All in all, I think Prince William and Duchess Kate’s Canadian and Californian tour went pretty well. I wasn’t all crazy-excited for it, but I wasn’t disappointed with it either. They met my expectations, and at times exceeded them. Kate’s fashion tour was decent but not in any way groundbreaking or trend-setting. She didn’t wear anything inappropriate, and I think she managed the superficial style part pretty well, especially considering that she does not employ a full-time stylist or wardrobe person. Considering that in the lead up to the wedding, there was quite a lot of talk of how Kate was going to be gently “eased into” her royal role, I’ve been surprised with the number of royal appearances Kate has made since getting married – remember how the Palace said it would “take years” for her to get involved with charity? Remember how they made such a big deal about how Kate and William wouldn’t have any staff? Remember how Kate “quit” her “job” to “prepare for her royal life”? Well, now Kate really, really wants people to remember all of that. She wants to go back home and not have her photo taken again for a while.
After their action-packed tour of North America, William and Kate have told aides that they want a break. The couple, who wowed Canada and Los Angeles over an 11-day visit, are determined to go “under the radar” and return to life as an RAF officer and wife.
The Prince, a search and rescue pilot, wants to concentrate on building up his flying hours and techniques, and Kate will start planning what kind of role she will take as a royal.
“Since they got married, they were on honeymoon and in London for most of June for family events and other events,” a palace spokesperson says. “They want to go back and have a married life together under the radar and enjoy their life in Anglesey – keeping things chilled.”
The spokesperson adds: “For the Duke, he is going for his flying captaincy which he hopes to get in early 2012 and will move from the right to the left seat. He needs to keep up his flying hours and there are some exams to get through, a lot of work needs to done and he has to dedicate himself to that.”
Meanwhile, Kate, whose interests includes “sports therapy and arts therapy,” is set to “determine what her interests are and whether she can actually make a difference,” the spokesman adds.
In the near future, they are facing a separation, as William is likely to be deployed on a two-month tour of duty to the Falkland Islands. And, in 2012, the couple will be busy representing Queen Elizabeth abroad to mark her 60th anniversary of becoming monarch.
The Queen has asked the younger members of the family to visit the realms of the Commonwealth at some point in the Jubilee year.
[From People]
This is another meeting-expectations game that the Palace is playing – they’re announcing that Will and Kate are going to now go into their low-key mode so that when they do deign to make an appearance somewhere, people will be thrilled to see them. Plus, I would imagine that Kate’s going to try to get pregnant. I’ve been surprised that there hasn’t been more talk about that – but maybe people just take one look at her itsy-bitsy waist and just think, “Yeah, she’s not knocked up.”
Photos courtesy of WENN.
woah! Are those pictures showing a lack of hosiery and open toe shoes? REBELLION!
This has been the expected and required world exhibition event that the common wealth demands of royalty. I enjoyed it as an observer and I feel they did just fine. Going into a bit of seclusion is the right thing to do (and will provide UpTradey with the pap time she’s lost during the tour)
As for the “pregnancy” postualtion, that’s Hollywood/Famewhore territory. Not for the royals…give them a year.
Really pretty
Why should they rush to have kids? In terms of succession and the infamous longevity of the Windsors the line is secure for the next century at least. I am sure Elizabeth will push 100 just like the Queen Mum and I wouldn’t be surprised if Charles did the same. In that case it would be at least 50 years before Will and Kate would ascend to the throne.
I think they did really well on their first official trip. They are probably exhausted and also newlyweds so who can blame them for some privacy. Glad she isn’t a royal famewhore!
“Meanwhile, Kate, whose interests includes “sports therapy and arts therapy,” is set to “determine what her interests are and whether she can actually make a difference,” the spokesman adds.”
In the 8-9 years as his professional GF, the girl didn’t do anything. So yes, I’m not surprised she has to “figure ot what her interests are.” That one charity boat race she gushed about training for weeks about was a bust. As soon as Will called her to get back together, she promptly quit that bitch.
$10 says making a difference is standing by her man. No solo projects on her own. We can’t have her outshining Wills.
Kate is really very lovely & her & Wills make a great couple. It shows that they are in love.
You have to husband your trump cards for when it counts. Have Princess Royal with chips in the meanwhile.
Id want a very LONG break after this tour. I couldnt imagine having to be in so many places, meeting so many people and having to smile the entire time b/c of all the pics being snapped.
I dont understand why she has to have a child within their first year of marriage, maybe thats why they waited so long? Talk about pressure on top of everything else.
As much as I love these two, I really have no interest in her sister Pippa.
Not sure why they’re trying to make a big deal of her. She comes across as uber uppity, the type that wouldnt even say Hi to you unless she knew your income or social status was above a certain level. Kate on the other hand seems like a genuinely warm and friendly person.
“determine what her interests are and whether she can actually make a difference”. Isn’t she close to 30 years old and she doesn’t really know what her interests are. All that waiting around and she never bothered to find out what interested her. Sad, really.
I’m a little disgusted that a palace spokesperson employed the phrase “keeping things chilled” in an official statement.
@search4grace (#1) — I believe the dress protocol only applies when members of the Royal family are participating in official events in Commonwealth nations, ie NOT America.
@Rita (#2) — well said!
Towards the end of the tour she looked really tired. I those 11 days were the most she’s ever “worked”. Poor girl. Time to rest. I do like her, but work, in the traditional sense, has never been a part of her adult life.
I think she looks stunning.
@WOM Ah..I should have known she wouldn’t go against anything. It would be too much to hope for. Thanks for clearing it up for me! I look at her life and I think I would be bored out of my mind. I love my husband but wrapping everything I am up in him to be happy…no thanks. We’d irritate the holy heck out of each other in two seconds flat that way!
@smokey ITA!!!! Not to mention they’ve been claiming since Kate got engaged that she’s going to think about what charities she wants to support. Well, it’s been nine or 10 months since then; hasn’t she thought about that yet? What a joke.
aww, let the kids go make alot of whoopee!
she can wear his shirt all day and he can scratch in his boxers away from prying eyes.
I like her. But Why people say she is sooo beautiful. I don’t understand that, she is of course beautiful, but my problem with her is> she is not aging well,.. she is only 30. And for me she looks 35. If u look actress like Rachel Mcadams (32) or Zoe Saldana(30-something) these girls and anothers look better than Kate Middleton. Seriously… and Prince William also no aging well,… he looks older than 29.
I prefer her when she was 25, with good body, and not that skinny.
I look forward to them returning to obscurity. This Will and Kate overload is too much. They aren’t even interesting.
I just realized that her tiny figure reminds me of Wallis Simpson’s. Nothing else in common, but that tiny figure.
Give the girl a break! So, is 30 the defining age of when you’re supposed have it all figured out? No, I don’t think so. Personal interests are always evolving. Some people know what they want before 30, some after. Not sad, really.
(in response to the comment: ” Isn’t she close to 30 years old and she doesn’t really know what her interests are. All that waiting around and she never bothered to find out what interested her. Sad, really.”)
How about supporting sick and disabled people?
Donating to funds that support research for diseases that have no cure today?
How about people with disabilities?
Just not another shallow cause like some sort of silly sport.
I think she has a great fashion sense.
I loved many of her dresses and her wedding gown was the prettiest I have ever seen.
I do think it’s odd for her not to work or have a job/ hobby/ interests.
As William has a job, and a very respectable one- being a military man, she should show she is a modern and independent woman and have a job too.
Also, I find it odd that any person would celebrate at 2012 – that she became a monarch.
This is 2012, and monarchies are either a bad thing or a relic from the past.
I think he is happy with her- so good luck to him.
I would also want time after all of the travel they did. I know it is much easier for them with all of their help and luxuries, but travel is exhausting. The should just enjoy being married and wait to start having babies. The pressure they must feel regarding that subject has to be ridiculous.
@Belloo, it seems that her only personal interest for a decade has been landing William. I suppose if you put that much effort into snagging a man you have little time to think of your own personal needs. Unless she can show herself to be more than an arm piece; at some point the media and people in general will begin to face reality. And yes, if your parents have spent time and energy making sure you have a stellar education and at 30 your only accomplishment is marrying a man of means-there is definitely something wrong with that. And if she still needs “a few years” to decide what her course will be I will personally deem her as deficient.
Being spoiled and entitled must be so exhausting.
I dont blame them for wanting to take a break. Most of would. As for her and her sister not looking like thier aging well or looking older than their age…they are both smokers as is their mom. Cigaretts will always age you quicker and suck the life out of you as (IF) you get older. Some would like to think differently but it’s true. You will also see more defined lip lines (like a puckering) much sooner than non-smokers. Just ask a dermo or plastic surgeon. HOpefully she’ll quit before she gets pregnant.
What a bunch of cry babies on this site today. I love celebitchy, but is “being bitchy” a prerequisite for thoughts written on this webpage? OK, maybe that was my “being bitchy” by calling a bunch of you “cry babies.” Hey, I used to be very bitchy – then I woke-up at nearly fifty when I discovered first hand, “you reap, what you sow.” So all you “youngsters” on this site, be warned, karma – good or bad – will follow you!
I’m shocked at what a pass people give Kate. Why does she deserve such a pass? If she were any other socialite everyone would be up in arms about how she’s lazy and doesn’t do anything.
Yet some of you think that her 11 days of FREE TRAVEL were tedious, tiresome work and sooo rough that the poor slender darling now deserves an extended break. Honestly! A break from what? From getting blow outs? From posing with her husband? From meeting celebrities?
The truth is, this is a 30 year old woman who has no identity outside of her husband, nor any desire for one. She’s spent the past decade at William’s side or on vacation (also with William). It’s just pathetic really. She’s no role model. She’s a big smile with no brains or energy or interests behind it. Vapid – that’s the word.
William is back to work. Kate is back to…. planning her next outfit? Calculating her most fertile days?
Make me a sandwich, woman.
No doubt every charity in the entire UK wants Kate as their patron, so it will take some time to sort through them all and decide where her priorities will be.
I read elsewhere they are accompanying the Queen to Balmoral in August and have more events planned in September, so they are going to keep busy. The palace probably does not want to use them too much yet as they don’t want to be seen as competition for Charles & Camilla.
Wow, it’s a good thing Kate doesn’t live in the “real world” anymore. In the “real world”, after a business trip (I’m being generous here because I think the “tour” was more of a vacation) you go right back to the office, you don’t take a break.
Turtle, I think Kate is the one who (desperately) needs a sandwich!!!! If she doesn’t resume normal eating habits and reclaim her health, getting pregnant is not going to happen.
Here, Here Lisa Turtle! Finally someone who gets it. I’m so tired of people going on and on about how rough it is for her.
And this news about her needing a break, yeah it must be tough doing f-ck all for most of your life and then having to do “work” for 11 days straight.
But then again she wants to go back to insular world where she can think about throw pillows and cooking William’s favorite meals. She’s a vacuous girl, who I don’t believe likes talking to sick kids or making small talk. I just get the vibe that she thinks she’s better than that.
And I hate to bring up Diana but she was the opposite. She LOVED talking to people and you could see it when she interacted with them. I think she even stated her duties were some of her favorite times because she got to get out and talk to people. I don’t get that from Waity who seems like she’d rather have more BAFTA like events and less playing cutesty with little brown kids.
I won’t fault Waity though as William isn’t like that either. In fact I think William will make a horrible King. He absolutely hates his palce in life, he hates having to do official duties, he wants to live in seclusion and never be papped (understandable, not exactly practical though).
Harry on the other hand, just like Diana always said, would make a far better king. He seems to revel in doing what’s expected of him (probably because he’s the spare and he doesn’t really have to do it).
Any way this news doesn’t surprise me. Waity thought it would be clothes and having her picture taken and finally she’s got a glimpse of what life is really like as a Royal and I bet she’s freaked out of her mind. In all her 9 years of plotting I think someone’s having remorse. Not that she would ever give it up, just that it’s not like what she expected. She’s probably miffed she’ll have to wait 50 or so years for Charles to kick it before she gets the fun things like traveling like a head of state and wearing tiaras to every event. For now she’ll have all the work but none of the fun that comes along with being Queen Consort (like access to the jewels, whole palaces for her use, and not having to ride commercial BA flights).
@ Smokey, ITA. See that’s my problem with her.
And doing lots of “events” to “keep busy” are just the royal way of not looking lazy. And yes I do think she is old enough to know where her interests lay.
And I’ve wondered if maybe they did commit to eachother awhile before the engagement, but didn’t make it official because he knew once he proposed, it would be right into the wedding, and the procreation (maybe), cause that’s how they do it.
I do hope she takes the next year to put on some lbs and make that baby! Or at least the year after that.
I have a feeling she wants to go to parties and wear beautiful dresses and be the Princess and have her fun for at least a year before they start working on an heir and her charities. Can’t say I blame her. She waited 10yrs and this is her moment in the sun. I can kinda picture her twirling in a yellow sundress in a bright morning room with her hands in the air all “yaaaaaaaay!” Lol.
@ Min76: Exactly. No need whatsoever to rush into babymaking. Far better to take year or two to ease into married/royal life.
I, too, applaud Lisa Turtle for her comment. This is a joke, right? Katie puts on some nice cloths, smiles and waves and all the fan girls here say give her a break. I will not give her a break. Poor, poor thing; she actually had to do something after doing nothing for 9 years and now she needs a break. Aw… poor Waity, is royal life not what you expected!
What a pathetic, vapid, non entity.
Ashley: right on. What in the world would Diana have thought about this pampered butterfly!
I think people are misunderstanding what The Firm (whoever does the PR for the British monarchy) said. They did not say William & Catherine are going to disappear forever. They are just going to lay low for about six weeks or so. No official duties like the trip to Canada & LA. They will show up here and there. Zara’s wedding is next week.
As for people saying “what in the world would Diana have thought about this pampered butterfly” may I remind you what happened to Diana? She cracked, big time. She wasn’t allowed to take a break or just concentrate on being a mum or wife (yeah, Charles was a cad, but by putting Diana out there in public all the time she caused the rift between them because the public went bonkers for her). The Firm made a huge mistake with Diana, and they will not repeat that with Catherine.
Unless you all are a Captain in the military or a military spouse I don’t think we have any right to judge what William and Catherine are doing. William has to fly extra hours, read and write exams, and a whole bunch of stuff. Harry is already a Captain and he’s two years younger than William so William ahs major catching up to do. Catherine is busy moving stuff into their London home and basically keeping not just one but two homes working. I could understand why people are criticizing Catherine for laying around the house eating bon-bons, but I am quite sure that’s the last thing she will be doing.
Plus William is taking off for ten weeks alone to the Falkland Islands and Catherine will be alone. That’s when she can get down to business and wade through the thousands of charities. Remember it is not just Great Britain but the ENTIRE Commonwealth charities that she can be patron of. So that’s THOUSANDS of “applications.” She needs to choose very, very carefully. She doesn’t want to duplicate what her mother-in-law did. She doesn’t want to duplicate her husband (although she now is part of the Foundation that William and Harry set up). She absolutely doesn’t want to duplicate anyone else in the Royal Family. So it will take her a long time and those ten weeks William is gone will give her the opportunity to really sort through what she wants to do.
And meanwhile, she will do the most important job of her life. Being a wife to her husband. The last thing she needs to do is be sent off all day to do whatever. She needs to be there for William right now.
Oh, and maybe gain a few pounds in preparation for ovulation and fertilization of an heir then a spare. 😛
For someone who has been in the royal fold for nearly a decade, she should have some idea what she wants to do. I understand not wanting to turn her into another Diana, but…she’s 30, not 19. She’s been with William for an extremely long time. They’ve been molding her for royal life for a long time. Their marriage wasn’t a surprise within that family. Maybe to the rest of the world, but not the Firm.
Kate has done nothing that strenuous. Yes, traveling is a bitch, especially for 11 days, but she’s been catered to the entire time. There’s been no dragging luggage through the airport, going through security.
I’m not hating on her. Anymore. But, please…she should know what interests her by now, even if her only goal in life is to be a wife to William. There is a world outside of him.
I would have said, “Why the hell are we doing this shit when we should be on a 3-month honeymoon in fucking Fiji or some cool-as-shit place like that?”
That said, Kate needs colour… no more white gowns, feh!
lol you think she’s going to personally go through thousands of applications to search for charities that interest her? That’s what the help is for. All she has to mention is sport therapy and staff will pick through all the reputable charities to make into a short list for her. She doesn’t have to lift a finger for charities all she has to do it get dressed and do a meet and greet and money will start pouring in for whatever charity she chooses. That’s it and she can’t even do that. I’m guessing she’s going to be spending all her time working out to stay 20 pounds underweight. That is a full time job in itself.
I always find it a little weird when anyone is so invested in other people’s pregnancies or lack therof. Many newlyweds will report how frustrating it is to have everyone constantly nudging you on whether you’re going to start popping out kids. Particularly if they are going through private difficulties in conceiving.
JulieM – If Diana were around, Waity wouldn’t be here.
People gush over here but I’m willing to bet most of these people only know her from the engagement onward. If anyone had read about her for the past 9-10 years they’d have a different assumption and they wouldn’t be prattling on about how happy Diana would be to have such a lazy, vacant, robotic daughter. Remember Diana was a rebel. Also from a very young age she did charity work. Hell she worked as a nanny and didn’t have to because unlike Waity her parents had money. If anyone had an excuse to be a lazy, do nothing it was Di and that’s probably what makes Waity look worse. Diana came from privilege and was not above getting a 9-5 or putting in the long hours associated with Royal duty. Her first tour was for 4 weeks, not 11 days.
#32 John Wayne lives. I dont’ know why, but I just love your description of Kate twirlling in her yellow chiffon dress with the sun shining upon her glinting off the highlights in her haird hands raised yelling with glee. It just tickeled me pink. I especially love the Yay at the end there’s just something jubilant, joyfual and childishly innocent about it that makes me laugh!
I guess the honeymoon is over on this site anyway!
I don’t see anything wrong with Kate being devoted to the man she loves. William seems like a nice guy,he’s nice looking and by the by, he’s filthy rich! Is it better to spend your young years on a random career (aka glorified job)? Is it better to spend your years ho-ing around? She’s set for life while most of us are at the mercy of bosses and the unstable economy. Furthermore, there was no bigger whiner than Diana! I was eating sugar cubes for dinner back in the day and I remember. End of rant.
The hate for Kate on here is mind blowing. People speak of her as if they know her and her life for the past 9 years. She said in the official engagement interview she worked hard for her parents’ company. I doubt she would have bared faced lied in front of her future husband and the nation.
I know people are going to have their opinions about her but she’s William’s choice and she most likely will be Queen one day. I think William is a decent bloke, I trust his judgement. Give the girl a chance.
As for Diana, I liked her but she was far from perfect, she had a big heart but she also had issues.
@ Lucretias aaah yellow chiffon lol that’s perfect!
Ha Ha the palace PR is making me laugh. So they need two months break from a break. Good one! So J-lo and Nicole Kidman were all working were they when they were attending BAFTA. So on Canada Day the royal couple were working were they when everybody had a day off, poor them. How I wish I could take over for them, from their grueling schedule. I heard the commercial BA flight was specially chartered for the couple and their entourage (there were no members of the public flying with them).
Angelina Jolie who is much older and thinner does more trips than Waify Katie and works as well. Plus, she has six kids. Waify katie doesnt live in the real word
How can she be called a fashion icon if a personal shopper picks her clothes.If she doesn’t have a stylist or personal shopper who helps her pick her zillion dresses then. I don’t think she is a fashion icon because as many have noted one of the dress she wore was a two-year old dress that was already worn in black or blue by Sarah Jesicca Parker. That’s not setting a fashion trend or even fashion forward.
@Ell (#44) “People speak of her as if they know her and her life for the past 9 years.”
But of course they don’t know her. What they know is one single Vanity Fair profile published last year. It amuses me that the criticism lobbed at Kate (on this site and others) are all variations on themes and events outlined in that ONE article. I wish more people would develop and use critical thinking skills.
BTW, I don’t know get people defending Diana’s sunny demeanor or people skills. I grew up in the 80s and I remember watching coverage of her royal tours in Canada. She was often sullen during events. And when Charles would give speeches she would disengage completely and all but yawn. She enjoyed the walkabouts b/c she got to rub her popularity in Charles’ face. It was quite a contrast to see Kate, smiling and engaged at every event in Canada. I think that The Firm have a plan for Kate to ensure she doesn’t becomes Diana 2.0. And part of that is letting the couple drop out of sight, often for extended periods of time.
@Ashley (#40) has mentioned that Diana worked as a nanny prior to marriage. Don’t kid yourself that this meant Diana was grounded. She was living in a London flat gifted to her at age 18. She had several roommates whom she charged rent, and who (like Diana) were the daughters of wealthy families “slumming it” by working at menial jobs that required no education. All the while Diana was attending parties seeking out a rich husband. Diana was NOT the poster girl for women’s liberation. Diana (unlike Kate who has a university degree) was spectacularly stupid. Failing her O-Levels (twice, no less) means she was essentially a high school drop out.
Diana was from another generation when I would suspect most of you weren’t even born yet. Diana had an entirely different life from Catherine. She lived a leisurely and pampered life as part of British nobility. She basically did nothing. Didn’t even go to university or abroad to volunteer with outreach groups, plus we all know she flunked some courses in high school.
As the youngest under-educated daughter of a rich and divorced Earl who bought her a posh flat where she collected rent from her pals that lived with her, Diana really lived the high society life before she met and married Charles.
It was actually common for young gals like Diana to lark around trying out “normal jobs” like nannies and teaching assistants just for something to do while they waited around for a rich husband to show up. If that is not “spoiled and entitled” I don’t know what is. 🙂
And of course we all know what happened when Diana married Charles. She didn’t have much time to get to know him and his quirks, to see him at his worse, to have fights and make up, to learn how to communicate, etc. Yeah, it looked lovey-dovey for about 2 years then it all went down the crap-shot.
Do we want that for William? Of course not. He took his pretty time, and he chose Catherine. I think we should all just accept that. Diana told her sons to be friends first, take their time, then see if that friendship turns to love. William was listening. He didn’t want what happened to his mum to happen to his wife. Thus 8 years. And Catherine stuck it out.
So I say if they want to take a 2-month break from official duties and tours so William can concentrate on becoming a Captain and Catherine can keep house for him then I say go for it. We should all be so lucky! Catherine can continue what she did so wonderfully in Canada and LA–support William’s achievements and encourage him when he’s uncertain or nervous.
I believe William and Catherine don’t have anyone other than one private secretary helping them. I doubt that person is sitting down with Catherine saying “this is what you should do” but rather it is Catherine trying to decide which charities speak to her and that she would enjoy helping. I think we saw an indication of what she will be doing from the recent tour–military families, disadvantaged children and youth, and the environment.
I’m just saying when one compares Diana’s experience with Catherine those two couldn’t be more different and Catherine is the one that comes out as “normal” even if it took 8 years dating. Diana had what, 6 months? So yeah, let’s give William and Catherine a break and let them enjoy the summer holidays, yeah? 🙂
I actually think Diana would have been pretty impressed with Catherine’s accomplishments and managing the invasive press all those years. But then again we’ll never know, eh.
Whoever has been following Waity’s life since the St. Andrew’s days knows that this laziness really isn’t new. Saying that she’s worked “hard” for her parents business really says nothing since there really is no objective criteria to evaluate that. The only real job we know of is at Jigsaw and she quit. All we’ve seen her do these past years is go to the gym, party, go to the hairdresser’s daily, vacation and then party some more. She’s proved her work ethic, or rather lack of. The only thing that’s changed now that she’s married is that she’s freeloading off government taxes instead of her parents.
In the last picture, she looks absolutely ethereal. From head to toe.
She’s beautiful & I think she fits her role perfectly.
For those of you complaining that shes lazy and has no goals. Please curb your jealousy. THIS is the life of royalty. They are figures, meant to project glamour, make PR- friendly public appearances, and support their spouse. Having their own interests, jobs, charities, ARE pluses but not part of the basic job description.
Dont even try to compare her life to yours or even to Hollywood celebrities. The royals are in a whole category of their own.
Well, we’d all be screwed if every hard working person needed a rest after 11 days of grafting. She’s a wimp, a tool and she’s lazy. Compare her work results with those of surgeons, deployed army personnel, humanitarian workers and tell me she’s worth your admiration. I should think there are countless of other people to be appraised and most of all… followed!
@Miss: If having our own opinion and expressing that on this web upsets you, why don’t you make yourself a good karma tea to calm down. Or go to a spa. Whatever you do, please don’t worry about the rest of us. We don’t worry about you either 😉
I think they definitely deserve a break and also that Hollywood “royalty”could take some lessons from them……. And for all you haters – jealous much? Young, attractive, and royals nice combination……
Most of us work all year and get two weeks off, not Waity.
Can we really call an all expenses paid luxury trip to Canada & America work?
I wish my job was like that.
Ashley @40- Precisely so. Diana certainly had her flaws, but she was hands down more productive and charismatic than Katie is or perhaps ever will be.
Eternalcanadian: Let’s get one thing straight. Diana cracked because she knew she was in a loveless marriage, not because she made public appearances at an early age. If Charles had put her first and given Camilla up (permanently-I mean), don’t you think the outcome of their marriage might have been different? I say “might” because we will never know, will we? Both she and Charles were extremely insecure and should never have married in the first place. Very incompatible. And Charles loved someone else.
Diana, by her own admission, was “thick as a plank’. She admitted she was not academically inclined. What qualities she possessed, she came by naturally, not from an academic background. Kate has a university degree and what exactly did she do with it for the last 6 years except cling to William and finally get the ring. Diana’s ring.
And no, Sue and luls, I’m not jealous. I’m getting really tired of that accusation fan girls/boys/people fling around. Yuck.
Lets hope this is one royal marriage that actually lasts and is not destroyed by the media.
@ WOM and EthenalCanada – well said, it’s so refreshing when people see the whole picture and are not lead by their emotions and prejudices.
@Chris – They’re already trying to divide them as a couple,exactly why they need to be left in peace to live a relatively normal in between royal duties.
I’m with the folks who are not impressed by the strenuousness of the 11 day trip (or of being a royal). I understand that it can be sort of taxing to go out and meet countless people each day and have to smile and spout small talk with people you’ll never see again and make them feel like you know their pain. However, being able to go home to a cushy hotel – or, you know, a PALACE – and having people wait on you around the clock plus having access to the best quality food, healthcare, jewels beyond measure, stately homes, etc kind of makes up for it in my opinion.
I really don’t believe their lives are hard so I just can’t have sympathy for them on that note. IMO, a hard life is having to work 3 jobs to put food on the table or having to sell your house to pay for lifesaving medical treatment. I just can’t feel sorry for someone who has every advantage in the world. And will for the rest of their lives. And whose children and children’s children (and on and on) will also be set for life…all due to an accident of birth or through marriage.
I did think that the pictures of them being silly when making those handprints were cute and so in some sense I do think that they are “in love” (whatever that means, right, Charles?). However, I also think that lots of people can convince themselves that they are in love with someone if the circumstances are right (hence the long-running Bachelor/ette franchises). I think in some sense Kate is in love with William’s position and Wills is in love with Kate because she was the only one who wanted to marry into his family (weren’t there several other bluebloods who turned him down?).
I also find it really disappointing that Kate just wants to be a stay at home wife and/or needs more time to figure out her role or what charities to get involved with. But I guess going by her life since graduating Uni, I shouldn’t be surprised.
@inthekitchen: Wait a tick, so what does that say about the millions of men and women in North America that are stay-at-home spouses/parents if you find it disappointing Catherine just wants to be a stay at home spouse?
@JulieM: I think Charles was willing to not faff around with Camilla if Diana hadn’t cracked up. We all have read the books. How the Firm basically made Diana do the charities round and have her go with Charles on all those trips where she eclipsed him so he ended up resenting her and went back to Camilla because Camilla gave him what Diana wouldn’t or couldn’t, to take a back seat to him. So the Firm did have a big hand in dividing Charles and Diana, and because she wasn’t getting any attention from Charles nor any help from the Queen Mum or the Queen herself, what was she to do for attention? She threw herself down stairs, starved herself, and made sure she got all the attention on the tours and charity stops. And also she was no saint, she had affairs with plenty of men too. But for the first couple of years of their marriage they did seem to have it good then it all went pear-shaped thanks to the Firm and her desparate need for attention. So by letting William and Catherine just not do anything for a few months if not a couple of years the is hope for them.
William and Catherine are incredibly lucky and I think they know it. There is a reason all those women (Arabella, Jecca, Rose, Olivia, Isabella, etc.) did not want to marry William (and probably that’s why William invited them to his wedding to say, hah, look what you’ve missed out on), they did not want the fishbowl and restrictive life of a Royal. Although who is to stop them from becoming a mistress or two of William and Catherine wants to prevent that so she’s going to do everything she can to take a backseat to her husband and to be there for him. It does make me wonder if Diana had done things differently if Charles might have not gone back to Camilla, but anyway.
William and Catherine will do what is expected of them soon, just not right now. I would rather they take off and just disappear for a couple years than to have them go down the same path Charles and Diana did just because they have “royal duties,” the “non-royals” think they are lazy and should be doing something, and the expectations they should be working with hundreds of charities by now.
As for what charities for Catherine to get involved with, I think we got one already as reported by People magazine. Remember first of all Catherine is a military spouse. Catherine wants to do what was done on her last day in LA–that military job fair, care packages, etc. She wants to set up the same kind of organization in Great Britain for military spouses and families because apparently they don’t have such a thing (and neither does Canada as far as I know). Isn’t that good enough for anyone???
@eternalcanadian, I have absolutey nothing against stay at home parents…my sister-in-law is one and my niece has turned out to be THE most amazing child on the planet (I’m a bit biased 😉 ) and I credit a lot of that to her. I do though have slightly negative thoughts about a stay at home spouse (if there are no children) because…why is that necessary? So one adult can wait on another adult? Or plan all their energy and life around the other spouse? From what I’ve read she just wants to “support her husband.” So I guess I imagine her spending her entire day or most of her day thinking about ways to make William happy and fulfilled or looking good for him or worrying about his needs. That just rubs me the wrong way.
I understand that there are tons of rich (mostly) women who are stay at home pampered housewives but I guess I think that’s sort of a waste of a life. I know that she has to sort through charity apps or learn about life as an official royal, but I seriously don’t know/understand what she would do all day. Wake up, eat breakfast, shower, do “work,” exercise for several hours, shower again, slap on the eyeliner for Wills, cook dinner…I mean, I just don’t find that a good use of a brain for someone who is going to be the future queen of England (or any country).
I guess that’s the difference for me with Kate is that she is in such an influential position and could use her power as a royal to do so much good in the world by supporting different charities or causes that need funding and support. As of right now the only thing I feel she is supporting is the fashion industry. IMO, that’s just not enough for someone in her position…
I’m definitely not saying that I think she/they should be involved with hundred of charities by now, and I would hate for her to be thrown to the wolves by the Firm like Diana was. But I think it wouldn’t be too much to ask if she picked 2 or 3 charities (I agree that military spouses/children would be a perfect one for her seeing as how William and even Harry are in service) and started doing some work for them every other week or something. I mean, think of the attention she would bring if she advocated that communities should get together and organize those care package drives or if she did some fundraising to refit houses for injured returning vets, etc. She could do all that in, I dunno, 10-12 hours per month? Is that really such a burden? I just don’t see why she would need to wait several years to start doing that…especially if, as reported, they are going to wait at least a year to start a family.
Look. She’s a vapid lazy woman. That’s just the way she is and that’s how Wills likes his women. Just accept her for being that way and don’t be surprised if she never really amounts to anything other than a revolving fashion mannequin. There are plenty of women who are like that and plenty of men who like those kinds of women. We all wish she was a better princess that we can wax on about, but she is what she is and I don’t see her changing any time soon.
EternalCanadian…thanks for saying it so clearly. We all have our own lives and difficulties and expectations. The reality is she is a royal wife. She isn’t inclined to work 9-5. How many royal wives do? I know lots of middle-class american wives who do not work, and I don’t think they’re lazy in the LEAST. Catherine has chosen to be a royal life to live with the man she loves. I for one hope that they are happy, and that they spend their lives doing what we all try to do – make a positive difference in the world and on those around them. Why does it matter how they get there, as long as that is their goal?
@Hanh – LOL. Thanks for the laugh, I guess you’re right. Not sure why I’m wishing for more from her.
luls – Look up Princess Anne’s body of work and tell me again that it’s not important for a royal to have interests outside of being arm candy, or to work hard as royals. Also look up Prince Charles. Many royals just don’t pose and smile and wear pretty clothes. Many of them actually work hard. For other royals, the clothes are the pluses, not the charities and jobs. It seems that for you, royals exist like they are in fairy tales. All they have to do is look good and that’s enough. Fortunately, many taxpayers are not as delusional and naive, and actually demand that their royals earn the money the taxpayers provide for them.
Take for example, the Spanish Royal family. They are one of the most hardworking royal families out there. The King and Queen each have more than 300 events each year, and they’re already in their 70s. Their son, the Prince of Asturias, and his wife each have more than 200 official events in a year. All of them have their own interests and groups they support, like theater/music/arts, culture, science, education, childhood diseases, military, etc. They go to a wide variety of events ranging from schools, museums, factories, Churches, and media stations. They have the Prince of Asturias Awards which is like a lesser Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
This “royals’s only job is to look good and be glamorous” perspective, IMO, is bullshit. Royals need to come into the modern, 21st century and start working hard in order to remain in the public’s good side. Being a fashionista, wearing expensive jewels, posing and smiling are not enough anymore.
Unlike Kate, many current European future Queens who are also commoners had careers before their marriages to Princes. Many of them started working right after their engagement was announced, and have carved their own profiles separate from their husbands since becoming Princesses.
I don’t expect Kate to be a superhero in terms of working, but I do expect her to take in more work. Right now she does a good job of waving and smiling, but time will tell if she can keep the schedule of a busy royal, especially when she becomes Princess of Wales. I don’t think she will take off the next two years completely, but IMO she doesn’t seem like someone who has any interest in working or any interest in anything. She seems so boring with no personality of her own, no spark. She’s never shown herself to be ambitious in terms of having her own career or pursuing her own activities outside of William that it’s difficult to imagine her developing a passion for working now that she’s a royal.
Princess Letizia of Spain had the same introduction to royal life as Kate: She didn’t have many events of her own and was mainly there to support her husband, Prince Felipe. But the difference here is that while Letizia used to only accompany Prince Felipe, she still worked a steady schedule of 18-20 events per month right after their wedding. She also started with a couple of events all on her own, and then her workload increased year by year until she’s attending many events on her own, giving speeches, handing out awards, visiting other countries by herself representing Spain. I think Kate will have the same routine, but it remains to be seen if she can keep up with the schedule of a busy royal.
I’m almost afraid of people saying, “She’s under a lot of stress. Traveling for 11 days is so exhausting. That must be why she’s losing weight.” Princess Letizia of Spain had more than 200 official functions last year all by herself, some of them in 2 different cities in Spain on the same day, meeting more than 100 people a day. And she’s thinner than Kate but has been able to keep up her workload without falling sick due to stress and exhaustion, not even once.
If Kate is easily exhausted after 11 days of “working”, how would she fare if she has to perform the same amount of duties that Letizia has EVERY YEAR, and still remain interested in the people she meets? Letizia has always had a very, very strong work ethic being an award-winning journalist.
On the other hand, Kate, who has done nothing in 9 years, have nothing to draw her experiences from. Someone who has worked year-round would see an 11-day work and then off to holidays as a good thing. Someone who hasn’t done anything in 9 years would see that as a heavy and stressful chore. I can imagine how stressful it must be for Kate not because the tour was a lot of traveling, but because she’s incredibly inexperienced. She’s always stayed in that protective bubble of hers, and I think it might hinder her a little bit in terms of being able to connect with people.
I do hope William supports her as much as he can and helps her ease into royal life.
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