Over the past week, I’ve been reading the Twitter feeds of a lot of the “royal beat” journalists who were camped outside of St. Mary’s. Some of them had strong feelings about the Middleton family and about royal protocol, which would have dictated that the heir’s first visitors would be members of the royal family (but Charles is away from London now, so blah). These are photos of Carole and Michael Middleton arriving at St. Mary’s yesterday, several hours before Duchess Kate and Prince William will debut HRH Prince Crumpets/Cambridge. Meaning that no matter what, Carole and Michael (the “commoner” grandparents) got to spend more time with the royal baby before Charles, before the Queen, and before the general public got to see him.
Day-old Baby Cambridge – whose name is yet to be announced – got his first visitors Tuesday when Kate’s parents came to meet their grandson.
Michael and Carole Middleton arrived (in a cab) at the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s hospital in London – where Kate gave birth Monday – at 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Upon entering, the proud grandparents were met by Jonathan Ramsay, the lead clinician of the Lindo Wing.
A beaming Carole walked up the five steps slightly ahead of her husband as she acknowledged calls from the crowds of photographers with a smile.
Meanwhile, Michael nervously fidgeted with his navy blue blazer while following her inside.
I have mixed feelings about the “royal protocol” angle of bashing Carole and Michael for this. This is their first grandchild, and Kate is their oldest (and perhaps most beloved) child. We can theorize about Carole’s Kris-Jenner-like qualities, but there’s no debate in my mind that the Middletons are a very close-knit family. So, I don’t have any problems with Carole and Michael being the baby’s first visitors or the first grandparents to see Prince Crumpets. And they probably just wanted to see Kate and make sure she’s okay too. My problem isn’t with the Middletons so much as with William and Kate’s insistence on waitying to announce the birth, waitying to do the first photo-op, etc. The constant delays have a petulant air.
It’s especially interesting given this little detail that got buried in yesterday’s Royal Baby Extravaganza – apparently, Kate insisted that William should be the only other person in the delivery room, and she actively didn’t want her mom in the room when the baby was born. Not only that, Carole, Michael and Pippa didn’t come to the hospital on Monday when Kate actually had the baby. This is only weird because in the reporting leading up to the royal birth, there were SO many reports that Kate wanted her mom in the delivery room and that Carole and Michael were going to be there for everything.
UPDATE: So Prince Charles just came to visit the baby too. Good. I don’t know why he waited.
UPDATE: So, I’m really tired of waiting for Kate and William to debut the baby. We will have photos later today, probably.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
If I ever have a baby I wouldn’t want anyone in the delivery room either, except for the person who inseminated me (my husband).
I have had two children and no one but the father was allowed in the delivery room as per my request. You don’t need everyone telling you how to do something. That’s what the doctors are for. I have no problems with this personally and I am happy for them.
That was my plan when I had my daughter as well. Funny how things happen in the heat of the moment. My sister is an obstetrics nurse and we had a bit of an emergency at the last moment and in the mad rush between the birthing room and the delivery room my OB keep yelling out frantic orders and she ended up pitching in. It wasn’t until everything was over and my daughter was safely delivered that my husband and I even realized that she was even there but we were terribly grateful when all was said and done.
It makes a fun story now and she loves to tease her goddaughter and niece that she has been there since the moment she was born.
My sister and brother in law were the same. They didn’t want ANY family there, even in the waiting room (guess they knew we’d be chomping at the bit lol). It was *their* moment together, and I fully respect that.
Of course, as soon as we got the call that we could come (a few hrs. later), we were there w/in 15 min. I couldn’t wait to see my first nephew. I will never forget walking into that room and seeing him snuggled up next to my sister, who had that exhausted, but elated look on her face, too. Just remembering is making me tear up 🙂
I, for one, am very glad Little Crumpet will have a loving family surrounding him. No child can ever have too many people who love him/her 🙂
My mum wanted to be in the room while i was having my son. It was stressful because half the time i was watching her so she could not see me crowning. I made sure she was at the head of the bed. I was yelling mum please dont look down there. It was good in a way distracted me from birth
Aw, the ‘please don’t look down there’ part is so cute! If/when I have children, I want my mum there too.
Same.
I just had my daughter in March and only had my husband in the room. My mother in law asked to be in but I said no. Just too many distractions and stress when I was trying to focus on having my baby.
I didn’t even want the team of doctors and from the NICU(forceps delivery) there. It made it so unpleasant
Yup it was just me and my husband. Sometimes my mom can be a bit overbearing. My husband was already nervous and I think they would have gotten on each others nerves.
I had my babies at home with a midwife. For the first, my mom, dad, brother, grandmother, and Husband were all there. My dad filmed it, my brother fed me ice chips and fetched things, my mom, grandmother and husband comforted me, took turns rubbing my back etc. It was great to have so much support and my daughter was surrounded by four generations of family from her first moments.
That sounds lovely. Many women aren’t lucky enough to have so many supportive family members.
With my first I only wanted my husband in the room, so it was only my husband… and 2 nurses (shift change) a doc, and a nursing student, and what I swear felt like at least 1-2 other people. Amd then afterward you add in the lactation consultant, follow up caregivers, and other hospital pekple, it felt like pretty much everyonr had seen my business by the end. So whem baby #2 came anyone that wanted to be there for the delivery was welcome.
I reckon thats whar they did in the old days. The mother sister/ and grandma delivered the babies (not the father filming it part)
Having given birth, trust me, your instincts are spot on. I can appreciate those folks who enjoyed having loved ones around, but when I was screaming like a banshee, even my hubbie didn’t want to be there- LOL!!
I mentioned in another thread that I don’t think that William and Kate are showing petulance at not revealing their child at the first chance they get. “He’s slid out, quick to the cameras”, that would seem odd to me. They’ll present him as all the royals do when they leave the hospital.
Agree. They had to have known what a circus it was going to be when they made the announcement. Having that time together before it all started may have been the last vestiges of privacy that baby will ever have.
Plus, don’t they have to call people first in some sort of protocol? Maybe they had to wait until they reached everyone they needed to reach.
I agree. As well, the ‘waiting to announce’ was only waiting to announce to the public. The local radio station had a guest giving the protocol. Apparently, because the child is high up in direct line to the throne, they had to ‘announce’ to the royal family, to the Governors General of all the commonwealth countries, etc. etc. etc. before they’re supposed to make a general announcement.
I agree. What is petulant about her not springing out of bed after giving birth, exhausted and with greasy hair and no makeup to have a picture taken that will be seen hundreds of millions of times? Let them have a day to rest, enjoy their baby and each other and maybe bathe. I don’t think they are perfect but people seem to pick on them for the most trivial things.
This was my feelings, exactly! I actually couldn’t believe they were being called ‘petulant‘ for wanting to take a little time for themselves w/their new (& first) child.
It’s 1 of the most important, beautiful moments of their lives, & it *should* belong to them.
Seriously, it hasn’t even been 24 hours since she gave birth. Chill out. It would have been worse if they had just rushed out for a photo opp or dangled the kid off a balcony like Michael Jackson. They aren’t waitying to have a photo-op and debut-delivery takes recovery.
You have a baby you get to relax for at least a day.
I agree. They might be “royal”, but they are still human beings first and foremost. The birth of a child is such a private and sacred event…I would not bash anyone for wanting to enjoy the privacy and bonding time for as long as they felt necessary.
Sometimes with royals and celebs, people act as if they are entitled to all of the pregnancy/birthing details, and that is so inhumane IMO.
@Tiffany =) – It’s like people start viewing celebrities (royals/politicians included) as though they’re characters in a TV show. You watch their daily lives like episodes, then some can’t seem to separate it from reality.
They become expectant, like they’re entitled to know ‘what happens next’, & become frustrated when their favorite ‘characters’ aren’t ‘cooperating (also known as ‘believing they have a right to some privacy in personal matters‘). This is the very reason paparazzi even *exist*, & why they employ nauseating tactics to get what their viewers want to see.
I’ll admit, I can see why some lose the ‘line’ between to 2. But anyone w/common sense should be able to separate reality/real people from fantasy/characters.
I agree, how could less than 24 hours be petulant? It!s unreasonable and obnoxiously demanding to expect them to make an appearance sooner than they did. WTH, was she expected to have the baby, have a shower, get hair and make-up to stand on the steps?
Agree. I’m not the biggest Will and Kate fan but man, some people jump on them for the littlest things.
After my babe was born, I couldn’t walk properly for 4 days. If someone asked me to stand up and get photos within 24 hrs I would have punched them.
She’s done an amazing job. Give her some props for that hey?!?
in the grand scheme of things, does it matter who saw Prince Crumpets first? since I don’t live there I dunno..
I kinda like that it’s her parents, as opposed to royals who are there bc of the protocol and whatnot, who could otherwise yawn at the occasion on a personal level. This has a more familial feeling.
Re: which set of grandparents arrived first. Frankly who gives a d*mn.
I totally agree. why are Carole and Mike being criticized for visiting the baby first. It’s their first grandchild. And Camilla is not even the real grandmother, so why should she get preference over the Middletons.
The Queen is on holiday, Charles is away, and if neither of them wants to move their royal ass to see the baby, f the protocol, that child still has grandparents.
Charles and Camilla have just arrived at the hospital for a visit.
I follow the British Monarchy on twitter and they constantly update about the obligations and appointments the member of the Royal Family. They do actuall all work quite a lot, busy schedule. Charles and Camilla had a prior obligation and went to the hospital the moment they got back. I can’t understand why people always think the family does not give a crap, but the Royal Family is a full time job and they can’t just skip those appointments like any other working person.
The queen is in town, I personally saw the Royal standard raised in Buckingham Palace. I very much doubt the queen will make a hospital visit, but we’ll see.
Yea, I actually went and took a look at the whole thing, Westminster Abbey’s bells were ringing … I guess all day? I passed by at 3:30 pm, they were chiming, when I passed back at 5:10 they were STILL chiming.
I think the only time the Queen broke protocol and went to the hospital for a baby was when Prince Edward’s daughter was in the NICU. Otherwise, she meets the baby at home.
The bells rang for 3 hours.
Yup! Completely agree.
Totally! And if I couldn’t see my daughter, who just gave birth, or see my own grandchild right away, because of some stupid protocol, I would be freakin’ ticked. Of course, this is also why I wouldn’t want anyone in my family to marry into a royal family – because of all this silly protocol nonsense.
officially and unofficially?
A retinue of KP support staff have probably already seen the baby including PAs, bodyguards, hair/Make-up all of whom have been pictured coming/going from the hospital.
The name of the baby cannot be announced until the Queen gives her permission (according to the protocol).
Yep, exactly what I was going to post.
She just pushed out a watermelon! Give her some time to rest, geez! Don’t most new mothers stay in the hospital for a day or two? It’s like she was expected to hobble out, all puffy-faced and bloody, and present the baby at 4:30 yesterday.
you know it’s funny, people keep saying what a big baby Prince Crumpet is but that’s normal in my family, actually it runs a little small..
My mom said the same thing, she said its a normal sized baby.
I was surprised at how big the baby was considering her belly size. She didn’t look like she could be hiding a baby that big in her belly. I know belly size doesn’t dictate baby size but yet I was still surprised!
no matter what you plan on wanting when you give birth, it can change in a flash.
it’s not really something you can pre-plan. so while might have wanted them before, when the time came, who knows?
it’s like nothing can prepare you and every birth is different.
They’ll be sharing Baby Cambridge with the world in soon enough time. I’m no W+K sympathizer, but I don’t begrudge them clinging to what shred of privacy they still have… or trying to wait until the last possible second to subject him to throngs of press waiting outside.
However, I think it’s stunning that not a single member of RF has visited the hospital yet. It’s remarkable that the Middletons were the first family members to see the future King and speak publicly about it. Things have changed…
Since Duchess Kate is leaving the hospital a mere 24 hours (give or take) after giving birth, the public is seeing the baby – the whole family – quickly enough. I’m neutral on Kate and I actively dislike William, but I agree with them here. They deserve the 24 hours of privacy.
There’s good reasons for keeping the RF out of the hospital. After all, it’s not a long stay. The Queen and Prince Phillip are too old to be hanging out in hospitals without good reason, and Prince Charles and Camilla are out of town.
And they even hustled the Mids in and out pretty quickly.
I just think they want their family time – understandable.
I give Kate enormous credit for only allowing her husband in the delivery room. Good for her! It’s their show, after all, not a Middleton or royal family team effort.
I am also not a royal apologist, but I would also agree that recuperating for 24 hours after giving birth is hardly stalling. It’s her first kid, so she probably had some degree of vaginal tearing and may have difficulty walking. She may not yet have had the biggest defecation of her life. She could have just recently been cleared to shower. I mean, seriously? A lot of painful, gross stuff happens in pushing out a baby. The Duchess is a useless human being, but I think she should be given a break here.
LOL.. you just reminded me of the worst moments post-birth.. I had a very hard (20 hrs, vacuum) labor with my huge son but I didn’t cry or scream. I did all that when I had to go to the bathroom for the first time after the birth. Nobody prepares you for that… Good luck, Duchess.. 🙂
Seriously. It took a whole week (A WEEK!) after my first to have a bm. When I finally went, I felt like how it must feel to win the Super Bowl.
I think it is logically for Kate’s mom to want to see her as soon as possible after the birth. Good for Carole for not worrying about the royal protocol.
I had no trouble going after my first. I was scared after everything I’ve read but it was no problem. My csection was another story..
Tom Sykes (@royalist) is going HARD on Charles and Camilla right now. Says it’s bad optics that the Middletons have been in, out, and commented — yet no sight of the RF.
He tweeted:
“if you think its appropriate for Charles not to be there ask yourself this…would Diana have showed up?”
That’s just pot-stirring, really.
Charles and Cam will have lots of future photo ops with the grandkid. The Mids don’t have that – so they get first peek.
LOL on Diana – oh she would have been there with lots of photo ops on her way in and out. I *loved* her as Princess of Wales but that woman knew how to draw the press in better than anyone.
I did t even call my mom until after the baby was born. She was the nervous type and the last thing I need to deal with was her having hysterical fits in the waiting room.
Yes, I have a great relationship with my mom, but I would never have invited her into the delivery room with me. It was for my husband and me to share, not my mom.
Her parents are a very attractive couple.
I actually think the mother looks better than both daughters. She has a very open and friendly face. And her father is very distinguish looking
I was thinking the same thing: Carole Middleton looks really good.
I think Michael MIddleton is sweet looking and rather handsome but I disagree on Carol. She has a lovely figure and wears clothes well but I see a hard, hard face.
I don’t see hard in her face. She just has thin lips. But I like that she doesn’t do that terrible raccoon eyes like her daughters. She looks very natural. And that is very refreshing for a change.
I’m making an assumption here, but I don’t see English women screwing with their faces like too many American women do. I accept I could be wrong so..
She has that same eyeliner.
Attractiveness is so subjective. I appreciate that you can see it where I cannot!
I will say it is refreshing to see a woman age more or less naturally.
I agree. I don’t know what it is with their daughters maybe too much makeup/tanning but the Mom and Dad look really good. I have no comment on their son…
Yes Carole Middleton does look good. She’s taken very good care of herself.
I think England really needs ti aboplish the royal family .they need to get with the times.I am really happy for kate nd william but the royals are just an over hyped group of people who waste public funds on their holidays abd shopping.I also doubt that their will be a monoarchy by the time this new baby will be old enough to take the throne.people are getting tired of them,me included.I am also happy for them.
The Royals brings in millions upon millions of pounds in tourism, in patronage of charities and as ambassadors of their country. Moreover, if they ‘abolished’ the monarchy (which has no governmental power in any case, so really its hardly a burden to the populace)people might be shocked that the Royal family actually own huge chunks of London and England, not to mention jewels, art, etc. that belongs to them, personally (not the country). Frankly, if they were not monarchs, they would be rich enough to vacation and party their lives away and not have to work as hard as they do.
The first grandchild is the most important Royal or not, trust me as grandchild no. 17 I speak the truth. Also I completely understand just having your husband in the room with you, its a very big moment for the 2 of you. My father was only present for my birth (my other siblings were born in the late 60’s) and he has always said that becuase of that he feels closer to me then my sisters.
This protocol is so obnoxious. Because her parents aren’t royalty they need to wait to see their first grandchild? The queen has to approve of the name? It’s a child for Christ sake not a piece of property that needs to be inspected.
Well, he kind of is a piece of public property.
Grandmama Middleton is totally hotter than the 2daughters! Weird but true!
I am not a fan; but I am happy for Kate that she had a boy on the first go….the pressure is definitely off for her, whether or not they have more kids. The family does seem close, congrats to them.
This is a really outdated way to think. What pressure?
The law was changed by the Queen before this baby. Whether it be boy or girl it would be heir to the thrown. It no longer has to be a boy.
It isn’t law yet. The Queen agreed to the proposed legislation, but it hasn’t been signed into law.
Further, other realms haven’t agreed the legislation in their own countries eg Canada and Australia.
it can’t be signed into law until ALL 16 realms agree.
In theory, they’ve all agreed and are happy to make the change. In practise, not so fast.
I’m pretty sure they’ll still want a “spare” in case heaven forbid something should happen to the new prince.
I don’t mind the royal family waiting to see the baby at the palace. I don’t think William or the baby will ever see the throne. I think when the Queen goes so do most of the remaining 16 realms. England will stick it out but probably abolish the monarchy during Charles’ reign. I think the press knows it and the royal family knows it. That is why the family had been less than publicly supportive and the press feel free to have a go at them. William had shown little interest in the job and Kate and the Middleton’s seem more interested in the social status celebrity aspect of it which will remain.
I thought the Middleton’s speaking to the press was tacky but I wasn’t surprised by it. I don’t have a problem with them being the first to see the baby. Their daughter did the hard part of the job and I am sure they wanted to see her too. It is as much their grandchild as Charles. I have a much bigger problem with the tax payer security upgrades to their new house than anything else.
I don´t see the monarchy survive.
The Queen´s death will shake the royalists and i think this will be the beginning of the end for the monarchy.
The Brits say they are royalists, but actually they are “Queen-ists”. They love the Queen dearly. She is Britain, the old Empire. Something to be proud of. She was always there…
Times are changing. A King Charles, King William and King Baby won´t have the historical Empire-glamour the Queen has.
Her successors will only be modern reality stars. All the glamour is gone!
This exactly. All the glamour and GRAVITY are gone with the Queen. All that is left is a joke — Charlie the Tampon (feel bad for him that that’s what he’s associated with but it is what it is), Little Prince Joffrey and Baby Crumpets. Can’t see that lasting with tax payer support for very long.
I TOTALLY agree. I don’t think though it will be abolished right away, but it will certainly cease to be relevant once the Queen passes on or steps down.
This just makes the royals look tone deaf as usual. I’m not saying the Queen has to visit, but would it kill Charles and Camilla to take an afternoon off their “work” and show that they are “just like us.” Who cares about protocol. The times have changed, Charlie! You know Diana would be camped out in that room right now.
Honestly, Charles and Camilla don’t have to base everything they do on “what would Diana have done?”
But I guess Prince Charles and Camilla are over there right now, so all is well!
Excuses. This wing is blocked off for any visitors…they can handle it.
I won’t stand between you and your snark, but Charles and Camilla are there now.
I agree with Talie. It does make Charles and Camilla look tone deaf.
Now it appears that they were goaded into attended because of the press. When will Charles learn?
How do you know that they were “goaded into attending because of the press”?
Were the MIddleton’s goaded into attending because of the press?
Maybe nobody initially planned on visiting, but changed their minds because they were all – GASP – asked by Will and Kate?
I wrote, it APPEARS that they were goaded by the press. Appears. And once again,it appears that Charles is very clumsy at managing the RF’s public image.
Since he knows the protocol, then he also would know that he might be delaying a visit to Kate from her mother. He can do as he pleases but it makes him look out of it, to me. While the public is enthusiastic, he’s busy kadooodling as always.
The Middletons have already been there and left, so he wouldn’t be delaying their visit.
I guess I don’t see how Charles is making the royal family look bad in all of this. I guess the diehard Diana fans will insist that she would have done it differently, but that ship has really sailed.
In the end, all the grandparents have visited, although I suppose you could quibble about why and how it all happened.
Most people are waiting for William and Kate and baby, anyway.
FWIW, I am by no means a Diana fan and consider speculation about what she would have done distinctly unhelpful to all concerned.
Yes to that. No one has a clue what Diana would have done. It is so silly to even speculate. The woman has been dead and buried for 16 years. Let her rest.
I remember when Will was a child and got a skull fracture from getting hit at school. Diana would not leave the hospital; Charles went to the opera.
William was in no danger from that bump on the head and Charles had an obligation to be at the opera.
I’m not one to defend Charles but it just occurred to me that he may have waited in order to let the Middletons have some time with the new family and not upstage them by arriving at the same time?
It isn’t weird at all that she changed her mind & only wanted her husband with her. Giving birth isn’t a spectator sport & its is seriously distracting to have a bunch of people just standing around, or worse, talking to you as you’re focusing on getting the baby out.
As for waiting to show the baby right away… most brand new babies look, well, squished. It would be a better picture if they let his little face settle. Since they are all about image & all
Oh.
So the reporting leading up to the birth was wrong; I am shocked I tell you, shocked!
I am not sure there was room for her mom and sister in the room and i don’t believe that was ever the plan. With William and the 3 active doctors, the on standby in the room specialists, security, the nurses and PAs it sounds like that room was pretty full. The press probably made that up to promote the Middletons and their involvement with the royal family. since the Middletons, not the Windsors, seem to be the press’ royal family.
Let me see if I have this right.
Kate was adamant about having her mother and possibly sister in the room with her. Kate really has done nothing without her mother, well ever. This sounds more like William wanted them to not be there. He hates the attention from the paps and the Midds were without a doubt calling their exclusive pap with every detail every step of the way.
This was William reminding his favorite family of the pecking order.
For those of you that say Kate can change her mind last minute. She can. Maybe she did. There’s just her entire lifetime and a strong pattern of behavior to say she would never want to be separated from her mother unless her husband said so. Is this the start of the Midds being frozen out now that William has a son?
I like where you are going with this …
Interesting theory.
“Kate was adamant about having her mother and possibly sister in the room with her. Kate really has done nothing without her mother, well ever. This sounds more like William wanted them to not be there.”
What are you basing this all on? None of them have said a word about their birth plan that I’m aware of.
I think people need to remember that we don’t actually know these people. It’s pure speculation, and you seem to be a little biased.
Gina- The Middletons being in the room with her has been a recurring story for months now in ALL the papers, not just tabloids. Broadsheets too. including speculation on whether she was going for a natural birth, what hospital she would give birth in, attending doctors, the lot. Ditto Kate staying with her mother after the birth.
on a different note, it’s well known, and admitted by Kate herself, that William is in charge. The entire pattern of their relationship has shown very clearly that William is in the driving seat and Kate is just a willing, silent non-objecting partner. To quote her own jigsaw boss, She lives a life where she is and will always be dictated to. Not to mention the fact that she tailors her life to ‘the relationship with a high profile man.’ that is a direct quote BTW, and it wasn’t said with snark, but sympathy.
The only other driving force in Kate’s life is her mother. Everyone, gossips, courtiers, interested and disinterested parties have spoken about Kate’s dependency on her mother. The only time Kate behaves contrary to her usual pattern is when William’s wishes trump her mother’s wishes.
I hope that this baby will make her grow up, grow some balls and be the fabulous Duchess we all want her to be and her PR tells us she is.
As for the speculation, that is the point of the royal family. They sell us snippets of their lives spun to present an image that ensures we aren’t distracted by the fact that they are just regular people being funded by the tax payers of the UK [and realms when they visit those]. Hence they sell us their births/weddings/funerals/lives directly and indirectly without having to prove their talent or worth for the job they claim.
@LAK, I’m from England, I know what the royal family do. You seem to base your opinions entirely on what is reported about them, thus Kate’s mum not being in the room seem ‘out of character’.
What I’m saying is that this might very well not be the case. And the papers over here speculate based on rumour too, just as the BBC does, which is more about the new 24 hour news cycle and the massive public interest. They have to say something, after all.
Again, I would suggest that you are more than a little biased. I’ve seen you defend Charles like he’s a friend. You do not in fact know anything about them, their personal dynamic, their plans as parents, because you only know a shadow of the real people involved.
To make them into soup opera characters with personality traits, and personal views based on nothing substantial, and then claim ‘it’s well known’ is ridiculous. You’re trying to make fiction fact.
Even more ridiculous is the quote that she tailors her life to ‘the relationship with a high profile man.’. Please. Nothing you have said can’t be unpicked with a little objectivity.
Just watching them now on the BBC. Welcome baby Cambridge.
LAK
I could not have said it better!
I hope she grows a pair with this baby too and finds her passion outside of pleasing William. I thought that she’d take on an infant charity of some sort. There are so many to choose from! There’s still hope for her to see how lucky she was to have a healthy baby and to help those who weren’t so fortunate.
Gina
I do have a bias. I think she shows only apathy for her position and charities. I think she lives for a man and not for herself. She’s received her degree, but it wasn’t so much art history as it was her MRS. She’s a poor role model as a public figure. This is her life now. She’s not a civilian. She can do better.
Gina, don’t we all base our opinions of the RF based on what’s reported about them? Don’t quite understand that.
You think one thing, and others think another. It’s all interpretation and two sides of the same coin, no?
By the way, she gets serious props from me for showing a real post natal belly!!
@ Bluhare, what don’t you understand about what I said? I have no idea what these people are like, and while I enjoy gossip as much as the next girl, I don’t believe everything I read. It’s not my life.
If I came on here and said she was the kindest, most incredible person ever, and that William is the greatest husband in the world, that would be just as silly. Because I don’t know them. That’s my point.
I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I’m getting tired of reading all these fantasies people have woven based on nothing. That is all.
@FLORC/LAK. I agree that she seems apathetic about her charity work. But you can’t say she only does as she’s told because she’s a stepford wife/robot, and then complain that she doesn’t do enough.
Gina,
You said: >>You seem to base your opinions entirely on what is reported about them<<
That's what I responded to. How did I not understand that?
@ Bluhare, perhaps I should have said “You seem to base your ‘fantasies’ entirely on what is reported about them”.
An opinion would be ‘I like her dress’ and ‘she wears too much eyeliner’, or even ‘I don’t think she’s a great role model’.
A fantasy would be ‘The only other driving force in Kate’s life is her mother’ or ‘He hates the attention from the paps and the Midds were without a doubt calling their exclusive pap with every detail every step of the way’.
Or the people saying she lied about her due date and having HG. And that he only married her because she’s a doormat, and Diana would never have let her into his life.
You have no way of knowing any of this and to pretend you do goes way beyond gossiping for me.
See the difference? Sorry for any confusion.
Gina
You’re walking 1 fine line there.
Also, Kate is willingly under William’s thumb. She can do more. I want her to stand up to her lazy husband and do more with work. In the press if she works more than him he and everyone else is painted as lazy. Like Kate is the gold standard in work ethic. She has great PR!
So I can call her a stepford wife (even though I never have) and still want her to do more. Just because she’s called something doesn’t mean that’s all we want her to ever be or all she’s allowed to ever be. She needs to find something to get out of bed for. A passion. Something that is hers. Living for William or any woman living for a man is a dead end. I want her to use that wonderful platform she has and change lives for the better. She can do it with far less effort because the press wants to report good things on her.
So, i’m saying she does as she’s told because that’s what’s easiest for her. It doesn’t mean I can’t voice my complaints when she continues to take the easy route. Especially since she’s funded publicly. If she was a private citizen this wouldn’t be an issue.
Gina, I agree with you about fantasies versus opinions about Kate. I finally realized what bugs me about some of the comments on the Kate posts. When I read the comments about how she wears too much eyeliner or even that she’s lazy or has terrible taste in shoes, I’m not bothered and to an extent, even agree. That’s the usual snark, which one can expect on CB. But I don’t understand these suppositions-as-facts that people make about her. Some people get so dogmatic, cataloguing every, little thing that Kate has supposedly done wrong or against protocol and passing off theories about her relationships (with her husband, with her family, with other aristocrats) or about other aspects of her life (her “fake” diagnosis of HG) as if they were fact. It’s like some people are trying to build a case against her. Why? I am no Kate apologist, but I find these “Kate-and-Will-have-a-sham-marriage-and-the-proof-is-xyz…” or, “Kate-lied-about-her-HG-and-this-is-proof!” comments downright bizarre.
Gina – The quotes you picked out from my comments come to us directly from her Jigsaw boss in an interview for the evening standard.
I have met Charles, numerous times and i like him. Forgive me if i defend someone i like.
i live near KP. You would be surprised the things you get to know unintentionally.
Finally, WK have had a relationship that has been going for 10yrs+ In that time, they’ve given us ample material to form an opinion. It can’t all be true or untrue on the basis that we don’t know them personally. The same argument would be used for Diana and Charles and ALL other members of the family. What about the comments made by people who do know them? or if the quotes come from their own mouths? Should those be discounted as well?
It does seem a contradiction that we seem to complain that she does what she is told, but doesn’t do enough. What is meant is that she ONLY works when she is told to work. From everything we have learnt about her whether it’s fact or gossip, she doesn’t seem to take the initiative unless there is pressure on her to do something. And when she does, it’s always the minimum of what is required of her – hence the complaint.
On the subject of conspiracies, i personally find them to be exhausting. They are usually far too complicated and convoluted when a much simpler explanation is apparent.
Totally agree with Gina and Ktx. LAK and Florc have no more personal knowledge about the royals than anyone else on this site. They consistently present as absolute fact the sketchy gossip that we all read. And LAK, I’m so glad that you have had the opportunity to shake hands with Charles and discuss the weather a few times. I saw him at a parade on the Mall several years ago and he waved in my direction. So I guess that means that he and I are pretty much BFFs?
No one will read this because I am in Southern California and it’s late everywhere else but at least I vented.
Another K, I read it. =)
🙂
Kate is ruled by william and the rf. Mummy had her nose pushed out for ONCE, Kate always puts her family first, she is in the rf now, she has to get used to what she persued William for AND TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK along the way ! not use a “baby” to have a cushy life. She says they want to lead a normal life, why does she have to have a hairdresser summoned to the hospital to do her hair. Isn’t she capable of even doing that or is she too tired. NORMAL they don’t know what the word means !!
If I was about to face the world’s press 24 hours after giving birth for the first time you can bet your arse I’d be getting a hairdresser in too!
Maybe the snark about her is justified, maybe not, but people are just picking on her for every single thing now, and it’s starting to feel mean spirited.
Molly
I agree completely except for 1 bit. Her hair and make up are probably being done professionally for the first family photo. Her make up is almost always done too thick, but her hair is always professionally cared for.
They are not “like us” and are held to a higher standard. They’re bank rolled and with all the perks that come with it they must not be just like everyone else. They’re public figures. They can’t be just like and they’re taken care of to not be. This is lost on many.
FLORC: how do you know any of this? Because you read about it in all the papers and online? No one from the royal family confirmed ANY of the the rumours and stories concerning the pregnancy and upcoming delivery. This includes the due date of July 13th. That was never said by any royal member.
The royal family doesn’t confirm much, and they certainly wouldn’t in this situation.
Don’t know why everyone’s getting so riled up about speculation. What is this site for if all we can do is spew verifiable facts? Celebitchy would close down! And I’d be really bored. 🙂
Sammi
Like Bluhare said above. We know things because they are reported. Because they are printed. Because we read. I tend to believe things that are printed by multiple, reputable sources. And unless you’ve sat the Queens dinner table every night you get your information the same way we all do and base an opinion on it.
I don’t know why you’re bringing up pregnancy rumors to me that were proven false. I said since the first hospital visit she was probably really, really early in the pregnancy. I never said I believed any date set. I did say it was a total possibility she could be induced, but even then never said a date or believed one.
There is an awful lot of proven evidence that the Midds have a goto pap and PR people. To say otherwise is to ignore all the facts. How else could 1 reporter have so much insider information that all the other reporters/paps follow this man around for a lead?
Thanks for that Sammi, odds on she had a PRE PLANNED C-SECTION and all these fictitious rumours were to hide the fact that it was all planned and scheduled to suit them not the world !!!!!
as for normal, unless she is breastfeeding, waity katy won’t be getting up in the night to feed the future king or change his nappy. Hands on parents are NORMAL, they are not !!
Wrong spot.
Ok, possibly crazy theory, but hear me out: I’m sort of seeing this as a sign of maturity from Kate. Carole is said to be very controlling and fake, like the British society “momager.” Maybe Kate is realizing that she needs to grow up, and raise her child, just a little bit further away from her mother’s grasp.
Granted, they could all be very nice people. Just my two cents.
Except she is going home to live with mommy for the next 4 months. Not like she couldn’t go to Wales since you know she has a 4 bedroom “cottage” there and her husband lives there.
i hope so too.
Is it that surprising to think the whole order and process of who would arrive first was arranged long before Kate’s due date arrived? The imagery of the Middleton’s as commoners being the grandparents to a future King of England is not only historic but also symbolic in England. Has this ever happened before in the history of the UK? No way was this not planned and orchestrated in advance.
I tend to agree. First her parents, then the next King of England in Charles, then then lastly, the second and third in succession will make their appearance, with Kate. It was arranged long before hand. Next, they go to visit the Queen.
But that makes too much sense, so there must be a conspiracy somewhere for folks to revel in.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
Also, the mother of the woman is usually one of the first people to see the baby, so it’s nice that Carole got to be one of the first to visit.
Replying to self–See, they did it just like that!!!! Right down to the matching blue outfits!!
The thing is anyone who isn’t royalty is a commoner, even if you have an aristocratic background. So William’s grandparents were commoners, as were the Queen’s maternal grandparents. They may have been aristocrats, but unless they had royal blood, they are commoners.
Actually, there is more true blue blood in the Spencer family than there is in the Windsors.
Williams grandparents (the Spencer family) can trace their Royal ancestry back for centuries.
agreed. This is all PR.
It has to present a very particular image to the masses. And continue the idea that William is ‘modern’.
Middletons were there, their daughter did the pushing, let them have a look; Chuck and Cam had to copter in anyway (and I am no Middleton fan).
Slide Mr Bean in there and Russell Brand too, I don’t care. They look like cute parents, William actually did two normal dad things, the baby is healthy, all is well — and so I can say this now:
I don’t care about the order and rules etc etc because what I DO want is this: I just want to see Uncle Harry with the baby. THAT is the photo I want. That is all the world needs now.
EDIT oh no. My source of all royal knowledge tells me Harry is back on base and got a call with the news. Sigh. Be well, Harry, Baby will need your fun and warmth too.
Great theory. Didn’t think about it, but it did present a nice image for the modern monarchy.
Maybe they wanted some private time to bond with their son before they share him with the world. I don’t see anything wrong with that.
They have to show him. Sounds hard, but this boy is state property.
Of course they’re waitying. Gurl’s got to get her hair did, you know? Priorities, people. (To wit: her “personal hairstylist” showing up at the hospital over four *cough* hours ago…)
Oh stop it, I’ve never been in the hospital when I didn’t want to look good when someone came in. If I was on point for one of my babies 1st public pics I sure as hell wouldn’t want his 1st pics published around the world with me looking like sh#t.
No son, I didn’t give a damn how I looked in your 1st pics.
Kate just has more resources. Diana did the same thing, I would too.
My god. Will you give her a break?! She had a baby only 24 hours ago. How many women do you know who are ready to get out in the world that soon afterwards? That’s right, none.
So what if you are “tired” of waiting to see the new baby? Since when are Kate and William beholden to your (or any of our) schedule(s)?
Despite being royalty, they are also a young couple with a brand new baby. They have all the right in the world to spend private, quiet time with their newborn. They were being quite smart about it – spending 4 hours alone with the baby before letting the whole world know.
BTW: it is common practice for pregnant women to request only their partner in the delivery room. In fact, many hospitals have their own rule that only one family member allowed.
Having a baby is a very personal thing. I have no problem with any of their choices. If she didn’t want her mom in the delivery room, I see no issue with that. If she wanted her parents to come see the baby, I have no problem with that either. If the queen and Prince Charles wanted to be the first visitors, they had every opportunity to high tail it over there and see that baby.
I know these people are steeped in their traditions but this is a baby born in modern times. His parents should be able to handle his birth in whatever way they see fit and shouldn’t have to answer to the public for their personal choices in the matter.
Maybe Kate just wanted her mom. Maybe her husband after watching her give birth decided that she should have what she wants.
As to 1st, 2nd to see him, who cares. It doesn’t mean a lot in the end.
I applaud ALL the relatives for Will and Kate some private time with their newborn.
Like Will isn’t breaking out the iPhone or whatever and sending them pics right and left.
Prince Charles and Camila went to see the baby too.
The so-called “reporting” on what was going to happen and who was going to be in the hospital room came mostly from people who knew absolutely NOTHING about anything relating to William and Kate. They were people just like the people who comment on here who were just guessing and saying negative things about how Kate “needed” her mother. I cannot imagine that many grandmothers-to-be actually want to stand around while their daughter is giving birth. From my experience the only time that happens is when the birthing mother has no husband or her husband is overseas with the armed services. It’s just too crowded and nuts in there.
I thought that Carole was at the hospital with William & Kate during labor, just not in the delivery room when the time came? As far as Charles not seeing the baby earlier, he was out of town on business, and couldn’t arrive any sooner. I’m glad that they had a chance for a little privacy and “family time” with just the three of them, the moment they step out of the hospital the little prince will belong to the public.
I just saw them as they left on the Daily mail feed… loved that the little guy was waving his fingers too as if to say hello!
just saw the debut
william is absolutely glowing. i’ve never seen him look so happy and proud and genuine. even cracked a joke about the baby having more hair than him
baby might be a good influence on him
They’re out! It’s all over CNN
I WANT THIS DRESS!!! Anyone know who made it or where I can get it. This is one great looking grand mother!!!! Diana would have been so happy. I remember when she was on those steps with William 31 years ago. She was so lovely. The worst thing that ever happened to her was hooking up with the royals.
Jenny Packham.
Just saw a glimps of HRH Prince Cambridge and that was his very long fingers..fingers like a good piano player has! He could very well be the King of England into the 22nd century. How cool! I love witnessing history. That’s it.
Well she managed to get a her sausage curls put back in less than 24 hours after giving birth so all is right with the world ;D
I thought it was a lovely appearance for them… but wished Kate would have had her hair back. A bit awkward with the breeze blowing her hair around, trying to hold the baby AND keep her hair out of her face.
I missed the time when they actually went outside to debut the baby.
But there’s a repeat on CNN right now and Kate looks amazing 1 day after giving birth.
William looks so happy. Congrats to them!
Yeah, they are so selfish for wanting to have some private alone time with their new baby…
As a very private person, I don’t understand having anyone but a husband/the baby”s father, in the delivery room; the thought wouldn’t even cross my mind. When, and for what reason, did all of these family members start expecting to be invited to such an intimate occasion?
(Audible sigh from the Duchess of Crumpets). “I had to wait 8 years for a proposal. While being called Waity Katie, for YEARS! Can’t they (the media) wait a few hours????” (Draws eyeliner with a steady, deathgrip on her hand. Flips her extensions/sausage curls away from hairstylist in posh maternity suite, looks over at HRH Baby Crumpets, sleeping). “There there, your Royal Highness. Think of it this way – who is doing the waiting now….” responds Grand Master/Grandmother Middleton as hairstylist nods in agreement. (trumpets blare, curtain closes on this Act).
Actually, according to a program I saw, the first visitors BEFORE the Middleton’s were Kate’s hair & makeup people. They were photographed walking in with the car seat earlier in the day.
Don’t know how I feel about the polka-dot “just like Diana” dress. I mean, the dress is cute, but just stop – you will never be her. Mostly because our Kate is lacking some pretty significant drive, but nonetheless she needs to get her own identity or people will keep putting her in that box.
Also, didn’t that look like a run of the mill carrier? Kinda basic?
On a different note and total pet peeve of mine: in the last picture it looks like Mrs. Middleton is not looking straight at the gentleman who is shaking her hand. Not making eye contact while greeting someone is really rude!