What I know about British country life, I learned from the Daily Mail, the Bridget Jones books and Miss Marple. So I have some vague familiarity with the organization called the Women’s Institute, or WI. WI is for country ladies, usually older ladies, to meet a few times a month, maybe have a guest speaker, maybe do some knitting and maybe gossip about their flower gardens. The WI seems pretty harmless overall, although I’m struggling to understand why a woman under the age of 55 would really want to join. But it’s happened. Duchess Kate apparently written to the local WI and asked to join. Sure. I imagine she has a lot of free time what with her mother organizing the entire Anmer Hall household.

For a young mother settling down to a genteel life in the country, the Women’s Institute – with its flower-arranging, tea and delicious home-made cakes – makes for a very alluring prospect. And now there is one branch of the WI in Norfolk that’s set to receive a new member who is sure to attract discreet – but excited – attention from the assembled ladies. For the Duchess of Cambridge has written to Anmer WI on the Sandringham estate, where she and Prince William have their country home, to express her interest in joining.

The branch, with just 14 members, has an evening meeting once a month in the community hall less than a ten-minute stroll from the Royal couple’s Georgian mansion, Anmer Hall. Last night, the delighted president of the Anmer WI welcomed the news. Dorothy Pulsford-Harris, 70, a retired barrister, had written to the Duchess before Christmas to invite her to join. She said: ‘I had a very nice letter back from her private secretary saying she was interested. We would be delighted to see her.’

The Duchess would be following Royal tradition, as the Queen became a member of Sandringham WI in 1943 and is now the branch’s president, having taken over the role from the Queen Mother. The Queen always attends one meeting a year – usually featuring a celebrity guest speaker – during her annual Christmas break on the 20,000-acre Norfolk estate. The Duchess of Cornwall and the Countess of Wessex are also WI members, and Princess Anne is an associate member. The Queen, Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex are due to attend the WI’s annual meeting on June 4, which will mark its centenary.

By joining the WI, Kate, 33, would be showing another sign of the Royal couple’s wish to live a middle-class lifestyle. The Duchess has been seen in Waitrose, local shops and joining Prince William for pub meals. The WI, with its traditional ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ image, has campaigned for many years to attract younger members. Mrs Pulsford-Harris added: ‘She would be one of our younger members. I don’t know how old our youngest member is, but I would say early 40s.’

Meetings of the Anmer branch involve activities such as flower-arranging and craft demonstrations, or visits by speakers. Mrs Pulsford-Harris said: ‘The speakers include people with interesting jobs like the local paramedics who go round on their bicycles, and people from local charities, particularly mental health charities. There are also outings and we have a meeting once a year when we go to a member’s home in the evening for a garden party – hopefully when it is not raining.’

[From The Daily Mail]

As I said, it sounds pretty harmless. And I’m guessing this is more about royal tradition – I didn’t realize so many royal women had connections to the WI – rather than wanting that “middle class” lifestyle. Perhaps Kate can even count these meetings as part of her royal event list! Ha.

One more thing – Carole Middleton has just signed on to write an advice/product recommendation list for two mum-centered publications, Little London and Baby London. She will be offering recommendations for “the best products on the market” for babies and toddlers. Sigh…

Photos courtesy of WENN.