Prince William went stag to the BAFTAs & other BAFTA awards highlights

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The BAFTAs were held last night in London and we’ll have fashion coverage throughout the morning. I just thought you’d like a highlights post, because some unexpected stuff did happen last night. First of all, despite the rumors that Duchess Kate would arrive on Prince William’s arm for the event, William ended up going stag to the BAFTAs. It’s interesting, isn’t it? I seriously expected them to put on a “happy couple” show but I guess they couldn’t be bothered. Kate is scheduled to appear at the Buckingham Palace event honoring Helen Mirren later today, and I don’t believe William is expected to be there. So maybe Kate was just “watching George” last night. Hm. I tried to find video of William’s BAFTA speech honoring Mirren, but it’s nowhere so hopefully you’ve seen it somewhere else. There is video of William high-fiving Tinie Tempah though:

So, what else happened? Jennifer Lawrence won Best Supporting actress but she wasn’t there to receive it. Chiwetel Ejiofor won Best Actor, Barkhad Abdi (from Captain Phillips) won Supporting Actor and Cate Blanchett continued her reign. Gravity also picked up a slew of awards. Some video highlights:

Barkhad Abdi wins Best Supporting Actor. I love that he won!

Here’s Chiwetel’s win and acceptance speech. Lord, he’s so handsome. His speech is on the long side, but to be fair, this is the only major award he’s likely to win. I think everyone was like, “Let him have his moment.”

Cate Blanchett managed to accept her award without directly thanking Woody Allen. She pays tribute to her friend Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Here’s 12 Years a Slave winning Best Picture:

All in all, it was a pleasant awards show, ably hosted by Stephen Fry, who sometimes seemed a bit drunk (or was he just charming?). My only complaint was that BBC America put in too many commercials! It would have been a one hour awards show but there were two hours of commercials. Ridiculous.

PS… I’m pretty sure William’s shoes are velvet. It’s good to be the king.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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124 Responses to “Prince William went stag to the BAFTAs & other BAFTA awards highlights”

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  1. SonjaMarmeladova says:

    I almost cried when Barkhad won, I was so happy. I really hope there will be some future for him in this business.
    And Stephen Fry is so awesome, I love him.
    And for the life of me, I don’t understand why Jennifer keeps winning over Lupita, her role was so overacted.

  2. Amelia says:

    Ooer, Daniel Bruhl’s girlfriend looked p*ssed when Barkhad went up for his award.
    A shake of the head to Bradley Cooper being dense enough to say “Who’s that?” when the cameras were nearby!
    Really pleased for La Blanchett, even though I would have loved Judi Dench to win; I just love her to bits.

  3. Sixer says:

    I was very happy for Barkhad Abdi, too. Doesn’t he come across as a delightful guy?

    I thought Cate’s homage to PSH was a tad embarrassing. I mean, she couldn’t wax lyrical about Woody so she had a problem. But whiffling on about PSH and saying b4stard wasn’t a disguise. It just made it look obvious. She should have just said thank you BAFTA in a few more words and left.

    Brad looked liked he was saying a massive phew when 12YAS got best film. Recognition! Finally!

    Last night, Sixlet Major and I thought the awards looked all over the place but after a night to sleep on it, we think they got it pretty much ok aside from JLaw. I feel sorry for her: any amazing work she does in the future is going to be devalued by too many half-deserved awards.

    Oh and: Fassy. I was watching him and he looked genuinely chuffed for Abdi. And I liked what Ejiofor and McQueen said to/about him. And I think I might be a little bit in lurve in with McQueen.

    Oh and and: Tinie Tempah afterwards trying to make out that the Willy high five was a spur of the moment thing. Yeah, right. (That’s my snark for the day).

  4. Hannah says:

    It was a two-hour show on UK television. What did BBC America cut out to fit in the commercials?

    Seeing the reaction of the people involved in Captain Philips (Hanks, Greengras & spouses) to Barkhad’s win was so wonderful!

    • M.A.F. says:

      I didn’t watch the awards this year but I watched last years. And from what I remember they seemed to cut a few awards that don’t register with American audience (Best British Film?) and then throw in too many commercials. I couldn’t figure out why the award ceremony was long last year but that is why, too many commercials.

  5. Anna says:

    I wish Lupita had won, that would’ve made me so happy. And I hope Chiwetel winning somehow means he’ll win the Oscar (I’m crossing my fingers)..
    I’m so happy Barkhad won though and the whole crowd seemed very happy for him too (even Fassbender). For anyone who’s curious, when Barkhad thanked his Hooyo he was thanking his mother. It’s the Somali word for mum. I thought there might be some confusion since there was some on YouTube lol

    Btw the whole night Bradley and Suki seemed like annoying Debbie Downers. The camera should never cut to them

  6. Sunny says:

    Kate was never expected to attend.

    • Nikkie says:

      I think Kate mania by the press might have taken focus from the honored nominees. Great move on her part to not go.

  7. Curious Cole says:

    Despite the closeness I expected, this seems like a very odd, fractured time for Wills and Kate’s relationship. Her public speaking has gotten worse (how that’s even possible is beyond me), she’s sticking with safe styles/events, and with the exception of the Hello! shots of her on vacation with her family, Kate always has an air of manic anxiety about her. I wouldn’t marry William for all the tea and crumpets in the kingdom. I won’t lie, the jewel vaults would give me pause, but still – no.

    • Original N says:

      I agree [for the most part], Curious Cole & your sentiments expressed above represent a general feeling expressed on the last KM thread. However, I do not think we ever had confirmation that she was going to attend this event (someone, please correct me if my information is amiss) … so I am not certain we can infer anything from her absence at this event (I don’t think you were – just stating).

      • Lizzie says:

        As I said elsewhere, Kate & William (and George) went to a christening that afternoon and Kate was godmother to the baby. When they returned home then William went to the BAFTAs. I think that despite all the snide remarks, Kate does have a big share in looking after their son, and she can’t be out and about everywhere. The event which she attended on Monday with the Queen was obviously pre planned. If she was always out, then people would ask who was looking after the baby!

    • Lark says:

      Agree—-I know people love to rag on her here, but I’m more side-eying William at this point. He has a free weekend, and he chooses to spend it hunting with his ex-gf? His baby is still an infant, and it’s not like he seemingly spends that much time with his son in the first place (he has housing in Cambridge in case he “needs” it) and there’s photographic proof of him kind of living a separate life. He’s not a busy mom that is getting a spa weekend. Kate seems like a woman who isn’t the brightest bulb in the bunch and who was raised to be a trophy wife, but I still feel a tad bit of empathy for her and she seems on edge.

      • FLORC says:

        Lark
        It is very much William that is the issue and that’s only getting supported with time. If we’re lucky he’ll continue to bully the press and they’ll fight back. Then maybe we’ll get some truth printed.

        And I must correct you. We do not love to rag on her. People that love to hate go to a KK page. We’re not calling Kate a cow, pig, or calling George awful things.

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        FLORC – “If we’re lucky he’ll continue to bully the press and they’ll fight back. Then maybe we’ll get some truth printed.”

        Did you see this article by Tom Sykes? published a couple days ago…”What is William and Harry’s Problem with the Press”
        http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/14/what-is-william-and-harry-s-problem-with-the-press.html

      • FLORC says:

        Hmm..
        CynicalCeleste, Thanks for the link. Wow.
        1st impression.. Wiliam’s bad attitude towards the press and/or the perception of the press within the royal circle is not the same as ours.
        Maybe they know something we don’t or feel they’re not being treated fairly? Maybe William’s bad attitude has rubbed off on Harry? I know that is very true With my husband and brother in law.

        They really should know better. The press was always going to cover this story. Maybe they thought the press was going to write a “better late than never, but still they were late” kind of article?

        And truly, their attitudes are pushing my goodwill to the ground.
        I would like to see that video to get a better grip on my theories.

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        Camilla Tominey of the Sunday Express is all over this issue today on Twitter as well. https://twitter.com/CamillaTominey

      • bluhare says:

        I don’t find it surprising they weren’t happy with the press. This was, what, one or two days after JeccaGate? They probably thought they were all in the clear about that trip and then some pesky photographer got photos of them and all hell broke loose.

      • FLORC says:

        Bluhare
        I am a bit shocked at the reaction. Let me explain myself.

        I’m a huge believer in if you don’t want to get caught doing it, Don’t do it. And i’m not always in the sights of reporters and photographers. William should have known better and he only has himself (and maybe Tanna) to blame.
        In fact, i’m thinking if Tanna said nothing this wouldn’t have been anything.

      • CynicalCeleste aka Dominique says:

        So a petulant response? That does seem in keeping with past behaviour. They tend to paint all press with same brush, rather than recognizing individual journalists or distinguishing between the quality of publications, which, i think, is an indication of their snobbery. As Tominey says in her tweets, without the press they wouldn’t be able to achieve half of what they attempt to do charitably…and the great hypocrisy of their eagerness for coverage of their anti-poaching endeavours but not of their penchant for hunting. It is a double standard that stems from an attitude of arrogance and entitlement. I really hope there is a long overdue evolutionary shift afoot here, where British media can fully and fairly report on the royal family’s actions, rather than cosseting them and treating them like some fairy tale poster children for one per centers. I realize they are not elected politicians nor celebrities building careers on publicity, but having been born into their situation, each still has a choice in how they follow their path and how they fulfill the obligations that come with the privileges. You can do so with grace, gratitude and compassion for the world around you…or not. Princess Anne and her children have made choices to reject some perks so as to normalize their lives as much as possible. Charles and William, and one day George, certainly have the opportunity to make choices that could work in their favour of popular opinion and that would give them an easier ride when it comes to living their private lives. It would be astounding if they ever showed a modicum of understanding that the increasing wealth gap is the biggest risk facing the world right now (according to the World Economic Forum). I just don’t know if they have it in them.

      • CynicalCeleste aka Dominique says:

        Aaaaaand DM has got a photo of Harry bagging a water buffalo. Sorry, I don’t mean to hijack this thread I just find the media response going on right now to be totally fascinating…
        http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2560871/Crackshot-Harry-buffalo-killer-Picture-emerges-princes-call-protect-wildlife.html

      • Suze says:

        @CynicalCeleste (love the name, btw)

        I noticed that the coverage of Duchess Kate had been getting less and less considerate, but when they start hitting the *SONS OF DIANA* directly it means that the press has gone to war.

        Well, Charles and the PR Officer best hunker down. Tell the boys no more smart-ass comments to the press. If you can’t say anything nice…you know the drill…say nothing. Smile, grit your teeth, think of all your lovely perks and SAY nothing.

        Kate and William better start a strict Vitamin B regimen – they’ll need their energy for the round of appearances that must be done to counteract the latest. BTW, kids, a baby announcement in the latter half of 2014 would be a nice accomplishment.

        Oh, and Harry? Go hire Cressida get married, dear. A summer wedding would help quite a bit toward shoring up the firm.

      • Jackie says:

        @ Cynicalceleste : (and everyone else for that matter.) If you click on the link for the “What is Harry and William’s Problem with the Press” article (which you all should, it’s a good read) and look at the header photo the guy on the right helping them with sandbags is hilarious. He’s looking into the camera and smirking as if to say “you know is is horse sh!t, right?” Really, it’s such a suiting photo for the content of the article…

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        Jackie: the Guardian video makes it look even moreso… although, as the reporter points out, kudos for getting off the Chippendale sofa and making an effort.
        http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/14/prince-william-prince-harry-flood-relief-effort?CMP=twt_gu

      • bluhare says:

        Celeste, that’s an interesting analysis. I’m especially struck by the lumping everyone into one category aspect. One would think they would know the difference between freelance photographers and actual reporters, right?

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        Bluhare, yes exactly. Like in any sector, the press assigned to certain beats or geographies tend to be fairly small and you run into them again and again over the years. Obviously that is why media relations has become the industry it has, because at some point when you’re in the public eye, you realize you need to have a relationship with these people – its a give and take, you want them to cover your positive stories and hope they won’t be too hard on your less than flattering ones. And you recognize they have a job to do, so you do your best to help them when you can. i don’t get the sense that Will & Co make an effort to even acknowledge let alone establish a rapport with the journalists who have been covering them for years, they just consider them all as evil paparazzi. From an outsider’s perspective anyway…maybe I’m completely off base.

      • Sixer says:

        Remember that battle lines are being drawn by the press in the UK generally at the moment. EVERYTHING is to play for regarding freedom of the press, since no regulation has yet been decided upon in the wake of the hacking scandal. Exposing royal hypocrisies is just one weapon in the press’s arsenal. But it *is* one that will get a great deal of traction. The British press has more reason than spite to start reporting on William’s laziness, Kate’s pointlessness, Harry’s whatever, everyone else’s whatever (if indeed William actually is lazy, unfaithful, and the rest, or the rest of them do have skeletons in the closet), right now. We can expect more of it.

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        Thanks sixer, it’s helpful to have that context.

    • kibbles says:

      For most women who come from a humble background, marrying a Prince would be hard to turn down even without any love in the marriage. Very few would turn down the opportunity to join the British aristocracy, have their children set for life, and spend most of their time on vacation, touring the world, and wearing designer clothes. However, Kate is not like most women. Her family has a business and millions of dollars. She was set for life before she met William. Kate could have had the very same lifestyle without the media scrutiny and with a better man who would have allowed her to be her own person with a career and interests, who wouldn’t have let her wait nearly a decade for a ring, who treats her better. Unlike most women, Kate had many choices to live a very comfortable and even aristocratic life without having to marry into the Royal family. This celebrity type of Royal lifestyle seems to be the one she has always dreamed of having, but one can only speculate if she had really expected the amount of backlash from the public about her laziness, many fashion and style faux pas, and the apparent problems in her marriage. I suspect that there are some things about this life that she doesn’t enjoy at all and that combined with a husband who might have a wandering eye could make Kate quite unhappy in the long run. I wonder if she’ll surprise us all and someday in the distant future file for divorce. Anything can happen.

      • epiphany says:

        I agree with everything you said, but here’s the wrinkle in your theory; in the UK, one’s social class still matters. I’m sure some our British bloggers will confirm. In the U.S., rising from humble beginnings and becoming wealthy and powerful is considered the ultimate achievement – the Kennedys, for example, were dirt poor Irish immigrants. That sort of ambition is also lauded in the UK, of course – but nothing trumps an aristocratic background, which the Middletons simply do not have. They are merchant class – wealthy merchant class, but merchant class nonetheless. The only way they could rise above their social standing was to marry into it. That’s why just having the money wasn’t enough.

      • FLORC says:

        Epiphany
        True enough.
        Much was being made and side eyes were being thrown when the Middleton’s got their CoAs made and wore their signet rings. I won’t for space sake, but there are lots of stories of behavior that Americans would yawn at that british Aristos find very distasteful and hallmarkers of “new money”.

        It’s not always about how much you have, but more about how long you’ve had it. That opens the door to a seperate culture and view of many things.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Epiphany
        You’re absolutely right. I just wish more people were honest about the snobbery/classism that fuels so much vitriol towards and ridicule of the Middletons. I don’t worship the Mids but I refuse to promote every nasty rumor about them as “fact”
        I don’t like double standards.

      • FLORC says:

        Dame Snarkweek
        In a thread not too long ago Cate B. spoke about how Australian’s don’t pay attention to a class system. Clearly she’s wrong, but maybe she’s just not seeing it being so high up the food chain? It must be that way for most, no?

        On some level we’re oblivious to a class system differences. Mostly below imo. You always see who’s above you, but not below. By that perception everything is equal.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        FLORC
        I would agree with you but for the fact that so much up-tradey, new money snark aimed at the Mids seems to come from people “below” them. Those further down the food chain are quite vocal – loudly mimicking and regurgitating the same old tired social mantras that support classism in the first place. There is little equality in that. Why should the aristocracy look down on new money from above when the working class are more than willing to do it from below? I mean, who is snobbier than a $28,000/year butler?

      • bluhare says:

        I agree about the snobbery, Snarkweek. When I first started paying attention to Kate and reading blogs, I was stunned by some of the comments from people. The key words appeared to be “vulgar”, “common”, and “breeding”. Any or all of these words in a post were the giveaway.

      • Sixer says:

        I don’t think it was the plebs that called the Midds the Wisteria Sisters, guys.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Hi Blu,
        Looks like we both missed a heck of a royal thread here over the weekend, lol. It was one of the longest and most interesting I’ve seen in awhile. But the CB royal court ladies held their own as usual, par excellence.
        But yes, the nature of some of the Middleton remarks make me a little squirmy. I am not too fond of caste systems. I know that is not our particular battle on the royal threads, but you can hardly fail to notice it when it fans the flames of such wildly negative conjecture. And sometimes from people who really should know better, imo.

      • Tulip Garden says:

        Agree with all those commenting about the Middletons being perceived as “new money” and, as such, social-climbers unworthy of relation to the royal family. It is snobbery at its finest. What has shocked me is that so many are really vitriolic about Carol but, of course, Mike gets a pass. There is so much stereotyping that it is appalling. I do believe that Carol is the more aggressive of the two and that has paid off for her AND her family. Good for Carol and her family, I say.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Tulip,
        Brava! Carole is far less odious than the late Diana’s own grandmother, who forced her awkward teen daughter to snag the then Viscount Spencer. Though far from perfect, Frances endured a hellish, abusive marriage with Johnny Spencer while her mother encouraged her to just deal with it. During the subsequent divorce and custody hearings I don’t have to tell you who sided with Earl Spencer – her own mother. But these long gone examples would still get a pass because they were high born. And don’t get me started with the Uncle Gary/prince Andy comparisons, lol.

      • bluhare says:

        Well, Tulip, Michael Middleton’s background is decidedly more acceptable to the vapor addled snobs than Carole’s. She’s the one who gets the “common no breeding” stuff. I think he’s descended from some minor nobility and his family had enough money there was still a trust around to help out with the children. Carole married up, and Kate married stratosphere up.

        That was a very interesting discussion on the other thread, Snarky. I had to throw my two cents in, and sort of wish I hadn’t, but can’t change it now.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Blu,
        It is all necessary to enhance the running dialogue, so regret not 🙂
        You touched on a key point about Michael. His grandfather had been a successful merchant and managed his finances well enough to leave small trusts to his children and grandchildren. That is great but it is Carol who literally dragged a kitchen table, a telephone and a lamp into their storage shed to start Party Pieces. Maybe it is the Americano in me but I find that to be one hell of a great come-up. Are the Mids ambitious? Sure. Are the Mids vulgar? Well, let’s just say they are not on record as wishing to be anyone’s feminine hygiene product.

      • LAK says:

        I’ll chime in here on class vs carole.

        There is nothing us Brits hate more than try hard. Not in a monetary self made sort of way, but in a Hyacinth (Bouquet) Bucket sort of way. There is nothing that will have you judged negatively and faster than being that sort of try-hard.

        As an example, the current Duchess of Northumberland (The Percy family) is firmly middle Class, with no money. Ditto the Countess of Wessex. There are no tales of up-tradey-ness on their part or of rumoured snubbing of social inferiors nor did their class come up on their marriages.

        And as Uncle Gary himself tells us, Carole really bought into the idea of moving up socially Mrs (Bouquet) Bucket style. She’s be the first to snub people she perceives as socially inferior if we are to believe her neighbours in Berkshire.

        Honestly, Uncle Gary doesn’t have that discussion around him because he doesn’t care about class which works in his favour as far as being accepted by everyone no matter their social standing.

      • FLORC says:

        Dame Snarkweek,Bluhare, and Tulip. Wow! You all make for such a good read!

        I regards to the Lower class snarking at the Middletons.
        I was more refering to those snippits of “The Queen dislikes Carole because she was chewing gum and excused herself openly to the “toilet”.” There was a lot of that kind of stuff. Those close to Anne said about the same. I believe the Anne stuff more than the Queen stuff. If I had to choose.

        And imo Michael Middleton is in the backround. I reserve my judgement until I see or hear more from him. If anything I find him to be in the shadow of mighty Carole and her ambitions. And I love Carole’s bootstraps story of rags to riches. I really do. I do think PP got outside help from Uncle Gary and in a very dirty way. A business like that just isn’t that profitable without a sweatshop producing the items and not with huge competitors like PartyCity, DollarTree, and Walmart to state a few. We might never see the books on that business and it seems very crooked.

        Oh! And another new money story was how Kate is redecorating Amner Hall to look old with new, McMansion quality items. Aren’t the neighbors said to be fired up about that?

        And Dame Snarkweek
        Regarding the feminine product. I pass no judgement on what those do behind closed doors with consenting partners. I kind of hate that people still bring it up. Don’t we all have a bit of freak in us? I would hate for others to constantly bring up my private life as a joke and with judgement.

        And last bit. Diana was a huge snob. I can see her giving the worst of it to Carole and Kate if she was still around.

      • Suze says:

        I think LAK hit it on the head. Carole, Kate and Pippa are seen as socially amibitious climbers, who do not hide their desire to be in the top tier of society – nor do they hide the hard work that it takes to get there. That rubs folks the wrong way. You can climb, but we better not see you doing it.

        Michael and James tend to blend into the background are less judged.

        FLORC, I find Carole Middleton fascinating and would love to hear her real story, which we never will.

        Americans are just as snobby as Brits. Someone mentioned the Kennedys upthread – they were vicious classists. You have to go back to the 1840s to find a Kennedy immigrant. By the time Joe, Sr., hit the national scene, he was a well established member of high society married to the mayor of Boston’s daughter.

        Granted, Janet Auchincloss did not think Jack Kennedy was up to snuff, socially, for her daughter, but she was the ultimate snob. She could put the royal family to shame.

      • Suze says:

        I sometimes wonder if it’s Carole, not Kate, who is the draw for William.

        That is one crazy, messed up family.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Good observations all.
        I think that explaining, condoning or condemning classism is sadly beyond the realm of what I personally find enjoyable/stimulating. It is the laser beam focii of criticism and the double standard that leaves me chagrined. It seems to me the Mids are slammed not only for succeeding but for enjoying it. As for those kind neighborly reports there are truthful versions of an impression and highly impressionable versions of the truth. I don’t discredit Carol’s neighbors but I can not cite their stories to the press as the brush strokes that bring the Middletons to life. What would the neighbors have said about my great-grandmother had they been interviewed? She was the first female in her township to own her land outright at the age of 15 with no conservatorship. She was the only child of a couple so staunchly conservative that they drove two counties away for church because the local pastor’s wife let her hair touch her shoulders. And my great grandmother was so stunning that she was rarely allowed to go out in public. Sorry for the trip down memory lane but I can only imagine what those neighbors would have said in an interview, lol.

      • FLORC says:

        LAK
        I loved Keeping Up Appearances and Up stairs Down stairs growing up. They were my favorites on PBS. I have both complete series on DVD.
        And that’s very interesting with the Percy family
        Suze
        Americans are a snobby bunch. Even outside of class we’re just awful at times. And the Kennedys are true american royalty. A scraggly bunch that built an empire on hard work and still retain a level of social responsibility. There were of course faults, but overall there was much good created because they lived.

        And My only thoughts on William and Carole is William found a maternal figure that kisses his tush and treats him like he’s pure gold. He can do as he likes and when he turns up at their home it’s a king’s welcome. Will this affection hold up with time?

      • Tulip Garden says:

        @Dame Snarkweek,
        Love your commentary on the Middletons and your own family roots. I do think there is an element of “how dare they” when it comes to reports about the Middletons.
        @Florc,
        As to Party Pieces, they may have had monetary help from Uncle Gary or someone else but how does that make it dirty? You borrow become successful and pay back usually with considerable interest but maybe not to a family member. I may be being presumptive because, perhaps, there is another way in which Parties Pieces has been implicated in dirty dealings?
        @Suze,
        Your comment about the Middletons being crazy made me laugh. I don’t think crazy would deter William. You’ve heard of the antics of his mother and father surely? Not to mention various others that while out of the limelight make the Middletons seem tame in comparison! 🙂 All joking aside, I do think that the Middleton family was one of the reasons that William was attracted to Kate. They may be “crazy” but they seem to genuinely love on another and are close. I think he wanted to be a part of that.

      • Tulip Garden says:

        I wonder where LadySlippers has gotten off to? Miss her commentary.

      • bluhare says:

        As far as the Middletons go, I don’t care about whether you want to be in the top drawer so you mantel is full of dinner party invitations; it’s the being snooty and snobby to people who can’t help you get there that annoys me. Fine, climb away. But don’t treat the rest of us like crap on your shoe!

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Blu,
        Exactly this.

      • FLORC says:

        Tulip
        My whole response to you didn’t pass moderation. So, i’ll give you the gist.
        By “Dirty Money” I meant the Uncle Gary is a known drug dealer and in other parts of the world it’s no secret he’s had a hand in underage $#x slave business.
        He was flat out caught on camera selling coke and pills I think.

        His home is called something like casa de bang bang where Will and Kate have partied/visited.
        And yes, Michael and Gary both had sold businesses and made a profit (IT I think), but not to this degree.

      • ataylor says:

        Tulip Garden – I think what makes the company “dirty,” from what I know, Party Pieces products are manufactured outside of Tijuana, Mexico. The workers are paid very little and I believe there have been rumors that they are manufactured by modern day “slave labor.”

  8. Lark says:

    I love Barkhad! And I really love that Fassy seemed sincerely pleased for him. I know it’s hard to judge for a two second spot, but he had a real smile versus the pokerface/frown that quickly turns into a smile the others guy had imo. I love Jennifer, but don’t even get me started on her winning over June or Lupita or even Julia. Cate was great, but the whole speech was kind of awkward in a way I thought—maybe because she’s been dancing around the Woody issue?

  9. Original N says:

    Kaiser, the top photo for this thread is really unfortunate for the woman accompanying Wills. I feel terrible for her … It looks like the photo caught her mid-expression. It reminds me of LadySlippers referencing the statement of a magazine editor regarding the fact that there are generally an equal number of good/bad photographs of any given individual and the press can pull whichever they like in an attempt to cultivate the mood they are aiming for …

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      The Woman looks TERRIFIED someone will shout “WIll, Where’s Kate?!” That poor Woman is being used as a Human Shield!

      “the press can pull whichever [photos] they like in an attempt to cultivate the mood they are aiming for … “, maybe THIS is what the press is going for here ‘to sell papers’!

      Congratulations Original N, You’ve introduced yet another layer to my feverish conspiracy thinking! Thanks for that!

  10. Sloane Wyatt says:

    Prince Special Snowflake wears Velvet Shoes because OF COURSE .

    “I seriously expected them to put on a “happy couple” show but I guess they couldn’t be bothered.” Uh, maybe that’s not the case here. Perhaps Princess Buttercup Snow’s growing a spine, what with ditching Special Snowflake and all. Princess Kate CAN’T with that cad Wills, and I like it!

    The Future Queen Consort Kate would do quite well to take lovers now that she’s popped out The Heir. Who cares if the Spare’s a *cough* Ginger, amiright? Or how about that cutie Ellen Page? I hear she’s available.

    Whatever you do girl, don’t let the bastards get you down! C’mon, Princess Kate, snap out of it! – Cher in Moonstruck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY

    Like Princess Diana,

    • Mich says:

      For her to ‘snap out of it’ would mean that current behavior/life approach was somehow different from what it used to be. She was a doormat for Prince Special Snowflake for a decade before becoming his wife and is a doormat for him now. I’m sure she dreamed things would change after they wed/had a baby but we all know how that goes!

    • Dame Snarkweek says:

      Mitch,
      I don’t know about that. It only makes sense on the surface to normal folk like you and me. And this lot whereof we speak is anything but normal. That is why the royals often behave in a way that leaves us gossipers shaking our heads. Don’t they get it? We ask ourselves. But no, it takes a long time for them to buy a clue because the rarefied air they breathe cuts off what we consider to be prudence and common sense.
      So Kate is a long way from snapping out of it, unfortunately. I doubt that WillKat even see any cracks in their established roles. But the public sniffing out conspiracy theories and side-eying this fairy tale is probably making Kate look so unglued lately.

      • Mich says:

        Kate is ‘normal folk’. I know people her family (especially her mom) looked up to and aspired to be like for years. She is not aristocracy. She was raised seeing her parents’ loving relationship and accepting it as the norm. I judge her laziness harshly but I feel bad for her all the same. The example set for her growing up was a loving one. The reality she seems to be living is far from.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        I agree but therein lies the crux. Despite the genuinely warm and affectionate upbringing that surrounded Kate she still sees magic in Will. After all these years I simply can not abide any more Kate-as-gold digger explanations. That may be part of the narrative but doesn’t explain everything. Her adoration of him is too entrenched, too unconditional to be dismissed as up-tradey at this point. Did the image of him as a grief-stricken teen behind his mother’s catafaulk bury itself into her own teen heart? Is she blinded by some magnificent, earth-shaking, private show of love on William’s part? Is her family shaping her perceptions and she finds it easier to shrug, grab her wallet and hit the High Street? Has Will convinced her that monarchs simply do not follow the same rules as mortals and he is so glad to be married to someone like her who “gets it” making her all the more determined to proudly live up to the challenge?
        The few who know the answers to these questions are the only ones who can make Will and especially Kate make a bit of sense. The rest of us won’t know for some time. I will say, however, that whatever “it” is, it made Harry stop laughing at her and grow sincerely fond of her, made Camilla put up a futile mini fight to put Kate under her wings (Carol deep sixed that quickly) and has the RF working hard to finesse her image. But unless Will matures more in a hurry I feel that his empty-eyed wife may go down with the ship.

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        Dame Snarkweek: “Has Will convinced her that monarchs simply do not follow the same rules as mortals and he is so glad to be married to someone like her who “gets it” making her all the more determined to proudly live up to the challenge?”

        Whoa. I think you may be on to something there.

      • bluhare says:

        Mich, I totally agree with you. Say what we will about the Middletons (and we do!), I don’t think their family closeness is up for debate. They did something right, for sure. And if it’s true that Kate’s having trouble adapting to royal life, it’s good her family is there for her. That being said, it must make any distance and coldness in the royal family even worse. Especially if she can’t trust any of them.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Cynical
        Great name 🙂
        When Will and Harry used to live it up on the club scene in London there were several spots they frequented where the owners gave them privacy, free alcohol and the freedom to party as they saw fit. After several rounds of negative headlines about the prince’s wild ways Kate allegedly had a falling out with one of the owners of the club for failing to properly shield William and Harry. Odd response, no? It is possible that Kate is determined to show her teen heart throb prince that yes, she will always have his back (no matter whomever else may be in front).
        He married her and will not desert her not because he is in love with her, but because he knows that she really means it. William is an arrogant cad but the day Kate ever wakes up and realizes she is so over it no one will be more shocked than he. And he just might realize too late that we reap what we sow. His father learned the hard way and is, I think, a greater man for it.

    • bluhare says:

      Nah. William’s president of BAFTA, so this is work and she’s working today with Granny.

    • Suze says:

      I don’t think she was scheduled to be there. They appear to be appearing at a lot of separate engagements lately, probably to spread the wealth.

      I think, like Bluhare said, Kate is appearing with Gran today or tomorrow. Which is actually a better gig, imo, than hanging in Will’s shadow at the BAFTAs.

      • LadySlippers says:

        In previous Baftas appearance(s) post marriage, William also attended solo. So the lack of Kate really isn’t that big of a deal — at least to me.

  11. MrsBPitt says:

    Does Wills bald spot seem to be getting smaller….is he going to try the trick, where he covers it up little by little so that we (the dumb public) doesn’t notice that he is suddenly rocking more hair??

  12. FLORC says:

    William taking someone else only feeds the flames in this mess. And Kate doesn’t stay at home for a red carpet event. it only happened once before when she had the noro virus. And I guess again for the winter wonderland party at KP, but I don’t think there was a red carpet area.

    Hmm… I’m about to take out my tinfoil hat if this continues. Poor thing has been collecting dust for far too long.

    • Dame Snarkweek says:

      How is your fracture healing? Feel better 🙂

      • FLORC says:

        It feels fine, but i’m going a bit nutty without being able to do any cardio. If i’m extra b!tchy here it’s backed up frustration. Thanks for asking Dame:)

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        You could always crank up the Daft Punk and chair dance, lol. I did a lot of passenger seat dancing when I had to wear a cast/boot combo for seven months. I felt like an id at first then said screw it and had a ball. Eventually I could do Just Dance I and II back to back with the boot on.

      • bluhare says:

        Apparently I’ve not been paying attention. I didn’t know you have a fracture, FLORC. Hope it’s healing nicely.

      • FLORC says:

        Dame Snarkweek
        My chair is a 65cm exercise ball. It keeps me bouncing so I don’t feel so sedentary:) A strong bass line is always welcomed! What’s just dance?

        Bluhare
        Yea. It’s why i’ve been here so much. Fractured tibia. Almost healed! I feel like James Stewart and my exercise ball is a wheel chair. The window? My tablet.
        I only mentioned it yesterday. You’re up with the times Bluhare!

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        FLORC
        Just Dance is a sereis of games by Wii. You mimic the dance moves of an onscreen avatar and gain points for accuracy. I never even bother holding the controller because I have no interest in the points. I love the energy, learning new dance moves, getting fun exercise and listening to the music. The songs range from Elvis to Motown to 80s bad radio to Ke$ha. We used to have Just Dance parties and they were a blast 🙂

      • FLORC says:

        Ah. I love shooter games and have the xbox kinect system, but never got the dance games. Worth a shot now. Thanks!

    • caitlin says:

      Florc – This is the first I’ve read about your fracture – what happened? Wishing you a speedy recovery!!!!

      • FLORC says:

        Caitlin
        Thanks! 🙂

      • bluhare says:

        Interessting that FLORC didn’t tell you how she broke her tibia . . . wonder if Mr. FLORC (FMORC?) was involved. She was talking about getting her freak on upthread!

      • FLORC says:

        LOL Bluhare!
        1st Mr. FLORC is not one for royal blogs. He’s well enough with his National Geographic and a cup of tea.
        How I fractured it details are still up for debate, but it was during some driveway shoveling and some ice.
        It’s not as interesting as Zac Effron’s story of how he broke his jaw, but it’s the boring truth.
        Writing Nat Geo and tea makes me feel like an old married couple. He just turned 30!

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        As 1/2 of one I can tell you, FLORC, that old married couples are awesome lol. Now, Mr. snark is 16 years older than I but we match one another splendidly – strong black coffee, crossword puzzles and day trips to the Cloisters galore. Bring on the aging process, i’m ready!

      • FLORC says:

        You are too funny Dame!

      • bluhare says:

        Gah, you and FMORC (who he shall be forevermore even if he doesn’t give two sh*ts about the royals) are a couple of kids!! Glad you’re healing up well, and sorry to hear you didn’t break it in a more entertaining fashion. 🙂

      • FLORC says:

        I will tell him just that Bluhare! As FMORC rocks himself to sleep in his crushed orange velvet rocking chair he was given by his mother’s father, I’ll wait until his snoring wakes himself up. Startled by this, as always, I’ll tell him that yes, he was indeed snoring and that’s what woke him up. And that his new name online is FMORC and he should be honored.
        And the crushed orange velvet chair is just as ugly as you think. It’s his one bit of furniture. I have the whole house:)

      • bluhare says:

        LOL, FLORC. Tell FMORC he doesn’t know how good he’s got it. Mr. bluhare’s favorite piece of furniture is out in the garage. 🙂

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        OMG, I didn’t know others had to deal with their husbands’ bedraggled furniture! Mr. Snark has an unnatural affection for a coffee table. It is hexagonal, a hue of golden oak not found in nature and every bit the size of a small, New England state. The table is. Unfortunate.
        It was a chest high, pub style table in his family’s rec room growing up. His father wanted it to be a normal, knee height at some point and decided to cut down the legs himself. Because of course. Well, each attempt to correct the inevitable wonkiness lowered the table mor and more. The damn thing belongs in a Japanese tea house now. A few cuts more and it could be a dance floor.
        I have made short order of the rest of his furnishings but Mr. snark’s bottom lip has a barely perceptable tremor when I suggest we spend the weekend trolling estate auctions. When he is not in the room the table and I side eye one another.

  13. Jaded says:

    Aaaaaand…my crystal ball this morning shows that in approximately 2 years, 3 months and 14 days, while during the last trimester of Princess Buttercup Snowflake’s second pregnancy, Prince Snowflake and his BFFF (Best Female F*cking Friend, a.k.a. Jecca Craig) will be caught trysting in a downmarket B&B in Wetwang, East Yorkshire by the paps. He’ll explain that they were doing a follow-up study on the declining boar population in Spain and Princess Buttercup will sue the royal family for the crown jewels, have Prince Snowflake incarcerated in the Tower of London and go live on Mustique with Prince Harry. The end.

    • Original N says:

      …where the second baby will be born, with ginger hair….things that make you go hmmmm 🙂

    • Dame Snarkweek says:

      And James Middleton will have a nervous breakdown because after chasing Cressy away with a cake knife he thought he would finally have a shot at Ginger Prince. They will have found poor James curled up in the fetal position, wearing Pippa’s bridesmaid gown and covered in marshmellows and signet rings, sobbing hysterically.

      • HH says:

        “…wearing Pippa’s bridesmaid gown and covered in marshmellows and signet rings, sobbing hysterically.” – HAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Good thing I wasn’t drinking anything because I would have spit it out.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        HH
        Fair is fair. You have certainly made me lol plenty in the past on these threads 🙂

      • Suze says:

        Chef James chasing Watercress with a cake knife actually made me laugh out loud! But. Hmmmm….maybe some grain of truth there.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Suze,
        Oh gosh I could only hope. I’ll even bet he has a stash of marshmellows secreted away with Harry’s face on them with edible print paper. There’s a good bloke *slurp*

      • CynicalCeleste says:

        I think it’s Wills that James fancies, not Harry. More his type, lol.

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Cynical,
        Then James had better learn to bake with vodka!

      • Original N says:

        Oh my gosh … That was hysterical. I have tears rolling down my face! Well done, Dame!!

      • Dame Snarkweek says:

        Original
        YW 😉

    • Mel says:

      Some French media (among others) are already speculating she is pregnant again.
      Not that I care one way or the other.

      • Suze says:

        Well, anything is possible, but with the big Aussie tour coming up I would think she would be doing anything to prevent pregnancy until after. It would be a big drag to have a bout of morning sickness (or HG, lol) during the trip.

  14. Ladies of Lavender says:

    +1 to everything Sloane said. Concise and on point as usual!

  15. anne_000 says:

    I can see why Kate wouldnt have attended the BAFTAs if she has to do an appearance the next day. That’ll be like two working consecutive days. She’d be too tired on the 2nd day..,

    • bluhare says:

      Poor thing . . . working two days in a row? I shudder (very delicately of course) at the thought.

  16. dana says:

    Daily Mail has the photos of her “work” today. She was wearing a red dress she’s worn before – gasp, the horror! – but what really struck me was how frail and bony she looked, especially when she was pictured with other, normal looking people.

    • FLORC says:

      They called her 5’10” in the article. Are they mad! Good grief. In heels maybe.

      And the heavy photoshopping on her makes the rest of the photo look fake. Everything is improved on her image and the scenery and other people look faded and foggy.

      She does look very thin again. Maybe smoking again? Maybe stressed.

      • bluhare says:

        You know what struck me? How sour HM looks. I mean she didn’t even try to crack a smile in the photos I saw. Plus I never realized how poor her circulation is. Her poor hands.

      • Suze says:

        Now we know how this is disseminated through the internets – all roads lead back to the Daily Fail.

      • Suze says:

        @bluhare
        HerMaj was smiling in some of the photos, the ones where she was greeting some of the guests. The only with Helen Mirren stands out (the two queens meeting each other).

        Dame Helen looked freaking fantastic.

      • bluhare says:

        When doesn’t Helen look fantastic, Suze? I think most of us would like to be her when we grow up.

        The Queen wasn’t smiling in the ones with Kate. She looked sort of sour, but maybe I’m reading too much into it. I was pretty dazzled with her brooch, though.

        FLORC, I’m going to go off on wild speculation but I think Kate’s stressed. I think something’s up, and I don’t know what it is. (My tinfoil hat hasn’t been getting enough use either!)

    • brenda says:

      So Suze, what are you suggesting, that the Daily Mail doctored the photos and Kate is really vibrant, robust and the picture of health? While I have no interest in what they have to say in their article, I went on to the DM site, checked out the photos and she looks like a rack of bones. Who knows — it’s been suggested here before that certain pictures are tweaked prior to releasing to the masses… Interested to hear your comments on this.

      • Suze says:

        I’m a bit confused – sorry.

        HerMaj is Queen Elizabeth. And all I said was that she was smiling.

        Dame Helen is Helen Mirren, and she did look freaking fantastic.

        I said nothing whatsover about Kate in my comment.

      • brenda says:

        I meant your comment at 8:22 – not the one directed at Bluhare.

      • Suze says:

        That comment was about how Kate’s height is constantly misrepresented in the press. She’s 5’7″ or 5’8″, not 5’10”!

        Probably wasn’t very clear – it’s a continuation of a conversation we were having on a different thread. Gets chaotic in here.

  17. Lizzie says:

    Actually Kate acted as godmother to a friend’s baby on Sunday afternoon, and she, William and George attended the ceremony at a church in Chelmsford. They attended the service with the ordinary parishioners. When they returned home, then William attended the BAFTAs.

  18. Larry says:

    William should always go stag. It’s better for his image. Until he finds a seriously sexy woman to really marry. I can’t wait for their divorce.
    Nice velvet shoes.