Today is Veterans Day/Remembrance Day/Armistice Day. Yesterday, in England, they did “Remembrance Sunday” which was basically like solemnly noting Remembrance Day except it was a Sunday. So the royal family went to church, wore lots of black, and the ladies stood on a balcony while the men (and Princess Anne, probably) laid wreaths and marched with their military units. Prince William and Prince Harry laid wreaths of poppies at a memorial in London. Everyone observed two minutes of silence. It was quiet and dignified.
Like she’s done in years past, Kate stood on the balcony at Whitehall with The Countess of Wessex, Sofie, who is Prince Edward’s wife. Back in the day, it was said that Sophie helped Kate with her “princess lessons” and tried to be something of a married-into-royalty mentor for Kate. They spent some time gossiping. Kate also spent some time twirling her hair – The Mail has those photos, and I’m including one of ours too. It’s because of the sausage curls. She had to twirl them to make sure they were still sausage-y. This is what I’ve said repeatedly about Kate: for formal events when it is bad form to constantly play with her security-blanket hair, she really should just pull it back into a chignon or a bun or something. Also: Kate’s coatdress is Temperley London. You can see what it really looks like here.
In other Kate news, The Express had a strange story – William and Kate were going to cohost a fundraiser for Centrepoint in their new digs at Kensington Palace. Taylor Swift was going to perform, and there celebrities scheduled to attend. The tickets went on sale several days ago (at £500 each) and they sold out. And now the royal press office is all, “Prince William will be there but Kate won’t, this whole thing is a huge misunderstanding!” The director of Centrepoint is falling on their sword, but it sounds like Kate and William were going to cohost the fundraiser together and Kate just didn’t want to. Hm.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News.
I saw the DM pics. I’m sure that it was just a minute or two, max, but she looks really vacuous and superficial in them. It looks inappropriate, and it doesn’t really matter if she spent 98% of the time looking sombre and dignified. She should’t be fussing with her hair during a remembrance service.
Regardless of how long she was or wasn’t playing with her hair, this just reinforces an odd and unacceptable pattern. She doesn’t style her hair in accordance with the event. When giving speeches knowing she will be looking down at her note cards, she’s constantly brushing her hair out of her face. For outdoor events she doesn’t take into account the possibility of wind, so her hair is constantly blowing in her face. There were also private photos of her playing tennis, decked out in sporting gear, and her hair was completely down. I mean, who plays sports with their hair down?!?! There are numerous examples. Her lack of preparedness style-wise is so strange given that she has a whole team with years of experience at her disposal.
At least she’s consistent? All I’ve got.
Well HH, I am shocked William didn’t choose you, Kate is a downright heathen for sure! In all honesty, it’s ridiculous that this even made it to some degree of news, so what if Kate likes her hair coiffed and down… she keeps herself on point for what really matters and holds herself quite well overall for being followed by paparazzi 24/7. You all with these multiple and stringent said ‘princess’ ideals need to lay off the scones and doilies…it’s getting to your head! She is the perfect Princess for the now culture (ie. not chauvinistically and subserviently tailored to a T)!
@Kaycee. Is this intended as sarcasm? “she keeps herself on point for what really matters”? Laughing through multiple Remembrance Day events, laughing when signing memorial book for those killed in natural disaster in New Zealand, wearing ridiculous and ridiculously-expensive clothes to visit people who lost everything in a riot, ducking out of as many engagements as possible, continually shoving her hands through her hair and extending that unsanitary hand for people to shake, more holidays than work days, inappropriate co-ed clothes, skirts flying up in the wind on multiple occasions, etc.
“She is the perfect Princess for the now culture (ie. not chauvinistically and subserviently tailored to a T)! ” You mean the woman who did absolutely nothing but wait for a man to call for a decade?
“You all with these multiple and stringent said ‘princess’ ideals need to lay off the scones and doilies…” I suggest reading up on Maxima of the Netherlands and Mathilde of Belgium. Accomplished, intelligent, well-educated career women who made something of themselves before marriage and since. We aren’t comparing Kate Middleton to impossible ideals; we’re comparing her to her peer group, who pretty much wipe the floor with her in everything.
Let me start by saying that I am not a “hater”- not hers, not anyone’s – but I saw those pictures myself and I have to disagree: she did look sombre, but not dignified. She looked BORED out of her mind (and, at times, shockingly self-complacent).
And for someone whose business and, yes, duty it is to present a front – and be acutely aware of the powers of photography, as well as of the malice of many an editor, at all times (when in public) – she seems oddly unaware of her facial expressions. Or, worse, she just doesn’t care.
As I said yesterday, if disguising her feelings is an art beyond her capabilities, could she not have put herself in the right frame of mind by thinking of her own ancestors who lived through war and hard times?
After ten years of “apprenticeship” such an insouciant attitude towards her public image is odd. Very odd.
Her grandfather was a pilot during WWII and, from what I read, she was close to him. I hope she gave him some thought (and thanks) yesterday.
That’s interesting and good to know, Bluhare. I do hope she did spare a loving thought for him – and for the women in her family who had to endure the “home front”.
(I only wish it were more apparent from her behaviour, considering her visibility, that’s all.)
Yes! I was shocked at the expressions of absolute ennui, especially on this most solemn of days. I betya she’s a barrel of laughs. Vapid, she’s so vapid. There is no “there”, there.
Those Shirley Temple ringlets make her look like a poodle. A bored, supercilious poodle, yeah that’s the ticket.
Yep, Maven, ennui is the right word. And not a good look – on anyone, let alone a member of “royalty”.
I am constantly surprised by her apparent lack of self-control in these matters, all the more so because she is said to be remarkably self-disciplined in other areas.
She needs acting lessons.
Seriously – if you aren’t really engaged you need to act engaged. This is your job for life.
Her make-up it’s so harsh! I don’t know her age, but she looks forty!
I think its just because she is rather slender. Once you hit 30 or so you cant be that thin without sacrificing a bit of youth.
yes you can, as long as you aren’t unhealthily thin
She looks way older than 31, and it has nothing to do with her weight. There are lots of people who look much younger than her who are older than her. AND THEY ARE THIN, TOO.
well over forty, I’d say. Very harsh.
Well, you know what they say: after 40 you choose between your face or your ass. I’ve chosen my face.
@Faun. Yes.! My face and another piece of pie, please!
I think she’s 32.
She’s 31. But I’m glad someone else commented on how aged she looks. Is it the position in which she finds herself that’s aging her? I do not agree with yeahright that it’s her weight. I’m 34 and thin, and last week, I was mistaken for a high school student. I think it has more to do with all of the damn drama.
Thanks for the correction, Rachel!
Too much sun is aging. Very bad for the skin.
My goodness, some of these pictures are making me laugh, which is making me feel guilty because I shouldn’t really be laughing at someone who’s honoring war vets. *Hangs head in shame*
That said, she really does need to stop fiddling with her hair…it’s practically a compulsion by now.
I felt the same shame.
However, I nervously play with my hair all the time and never really noticed how much until the guy I was seeing pointed it out.
She looks okay to me only because that hairline isn’t showing.
Important thing though, is paying our respects to the members of the armed forces, both past and present, my Grandpa was in WW2, it’s an immense sacrifice, I don’t know how they do it.
I actually welled up reading the DM this morning. The article about the 300 people going to an old veteran’s funeral and the 2 minutes of silence at 11:00 just got to me.
Oh good grief. She probably touched her hair briefly and unfortunately it was captured. This woman cannot do anything right in the media. She’s only human. I highly doubt anyone who truly matters (veterans) took offense to this. I want real celebrity drama.
Lol right? A picture shows you what a person did in like a second. I’m no Kate apologist but I think that once you really dislike someone, then EVERYTHING they do is offensive to you (and I’m not judging, I’m like this with one or two celebs right now) and I think that’s very much what’s happening here.
Like when they photograph someone in the middle of a blink and caption it, “so-and so drunk at funeral.” You can’t tell anything from a still photo, unless it was posted by the photo subject. (see Aniston)
Except it wasnt just a second. I saw the video, it was several times throughout the whole ceremony. It was her face that bothered me the most though, is it really that difficult to hide your boredom?
It’s her behavior through the whole ceremony that is the issue. She is in an immensely public and priviledged position. It would be terrific if her actions would reflect some consciousness on her part of the positive role model she could be. 31 is too old not to be affected by the tremendous sacrifice veterans made for younger generations.
This makes her look like a dumb dumb (with weird style)
Spot on Addie.
My only thoughts are to those who have bravely served us and those currently in the military.
Thank you for your service.
Beautifully said.
Hear hear! Thank you to all who have and do serve!
She was not merely playing with her hair, she was fixing it, re-curling it. You don’t curl your hair or play with your face or fiddle with things when you are on display.
The 98% of the time when she was not playing with her hair or smirking, she looked bored, completely bored. Compare her look to the somber interest of those around her.
I used to think people were finding fault a bit too much, but with these photos I am convinced that she does not understand her role. It is certainly a disadvantage that when one falls in love with a member of the BRF, you do not merely marry the person, you do marry into the Firm – it’s both a relationship and a career. She does not seem to get this. Or care.
I’m glad I’m not her today – I’m sure that the Queen did not appreciate these photos.
Yes, yes, yes. No way I excuse the behavior, She knows what is expected, if she were at a fashion show, I may let it slide. I guess she needs some more Duchess lessons. And that hair really needs to be updated. Don’t even get me started on the make-up.
Or maybe the Queen has better things to worry about. Her own son once made comments about wanting to be a tampon. I’m sure a little hair playing doesn’t even get an eye roll.
+1
Agreed with Allie and Dani2, I’m amazed and gobsmacked at how much intense sheer hatred this woman gets, and shes never done anything to deserve it. She touched her hair for one second, oh, great crime! Ok, even if you subscribe to the notion that shes lazy, so what? How does it hurt you? Is it a worse crime than all the stuff the Lohans and Kardashians and Stoddens get up to? If it was an issue for the Queen and the royal family, I’m sure things would change. If it doesn’t bother them, why should it bother anyone else? It seems like such a completely silly thing to rag on someone for, in fact, I don’t think I’ve seen anything more petty in my entire life. So this woman doesn’t work round the clock like royals from 3 centuries ago. If thats her only fault, so what? Sheesh, people act like she eats babies for breakfast. I don’t see any real sin to be honest. And I couldn’t give a stuff about the royals. I just find it astonishing that such a harmless, innocuous quiet woman is treated like a murderer, all because of her workload. I just can’t with it all. smh And now I slowly back out of this story thread.
I believe Charles heard plenty from the Queen about his private conversation which was illegally hacked.
Imagine what would we would hear if your private conversations with your lovers were hacked and played for the entire world or have you never said anything remotely ridiculous in private, which you wished you could have taken back?
Sal,
I don’t believe anyone here has ever treated her as if she eats babies for breakfast by posting a critical comment or two on a website.
I invite you to view the Getty images of this ceremony and see how many photos there are of Kate playing with her hair. Or smirking. Or looking bored. Or staring off into space.
Sal — you write like someone who has no understanding of Middleton’s role and the significance of the occasion. You are excused.
Sal, please point out the “sheer hatred” that’s been posted here.
oh, come on! it’s not like Charles announced on national tv that he wants to be a tampon. that was a private conversation. is he not even allowed to have a crazy thought or two considering all he does for the good of his country?
i have nothing against Kate and Will, but whenever i see them in public, they always seem forced and bored. even if it was 2sec of sausage curling, it still happened publicly. in DM video Will is blinking like he either needs glasses or is falling asleep and Duchess is making sure her curls are up to par while others (and prince Philip at 92!!!) honour the fallen. classy.
@booboobird
Yes, it was a private conversation. However it was a huge embarrassment. People go on and on about how the Queen must have these issues with Kate. But hair twirling is not even remotely on the level of things her own children and sister have done.
Sal,
Who is treating Duchess Kate like a murderer?
smh, confused.
She knows she will be photographed every single minute. She *knows* this. So for this solemn ceremony, would it be hard to keep her face sober and her hands off of her hair? Or if hair twirling is a nervous habit of hers, how hard would it just tie it back for a few hours? She looks good in ponytails.
Pointing these things out doesn’t equate Kate to child murderers.
Merritt. WTH! YOU bring up something Charles said in a private conversation 30 years ago. Why would you think the queen would be concerned about something Charles said in a private conversation 30 years ago?
Besides this story is NOT about Charles, don’t drag him into this.
I would personally feel angrier towards someone who acts badly in public than with someone who was hacked or recorded in a private conversation. We all say politically incorrect or embarrassing things in private when we think no one else is listening or reading in the case of private text messages to a lover.
If I was the Queen, I’d warn Charles that he should have known better not to send anything too sexually explicit over email or text because of the possibility of being hacked, but I wouldn’t be furious about it. However, hacked texts are much more understandable than someone who acts classless at a public event or walks anywhere outside a room with four walls naked as Kate did on a balcony.
Ultimately, none of us knows about the private conversations and PR strategy of the Royals, but please don’t believe that the Queen doesn’t get upset when one of her children, grandchildren, or their spouses act classless or stupid in public. She doesn’t seem like the type of woman who finds classless behavior funny or easily forgivable.
This time the criticism is because the occasion required dignity and respect. Both of which seem to be lacking in the Duchess. She really, really looks disrespectful. And the range of facial expressions seen in the above pics are hilarious!
@Sam
You massively missed my point. With all of the ridiculous things her own family has done over the years, some hair twirling is not going to get much of a reaction from the Queen.
LOL, “somber interest?” Did you see Sophie? Her resting bitchface could peel paint (and I’m not slamming her, I love it). She also blew her nose right there on the balcony. She’s not the clickbait Kate is, though, I guess.
People can’t help it when they have to blow their nose. Twirling one’s hair is another matter.
She’s also not the layabout that Kate is. I invite you to follow Sophie – you can find many photos of her at her various events, functions and royal duties. You can also see her listings in the Court Circular. She is never anything but dignified and appropriate.
I do follow Sophie. I love her and her bitchface (and terrible suits), like I said. But don’t try to pretend that if Kate blew her nose, everyone wouldn’t be clutching their pearls about it.
She looks like Lady Stark from Game of Thrones in the straight on photos. LOL!
She played with her hair, but it was brief. It looks like a nervous habit she has. I really don’t get the anti-curl behavior. While I realize she curls hers, many of us have hair like that naturally. the constant comments about how curls are childish or unprofessional are what have led many curlies to seek damaging treatments for their hair. Enough with that already.
I’ll second that. I’ve spent years flattening and etc mine. Look at half of the Hollywood stars that have curly hair and have it straightened for every red carpet appearance.
I too have (very) curly hair and all I’ve got to say is if my mother saw me doing that at a remembrance service, I’d have none left from the blast I’d get.
How about pulling it back into a ponytail or something? Problem solved.
That is missing the point though. People unconsciously touch their hair all the time. Most of us just are not photographed doing that. Putting hair back doesn’t change how curls are frequently ridiculed as childish or unprofessional.
Curls are ridiculed as childish and unprofessional? Really? Not trying to start anything, Merritt, but whenever I’ve quit straightening my hair and let it curl people always tell me I’m nuts to straighten it. Now, I don’t like my hair but apparently everyone else does!
@bluhare
That is your experience. However that is not how everyone reacts. Numerous women have reported a different response when they wear they hair curly for an interview versus straight.
I think that’s so weird about Kate backing out of the charity event. I am sure that was part of the draw for ticket sales, too. While I’d still be pleased to meet Prince William, if I forked over a considerable sum to see both of them, I’d feel let down. (I would, of course, still attend the event.)
I’m surprised this isn’t getting more attention. Backing out of something after your name’s on the invitation is pretty poor form. I know their office is saying she was never confirmed to attend, but (1) there has been tons of reporting about this with the two of them hosting, and (2) her office would have had to OK the invitations! But no, rather than admit she’s backing out, they’d rather throw it on the charity.
Yeah, as if the Duchess is so busy! She’ll probably either be in Mustique with her family, or on the way there, with Willy meeting her later. That will be the true story.
Isn’t it being held at Kensington Palace? All she’d have to do is walk down the hallway to it. I wonder what’s really going on.
Maven, yes it is at KP which makes it all the more strange she can’t go. I can see that they might want to have one person at home with the baby but, if that’s the case, I don’t quite understand why something wasn’t said earlier.
I agree with Maven. It’s odd that the plans would change at the last minute – and I don’t believe for one second that the charity screwed up the invitation. That thing would have been thoroughly vetted through the palace.
I don’t say this in the spirit of Kate Hate, but rather as an observation: she really hasn’t been looking well at all lately. Even at the christening, there seemed to something wrong – you can tell the official photos were photoshopped to high heaven to cover up her pallor and tiredness.
Something is up for sure. I get that Kate doesn’t like her charity functions, but a ball is a different matter. It seems unlike her to miss something like this. And I don’t think it’s as simple as one of them needing to stay home with the baby.
yes, when you honor the fallen and the veterans it is very important to twirl your hair back into shape… How old is she?
Oh wait she´s 31 and a mother right?
Blowing off a charity event?!?
Centrepoint is claiming this was their mistake to let the Cambridges save face, but there is just no way they would be permitted to send out invitations promising Will & Kate cohosting a Ball without their royally expressed permission.
Plus those invitations went out weeks ago… And the palace is only NOW correcting the invite?
What exactly is Little Miss Princess Waity doing that she can’t take a few hours to attend a fancy ball to benefit homeless youth? Don’t tell me it’s because she’s a new mom. She’s got tons of nannies, a mother who apparently dotes on the boy, and all the resources of the English crown at her disposal.
That’s what I don’t get. Why wasn’t something said weeks ago? I have a hard time believing the charity would just go ahead and tell everyone she’s going to be there without getting that fact checked, double-checked and triple-checked by the Palace.
Not only were invites sent out, but media has been talking up this event for weeks. Not just British media. i remember Lainey wrote about it with last year’s invite as the accompanying picture meaning that the story had filtered down to blogs. They should have said she’s pulled out rather than make the charity look incompetent.
LAK
Thank you for pointing this out. For a while now i’ve been hearing how Kate is adding very personal touches to this event and is big part of the whole presentation because she and William were throwing is event together.
Her charities sure do take a beating being associated with her.
Still, I wonder why she’s not attending. Is this like the crew charities event? Kate is heavily involved with it up until the event where she pulls out for reasons unknown? I wonder what’s so important..
My conspiracy might be a little far fetched, but I wonder if she didnt back out because she doesnt have a tiara to wear. Everyone expected her to show up wearing a tiara since the event is black tie and tiaras and it makes sense thay she would back out after realizing the queen wasnt going to loan her one. Afterall, you csn just ask the queen to loan you her jewelery.
I think you can ask HM to borrow a tiara. She would not want someone letting the side down. And if she were too scared to ask the Queen, she could ask Charles.
I think she and William are fighting–locked in some sort of battle and she’s being passive-aggressive.
As I posted the other day, she is too old to present herself in the inappropriate manner in which she did on Remembrance e Day. In truth, I am one step shy of calling her an idiot–only that’s something I don’t do cause it’s harsh and would be inappropriate. But she (and William), it seems to me, needs to grow up.
Oops! Should have gone one post down. I agree totally. It’s really poor form.
i feel sorry for the Queen. Charles probably is the last of the hard working in the line for throne (oh, well Harry too, but he’s too far removed now to have any chance) and i’m sorry for saying this, but i think Diana screwed up by bringing the boys up the way she did. you never will be like everyone else.period. it just seems that Will (and Kate) does not want to be a royal when it comes to his duties (since mingling and making small talk is such a back breaking job). he sure likes to vacation and certainly seems to appreciate all the other perks that come with being blue blooded. if Will didn’t let Kate get out of this charity event, she would be there. WIll just has not been taught to take responsibility. how to complain that it’s hard being better than thou he has mastered pretty well. i
This looks SO bad. Who on earth does she have on her team? There should be competent advisers in place to prevent this kind of thing from happening. I’ve been willing to wait and allow her to adjust to the role but, yowza — you really cannot cancel in this situation; go to the event and be gracious and smile and make it worth people’s time.
And I could care less about how she wears her hair (admittedly one should never touch ones hair in public) or how “old” she looks (the last thing we should be criticizing ourselves for) but hey, lady! Grow up and do your job.
Well, her skin does not look very good here, I wonder if she is back to smoking? She’s got that smokers skin.
Also, I read somewhere that protocol for this event is difficult. Royals have to walk a fine line between being sombre and looking like they are enjoying their time. I’m curious as to Sophies behavior during this event…is she being called out smiling/not smiling?
Her skin (and hair) looks majorly post-partum to me. You’re all dewy and glowy while you’re pregnant and for the first couple of months after, but then the hormones crash and you dry out horribly (gross, but true). Things tend to regulate after a few more months, so we’ll see if that’s the case.
^this!
I (and most women I know) look like hell post partum. Give it a year, things get better around the baby’s 1st birthday…
BS. I’ve had 4 babies and have been around many women who have have lots of babies and it never changed our looks, from our fresh looking selves. Stop trying to tie post partum to every thing odd about a woman who has had a baby. Some people use that excuse when the child is 10 years old.
I notice she has starting to look like the portrait they did of her early this year. Not a good look btw.
OMG can she just chop that hair off pleasssssssssssssssssssss!
+1000
Her face! It’s so drawn and droopy and haggard. what happened?!
I agree, she looks bad.
Looking a bit tranny here.
Kate backed out of an event where there would be other celebrities? THAT is a news story.
Two years in, and I’m surprised no one has pulled her aside and pointed out that even if she means no harm, she is still under scrutiny and she may want to reconsider her poise and attitude while in public like this. Just because she redeemed herself by taking the Remembrance Day Ceremony seriously last year doesn’t mean the world stopped paying attention.
Was she taking it more seriously last year or was that just morning sickness? Cause she would have been pregnant already at last year’s Remembrance Sunday.
But either way, she does need to be more diligent about how to behave at somber ocassions like these. This isn’t the first time she looked nonchalant at a serious event and someday she’ll have to do more of these type of things so it’s best to learn now.
And it would help if she just pull her hair back too so it wouldn’t distract her.
Last year, Lady Susan Hussey was on the balcony next to Kate. She’s HM’s LIW. Kate tends to control her body/expressions better when HM is close by and having Lady Susan standing next to her was/is as good as having HM standing next to her. Everyone was better behaved last year as a result of Lady Susan’s presence.
Yes, you are right about that – I had forgotten that important detail. Sounds as if Lady Susan needs to stand by her next year!!
Vava – I think Lady Susan needs to become her LIW until it becomes second nature to control her public face/body.
I would never want to be Queen. However, I would love to be the person who is so vital to the Queen that just my presence makes everyone else straighten up and fly right. I didn’t know who Lady Susan was until today, but I already like her.
The twirling looks bad, but like most people have pointed out, it was probably a split second blown out of proportion. As far as Kate looking older than her age, I have to agree, which is a bit hard to justify considering her luxury lifestyle/work ethic. I think the cause is not so much child birth, but the fact that she seemed to tan a lot throughout her twenties.
Brief or not it’s shows ill breeding . Don’t touch your hair is a central tenet of the aristocrats. She’s a tacky cow but it’s what William wanted .
How about bad manners? She’s not a cow or a pig.
Silly,
This kind of comment drawing relating between Kate and farm animals is the kind of comment that gets our comments dismissed as hate.
Bottom line, she’s a person.We might take issue at times, but we don’t belittle her in that manner.
In defence of Silly, it was me who made the comparison, Florc. I await my lashings with the wet wiglet!
Tsk tsk bluhare. 5 lashings of theroyal wet wiglet for you!
And 3 for me for not reading the comments appropriately. Fair is fair.
Ps . Photo shop has been stopped on her I see.
I wonder who she’s pissed off?
Heck, even Vanity Fair has joined in the fun.
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/11/kate-middleton-ringlets?mbid=social_twitter
She looks so old in those pic. I wonder if Kate feels special because she is the future King’s mother. She knows that any woman William dated would get this type of media coverage right? Maybe even more than Kate because she has got to be one of the most boring women in the world.
I won’t shade her for looking this rough: new mom, biology (her years of smoking and tanning are also catching up with her and her sister but that’s something else).
I do think this though: if you take on this role, learn how to act during an appearance. I am not talking about hair-twirling a bit (a lot, yes) or blowing one’s nose if utterly needed. I am talking about the inevitable weird pulled faces and clear boredom. Other young royals in other countries can handle this without looking ridiculous.
And show up at the event. Tell Mama Middleton you cannot make it home that night because you are supposed to be DOING YOUR JOB.
Y’all seriously picked the worst photos of her. 🙂
Why doesn’t she were it up?? Long hair gets in your face and it’s impossible not to fuss with it. Surely there could be some sort of royal mandate on this?
Look as some civilian cell phone pics of her shopping some time. Her hair is pinned up or in a dressy posnytail. And it looks great! I ave a feeling she thinks hair being up is casual and hair being down is dressy.
But the opposite is true. Hence the saying “let your hair down,” meaning to relax. She’d definitely play with it less at formal occassions that way!
Compare her facial expressions yesterday to her facial expressions in 2011.
2011:
http://www.blog.royalgossip.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Kate-faces_RemembranceDay.jpg
Not much has changed.
Why is it so difficult for her to put on a countenance that looks serious enough and respectful? She shouldn’t even be having these moments, royal or not. Nobody except the idiotic would behave like this at an event that has so much magnitude as Remembrance Day.
The thought of Remembrance Day should be enough to inspire sincerity and respect and sombreness from anyone. If the thought of people dying in the war isn’t enough to affect you, then something is very, very wrong with you. If the memory of those who died in the war is not severe enough that you can’t help but laugh at the first silly thing you see, twirl your hair, smirking and looking bored, then you need a good kick up the ar*e.
I don’t care who the hell you are. If you can’t spend an hour or two to reflect and sombre up while remembering and honouring the vets and the heroes of the wars, those who died so the future generation (including Kate) can live in a more peaceful world and take things for granted, then you are an effing moron.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2500051/We-remember-Hundreds-flock-Remembrance-Day-funeral-Bomber-Command-veteran-died-aged-aged-99-rest-Britain-stands-honour-fallen.html
Just look at those people crying for someone they didn’t even know. The only thing they knew was that he was a war veteran. But that was enough for them to pay their respects. That was enough to move and affect them.
Look at those people standing still while at the mall, standing outside their offices, those people crying on the streets, while observing the 2 minutes of silence. Not one of them was smiling and twirling their hair. All looked serious, heads bowed, looked reflective.
Now look at those photos and look again at Kate’s. You can’t help but shake your head at Kate’s inability to muster any feeling of compassion and sombreness for 1 hour when thousands, millions of people in the UK and Canada have no problem doing it.
I cried reading that article, Sachi. And was very proud of my countrypeople. Thank you for posting it; it’s a very good counterpoint.
You’re welcome bluhare.
I never knew about Remembrance Day until I moved to Canada in 2003. But I have known a lot about the war (WWII) and the atrocities done by the Japanese to the people of my country. I also know of the heroics of my countrymen and the American and British and Canadian soldiers who fought in the Pacific. We were taught the horrors of the war from a young age, so we will never forget it and always honour those who sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom.
Remembrance Day is always very important and solemn for me. It makes me cry every time the ceremonies/2 minutes of silence commences. Those 2 minutes are quite powerful and long enough to make you reflect.
Saddens me to see some people defending someone’s silly behaviour as something that just went on for 2 minutes so no big deal. 1 minute in Canada/2 minutes in the UK are the only time that is asked of us every Nov 11.
We have the rest of the year to twirl our hair and goof around. 😉
yah I agree – if you have ever been to a long funeral, you know that it is NOT difficult to consistently hold your face in a somber position for an hour or 3. It confuses me that Kate is unable to do that, or see that it’s important. I’m not one for tradition, convention, or caring what other think but….come on, it’s for the veterans – the people that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
She needs some basic training on how her facial expressions appear to others. Some training methods use video or practicing in front of a mirror, but she has lots of photos to illustrate how she appears.
Your eloquent comment moved me to tears. Puts everything (including the bored one) into perspective. Thank you.
I really don’t understand how the wife of a serviceman and the mother of a baby son would not feel moved at what so many wives and mothers of sons (and now daughters) sacrificed for their country – the ultimate sacrifice.
There have been studies that point out that wealthy people tend to lack empathy, or at least not as much as people with less money. Maybe it is because they have never faced adversity so even though they can point to something and say that is sad or unfortunate, they don’t have the personal experience of feeling gut wrenching pain or misery besides perhaps their own friends or family dying in a freak accident or of natural causes. Even though Wills might feel differently because he has had friends who have died serving their country, Kate lives in her own separate world of wealth and privilege. I am not surprised that someone like her would find it more difficult to feel much sorrow for anyone besides her own immediate family members. She just seems like that type of person.
Couldn’t agree more, the woman’s farsical. Doesn’t say much about those “advising” her either; think their main concern was obtaining a Diana antithesis in shape (the brown locks) to the detriment of form.
What I don’t understand is why on earth anyone with a working brain, let alone a31 year old mature woman with a child will wear her hairs like this at a memorial service like this?!! It’s so silly and vain, it’s not a gala that she is styling her hairs like that, who goes like this to a funeral or a memorial service? Will it kill her to put her hair up in a dignified bun or even a bloody ponytail. This school girl hairstyle looks even more ridiculous since she is looking like a40 year old with each paying day.
yep, they don’t even suit her.
Well, I think The Duchess should just not attend this event again. She obviously can’t relate to what is going on, and her behavior is atrocious.
The hairstyle is not dignified but I guess it goes with the facial expressions and the clown makeup.
I do like the coat, but how many black coats does a Duchess require??
I’m not going to bet the farm on this, but I think the coat’s a dark blue. And gorgeous.
I believe the Temperley link states it’s a black coat. Black often photographs as dark blue, but in this case I think the coat is truly black.
Sure it’s easy to twirl your hair and giggle at a remembrance service when you know damn well your husband and son will never be asked to die for his country. Tee hee — what fun!
The word vapid doesn’t begin to describe Kate. At a sombre and emotional ceremony like this, she should have shown some respect and had her hair tied back instead of blowing all over the place so that she had to fiddle with it constantly.
Katie, honey, the point of a Remembrance Day ceremony is to remember all the soldiers who died defending your country and as a result your right to live a privileged and useless existence.
Makes my blood boil.
She looked ridiculous twirling her hair. She’s a grown woman. It’s like she’s in awe of her new hairstyle.
Anyone interested in more inappropriate photos please go to RD under William & Kate response #12090 in case this link does not work.
http://royaldish.com/index.php?topic=12074.12090
I nearly spit my morning coffee all over my screen. It is hilarious- pure genius! Lol!!
Now, those are mean. Too mean for my taste.
I agree. Mean and unfunny.
Those juxtaposed pictures are hilarious! Whoever put them together is brilliant!
Seriously, though, in every picture taken at the Remembrance Sunday event, Kate looks bored out of her mind. You can almost see the thoughts in her head (This is SO boring! How much longer is this going to drag on? I can’t wait for it to end!). And now she’s decided not to attend a charity event which has been publicized for weeks because – because why? Because it will probably be boring? Because the people there will probably be boring? Because she’d rather do something else that’s more fun?
She’s a spoiled brat. This is not going to end well.
I agree with bluhare. There’s legitimate criticism and then there’s just plain jerkiness. Those pics fall into the latter camp.
Agree fully.
The more public appearances she makes, it seems the more people realize how awfully dumb and vapid she is. Maybe that’s why she does so few.
Or maybe she does it on purpose so she will not be asked back again. No, that’s too much thinking on her part, It would more than likely be Ma Middleton’s idea.
Honestly, I think she’s just dumb as a plank. She looks positively simple in some of thos photos. Presumably the media can’t comment on this as it will then call attention to the fact that William is also an absolute thicko. Imagine how dopey George is going to be?!
Well, thats not fair. His parents have chosen their paths. They could have been more than what some call the lazy duo, but they’ve made their beds. Let’s not already judge the child for the sins of his parents. Much like the york girls. Their parents aren’t the best, but the sisters are intelligent, socially responsible young women.
To Florc: Well, THEY are the ones who will raise him. So how do you figurine they will not have any influence who how he turns out?!
There are many kids who grow up to be the exact opposite of their parents. I’m with Florc let’s give Georgie a chance.
+1 I agree that she looks very simple minded. I don’t think she’s completely dumb. She used her smarts to snag Willy and become a Duchess. However, I think that is her only “skill” she learned in life thanks to her social-climbing mother. This is also what tends to happen when you spend your formative years doing nothing but making a career out of being a rich man’s girlfriend. She spent the entirety of her 20s vacationing and waiting for a ring when most people her age build their minds by continuing their education or starting their first job. If this was her plan all along, she could have at least spent those 10 years preparing by doing a large amount of volunteer work or building her expertise in art history and working for an auction house as Princess Eugenie is currently doing in NYC. She did absolutely no preparation because her plan was just to get married to Willy, have a baby, and stay super skinny so she can look good in designer clothes at official events. That is the extent of the job description for her. Her view of the job she has is completely superficial and has little to do with actual work and commitment to charity. She’s a spoiled princess in every sense of the word.
And even though it’s a bit harsh to judge a baby, children often take after their parents’ behavior and habits whether they be admirable or destructive. If George grows to be the complete opposite of his parents – a workaholic who is committed to serving the people of England – then he will be a truly extraordinary person indeed.
Remember when Kate also wouldn’t commit to attending the Ring o Fire marathon in Anglesey? I think something’s happening behind closed doors. Maybe it’s the baby, or Kate just isn’t doing stuff she doesn’t want to now that she’s a mom.
If that is the case then she is worse than we thought. The worst scenario is for her to be in the mindset that she has the right to pull out of events now that she gave Willy an heir to the throne. In that sense, she probably thinks her position within the Royal family is secure for life, therefore, does not need to do anything besides major holiday events such as Remembrance Day. I can imagine how Charles and the Queen feel about this lazy woman representing the monarchy after they die. It’s probably a nightmare for them and their public relations team, but ultimately this is the woman Willy chose to be with for over a decade and ultimately marry. I guess they can choose a simpleton like her or a firecracker who might cause them problems like Diana.
Obviously, I don’t know Kate. I’m not a hater nor a fan – though I do like her fashions and think she is a pretty lady.
That being said, I am in agreement that her behaviour at the Remeberance Day service was off putting, even if it wasn’t intentional. What I wonder is, perhaps Kate is suffering from postpartum depression? That might explain her odd behaviour, lifeless appearance and the recent cancellation of her attendance at the up coming charity event at KP. Although she does smile occasionally in some of the pictures, there seems to be a haunted look about her, a certain level of unhappiness.
If she is, in fact, suffering from postpartum depression then I hope she receives proper care and will be alright.
I could be wrong in my assumption. Maybe she’s not depressed and simply lacks the ability to know how to behave properly at formal events.
But I don’t really think she is as vapid or stupid as so many people seem to think she is. There used to be a spark behind her eyes that has been lacking since the birth of her son. I’m sure she loves her child but she could be experiencing problems arising from the birth/pregnancy.
On a more important note, may God hold tight the men, women (and their animal comrades) who selflessly gave their lives in defence of others. May He also watch over those who were injured in battle. Lots of gratitude and love to those who serve/served and to their loved ones.
Interesting point, and certainly possible. I can’t imagine why else you would pull out of an event with your name on it weeks after tickets have been sold.
She has looked off lately. I don’t have children myself, but I’ve seen firsthand how emotionally treacherous those first months can be. I don’t think she’s stupid, and I don’t think she’s hopelessly shallow, but she is a rich girl, and rich girls can be very, very, very narcissistic. So maybe she’s sick, in which case she has my sympathy. But maybe she’s being indulged and is in turn indulging herself. All speculation in the end.
And, Laura, lovely words of support for the veterans (homo sapiens and canine)!
Yeah. I mentioned before that something is “off” and I think it has been for a while. It could be the baby (I remember how distant she looked in one photo with the nanny while stopped at McDonalds). I think she is just waking up and realizing just how much of her own life has been given over into the service of Ma Middleton’s (and the clan) ambitions, then subjugated to big bald Willy wants needs and desires, and now over to a baby that is literally pulling at her t*ts. She may be realizing that although she was “there” that she hasn’t really been present in her own life.
Thirty is usually a wake up call. Perhaps she answered the phone.
I think these comments are right on.
Oddly, I feel sorry for her. Not horribly so since there are millions in the world who deserve my sympathy lined up ahead of her, but I don’t think that she really realized what she signed up for. I honestly don’t think she looked past the wedding ceremony, and now that she’s seen what is in store, she’s just shrinking back from it all.
All my opinion, of course.
Whilst I’d like to think that she is finally “waking up”, as Dena described, I doubt very much that she has the capacity for that kind of introspection and realisation. She seems very consumed in her own little world, absorbed with vain activities and pastimes, and not seeming to care very much for anything or anybody else.
I wondered the other day about that. And whether she’s pregnant. If it is depression, I hope she’s getting good help for it.
Stalking, horrid slag.
Yes, yes you are.
So much for all her “training”. Someone should be fired.
I find both Will and Kate a bit insufferable. I’ve always thought it was unfortunate that Wills is the heir to Charles. I think Harry even with his sometimes mischievous ways would make a better King than Will. Will just seems to lack a little something; I can’t quite put my finger on it but something is missing. And the more I see/read about Kate, I’m convinced she is a run trick pony. Her sole ambition from age 18/19 was to get Will and it shows. The woman is just a mess in my opinion.
These two might finally bring on the end of the monarchy as we know it.
I can help you out on what Will is missing–a brain
I do not know how she cannot be moved by rememberance day, here in Australia we have ANZAC day, and I nearly lose it every time at the march, remembering my granddad fighting in France in WW1 ( long generation gaps in my family!) She must be self obsessed to not to be moved. Plus that hair! For God’s sake woman get a choppy bob and be done.
Why does the skin on her neck sag like a 50 year old woman? Yes her face is looking rough but it goes on to her neck as well. That is worrying. Very worrying.
That succession of pictures took about half a second to shoot. Looks to me she was running her fingers through her hair because of the wind.
This girl is damned np matter what she does. ::smh::
LOL she isn’t “damned”.
Have you been to a Remembrance Day event? Most people find them extremely moving – look at the expression on Princess Anne’s husband, next to Kate. Those few “split seconds” tell a larger story.
Kate knows the cameras are there. She just needs to learn that for those few hours, she has to focus, keep her facial expressions under control, tie back her hair and not touch it, like all the other royals do. Or most of them, anyway (Sophie slips often, too).
More than 10 000 men and women marched past the Cenotaph last Sunday. Anne, the Princess Royal, took the salute. I can only imagine the stamina she must have. But not once did I see her grin, bounce, look bored, pull faces or play with her hair. She treated the marchers with the respect they deserved.
I doubt the Monarchy will last past Queen Elizabeth. Considering all the animosity toward the next generations.
The ‘commoners’ will not put up with the 100s of millions of taxpayers’ money required annually to fund this group.
I think it’s post-partum depression. She has definitely lacked any “spark” since the baby was born.
Another example of a true narcissist who cares more about her hair then the people who died for their country. She’s a self absorbed mess. William, a princess to be is not just a sex toy. She has to have social grace and empathy. Ps- we all know she had a nose job.