Duchess Kate ‘decided to take a longer maternity leave than she did last time’

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I like that the speculation and expectation around Duchess Kate’s second pregnancy feels much more subdued than it was with her first pregnancy. People are interested, of course, and everybody’s placing bets on the sex and the name, but it still feels like… Kate is being given more space this time around. For the record, most people really believe she’s having a girl this time. The latest evidence? The Daily Mail’s Sebastian Shakespeare claims that Kate ordered three PINK paint samples, which were delivered to Anmer Hall.

Meanwhile, sources tell People Magazine that Kate is committed to taking a lengthy maternity leave. Which… I mean, we were all expecting that. To her credit, Kate kept up her number of appearances in the past few months so her royal-appearance numbers will still be on-target for the year, even if she doesn’t do any public events until the fall.

Don’t be surprised if Princess Kate stays out of the spotlight in the months after she has her second baby. As anticipation builds, and the hospital and doctors are preparing to help Kate, 33, welcome a brother or sister for Prince George, 21 months, the princess has decided to take a longer maternity leave than she did last time, a royal source tells PEOPLE. She has told friends that she wants to fully enjoy the bonding experience for her two children under 2 years old.

“She felt she came back too soon last time,” the royal source tells PEOPLE. “She wants to have that [family] and enjoy it with George and the new baby.”

Sources have told PEOPLE that the couple are concentrating on family with the full blessing – indeed, encouragement – of dad, Prince Charles, 66, who wants them to have as much of a normal life as possible.

Now, the couple have their huge country home at Anmer Hall, on Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham estate, as a perfect haven for them to raise their children and spend family time in the run-up to George’s second birthday. The estate is close to where William will work as an air ambulance pilot once his training has finished in early summer, meaning he can often be at home in the mornings and evenings, too.

That is an arrangement that will be going down well with one little addition: George, who a friend tells PEOPLE “is great fun. He is really enjoying the new environment.”

[From People]

There were some rumors that Kate would actually not go immediately to Anmer Hall following the birth. Some people believe Kate, George and the new baby will stay in London for a few days and then head to her parents’ house in Bucklebury for several months, which is what she did after George was born. It will be interesting to see what happens there – I suspect that even if Kate and the kids do go to Anmer, Carole Middleton will be camped out there for months anyway.

As for Kate wanting a longer “maternity leave” and believing she started work too quickly the last time around… um… okay? I don’t begrudge her choices as a mother, but it’s silly to act like she threw herself back into a 9-5 job. Her “back to work” was making two public appearances over the course of a month.

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

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77 Responses to “Duchess Kate ‘decided to take a longer maternity leave than she did last time’”

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  1. Sarah says:

    Wait is that two different coats or is it one? It changes colour in each shot! Amazing

    She should enjoy as much normalcy at home with her babies as possible. Before she knows it, they’ll be out in the world and in the public eye.

    • notasugarhere says:

      If they paid for their own lives, she could “enjoy as much normalcy at home” as she liked.

      If she’d like to keep the multiple free mansions, Duchy funding for all her clothing and their daily expenses, the multiple staff, and taxpayer-paid security — then she needs to work for the Family Firm. As does her petulant husband.

      • Vava says:

        Amen, sister.

      • Snazzy says:

        I second that 🙂

      • Question everything says:

        +1000

      • seesittellsit says:

        +1000

      • Sarah says:

        Haha um yeahm.. but she learnt about what was acceptabe from William, who is not a hard worker. Why would she bother? Really?

        Royalty has forever been taxpayer funded. Don’t like it or think you’re not getting your money’s worth? Start a revolution! Off with their heads!

      • PipaMid says:

        Surprise surprise!

        This was waity ma carol plans and intention
        all along – to get away from royal duties/ service ( an hour a day. dress up, drop at the front door -fake smile/ wave handshake/and walk back to the door/car.) another bump took care of that.

        Nannies staff are there to care for the children so P Willnot Waity fullfil and perform royal duties – the children as seperate royal line and for Bill and waity give back to the people for all the previleges they use and enjoy.

        Another child is more ways spending royal funds and give nothing back to HM POW /the people. Continued plans of Waity carol middleton scam. Let’s see BP HM POW plans for waity.

    • Ana says:

      It’s due to lighting and/or camera. I guess.

      I do like it better when it looks more salmony than fuschia.

      The coat is the new dress 😉

    • bluhare says:

      Pink filter I think accounts for the color change. William’s shirt changed color too.

    • pikny says:

      she has really aged.looks as if the waiting for the prince didn’t go as expected

  2. bettyrose says:

    Green & yellow would be great colors for a nursery. They evoke nature and sidestep cultural assumptions about gender.

    • FLORC says:

      I agree bettyrose
      Those I know that are expecting are going neutrals and the nurseries look lovely so far.

      The 1st thing that crossed my mind reading that. Did she only order 3 pink colors and no others? What if she ordered blue as well? Story seems slanted to pander to the crowds.

      • jeanne says:

        and who paints a nursery a few weeks before the baby is due anyway? that’s why i don’t buy the story. if she and william know the sex of the baby wouldn’t they have completed the painting months before? it’s just odd timing.

      • FLORC says:

        Fair point. This falls in line with the new reports Anmer is not finished after it was said to be finished months ago.

  3. Jane says:

    All I care about is that she will have a healthy baby and the family is happy!

  4. Louise says:

    Noone will even notice. They will just keep cashing the welfare checks.

  5. Victoria1 says:

    Wait, she never returned from maternity leave?? She just just fess up and say she’d rather be home with the kids and not work at all, stop lying. Whatever, I’m not from the UK but this would drive me mad

  6. perplexed says:

    Does she draw on her eyebrows? Sometimes those look as strange as her eyeliner.

  7. HoustonGrl says:

    If the Cambridges actually spent as much time working as they do trying to make it sound like they are working, then well….you get the picture.

  8. MG says:

    Her “back to work” was making two public appearances over the course of a month.

    This is what bothers me. The phrase “back to work.”

    • Nancy says:

      Yes, poor dear, digging ditches from 630Am to 4PM then rushing home to pick up the kids from daycare, and the grocery store, then home to make a quick dinner, then clean up the dishes, baths for the babies, laundry, shower, bed. Rinse, repeat.

      This woman is starting to infuriate me because she doesn’t even have the slightest idea of what most mothers who really work go through. It is VERY HARD to work full time and have babies. She has servants, maids, laundresses, cooks, nannies, and a personal,hairdresser. are you kidding me, Kate? work? you do two events a week, two hours tops each.

      God! She’s insufferable, an entitled slug, self-indulgent and spoiled. I pray she and William never become King and whatever her stupid title would be.

  9. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    Then maybe she shouldn’t allow her clothes to be paid for by Charles, who gets his money from the British public or income from his estates, which were given to him by the British public, maybe she shouldn’t have renovated their apartments in the palace and their country home at the expense of the British public, etc. etc. You act as if they are self-supporting. They are not.

    ETA: the comment to which I was responding is gone, so if you were wondering why I sound crazy…

    • Gretchen says:

      Well said. I was just about to reply to that comment myself before it disappeared! That whole “welfare queen” idea really p-sses me off, it’s largely media created and just another (sadly effective) way to further stigmatise the poor and excuse the cutting of funds to social welfare.

    • burnsie says:

      Still makes petect sense to me even without the other comment, good names 😉

  10. Red Snapper says:

    I’m not jealous, I’m incredulous. STAHP with the Princess Kate, that’s not her name. She came back from mat leave too soon last time? WTF? Also, anytime anyone reports that the Queen or P Charles is fully on board with W and K not working is lying.

    • Vava says:

      LOL………….yes, that Princess Kate title gets me every time. haha. Just like the quotes from her so-called ‘friends’. Who might they be?

      I doubt we’ll see much of her for awhile and that’s fine with me. Now, any guesses as to whether or not she’ll channel Diana’s outfit the day she presented Harry to the world?

    • Sofia says:

      They really are trying their hardest to make “Princess Kate” happen!
      It’s almost like they have a source they’re trying desperately to keep happy, hmmm

  11. Algernon says:

    Her life is maternity leave.

  12. Dena says:

    No sh*t. Really. Good for her. I don’t know about the rest of you but I could tell from her pics after George’s birth that it was waaaay too soon for her to “come back to work.” After all, showing up for a few hours a month at less than a few charities (let alone all the secret unpublicized altruistic visits) was just visibly taking its toll on her. Even now, she looks haggard: sallow skin, glassy reptilian eyes, maniacal grin. She needs rest. As a matter of fact, on the 3rd pic, they both look as if they have been getting high all night and have the case of the munchies or perhaps they are sleep deprived cause little George has been keeping them up. I beat as the new baby is growing and expanding, Kate is having trouble sleeping because of that and her added girth. Yeah. She needs a break. She has been really logging up the appearances since last fall when that slave driver of a PR guy was officially / unofficially brought on board to manage public perceptions. And look at her, she’s come thru like a trooper. Go Kate! You did it!! You did it!! You’ve earned the right to take the year off to manage your 2 under 2 (new PR spin). If people complain, no worries, the mommy-brigade will protect you. Here’s to seeing you in 2016 when you take that victory lap to the airport on your way to Mustique. Cheers!!

    She is such a beacon of light for all new young moms in terms of keeping her priorities straight when it comes to balancing family and work. GB, you all struck gold with this one.

  13. Citresse says:

    No surprise there, regarding a longer maternity leave. If they have a third, we’ll never see her again.
    Her hair is so bulky looking in the photos. When they stand together, it really draws attention to William’s hair loss.

  14. laura says:

    I think it’s silly someone who works 40hours per year claiming maternity leave. Last time she took almost 3months off(1month before birth, 2 after) which I thought was good enough, she shouldn’t take more than that.

    • Azurea says:

      Actually, 2 months on maternity leave is barely enough. In Canada, paid maternity leave is now 1 year by law, and has been for many years. Of course, if one doesn’t pay into the system, one gets nothing. Sure, it’s a personal decision for every woman how long she wants to be on maternity leave, but 2 months is barely time to adjust, whether you’re a first-time mum or not.

      • GracePM says:

        What kind of adjustment is she really making? A couple of appearances? She spends more time going out shopping.

      • Nic919 says:

        In Canada you also have to work for a full year before you qualify for EI. Kate doesn’t work so this concept of maternity leave is insulting to all the women who do work.

  15. Cait says:

    Well, that must be nice.

    I’m not bitter, she types, as she looks up from her work email with her week-old baby on her lap.

    • Lady D says:

      Congrats on the babe!

    • Aries-Mira says:

      Aww, congratulations on the new baby! 😊

      I have a three-and-half-month old and I’m dreading going back to work. If I could work from home, I would in a heartbeat. I have eight months to find something!

  16. original kay says:

    I will always feel for her, having to greet the press the day after George was born, in a dress, hair done, and in hose. Yes, she married into it knowing, but.
    I seriously doubt I could have done that, I was a right mess for at least a few days after.

    • Olenna says:

      She’s been in the spotlight for over 10 years, has never been shy about showing her private areas, and seems to love the camera. I don’t think it bothered her one bit to step outside that hospital and show off her new baby, personal stylist hairdo and Diana-inspired dress. I think she’d been happily anticipating that moment for a long time.

    • notasugarhere says:

      You mean, like all the other royals do? Except Charlene who had a C-section and premie twins. And Sophie who nearly died with Louise.

      CP Victoria walked out of the hospital 4 hours after Estelle was born. She and Daniel posed holding the car seat together (to promote awareness in Sweden that you cannot leave the hospital with a newborn without your car seat).

      Middleton isn’t being asked to do any more than the others, and she gets away with doing a great deal less.

    • bluhare says:

      Whether she’s flashed the world and loves the camera doesn’t mean much in the context of that day. She’d just had a baby — the buildup to which was seriously over the top — and the next day she stepped out. I agree she generally loves the camera, but that day she really looked overwhelmed and about ready to cry.

      Maybe everyone else is made of sterner stuff and Kate needs to work on the stiff upper lip. Sometimes emotions are tough to keep in check, and I personally like those humanizing moments.

      • Olenna says:

        IMO, the showing of her private areas is part of and relevant to the personality she’s regularly presented to the public. This personality is what my comment was centered around. She may have looked weepy and not have felt like going out in public, but she helped plan and orchestrate this day. IMO, Kate is no small woman (despite her dieting) nor is she as intellectually as light as some believe. But, I think some tend to view her as frail, accommodating and unassuming. IMO, she is as strong, steely and resilient as her mother, and I don’t believe there’s much that would have stood in her way of making that debut with the new baby or including her parents in the media event. Again, just my opinion.

      • MinnFinn says:

        You make a good point bluhare that her past sins are not relevant.

        But I didn’t think she looked ready to cry during hospital departure photo op. I thought she looked and acted more like her previous self than at any time since the wedding. Exhaustion caused her posh accent to fall off, no trace of facial botoxing, minimal makeup and her face was filled out like it was before her wedding prep starvation.

        And as far as I can tell, hair is among Kate’s top 5 priorities in life. So I suspect sitting in a hospital chair getting gussied up for her photo op was not a sacrifice or hardship for her.

        And if she and Wm were non-royal rich folk, I bet she would have still sat for hair upkeep very soon after leaving hospital.

      • bluhare says:

        I’m not a giant Kate defender but what she did before she got married is what she did before she got married. I know she’s got a problem with her skirts blowing up. But she’d just had a baby, her first, and it was a huge production and she came out and looked overwhelmed, or exhausted. I dont’ understand why we have to look at that through the prism of what she did before. It’s irrelevant to what happened that day.

        I also disagree with you that Kate’s as steely and resilient as her mother. Maybe she is, but if that was the case I wouldn’t think that articles would be printed that Carole and Mike have moved in and are helping, William and Kate get along better when Carole is there and Kate’s been tired and grumpy and only Carole can soothe her. That doesn’t sound like a steely and resilient woman to me. In fact I find it a bit odd (if true) that only her mother can soothe her and William can’t.

        Minnfinn, maybe it was exhaustion rather than feeling overwhelmed. I can concede that one! 🙂

      • Olenna says:

        @bluhare, I was not referring to anything Kate did before she married William. But, again, it is my *opinion* that as a royal, her public displays over the past few years have left an impression just like her love for the camera. So, I respect your opinion and agree to disagree that this behavior is out of context to her public persona. After the first couple of incidents, I stopped viewing her exposures (while wearing thongs and too-short, flimsy or flouncing dresses) as mistakes since I’ve yet to read a reasonable explanation for why they continued to happen. As far as articles about her parents soothing her or moving in, I always take them with a grain of salt and wonder if it’s just the DM or some other online rag trying stir up mess and generate hits on their sites. They do make for good reading and gossip, though! I guess I just can’t imagine what she needs to be coddled and soothed for–the world is pretty much her oyster.

      • hmmm says:

        @bluhare

        I think if she were ‘overwhelmed and ready to cry’ that that had more to do with the gilded loser and surrounds than with having a baby. That sounds more like an iffy support network than some reaction to giving birth. Fact is, she chose this life. And continues to choose it. No sympathy from me.

      • Jade says:

        Good point Bluhare. Giving birth, I imagine, would be different for everyone. I would feel sorry if she feels obligated to pose for the world when she wasn’t in the mood. However, she has been showing that when it comes to THE obligation to contribute back to taxpayers, it seems she is not that concerned. It does not reflect well on her if she is more concerned about this minor act (obligation) of showing off the baby to the world than her bigger obligation to taxpayers. I believe if she was truly unwell, the press and RF would be humane enough to give her a respite until she felt better. The other option is to only show the baby in the hospital crib. Also, if she had been carrying out her duties and worked as hard as the rest, I would feel sorry for her PR duty to show off a baby. So, no sympathy from me as yet. Now excuse me, my lunch time has ended so back to work.

      • bluhare says:

        Wow. I can pull her apart when she deserves it, but I’m certainly not going to say anything about someone having her first baby and having to walk out and face that onslaught. I’m glad the rest of you are made of sterner stuff.

  17. FLORC says:

    This reads like the groundwork is being laid to extend the mat leave longer than the 1st.

    And here comes the old argument Kate should have that time with her child and others here would want it too. Ofcourse, it’s wonderful to be able to bond with your new born and still have no financial issues or work commitments. That isn’t this case though.
    Kate is not a private citizen like you or I. She lives off the people. To be at her parents instead of them coming to her while she stays with her husband is a burden on that neighborhood and surrounding emergency services as well as more tax funds.

    You have to omit facts to think it’s ok to take money not earned and not give back, but instead be seen on a spending spree every few days.

    I don’t begrudg her time off to bond with child. But why not do it in one of your presecured home with family visiting you and to be with your husband? Not to be far from your husband, back in with your parents and become a burden that could cost someone’s life because you are priority number 1 and are more valued than the life of another?

    I’ll let a lot slide if she just stayed in her own homes or near William.

    • wendi says:

      How do you bond with your child(ren) when you outsource most of the child-related duties and spend your time (excluding planned photo-ops) exercising and shopping?

      • FLORC says:

        You can. I’m not saying she hasn’t bonded. Just that it isn’t to the extent the PR and articles claimed.
        For what it’s worth George appears to be a happy and healthy baby boy who shows the same level of comfort and affection with with parents, grandparents, and nannies.

  18. MP says:

    I don’t know – I’ve never had hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) or been pregnant, but I’ve heard of two moms who had it and were lower weight after giving birth than at the start (!!!), and she has had HG twice, a super rare condition that affects only 0.8-2% of all pregnancies (or something like that). tough physical issue (literally) for someone who was already underweight, don’t ya think?

    signed, someone who supports babies and mothers, even rich ones who love shopping

    • FLORC says:

      1st I want to say that while it was again used and formally this time around it was almost as quickly not used and replaced by other wording. If it was HG why stop calling it so? By then it caught on and people just assumed so, but some caught it and questioned why no one was calling it that.

      HG is morning sickness. With extremes simply put.
      Kate has never appeared to not gain weight steadily. Never lost muscle mass. Always appeared to be having a very normal pregnancy. And was seen eating, being around various smells, and not having issue. I bet she had a rought time of morning sickness, but not much more.

      I refer back to Kate Hudson for someone in the public eye that had severe morning sickness. She got very thin and lost muscle mass. Once under control she packed on the calroies to make up for all the weight she lost. Kate has never looked unhealthy during her pregnancy. She just carries a perfectly healthy and normal way.
      Full Stop.

      Now that part I will respond back to if you do as well MP.
      Do you also support those who live off welfare and refuse to work even when they can? Those who abuse public funds even when they have the private means to not need those funds?

    • GracePM says:

      Just because somebody has issues with Kate does not make them against mothers and babies.

  19. Mary says:

    First, I’d like to say I love the owner of this blog. Her writing is outstanding. This is my new favorite gossip blog.

    Anyway, ditto on Kate coming back from anything except a vacation, to go on another vacation. No wonder she waited 10 years.

    I think the Queen is furious W&K won’t step up and work, and i bet she rues the day she gave them Anmer Hall, but I think Charles is in full support. Just like he was so jealous of Diana, he is jealous of the attention W&K receive. He wants them to stay out of the limelight and let him shine as the next King. And I’m guessing William is pissed as hell his wife was not made a princess, and he decided if you can’t make my wife a princess, then we aren’t working. Diana taught him well not to let the couriers shove him around.

    • FLORC says:

      William understands how titles work. I doubt this point is upsetting. And she can use princess title. Princess William I believe. That’s the way it is. Kate wasn’t born royal.

      As far as the attention and Charles jealousy. That argument holds no water imo. No one holds back the Cambridges. And it can only benefit Charles to have them popular once he slims down the monarchy. William won’t skip Charles and I doubt he wants to in line for the throne.

      Cambridges growing in popularity is wonderful for Charles and he knows this. The rest is fantastic gossip.

    • notsugarhere says:

      Charles cannot afford to have them be unpopular. If his Way Forward plan it to work, they need to be front and center and beloved by everyone. If Charles being outshone was a problem, Harry wouldn’t be doing what he’s doing.

  20. Sammi says:

    How long will it be before People Magazine clues in that she isn’t a “princess”? I’ve sent emails to them about this (yes, I should get a better hobby!) but nope. Does the American public not want to hear about a duchess rather than a princess?

    • wendi says:

      factual inaccuracies are obviously not a big deal for a venerable publication like “People”. As long as they have the “exclusive” that’s all that matters.

    • bluhare says:

      LOL. I think they’re trying to sell the fairytale which becomes problematic when she’s only a duchess, not a princess.

  21. anne_000 says:

    “Her “back to work” was making two public appearances over the course of a month.”

    That averages to one appearance biweekly. How long is the average appearance? People have said she stays 45 minutes or less for a day event. So with round-trip transportation, that’s what at most? Half a day away from home? And it’s probably the same amount of hours when she attends ‘charitable’ works in the evenings at galas and theaters and to the Yacht Club.

    Compare that to how long it would take her away from home when she goes shopping in London or to her hair salon. It’s about the same amount of time, right?

    So working is bad because it would take her away from George for too many hours but the even more hours she spends at stores and salons is OK to lose in mommy-baby time. Oh OK.

    Good try Jason. But you were up against people who think they were born too entitled to work. At least you got in a few more work appearances from Kate before she went into hibernation. Maybe if you could get her some invites to galas, theaters, yachting events, and other rich-folk-problem charities, then she’ll come out for those.

    And if you want her to get pap’d meeting some not-rich recipients from charities, then like before, make sure they meet her at fancy, rich-folk places with a party going on.

  22. GracePM says:

    These articles are the reason I don’t respect her. Is that the goal?!

    • The Original Mia says:

      Good point. Who can respect and feel empathy for a woman who does the least, but gets the most? I know I don’t.

  23. phlyfiremama says:

    Oh, the horrors of royal life. “In Seclusion”, really? The entire royal family is an anachronism from a dark age of feudal strife when certain people seized power, and unscrupulously retained it for their own enrichment. This relic from the middle ages, parasites on a modern enlightened society, need to pack their royal bags and be sent on their royal way. This is NOT how to govern a modern society~no body needs to be “ruled” any longer.