I’m not sure if this Daily Mail story is true or not. I’m not sure if the story is weird or… completely reasonable, maybe? So, Duchess Kate and Prince William are basically homeless right now, unless you count their renovated cottage in Wales or their current apartment in Kensington Palace. Their big KP apartment is still being renovated, as is their new country home Anmer Hall, and both properties will likely be still in a state of renovation when Kate and Will’s baby is born. So where will the royal baby spend his or her first weeks? According to the Mail, Kate is telling people she’s going to move in with her parents for about six weeks. Um…? As I said, I’ve got mixed reactions…
The Duchess of Cambridge is to move back in with her mother when her baby is born. In a break with royal tradition, Kate, 31, will not employ a maternity nurse after the July birth. Instead, she has told friends, she will live with her parents for at least the first six weeks after leaving hospital. The decision means a future monarch will be starting life in a commoner’s home in Berkshire rather than in the splendour of a royal residence.
Kate says she ‘just feels safest and most secure’ with her family and believes that no one could be better placed to teach her about bringing up a baby than her mother, who has three children of her own. She will particularly need her advice and moral support when Prince William returns to work as a helicopter pilot after taking his paternity leave.
It also solves the niggling problem of where the newborn third-in-line to the throne will live for the first few weeks of his or her life. Sources have confirmed that William and Kate’s plans to move into a new apartment in Kensington Palace in time for the birth have hit a huge stumbling block. This follows the discovery of asbestos – which has to be cleared before the couple themselves, let alone a new-born child, can set foot inside.
Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, recently bought a £4.85million Georgian manor in rural Berkshire with plenty of space for their first grandchild to run around. A recent visitor said Carole, who is ‘over the moon’ at the prospect of being a grandmother, is busy overseeing the redecoration of the house – including the installation of a new kitchen and ‘nursery-style’ room.
‘Carole fully intends to be part of this baby’s life and Catherine, for her part, plans to spend a lot of time with her parents, especially while she is waiting for the new apartment to be completed,’ they said. ‘And surely it is no bad thing this little prince or princess is given a taste of life outside of the Royal Family?’
At the moment, Kate and William are shuttling between their rented farmhouse in Anglesey, where William is based as a Search and Rescue pilot with the RAF, and Nottingham Cottage, a relatively modest two-up, two-down in the grounds of Kensington Palace. They had hoped to move into their new home, the 57-room Apartment 1A – well before the arrival of their first child. But, according to one well-placed source, Kate conceived almost as soon as they started trying for a baby following their official tour to the South Pacific last year, meaning it has become a race against time to get their new home ready.
This week, however, the source said their scaffold-covered apartment is still ‘virtually uninhabitable’. Aides confirmed the apartment was unlikely to be ready until at least September or October, meaning the new third-in-line to the throne will endure something of a peripatetic existence for the first few months of their young life.
Prince William was born in the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, where Kate is also widely expected to give birth. Afterwards he was taken home by Charles and Diana to their apartment at Kensington Palace. Diana employed a paediatric nurse, Anna Wallace, to help her with William for the first month, after which a nanny, Barbara Barnes, moved in.
On one side, I think it’s completely reasonable for Kate to want to have her mom around. Kate will be a first-time mom and when you think about, she probably has next to no experience with babies or children. So, on the sheer “Kate wants her mom” issue, I get it and I think it’s totally normal. But I think it’s weird that Kate wants to move in with her parents right after giving birth, right? Why can’t Carole come and stay with Kate and Will in Wales? Is William even going to spend time with his newborn son or daughter in those first months? Is it just going to be Kate and the baby living with the Middletons? And will William even return to the RAF after his “paternity leave” (cough)? Is it going to be a situation where William and Kate both move in with the Middletons until their Kensington Palace apartment is completed?
Also, I think there’s some kind of shell game going on with the staffing issue, as there has been from the start. Remember when Will and Kate made such a big deal (two years ago) about how they were barely going to have any staff? And over the past two years, we’ve found out that they do have quite an extensive staff, but their staffers are being paid by the Prince of Wales so really the staffers “belong” to Charles? I feel like we’re going to be getting a lot of that again when people start asking questions about nannies and baby-nurses. The first stories will be about how “modern couple” Will and Kate are just raising the baby on their own, with no help. Then months later we’ll learn that Charles paid for three full-time nannies, a baby-nurse PLUS Carole was looking after the baby.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
I’ll admit that when I saw the headline in the DM, it struck me as odd, especially the tone. It sounds ominous – more than it probably is.
Maybe it’s just sloppy reporting, but the PR-correct way to put it would be along the lines of “the new parents will be spending a lot of time with the Middletons”, or the Middletons (Ma and Pa – it’s not fair to separate them – could move in with the young couple.
Also, the whole renovation thing is just weird. Just how much renovation do those grand palaces need? It’s not like they’ve been poorly maintained. And both palaces at the same time?
Besides, why not renovate the living quarters first? If then there is some more renovation going on, in other parts of the palaces, I am sure it wouldn’t be insufferable – no more than living in a city, with all its noises.
I don’t know. It’s just odd. Certainly very carelessly handled PR.
But, like I said, it’s probably sloppy – or even malicious – reporting.
It’s either that, or something very fishy could be going on. As in, the young couple and/or their extended families may not be getting along very well.
Asbestos was discovered during the renovation, hence the delay with them moving into the new wing of the Palace.
Right, I forgot about that. Thank you, Mika.
I still think there’s something fishy – after all, they do have more than one housing option (and I don’t mean the Middletons) – but at least the asbestos thing makes sense.
KP has asbestos just like Kate had HG. The story about Kate moving in with her Mom comes right on the heels of the asbestos story. They have been doing renovations for how many months and its just now discovered!?! Give me a break.
It was stated in 2011 that “Large amounts of asbestos need to be removed and repairs must be carried out on the heating and hot water systems, as well as electrical wiring, before William and Catherine can move in” so this isn’t new news but it would have been removed at the start of the overhaul, over a year ago. It’s interesting that they are using it as a reason for Kate living with her mother, why not just say Kate wants to live with her parents for a couple of months after the baby is born instead of making up some bogus reason.
It’s more likely that the renovations are taking so long because Kate specifically wanted all the wood panel walls that Princess Margaret had installed ripped out of over a dozen rooms and the palace is just using asbestos as the excuse for the time delay and extra cost. A 57 room apartment, no wonder its taking longer than expected and who on earth calls a 57 room mansion an apartment anyway?
Kate has had a normal, loving childhood. A Capricorn is typically close to family. Staying with her parents and taking things quietly with a newborn is a great idea. That first baby is wondrous and if she wants the first six weeks to be personal and private, then good for her.
Fishy? It’s weird you think this is fishy.
I don’t think Kate needs any excuse to live with her mom for a while. Perfectly normal in many cultures. I don’t know if this is so in the English culture.
Her parent’s house is probably quite regal compared to their previous home where Kate grew up in.
Like I said (more than once), it’s not that Catherine’s wish is in any way “fishy”. Of course not, it’s perfectly natural and it may do her (and the baby) a world of good.
But the FACT is the royal family relies on its public image, in which ordinary human needs are relegated to a secondary role, so this decision, which involved a future monarch (not that I personally believe s/he will ever become one), is, at the very least, highly unusual – again, not for “commoners” (which, judging by the comments in the DM, people think is a dirty word or somehow associated with money, but it isn’t), but certainly for the RF.
That’s all.
While its not uncommon for a new mum to have their own mother help out after their first child (or second or third), somehow Kate moving in with Carole for 6 weeks seems a bit much… What’s wrong with their current residence at Kensington? And their current residence in wales? Why can’t Carole go to Kate for two or so weeks??
Even better, why can’t Kate just leave the child with Grandma Liz for the first 18 years or so?
That way the kid would actually have a chance at growing up with strong work ethic and good disposition toward her/his royal duties.
Great grandma Liz. Grandfather is Charles, and what about him?
Yes, because Liz did such a great job with her kids! She may be a good queen, but she and Phil were terrible parents.
Point taken. Liz was kind of a lousy mom; but in my opinion, not-so-great moms can make the best great-grandmas ever (maybe she learnt from her mistakes).
Yep. I would want to have my mom around, but not non-stop for 6 weeks! Plus I’d want to spend time just with my husband and baby as a new family. Seems a bit over the top, but her choice. Life in the palace just on your own is probably not that funny.
I’ll never forget how Charles got the world used to Camilla. First he said they would never get married, just be a couple. Then they got married and he said she would never become queen. And then there was a quote where he said she could totally become queen one day. That’s the way they play people I guess.
When Diana spoke aboutnher life in Kensington, it did not sound very home-like. The palace employees sounded… Well not like living in an actual home. I do not blame her at all for wanting to be with her parents for a few weeks. I know some women have or want to be on their own, or just nurses, but if she has a doting mom- grandma, why not? Especially if her husband is supporting.
Loira – It all depends on POV. The Kents, The Gloucesters and The Snowdens all grew up at KP and have wonderful memories of it and it’s employees. Diana never had a chance to create a warm family environment for herself, nor did she have a huge circle of friends. She was a single woman living alone. That is always lonely whether you live in a bedsit or a Palace.
Also, anything Diana wrote/said about her relationships with people has to be filtered through the lens of her enormous neediness as a result of a growing up in a broken home.
The comments on the Daily Fail are priceless! The idea of a 4.85 million Pound mansion as `common` seems to repel a lot of readers, as it should. Also, the idea that she is moving *back* in with her parents… when did she leave?
I wonder about the journalism reporting on Will and Kate. The reporters know that most of these stories are crap, right? Kate doesn’t work, Will is lazy, their PR people lie all day long about everything, etc. What has to happen before someone prints the truth? Really, what will it take? Because I’m certain that day is coming, I just don’t know when. Will and Kate must know it too, right? They can’t think they can just lie forever and ever and get by with it. Mind they don’t seem to be long term thinkers given the state of their decision making thus far.
My point exactly. A ‘£4.85million Georgian manor in rural Berkshire’ hardly sounds common, does it? Luxury is luxury, titled or not.
The term ‘commoner’ refers to everyone without a peerage title in their own right. From that perspective Princess Anne and Prince Harry are commoners despite their status as much as you and I are commoners. The term ‘common’ has a different meaning from ‘commoner’. To be described as common is to refer to one as trashy. To be described as commoner is to point to one’s lack of a title.
So a different meaning is attached to the following sentences; they are millionaire commoners vs they are common millionaires.
DM is correct in it’s headline, but it rubs people the wrong way because people don’t remember or realise the distinction.
What LAK said.
I guess I’m more used to the terminology since I knew they were talking about their lack of title and not that they were common in a bad way.
Yes LAK. I understood that, even though initially I scoffed at the comment. Then later I said oh yeah right, that type if commoner. Many if us commoners however have trouble understanding such things.
I wish I had such a commoner home though.
🙂
You know, of all the crap that Kate pulls, this is the sort of thing that least concerns me. She is super close with her family, all the more so because she got rid of all of her friends while she was waiting on William to put a ring on it. And good for her. She should be close with her family, and the child should be exposed to his or her other family growing up. People can say this is Carole putting her hooks in and what have you,
but I don’t blame Kate for wanting to be with her mom, especially with her first child. There’s a steep learning curve for new parents and especially for someone as work shy as Kate, a newborn is going to be rough for someone not used to putting in long hours. Good on her for being practical. For once.
I know. Absolutely! I mean, I can certainly understand why that would be a good idea, from her point of view (and probably the baby’s, too).
But the fact remains that it LOOKS like a slap in the face of the Royal family (again, from the PR point of view). It implies that the Royal household somehow isn’t equipped properly to take care of her and baby’s needs.
Personally, I have no dog in this race. I am no Royalist nor am I a Middleton fan (though I don’t begrudge them their financial success, and I think it’s endearing how loving they are as a family).
But from the PR point of view it’s something of a disaster in the making.
Like I said before, it’s probably not even true; or it’s sloppy – or malicious – reporting.
Speaking of which… the current “Uncle G” interview is another PR faux-pas.
It IS a slap in the face to the RF. This child will be 3rd in line for the throne, his grandfather is the Prince of Wales and his great grandmother is the Queen.
I totally get why Kate would want her mom to help out when the baby’s born, but they have a place at KP, plus the “cottage” in Wales, plus a place in Scotland. Plus Anmer Hall, which despite allegations to the contrary, is not a wreck, some guy was renting it. They’re just adding some stuff for “privacy”. So they should cut the crap on that.
I think Kate and the RF do not get along, despite what you read.
Yes, exactly, Bluhare.
It will be interesting to see how they mend the awkward message this odd gesture seems to be conveying.
(Currently, my money is on their denial that Catherine ever had such plans, that it was all incorrect reporting or just plain gossip.
If they don’t deny it… Then it gets really interesting.)
I think it’s great that the baby will spend its first weeks (months or years) living the life as a commoner. One should always start as they mean to go on. After all, the monarchy will probably fall to its knees under the stewardship of Doolittle and Do-Less.
Now…one might say the decision to bring the baby back to the Middleton liar is a straight-forward decision, i.e. a new clueless mom/dad wanting the warm loving support of family. However, is a more subtle message being sent . . .one that says “this baby is more a Middleton than it is a Wales, etc.” I don’t think the Middleton takeover of the monarchy will play well overtime. I’m cynical.
If Kate (I’m sorry, Catherine) was going to do something like this, then she should have done more charity work around mothers and infants and issues pertaining to the two. She would have more of a positive PR bump.
Please re-post, part of your message was cut off. Don’t leave us hanging!!!!
Or perhaps Will has been somehow slipping the leash and this move back home to “family” is an emotional / psychological jerk on the choke chain. I say this because it’s always been my contention that part of William’s attraction to Catherine was the attractiveness of an intact functionally supportive family–which she has and he probably yearned for. Diana was probably a good mother but she was emotionally damaged (before she married Prince Charles) and Prince Charles was probably a good and decent dad (yet molded and cut from the clothes crom which he comes).
So many questions…..
where will William live?
Is their scottish ‘cottage’ not up and running yet?
Who will be minding the baby when Carole is burping Kate?
Is the extra security going to be paid by taxpayers or The Middletons
Is this a not so subtle way of finally coming clean about their living arrangements?
What happens when this trial balloon fails as so many others have in the past.
When will they stop teasing us with intentions as opposed to actions.
Royal CBs, help. Answers on a postcard to Bucklebury Palace, England.
Dear Bucklebury Palace,
1. William’s in Wales with his side piece.
2. The Scotland place isn’t up to Carole’s exacting standards.
3. The baby will burp itself or explode.
4. HAHAHAHA!! Not even a question.
5. Kate hasn’t hidden she’s never with William, so no.
6. Of course it is. Carole really wants to move into KP, and since the first one failed, this is rolled out to make the first one look more palatable.
7. Because there’s suckers born every minute.
Sincerely,
Archbaroness bluhare
Had a good laugh at Carole burping Kate :D. And wtf, dies Carole actually want to move into KP!? Terrible if true. I hope the RF NEVER allows that to happen.
HAHAHAHAHA!!! You are trying to kill me? I choked on my coffee reading this.
Wow, I’m so naive. I was expecting Will to cheat on her after the baby turned 2 or something, not this soon. And even then I was secretly hoping he would be better than that. Who is his side piece? Anyone have ideas?
Tulip: The side piece is my invention. But it wouldn’t surprise me. Doesn’t matter if he cheats heir wise; illegitimate children aren’t in line for the throne.
But it does matter if Kate does. Maybe that’s why she’s racing to get done with the heir/spare thing. 😉
Is it a fact? Haven’t heard of it before, but that doesn’t say much 😉
Everyone: It is not a fact. I have never heard of William having a side piece while married to Kate. Not married to Kate, yes; married, no. I was just answering LAK’s cheeky post.
Well, Will IS the king in training, and he is in the armed forces…that’s a job, isn’t it? This is just the way the royals operate The Firm. They’ve never conducted things like an average family. FFS, bugger off to Wales when the heir s born, take mum with you, bond with the kid, spend quality time as a family and just get on with it. Gawd knows, it’s a lot easier than most of your minions have it.
Who will be minding the baby while Carole is burping Kate?! That’s genius!!
I am rubbed the wrong way by the Middletons. I don’t find them appealing in the least. To be fair, I’m not over-struck on the royals either…except for Harry. And a soft spot for the queen.
She’s 31 years old for God’s sake!! It’s time to grow up Kate. It’s understandable that she would have a team of minions to do all the menial tasks such as diaper changing, but moving in with her parents??? Priceless.
“Commoners?” In a multi-million dollar home? Give me a break!
Where does kate stay at the moment when in london?
KP
My dear LAK,
How is it possible she’s staying at KP when KP is filled with dangerous asbestos? She wouldn’t be staying there now when it’s not a healthy environment. Surely you are mistaken in your statement. Surely…
@Original mia, If only logic was always used in these things……
@ The Original Mia. Let’s use the term “they” loosely, since William and Kate Middleton don’t appear to live together much at any time. *They* have Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. I think they’ve had this home since just after they married.
Nott Cott is on two floors and has 2 bedrooms, a small yard, and 2-4 receiving rooms. KM and the baby could stay there, and Carole M could stay in the Middleton flat that is roughly 1.5 miles away. This way, no extra security would be needed to secure a completely unrelated house in Berkshire 24 hours a day for 6 weeks. A house that does NOT belong to the royal family so taxpayer funds should not be used for security upgrades and staff to secure that property. William can spend part of his $30+ million inheritance on that if he wants.
How is a two storey, 2 bedroom house secure on Palace grounds not an acceptable option for anyone but the absolutely most spoiled? And why do a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man not want to have solo time bonding with their child?
@My2Pence, you are absolutely correct. I should have used her/she because Wills stays somewhere else for most of the marriage. Nott Cott sounds fine to me, but then I’m a lowly hater who’s just jellus of what she’s got.
I’m sure Wills is going to foot the bill for his family’s safety at Midds Palace. Surely, he wouldn’t put that expense on the taxpayers. Surely…
….So her mom can do all the babysitting. Or at least, thats what her own reputation leads everyone to assume at this point. Lazy, lazy, lazy.
Gosh the photo of Carole looks soooo much like Pippa! What with the same bad eye makeup and all…
Why not? The Middleton-baby should learn to live a normal (haha rich) life. I don´t think this baby will ever become The King/ Queen.
William could become 90 years old. Then, baby Middleton will be 60 years old. Lots of time…
AND i don´t think there will be a monarchy in 60 years for baby Middleton… think about it, an aristo/royal-system in the year 2073!? Noooo way!
The current Queen is/ was perfect, she´s an institution, but she represents the “Old, Great Times”… Britannia…. another century!
Maybe Charles will be the last one…
I’ve never been in on anything about the royalty or the family, but I’m always confused. I thought ‘who is what’ & ‘what they’ll become’ depended on a relatively simple scale.
If Charles becomes king…& passes, then his elder son will become king…Until he passes, where their child would become king/queen.
Is that how it works? Or is there more complications involved? xD
Hakura: yes, that’s how it works. The coming baby would, in time, become the king or the queen, no matter what… that is, if the monarchy is still alive and kicking at the time – which I personally doubt.
@Mel – Thank you for the info/reply =) Admittedly I sometimes feel like I’m invisible for the most part, here on CB, since people rarely reply unless I’ve asked a ‘straight out’ question. I appreciate it n_n
I forgot to include Harry in my list. Would he take the position first, after Will (if that ever happened, I mean)? In which case, what if Harry were to have children? Would it end up based on seniority when it came down to it?
xD I’ve always wondered, but don’t ever see much explanation.
@whoever – What does the royal family even do, anymore?
Hakura, totally get the invisible thing. I felt/feel that way too.
If William dies with no children, Harry will move up a notch in the line of succession. If he dies with no children, and Prince Andrew is still alive, then Prince Andrew will be King and if he’s dead and Beatrice is alive, she’ll be Queen. You get the rest. It moves down the line with, until recently, women being last.
As far as what they do? The Queen is ceremonial head of state. She doesn’t govern, but she does do all those fancy state occasions and gets sent government bulletins (the famous Red Box), consults with the PM and receives heads of state.
The rest of them? Charles has created his own niche, but everyone else wings it pretty much it seems to me.
I agree with you and I’ve said it before as well. I’d be really surprised if the RF is still around in the next several decades.
“Maybe Charles will be the last one…”
If that.
The way things are going, I wouldn’t be too surprised is the monarchy expires along with the current monarch.
Certainly I don’t think William will ever be king.
Gabrielle: William may resent having been born into the role, but does he resent the privileges that come with his position in life?
I don’t know; maybe he does. I am not implying that he doesn’t.
I am just wondering how he would feel if he had to live like most Britons – not just for a day or two but day after day, for life.
And, of course, there are many many people in this world who resent their lot in life.
I should say his isn’t the worst fate that could have befallen a human being.
I also think Charles will be the last official monarch. I can’t see the people of England paying to support the royals much longer when they are basically useless at this point. In another 50 years or so all the people who think they are still necessary will be gone and so will the royals.
And I think Will would be ok with that. He’s made it really clear that he resents being born into his role. Why would they keep him around as king if he himself doesn’t even want it?
Well, it takes a village.
I know it will be Carole’s grand-child, but it feels to me like she is trying to up her profile by establishing a close bond with the future King/Queen. It goes along with angling for a title, but with all of these “breaks in royal tradition” Elizabeth may just refuse to bestow any titles; instead leaving that as something for William or the baby to do later.
I’m really tired of the “no staff” reports on Will & Kate. We all know you have them, and don’t doubt that you need them. Why protest so much that you don’t and look like liars when you’re busted? Kate isn’t your typical hands-on stay at home mom, someone’s going to need to watch the kid while she’s shopping.
This sounds like Charles will be excluded in his first grandchild’s life for the first 6 weeks, as well as the Windsors.
He was excluded in William and Kate’s Christmas and I doubt the two see/visit him regularly. The Middletons seem to be calling all the shots when it comes to Kate’s pregnancy.
Also, if the baby will be with the Middletons, does that mean the taxpayers have to pay for the security for the Middleton house? It seems excessive on top of the other houses that William and Kate have. The taxpayers didn’t sign on to support Kate’s family’s security measures although they probably are benefiting from it already.
Why can’t Carole spend time in Kensington Palace with Kate and the baby? Surely KP can accommodate whatever Kate and the baby will need?
Regarding your last two questions: the article said that asbestos was found in Kensington place. None of them should be there until that’s cleared out.
It’s pretty reasonable for Kate to be at home with her mom and family with the new baby. She’ll have support from someone she’s very comfortable with and she will be away from the asbestos and all of the work being done at Kensington Place. It’s for a pretty short amount of time, not months upon months.
They are in no danger, have never been in danger, nor will they ever be in any kind of danger from the asbestos of the wing they are moving into since their current residence is both completely detached and the other side of the compound from the building works.
Yes, but asbestos would presumably affect William, too, so he too should be moving out (and probably is or has). Why not live wherever he is living, in the company of her parents?
Or why doesn’t HE go and live with his wife and baby with the Middletons, too?
Like I said, her reasons for wanting mum around are perfectly natural and understandable.
But the fact is, the Royal family is all about public image and *appearances*.
And what this appears to be signalling is not flattering at all for the RF.
Moreover, the fact that it has been made public could mean… well, a lot of things. I don’t like to speculate, so I won’t, but it certainly conveys a very odd message.
Asbestos is only dangerous when being removed and the fumes or whatever it is gets out. Being left in place does not harm anyone, so no one’s been in danger from it. They have to have special asbestos removal companies come in to handle it. So says she who almost bought a house with asbestos in the siding. 🙂
Well, they are getting the asbestos removed, so it is harmful, bluhare.
The article says that they can’t step foot inside until the asbestos is gone. I find it perfectly reasonable for her to move until that’s done. It’s not unusual for people to be extra careful with pregnant women and newborns by keeping them away from renovations, even if just to be away from the noise and people, LAK.
William will most likely be with Kate as if he was living with her at his mother and father in law’s place, but as the article said, he’ll be returning to work, Mel. He may have other things going on that will make his stay there more of an overnight situation more than an actual “living there” situation.
All of you may be right, but I doubt that. Their arrangement for Kate and the baby is meant to solve two or three problems: to get her away from the renovations, to make sure she has support, and to make sure she has support when William goes back to work. I simply find no problem with their arrangement if it works for them — but that’s just me, apparently.
@ Trek Girl. I’m struggling to understand whether you cannot comprehend LAK’s and bluhare’s comments, or you are choosing to ignore them. The asbestos is being removed from their FUTURE home, not Nottingham Cottage which they currently live in (when/if they are ever together in London).
Nott Cott is within the Kensington Palace grounds but a completely separate building on the opposite side of the compound from their future home. There is NO DANGER to them from asbestos in the home they currently have (Nott Cott). And since all the rest of the royals who live at Kensington Palace have not been evacuated for the duration of the work, we can assume that the asbestos removal is proceeding safely for all concerned.
What people seem to be ignoring is the massive unnecessary security costs that moving to Berkshire for 6 weeks will cause. If she wants to “be with Mummy” for 6 weeks, have mummy move into the already-secured 5 bedroom mansion in Wales and all four of them can live there together without getting photographed.
Oh wait, I forgot, these are the folks who LOVE being photographed! The Midds have probably already started setting up the schedule with Ikon Photos for the exclusives of Kate and Mummy pushing the baby in a pram around Berkshire.
@Trek girl: what my2pence said.
If you can’t understand our description of KP and just how far from the building site Nottingham cottage is, I suggest you go to the DM website and search for KP palace image. They have helpfully laid it out visually so you can see that the wing being renovated is completely away from where they are, and is on the far opposite end of the Palace separated from their side of the palace by a series of other wings.
Agree re Charles, Sachi. I hope William is going to give his father some time with HIS first grandchild too.
No. The Queen of England and her direct heir, Prince Charles, and all the royals will simply have to go to Carole’s to meet/visit the baby. Oooh. Maybe they can play Twister or Monopoly while there!!! Wouldn’t that be fun?
Dena – Do you think the Queen will need a herald to announce her? 😉
@LAK – with the same pomp and circumstance used when the Queen opens Parliment—with the slamming of the door and everything!!! The next couple of years will be fun to watch.
She who holds the royal baby holds all the power. Will Middleton and all the rest of them had better recognize (d*mmit!)
Totally off subject but I hope the baby has sausage curls (Hehehehehe). Okay. Okay. Enough from me. Tomorrow is Monday and I need to get ready to re-enter the rat race.
Dena: But then HM and the DOE wouldn’t be able to do their spot on impersonation of the Middletons! The Queen is supposed to be a good mimic.
true…. reading the comments here made me think about how it all DOES seem to be just an uppity family who wants the catches and benefits of being connected to the royals somehow. Odd, just odd…
I see no problem with this and I do not find it odd. I think this is sweet and practical. Besides, this is only for about six weeks, so even if it was odd in some way, it wouldn’t be odd for long.
Lazy wimps.
I have first hand experience.. My daughter came to my home with both babies. It wasn’t up for debate? She & hubby wanted that & i was thrilled. My guess it Kate feels the same way. 6wks seems a little long? My guess it will be a week or less, until she is back on her feet. That is what we did? Kate will want for nothing, but there is no substitute for Mom. There is such a sense of comfort in that & really gets mom & baby off to a better & calmer start.. Just my 2¢ worth.
Can’t blame her if it’s true. I have a 3 week old daughter and wish I was closer to my family so I had more help.
I completely agree. My mom was so helpful the first few weeks after my daughter was born. My baby had her days and nights mixed up and grandma was able to help keep her awake a bit longer while I got much needed sleep. Breastfeeding is great for the babies, but, for my kids at least, they ate every 2-3hrs and it was exhausting. Definitely worth it but still…ZZZZzzzz.
You seem to forget that these two will have several nannies to do all of the dirty work. William and kate will be there for show, nothing more.
First off, I highly doubt the little prince or princess will remember the first 6 weeks of his/her life, be it spent as a “commoner” or as a “royal.” (There really isn’t a “bitch, please!” big enough to cover that nonsensical statement!)
Secondly, I guess I’m just special, because I managed to have all three of my children, bring them home, AND care for them without my mother or mother-in-law. Colour me odd, I guess.
With my youngest, Hubs and I both had the luxury of being able to stay at home with him, and I really enjoyed just sharing that wonderful, exhausting, amazingly sweet time with him.
I had no family around to help me with my daughter. My mom came out for a week and I was miserable when she left. Collicky screaming baby and me totally inexperienced with babies. Good for Kate. Smart move.
One question: What do they need FIFTY SEVEN ROOMS for???????
And most importantly: How many closets are there, and how can they call it “an apartment” when it has 57 rooms?!?
When I see photos of Duchess Duckface, I cringe. Chicka needs to get a stylist. She always looks so damn plain.
Truth is Kate and William have never really lived together, the British Press in their efforts to promote some fairytale just keep it on the downlow.
Kate has been living mostly with her parents since even before the engagement, after the engagement and after the wedding. She would just go to Wales cottage when William phoned her that he’d have a few days off and to meet him there. Remember she was staying at her parents when she came down with HG and William was spending the weekend at a friends Estate for a weekend party, without Kate. She was not there with him, she stayed at her parents.
The British press will never tell the full truth about this relationship until in a few years, separation papers are being filed by a royal lawyer.
I don’t believe this marriage will last, I also don’t believe PW is really into Kate much anymore, all of what he did was for image and because he was too wimpy to dump her.
Mark my word, in a few more years we’ll hear rumours of separation coming. The problem is Kate has had her ass kissed by the press and pampered by her mummy for over the past decade that when she entered the Royal House as a bride and had to take orders from Courtiers who ask for some type of discipline and order, she just CAN’T do it. In my opinion, she’s running home because she can’t handle royal life or being with the royal family, because they WON’T kiss her ass and tell her she’s special.
Maybe she can set up her own court in the Middleton house and just do royal duties from there. Willia is such a wimp he might just go for it.
That’s an interesting take. Hadn’t thought about Kate not being able being told what to do by people other than William.
Sorry, I can’t edit my posts right now, and should have said that I’m surprised she can’t deal with being told what to do by The Suits. I mean, she wanted to be in the RF and that’s what they do!
I had a friend who moved in with her husband to her parents really small apartment and had them and her sisters help out.
Until I became a mom, I thought that was odd.
I wish I had some help myself.
Having your close family members help out and enable you to sleep when you are exhausted, take care of your ability to eat, drink and bath, is actually wonderful.
Much better than any hired help and having strangers around you and in your house when you struggle through trying to breastfeed or just incredibly tired.
I would trust my mom and sisters much more than any expensive night nurse to wake up and take care of my child, and I would want to be around my closest family members when I’m in comprmising positions and people I can trust.
No army of nannies can compare to that.
Plus, that will help her not to suffer through annoying visitors when she wants to sleep or rest.
Her parents will say that she is now sleeping at long last, while I don’t know how much would anybody would make sure no one interrupts her rest when she is not at her parents’ home.
Kate essentially lives in a 5-star hotel. That’s the level of service or better that she receives with the Household staff.
Parents come with love and compassion, but they will not cater to your every whim no matter how ridiculous as Household staff would.
Why not begin life with the new baby in Wales, where they presumably live happily and privately? That child will (potentially) one day be either the Prince or Princess of Wales. What a great PR start for the heir to the heir to the heir! They could stay in their 5 bedroom “cottage” on the private beach being cared for by the 4 full-time staff. And Carole could move in to help.
What this “moving in with Mummy for 6 weeks” seems to highlight is the fact that they don’t really live in Wales. That was a fake PR push, but Kate has been seen too often in London for the past two years for anyone to believe the “simple Welsh housewife” routine.
Kate was papped in Wales a couple of weeks ago as a PR exercise, but otherwise hadn’t been spotted there in months. William appears to be at work so rarely that there is proof he hasn’t met his flying hours requirements.
IF folks want to argue that they really have been living full-time in Wales, it is just that everyone on Anglesey honors their privacy, etc.? That would seem to be all the more reason the first six weeks should be spent there away from our prying eyes.
Why Wales and not their true home in Mystique (sp)? They spend as much time there as they do anywhere.
I wonder why they are not going back to Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace with the baby?
Is anyone else trying to read into the phrase “safest and most secure?” I’m assuming it’s not literal because what place in Britain could feel more safe than any of the Royal Palaces? State of the are security systems, full security detail, etc. Her privacy would be guaranteed. So, “safest and most secure,” should likely be read as “comfortable and most at home.” Which in one way is completely understandable as the RF is in no way the easiest family, but on the other hand, these are your future homes, and more importantly, you and your child’s future roles. At this point, there is no more easing into her role/responsiblities. She just has to take the plunge. To try and keep one foot in her old life and one foot in her new one seems like it would make the transition harder.
It certainly sounds reasonable for her to want her parents nearby when she has her child. Though the fact that this is being made into a big deal seems to imply that there’s something that the sources know something about W&K’s relationship and their relationship with the rest of the families that the general public doesn’t.
It’s ok to have extra help when a baby is born. And if you didn’t, then congrats to you but it doesn’t make you Superwoman either. My grandmother came down and helped my mom for a week after I was born (I was the first). She also came down for a week when my sister was born but said she couldn’t come to the hospital when my mom was in labor because she was hosting a bridge game (I guess she figured my mom had pushed one out successfully, she didn’t have to worry so much about the second!). Six weeks does seem a little long to move in with your parents and newborn but at this point I don’t really care what William and Kate do. I just hope they raise a well-adjusted kid. Which is all relative for a royal family.
This seems like a no-brainer to me. You have a close family you love who builds a new nursery and kitchen to welcome the new mother with open arms vs. historically the worst family situation ever – no love, nurturing, attention or closeness.
The royal family have duties and lives of their own and can’t take time out to kiss up to Kate. She has to learn to stand on her own two feet as a royal wife and mother and there will be staff to do the ‘icky’ stuff for her.
the palaces are completely secure and teh reason the palaces are so large is to enable the royals to have plenty of space and avoid disrupting the lives and routines and such of the ‘commoners.’
As far as I can see, the chances of royal security disrupting the lives of the people of Berkshire is high and Kate is just making things difficult for everyone. Little chance that there will be ‘normalcy’ for the villagers while Kate get spoiled by her mother.
It’s not right that Kate ends up getting it both ways and the taxpayer has to pay for it with their money and put up with having their lives disrupted because of the security boundaries that have to be set up to provide good protection.
Why do these two always have to choose the Most Expensive Option for the taxpayers?
1) Honeymoon
A. Charles and Diana honeymooned at Balmoral. Their later “honeymoon cruise” was a royal tour filled with events and appearances.
B. William and Kate flew off to the Seychelles with 8-10 of their closest friends for their “romantic honeymoon.” Why didn’t this odd couple want to be alone on their honeymoon? Estimated extra $500,000 in security costs foisted off on the taxpayers.
2) Anglesey housing
They could live on the secured base in married officer housing, but no, they had to rent a 5-bedroom home on a private beach. Estimated extra security costs – $1 million in security upgrades rumored to a RENTAL property plus the 4 full-time staff tending to the house and all of the royal protection officers 24/7.
3) Kensington Palace
Instead of the original choice, they had to demand Princess Margaret’s 57 room mansion, which was already in use by a charity. So they stole that from the charity and millions are being sunk into the refurbishment plus costs to reimburse the charity for booting them.
4) Post-baby
A. They could live in the already-secured Angelsey property OR in the secure 6-room Nottingham Cottage
B. They choose to have Kate move to her family’s new home, costing extra funds for security staff and probably for security upgrades to the property. Again, costs most-likely being foisted off on the taxpayers for a property that doesn’t belong to the royal family. When the Middletons sell that property in a few years and upgrade again, they get to profit off all of the taxpayer-installed security upgrades.
Tuppence: Makes me wonder if the 2nd bedroom isn’t a guest room, and they’re in separate bedrooms already. I assume the baby would be in a bassinet with Kate the first 6 weeks or so and not in a separate nursery. But I could be wrong.
And they took friends on their honeymoon? I didn’t know that!!
So now my husband I are are talking about Will and Kate appearing on a “Holmes on Homes: Royal Rescue” episode on HGTV.
My, my. What a fickle lot we are. What happened to the days when Kate was seen as lovely, stylish, relateable, approachable, a breath of trash air, a new beginning for the royals, “a modern royal”? They were seen as so in love, so, compatible, their relationship had truly stood the test of time and they were the new chapter for a modern monarchy…. I can’t stand this bunch of entitled twats. The older ones should be pensioned off and the younger ones made to get out and work, like most Brits have to. The sooner this stupid, antiquated, money-grubbing outfit is disbanded, the better.
You are so right!
i think you’ll find that the PR team that was in charge of that fiction is polishing it’s PR Oscars for managing to pull it off long enough to get them married.
The current PR team though…….methinks they are getting lumps of coal.
Is William still an RAF pilot? Because if he is then why can’t she stay in Anglesey and have her mother come and live there to help her with the baby? So that when her husband comes home from work he can see his wife and child instead of having to drive far to Buckleberry? I know Kensington Palace is not ready, which is strange in itself, because the renovators have had 2 years to do it. They have been staying at Nottingham Cottage when in London, so why not live there and have mom come visit? But again if William is working in Anglesey, its still a long drive to London, so no staying at Nottingham Cottage either. Angelsey it is. If she stays at her parents house it will cost more for security and not to mention the photographers who will be camped outside. The Queen should put her foot down with this decision and tell her to stay with William in Angelsey. If I were her, I would want to be under the same roof with my husband so he too can experience being a stressed-out first-time parent. If William is not working then the option should be Nottingham Cottage and have her mother visit. No extra costs for security and the utmost privacy while there. Duh
I agree…especially at the age of 31. This girl is completely helpless. Anglesey would make the most sense especially if William is working. There is privacy and supposedly plenty of room for visitors and a nurse. I personally think Kate can’t care for anyone beyond herself and maybe her mother knows this…..
Or maybe mummy has made sure Kate leans on no one but her, she says conspiratorially.
I have a friend who did this. The plan was to move into her parents’ home for a few weeks after the baby, but they ended up staying a whole year. Yes, it was very odd. Then again, she was the same girl who cried on her honeymoon because she was homesick.
Kate comes across as a big sissy.
She doesn’t seem very mature to me. The fact that she never really had a proper job, the way she expects – after two years of marriage – to be able to just do odd engagements here and there and the way that she runs home to her parents at every opportunity. If she were as young as Diana was when William was born I would get it more, but she’s 30!
She is actually 31 going on 50. She seems to have the emotional maturity of a 19 year old. The palace PR machine seems to paint her as a young girl,unlike most women who have careers married with 2 or 3 children by the time they are 31.
As the story suggests, Carole will play a big role in her grand child’s life.
William will play little if any.
This does not sound like a real marriage anymore, if it ever was.
Somehow I don’t see the Queen (or even Charles) taking this lying down.
Eh, she might find she’s not into that once the baby is here, depending on what kind of mum she turns out to be. And we never really know until it happens.
I completely understand wanting your own mom around after giving birth. Especially with my first son, I was a complete mess the first six weeks-nursing, diaper changing, this extremely fragile human that was mostly my responsibility.
And let’s not forget post-partum depression. I think royal mums are allowed to have that now.
My mom passed away in 1990 and I had my (now former) mother in law (so my husband could zip back to work!) after I had my boys in 2000 and 2001. Not an optimal set-up; will leave it at that.
Diana would have been wonderful, but Camilla-bleech.
In many ways, it really does make more sense for her mom to come to her at KP. After all, that’s where they’re going to LIVE with their children.
More in the continuing saga of the next royal heir…
It’s amazing how personal prejudice leads people to assume about Camilla’s skills.
She’s brought up 2 wonderful, productive, hard working children and in turn has grand kids who adore her. One of Camilla’s grandkids was a bridesmaid in the wedding, and was better behaved than the sour faced one who put her hands over her ears.
Her children and grandchildren adore her, and show no signs of immaturity or entitled behaviour or indeed being famewhores and yet people prejudicially think the worst of her.
Also, have you ever seen Camilla on walkabout with kids?? She’s wonderful with them. Not as special as Diana, but we can all agree that no one was as special as Diana and no one can touch her in that arena, but Camilla is no slouch.