I want to say Kate looks so young without all the makeup. Less is more in her case.
    Honestly I want Kate to hire a stylist I know people claim it’s the firm who makes her dress that way. She can be stylish and dignified without sacrificing one for the other.
    I hope her and Meghan get along I don’t see them being bffs.

    • Jayna says:

      I wouldn’t see them becoming “best friends” either, but simply for the fact Kate is on her third child by the spring Being a mother of two, much less three children under the age of four has you in a whole different headspace than a woman who is into wedding plans and marrying your brother-in-law and childless. What you have in common is just not that much because you are in such different places in your life. And your life at that point truly is revolving around your children when they are that young. They will be friendly, though, I have no doubt, and enjoy each other’s company.

    • magnoliarose says:

      That is the point Pippa wants to make. That SHE is more royal than Kate.

  15. JustBitchy says:

    The necklace is one o many collets the queen owns. Check out the penultimate source here

    http://queensjewelvault.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-2017-diplomatic-reception-and-new.html

    Order of sped or is the best! #MagPie

    • OtherLaLa says:

      Awesome link! Thank you for the source! It is the last link that talks about the history of collet necklaces, and the pictures are beautiful!

    • LV487 says:

      I admire the Queen for loaning out such beautiful jewelry…if it were me, all the pieces would be my precious.

  16. Pumpkin (formally soup, pie) says:

    Isn’t Pippa smiling way to broadly in some of the pics? And I don’t want to sound mean, but is she wearing a bra, it doesn’t look like that to me. Anyways, that top is too tight for that occasion.

    • Sky says:

      What so visiting people in the hospital now requires you to wear something oversized

    • Renee says:

      The band of her bra is noticeable in the first photo. She’s wearing a dark, turtleneck. That’s a fairly conservative piece of clothing.

    • Dee says:

      Geez what have we come to? Let’s focus on her possible tits showing in a TURTLENECK as opposed to the lovely thing she’s doing.

  17. Annie says:

    Here is a non blurry pic…still cant see the dress but her makeup is too heavy https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQUpVL0WkAAYiLD.jpg

  18. Realitycheck says:

    Kate has the same 2 hairstyles. This picture looks identical to the last one where she wore this tiara.

    • Susannah says:

      Not a big fan of the hair net either. I would think with Kate’s lovely, thick, shiny hair they could come up with a better hairstyle for a tiara that doesn’t need one of those.

      • realitycheck says:

        Her hair is in a hair net? wow, that seems dated… I am not sure if these are Kate’s ideas or the Palaces’, either way its not good.

  19. Sharon Lea says:

    Absolutely agree Kaiser, I always wish they’d release just 1 picture so we can see what the ladies are wearing. I want to see those big diamonds too 🙂

  20. Payal says:

    Both these women are underemployed with tons of money and they both look haggard. Why? That said, Pippa skirt is cute.

    • curious says:

      The haggard looks are a result of too much dieting and too much sun tanning and too much sports and likely – too much smoking without getting papped smoking.

    • magnoliarose says:

      Dieting, smoking and not enough healthy fats. Overexercising and tanning. Quite a few things and genetics.

  21. MellyMel says:

    For once I like something Pippa is wearing! Also she should keep her hair at this length…it looks great on her!

  22. AV says:

    As has happened every year after this reception, photos will surface through post-reception publicity (documentaries, etc.).

  23. curious says:

    So Kate Middleton decided to get some family support in charitable matters in order to be able to compete against Meghan?

  24. curious says:

    Kate’s tiara was upgraded. So was her jewelry. *LOL*

  25. Zara says:

    Pippa’s waist is tiny!!!! No doubt she’s been trying to fall preg from the day she married, maybe they’re struggling…hope it happens soon for them. Either way Pip and Kate look fab, lots of us have tanned and dieted over the years, such is life, especially in the public eye, no shade required. They’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. I do wonder how much Kate really smokes/ed? Didn’t realize Pippa also smoked!?

  26. M79 says:

    Why does William always look constipated