I already covered this weekend’s excerpt from what I can only believe is a very cloying, sugary take on the Middleton family and their relationships to Prince William. Now back to our previously scheduled royal coverage! When last we checked, Duchess Kate was still on maternity leave, which means that she can only do “royal events” when they are fun, like Wimbledon, and never the dull stuff like the 7/7 anniversary memorial, or the V-J Day anniversary celebrations. How gauche! *hair toss*
As we learned previously, Queen Elizabeth II plans to mark a certain spectacular achievement very soon – on September 9th, she will become the longest-reigning British monarch to ever sit upon the throne. The Queen will mark the occasion by opening a new train station in Scotland. That’s during the day. It’s being said that the Queen will also host a private dinner or something at Balmoral, where she is currently summering. Which event do you think Kate has decided to join? Ha.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s absence from a string of recent social events has bemused some friends, but now the Queen has managed to coax Kate out of her rural ‘isolation’ in Norfolk. I can reveal that the Queen has invited Kate and Prince William to her Scottish home, Balmoral, to help her celebrate her landmark day, September 9. That’s when she will overtake her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.
‘The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be with the Queen at Balmoral on September 9,’ I am told. ‘They will attend a family dinner that Her Majesty will give that evening.’
Surprisingly, however, Prince Charles will not attend the celebration at the Queen’s retreat in Aberdeenshire, even though he is also staying in Scotland. Palace sources said the heir to the throne would honour a long-standing commitment to spend the day at Dumfries House, the stately home he helped ‘rescue for the nation’ in Ayrshire, 150 miles away.
Kate’s visit to Balmoral will be the first big social occasion she has attended after missing the wedding of William’s friends, estate agent Bear Maclean and socialite Daisy Dickson, in Devon, last month. A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment last night on the ‘private’ visit to Balmoral.
This is basically like announcing another vacation for the Cambridges. They will travel to Scotland for a few days, I’m guessing, but only to have dinner with the Queen and not to make a appearance with the Queen to publicly mark her achievement. And I’m enjoying the way Sebastian Shakespeare has reported this too: “the Queen has managed to coax Kate out of her rural ‘isolation’ in Norfolk”… when the Queen asks you to come to Scotland, you come to Scotland. What is this “coaxing”?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Aside from going on holiday year round, being a royal seems incredibly dull and meaningless – Princess Diana Kate is not
These stories really do underscore how great Diana was. She was considerably younger and less exposed that Kate, she had an unsupportive/psycologically abusive husband, a staff that made it clear their loyalties lay elsewhere, a serious eating disorder and the knowledge that most people in those circles knew about Camilla and some abetted the affair by providing shag venues, and no family members moving in to insulate her from it all; and yet she not only showed up to her royal duties, she did so with so much grace she became a crowd favorite and went on to develop a passion for specific causes. No Kate is no Diana.
And thank the Lord for that. When I had two little kids at home I didn’t do a hell of a lot either. Why on earth would we wish Diana’s existence on the Duchess of Cambridge? That IS the question. If she wishes to be a stay at home Mum, which a lot of women do then that is a perfectly viable choice. She doesn’t ”owe” anyone anything by virtue of being married to the incumbent Prince of Wales. Cmon people get over your judgmental selves.
Firstly, I dont know why of all the Kate-negative comments, you picked this one to piss on. I’m more focussed on Dianas resillience than this pampered princess. Secondly, look at you trying to spin this as a feminist issue…too cute. Kate lives off the tax payer. No we are not talking about small welfare cheques, we are talking millions a year in privilleges we can only imagine. She gets her own staff to actually help her perform her royal DUTIES, protection wherever she goes including her numerous vacations and access to people of influence and poweh. The only thing her employers (tax payers) ask is that she represent the family business she knowingly married into. The happy alternative is remove her family line from succession, give up the privillege and settle in private life. She wants to be a housewife fine, formally resign and take her equally lazy hubby with her.
The money that allows her to be a SAHM (with nannies and many other staff) comes from the Crown Estate and the Duchy of Cornwall. Both belong to the British people, of whom I am one. So yes, I get to comment on her activity or lack thereof. And I say that she and her husband are lazy and not keeping up their end of the bargain the royal family has with the British people.
Dr M, with all due respect, she owes the British public, who finance her lavish lifestyle, a whole lot. I’m sure the average stay at home mom of two babies has to worry about things like keeping up with the laundry or the doctors appointments- but Kate is in an entirely different situation. She has a staff.
There is observation and there is judgment. I don’t see this as being judgy.
it is all about charm. Diana was charm personified + was a worker. Yes, she also had expensive clothes and was on vacations, but she brought her heart and charm into her royal work as compensation. She made royal life look glamourous. Harry has this charm power too.
The thing is Kate lacks this special charm and sadly she isn´t good at meeting people and making small talk… in her position vextreme unfortunate. The firm will push her to change her workshy lifestyle when Willy becomes Prince of Wales but then she will be way too old for big changes. It means Kate will never show real charm and passion for her “job”. You can learn to work, but you can´t change your persona from “reclusive” and lazy to the other extreme.
That´s why Kate will never win against Diana even 20 years after her death. Maybe without Diana in the royal family people would look different at Kate… but let´s face it without Diana the interest in the Windsors wouldn´t be that high nowadays.
I agree with you about the Diana factor and current interest in the Windsors. I wish that Kate would fake it till she made it – the public would be much more supportive of her. No one expects her to be Diana – they just want a working royal who is grateful for her public benefits! I wonder if she understands that she is really hurting her own brand – perhaps she’s sulky because she is not popular like Diana…but there seems to be a problem in the royal household as well, if the Queen has to coax her. Those Middleton values are not working so well in the royal scheme of things.
I’d bet money Kate finds a way to avoid this dinner.
“So, Kate what have you been up to lately?”
Kate: *gulps*.
Hahaha
I’m guessing Her Maj laid out a trail of bread crumbs that ends in a giant salt lick….?? They do hunt, don’t they?
” Would you like to look at our jewelry, dear? And then choose a piece, perhaps?”
This is so strange to me, and somewhere down the line we will get the real story on why they do so little, It has to be more than just lazy. They act like their royal studies take them to war zones, or an 18 hour shift at a hospital, or working in natural disaster prone areas…O_0
What in earth does Waity DO all day? If I truly believed she was hanging with mini Winston Churchill and baby Charlotte, that would be wonderful family bonding time while her kiddos are little, and good for her. But with the nannies/staff and her mother there, for some reason I just don’t see Kate spending all day, every day in the nursery. Does anyone else get that vibe? I’m not a Kate fan, so perhaps I’m biased and wrong on this issue…but I think she just sort of aimlessly hangs out at Anmer…doing WHAT?!!
Exercising with her personal trainer, hair appointments, shopping. If she looked more natural with her kids, I’d believe she did more than spend a little bit of “mommy and me” time with the kids. But she doesn’t even support the baby’s head whilst showing off Big Blue. To me, that says the nannies are taking care of most of the baby business.
That’s what really gets me…all the exercising and shopping to be skinny and fashionable for public appearances she doesn’t make. Personally, I find it easier to manage my weight when I’m busy. Boredom = munchies!
Agree, bettyrose! The days when I’m scrambling around at work are the days I usually never find them time to eat lunch, but then I get time to relax in front of the TV at night and the snacks come out.
Plus wouldn’t running around after a toddler and a baby be exercise enough? (Don’t yell at me if I’m wrong, I don’t have kids, just going off what friends have told me).
Maybe she spends all day posting on websites under a pseudonym … she’s vain enough to want to read all the articles written about her, I’m sure.
Ugh. She is such a bore. No doubt she’s sulking at the moment because the rest of her family is in St Barths … she probably pleaded to go but was told no … OR … she could be over there with them. That’s probably more like it, except nobody has the photos (yet).
Tully, I love the idea of her anonymously stalking gossip sites, but it seems unlikely, you know? Like, if she saw what people were actually saying about her,something would change. No one could give so few craps about their public persona if they knew the truth.
Years ago, one of the forums claimed to track strident pro-Middleton comments back to an email address and server for PP. Anything is possible with this crew.
Hmmm.. she’s definitely close to George so much spend a decent amount of time with him – remember those Australia photos where he clung to her and sucked her shoulder?
After seeing Will collect George for Charlotte’s birth made me think Will is a lot more present than we’re made to believe too – the video of George reaching to be picked up was absolutely adorable!
Have you spent time around a lot of babies and toddlers? Most I know have been pretty open and friendly towards anyone who stretches out their arms.
“Most”?
You know a lot of babies who all happen to be accepting and relaxed around just anybody. It is my experience that most toddlers run the range from shy to terrified of unfamiliar people with a small percentage being the opposite. Many toddlers are partial to one parent for awhile and then switch to favoring the other. William may be unsavory to some but I have to stop short of saying he is not a warm, connected dad.
The pictures are carefully chosen to support a narrative. George with Kate and George with nanny Maria showed George was equally happy with both.
I remember shortly after George was born pics came out of Kate and 2 stories from the same set of pics followed.
1. Kate looks tired and worn from being a new mom. The photos had a gray tint and she was showing wrinkles.
2. Kate looks fresh and vibrant. The story was how she’s a super mom adjusting perfectly to her new family.
It’s all in how they want you to think. You at face value are accepting preformed opinions sold by those photos.
So, it’s not wise to go off of photos from events. I remember those unpublished photos too and they showed George snuggly with Maria when he needed comfort.
Imo
Most seems fair. I’m around infants and toddlers in what a child can take as a scary environment. More than most i’m assuming. And they are very accepting of hugs or a calming gesture if you appear to not be a threat. I’m the 1 with a needle and they do not run. If they’re crying or screaming it started on the car ride over.
Toddlers overall are as Nota says provided they have had their naps and aren’t hungry. There are many factors that can make a toddler a holy terror that has little to do with their perception of a person.
I worked with babies and toddlers for years. Most of them were generally happy to be held, welcoming whomever had their arms outstretched. Toddlers are a handful, just like teens, but once you engage with them you can generally get a shy smile, a giggle, and eventually a laugh. Just like teens. Or maybe they just felt comfortable with me?
I didn’t say anything about either parent. I wrote of my personal experience with babies and toddlers. You’re the one who took it round the bend.
Nota
I referenced that it must be *your* experience and then shared my own. Seems fair to me. “Round the bend?” Points for quaintness.
FLORC
True there are media photos but many people were quite touched by the video footage of little George reaching up to his dad for reassurance as reporters and the crowds shouted outside the hospital. After whispering something to Him, George turned and waved bravely at the crowd. That can’t be captioned away. It seems George is loved, nurtured and well cared for by his parents, grandparents and caregivers. Why this is hard to accept for some is beyond me. Also, if video footage of Charles being kind to children is used to refute the cold Charles narrative then video of the Cambridges sharing warm moments with George are also credible. As for your particular career involvement with babies/children my hat goes off to you. My bf is an ER nurse and it takes a special kind of dedication to set aside your personal heartache to capably care for a sick/injured child.
Nota is right. My experience is from helping out at my cousin’s creche business for her neighbourhood for many years when I have time. Newborns – 3yr olds.
In my experience children prefer a calm presence and will always look to that over someone they don’t feel secure with. Photos and videos of happy or calm children are never an indicator of the child’s true bond. Children bond with multiple people, from their carers to their parents. It’s a natural survival instinct that allows them to be cared for by multiple people, including a stranger like me who they’ve just met.
The only way to tell where the true bond lies ie with whom the child has truly bonded is when the child is in distress. They can be calmed of course, but they search out their primary bond.
We’ve seen PGtips in distress in public once, and although William handled it quite well, it was clear as day that the boy was searching for someone else. My guess is nanny Maria since she was in the crowd behind them as they walked away from the church.
That doesn’t mean that PGtips isn’t bonded to his parents, but for me, that one public distress incident was very revealing.
I’ll add an anecdote. I have a picture much like the one with Kate and George at the playdate. My cousin’s baby was the same age and cuddled into my neck the same way. I had met him just minutes before!
Pictures are chosen to tell a story. You can tell a bit more from video, if it’s available. A picture of Will with his hand on Kate’s back always draws an “Aw” from the sugars. However, one watches the videos and one sees that Will is simply pushing Kate to the spot where she’s supposed to be and there’s nothing romantic about the gesture at all.
None of us are right, per se. We are only right about our own experiences. Chiming in with anecdotes don’t negate child psych theory nor does it reverse known phenomena in child behavioral science. So how about we just all agree that William is a cold, distant father and any pics or vids of George relaxed and happy with anyone other than the nanny must not be telling the true story. I mean, why should we ruin a perfectly valid critique of the spoiled duke by admitting that he is actually a pretty good dad? We lose points unless we can prove that he sucks at absolutely everything, right?
Again with going round the bend. We’re commenting on the general nature of young children. They are affectionate and welcoming to people who are gentle and welcoming to them.
Imo
Regarding putting aside personal feelings. I got over that in clinicals, but it made me nearly quit everything. It’s a tough hurdle to get over. And I hate the ER CCU areas. If you’re busy it’s ok, but the moment there’s time for you to reflect on what just happened it can be the worst. Amazing your bf can handle that. I couldn’t.
And i’ll say William with George and Charles with his sons does work the same. I didn’t think I was countering that. More the overall perception of how the media works to manipulate opinion.
LAK
You’re 100% right. A child will always go on instinct to the primary protector. And that’s not to say that’s the only adult who loves or cares for George. Just the 1 he’s most comforted by. And that is her job.
Deedee
That reminds me of that commentor that only echoed what’s been long said about William’s hand on Kate. Photogs would yell “Kate” for a photo and William would usher her along. Then the photogs would yell “William” and he would stop and pose for pictures.
Imo
If anyone is closest to being correct it’s LAK imo. Her stated theory is well known and accepted. Also more easily to prove, but the movement of George. There’s no motive behind his action. It’s pure and revealing. It’s also using the greatest chunk of common sense since her role was/is to care for George more often than Kate or William.
PR faceoff! The Middletons are solid and middle-class and the best thing for William vs. Kate is high maintenance, a recluse and a basket-case and the royals have to tiptoe around her. Meanwhile, William does as he pleases.
This +100. There’s a little PR war going on and we’re only seeing a bit of the smoke from the latest battle.
+100
But the thing is, it’s Willy who should be talked about. Kate may be lazy, but she’s the consort. What does he do with his time?
Ride around with the much more intelligent Doctor while piloting the helicopter looking for rescues. lol
Kidding, just kidding…
This article has a snarky tone so definitely not hinting at it, but it makes me wonder if she has postpartum depression. That would explain not wanting to do anything.
Please stop with the ppd. She does things often. Tennis, shopping, the sailing event that was cancelled, but Kate never cancelled it. Her numerous pr approved outings with George.
PPD is serious and Kate has shown this behavior before even marriage. Do not use a real condition to try and explain being lazy. If Kate avoided any number of these things other than the actual less fun work stuff like she’s always done it would hold weight, but that’s not the case here. She wants to do thing and does them.
Yes, thank you FLORC.
NPD ??? Its more a case of I have the ring, the kids and I’m not going anywhere now. I don’t even have to bother with William’s friends or family now.
She must have gotten it before getting pregnant then, because she’s always been a lazy bum 😀
Jebus McHeavens. To Betsy.
It’s like having to be coaxed to go to the family party celebrating your grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary. Makes you an arsehole.
Anyway. New headline:
ROYAL CRISIS! SPOUSE-TO-THE-HEIR-OF-THE-HEIR SINGLEHANDEDLY REINSTITUTES SPLENDID ISOLATION DOCTRINE! OUTRAGE! STEPFORDISATION PROGRAMME CLEARLY INCOMPLETE!
*snigger*
Ah Sixer, I do so enjoy your rants.
Cheese and Rice! (I cannot remember who shared that one but it is good).
Yes I agree with whoever said there’s more brewing behind the scenes and also the article is definately snark at Kate. Calling her a recluse seems to be the Daily Mail new way of saying she’s not doing royal duties she should be taking on more, in other words ,she’s coming off as lazy, self indulgent ,not willing to do her part.
…and Yes there is definately a PR battle going on.
OT but Balmoral sounds ghastly. Drafty, poorly furnished, underpaid staff, decades old parlor games, tramping about looking for something to slaughter. No thanks. The only draw would be the horseback riding in the breathtaking countryside. And the scones.
Make that centuries old furnishings and decorations.
Imo
That’s always the way i’ve understood it. I’d still love to go there.
They gave Diana only magazines during 1981. If they had set her up with jazz ballet classes, cable tv and some knitting classes she may been happier. Her stays she described as “boring.” I guess she was too depressed by then for much anyway.
Citresse
It is what you make of it. I would find it fascinating. The magazines imo are hints that it held little of current gossip style/fashion news.
You’d find me sneaking around tapping the old walls looking for secret tunnels. Lifting all the pictures and drapes away. Pulling books from bookshelves. Poking all the eyes on all the paintings. It’s a seriously gorgeous place.
I would truly love atleast a month in there if I had no other duties in my life.
And I would be the one staring at you behind the eyes of a painting, FLORC. 🙂
Bluhare
Paranoia Confirmed!
I’ve toured a few castles and that was always something I wanted to know. Which pictures, which rooms, etc, had the spy holes.
When I was young my parents bought a home that was an Underground Railroad known lodger. Few were aware the line continued to Canada. Anyways the house was huge, but 1 quarter of it was not used. You had to go into the main bedroom. To a closet. Remove a false wall which lead you into a small door and into the hiding room.
This stuff is so exciting to me. It’s something I can’t understand when people don’t find it interesting. I’d have a great time. If by myself though… scared, but still do it!
I am kind of with Kate on this if that is the case. I would love to explore an old castle and the surroundings, but I’m sure that she’s been there enough that it’s sort of lost its novelty.
I am sure the castle is beautiful, though, and the event is truly a once-in-a-lifetime thing so why not go? Google tells me it’s about 450 miles from Norfolk (Is that right???), and while that’s quite the distance, these people can probably hop on a plane and be back and forth in the same day if they really want to.
Granny’s old – that’s the only reason she needs to be gracious, and to do what’s right! Can’ she just humor the old Queen? – for goodness sake!!!
Green Girl
You and me exploring! But watch out! Bluhare is lurking in the judas or lairde’s (spelling?) lug…..
LAK
I know some of the heirloom pieces are invaluable works of craftsmanship but I’ve also read that many rooms are like atrocious mid-ccentury mausoleums – presumably because Liz and Phil are tight with the cash and don’t see anything wrong with the downtrodden shag carpet. Yuck.
FLORC
Going as a tourist would be grand and Scotland is beautiful. Not so much the houseguest bit. Not that my invitation is forthcoming lol.
Kate being a Art History major should love exploring every corner of this historical Palace, the art work and the furnishings regardless of style would have me drooling over researching each and every one.
Why did she major in Art History when she obviously has no real interest in anything Historical…. She didn’t even know about Faberge something historically connected to William’s family relatives, The Russian Tsar.
DK, a person with a degree, says beautifully:”Can you test the smell by smelling it?”. I LOVE this and the aforementioned Fabergé incident!
IMO: several things…..
1. These very old aristocratic families think it’s the height of tackiness to renovate. Inherited interior decor is the norm. These great houses are amazing, but the furniture is crumbling. From that perspective, I understand why HM has rarely touched Balmoral or Sandrigham.
2. Redecorating is definitely middle class – see point 1 above. It should only be done when absolutely necessary and not a minute before.
3. Rumour has it that Charles will turn Balmoral to the nation and live at Birkhall. He’s already renting out Castle Mey, QM’s scottish home.
4. If you want to have a glimpse of Balmoral interiors, go to a blog called Cotes de Texas. They have a few pages on the various palaces, and recently had a post on Balmoral.
LAK
I’m off to have a look. What an odd name lol
Imo
That site is huge and it’s lagged my whole device at times.
Houseguest or tourist is what you make of it. Everything is what you make of it. If I ever got bored inside I’d ride a horse. Flirt with a stable boy? Assuming I didn’t adore my FMORC ofcourse!
FLORC
Ooh ah! The stable boy can lead you and FMORC to the best glens for picnicing!
😉
LAK
I’ve fallen into a rabbit hole smh.
Apparently Charles plans to divest the rf of Balmoral Castle once he becomes king – he and Camilla will keep Birkhall, which I’ve probably I’ve misspelled.
Kate’s gone out shooting with the family before. What’s to stop her now? Give me an interesting book and someone bringing me tea, along with an opportunity for long walks and I’m good.
Man, I could get a lot of writing and painting done up there and that’s what I consider my actual career work. For her that would supposedly be family vacation time, but if you’re perpetually idle, what’s Katie’s point?
Didn’t William receive his own house there at Balmoral? I seem to remember that.
If I was invited there, I’d go in a heartbeat! I’d be hiking around all day, even in the rain. Beautiful Scotland!!!!!!
He was said to be given use of Tam’na’ghar when single. Like Anmer it would probably remain part of the main estate instead of ownership changing hands.
Vava: yes he does
Your comment made me think of “Monarch of the Glen” and the house that Archie, The Laird, lived in. The estate was beautiful on the outside but complete trash on the inside. It gave me the ‘willies’ whenever I saw the interior.
Ewww lol.
Kate ostensibly enjoys the great outdoors and rural life so I’m sure she can find things to do.
Besides she doesnt have to move in. Just stay for a few days.
The Queen has to “coax” her? Off with her head!!! (joke)
I know Charles’ engagement is billed as ‘long-standing’, but it’s like he’s not even allowed to be near the throne, or his mother, ‘specially not on her I’m the Queen, I Live Forever day. He might jinx the party 😀
That was the biggest surprise for me too. No Charles? As the heir, it seems like Queen Elizabeth doesn’t have a lot of faith in him.
As for Kate, I bet she finds a way not to go.
HM is working that day, why shouldn’t Charles?
Earlier messaging on this was that HM had no plans to do anything special that day, because to do so would dishonor Queen Victoria.
I love learning about these “good manners”.
Charles is avoiding Andrew lol.
Other than holding the reins (reigns ha ha!) steady Liz should be embarassed to be compared to Victoria.
You mean the Queen of massive temper tantrums who withdrew from public life for 13 years, despised most of motherhood, and ruled her kids with an iron fist against their own personal happiness? Such a role model…
A Queen Regnant who LOATHED/ WAS REPULSED by suffragettes. There wasn’t a single thing that was commendable about Victoria. SMH…
I was referring to her “legacy” The personal lives of the brf really must be kept separate from their public persona or there would be no monarchy.
The legacy of withdrawing from public life for 13 years or hating the suffragettes?
Nota
Like it or not an entire era bears Victoria’s name. Cherry picking the more dastardly of her qualities will never undo this fact. When Liz inspires anything more than quasi-fond recollections 25 years from now then we’ll discuss her legacy. It won’t happen.
Why only direct your comments at me instead of COSquared who also shared the same view?
It wasn’t Victoria that was the center of things. It was the idea of her in a completely different time. She wasn’t a better monarch than ERII, she’s just viewed through a longer historical lens and often with rose-colored glasses. One hundred years from now is when the viable comparisons could be made.
Charles: More poison, mother? Uh, I mean … tea?
Queen: This is why we don’t invite you to things, Charles.
@mkyarwood,
😆
I read no coaxing, but I’m wondering if that’s a set up for something to come?
Yes… Makes one wonder, what’s in the works behind the scenes?
Wonder what TQ used to ‘coax’ her out – LK Bennett online shopping vouchers!
New wedges of doom?
Well, Waity Katie has all the power now. Ol’ Lizzie can’t push her around.
Pretty amazing what middle class values can do to a royal family.
Being upside down on your mortgage, working 60 hpw, praying you don’t get sick because you can’t afford the cost of medical treatment on top of the thousands you pay for a skinflint healthcare plan, can’t afford to retire, no hope of paying for your children’s college, living paycheck to paycheck.
Oh wait, that’s how the US middle class LIVES while they try to stick to values of hard work, fair play, supporting public schools, and doing good things for the community.
These two are such a waste.
@ nota – aside from the cost of medical treatment – we just accept that the UK NHS is brilliant in an emergency and a bit of a lottery at everything else and still treasure it all the same – you have pretty much described the life of the UK middle classes as well. On top of that we have to watch our taxes pay for this useless waste of space and his missus and it gets tiring after a while.
Kate needs to realize she is living a life of incredible privilege, all made possible through her marrying into the Royal family. Perhaps if she and William had to start living on his salary as a pilot and paying for their own home renovations, she might be a bit more amenable to making appearances or showing up for dinner with the Queen.
It’s like having to lead a donkey by using a carrot on a stick.
I am not a particular fan of William and Kate, but are people forgetting that William actually has a full-time job? William and Kate are not in the same position that Charles and Diana were in at this stage of their marriage. Charles has been the heir since he was three and was doing royal duties full-time before he married Diana. Kate and William are not in that position. The Queen still likes doing her bit and William does do a lot of stuff like investitures etc behind closed doors. I have been reading a book recently by the Queen’s first cousin, Margaret Rhodes. She was so in with the royal family that she, the Queen and Princess Margaret’s two children were with the Queen Mother when she died. She registered the Queen Mother’s death.
She was also at William and Kate’s wedding and said about how so much in love they were. She also said she can think of nothing worse than children being brought up in the public eye. How do people with absolutely no connection with the Royal Family and in some cases hundreds/thousand of miles away from Britain know what she is doing. I don’t know what all this talk about Jecka is either. As I have said I am not a great Kate/William fact but cruel as it is her prime duty was to produce the kids which she has done. As for engagements she is only learning and the powers that be might feel she is better concentrating on the kids at the moment. Remember, too, she was bullied as a child and might have problems.
All this talk of Diana is also tripe. Have any of you met her or were around her? If she was in a mood as she frequently was on an engagement she didn’t even talk to people and she refused to do her homework ie finding out about places/people before she visited . One of my friend’s was at a lunch engagement held in honour of Diana. Diana refused to be introduced to them individually and made them stand in a circle round her. She also refused to eat with them, going into a private room with her lady-in-waiting. Diana was beautiful and charming but she was no angel. You probably all don’t know either that although England loved Diana because she was so English, life in Scotland went on exactly the same as before the week after she died. She didn’t click the same with Scotland because she was so English and because Scotland never saw her after she split with Charles.
As for Balmoral/Birkhall, when William and Kate have been in Scotland the last couple of times, they have stayed at Birkhall which is much more luxurious. Diana was keen enough on Balmoral when she was trying to snare Charles saying it was her favourite place in all the world. Ask yourselves, would Diana have married Charles if he had not been Prince of Wales. Diana’s bulimia started before she even married Charles. When she was staying at Clarence House, the queen mother’s home before her marriage, she was eating whole packets of frosties and pints of milk in one sitting. She had to own up after the staff were accused of stealing. Don’t make Kate out to be a demon and Diana an angel. It was not like that. As for Charles trying to avoid Andrew. Charles is the king pin. Not Andrew.
Well, there’s a lot here.
I’ll just say that William’s full time job is a four day on/four day off gig. They can pop up to gran’s for a few days.
William is a part-time (4 days on, 4 days off) co-pilot.
He’s also a 30-something year old heir to the throne of England. There is ZERO excuse for his laziness. None, zip, nada. He married in his late 20s – before that, he should have been taking on more duties but was twiddling his thumbs and ignoring reality (and when not doing that, ignoring the stuff he was doing while ignoring reality – like his RAF duties). With his recent remarks, you can bet he will never do the engagement load his 89 year old grandmother is doing, nor that of his senior/post-retirement aged father. Nor does he intend to. Ever.
I won’t even go into lazy snowflake Kate (or the sick PR lies/games/drivel/whatever going on).
Throne of Britain – NOT England. England is only one part of UK and he is not heir to the throne. Charles is heir to the throne. William is second in line to the throne.
Regarding the book by the Queen’s cousin, this book was approved by the Queen. The cousin sent passages she was unsure of to the Queen for approval. Before, the Queen was against exact details being released surrounding her mother’s death but these were given in the book.
So heir to heir of the throne of Britain. Whatever. Doesn’t make my point less valid nor does it excuse him from his duties. He’s still in line to nab the crown and still is expected to get off his arse and work.
– The majority of working royals are further down the line of succession than William and working rings around W&K. There is no excuse, when the majority of the Family Firm are pensioners, for two 33-year-olds to refuse to do a few hours of charity work each week.
– The majority of royals raise their kids in the country AND work royal engagements. Only W&K seem to think this is impossible. Zara and Peter Phillips don’t scream about photos of their kids, and they are private citizens not extremely-pampered senior royals.
– The bullying claims were proven false and decried by staff and students at the school. That along with the horse allergy and HG have gone the way of the dodo bird in royal PR.
– William’s job is being heir-to-the-heir and serving all of his country and Commonwealth. William’s pretend job is a part-time co-pilot, a position that didn’t exist until he pressured EAAA to create it. He is already monkeying around with the schedule for vacation time.
– Margaret Rhodes saw what she wanted to see. Some people saw a couple in love, others saw a deadly dull and emotionless event.
– There are thousands of people in line to the throne. It may have been socially expected that they reproduce, but they were not required to and it is not part of their job description.
– Ongoing excuses for a 33-year-old lazy woman and her manchild husband continue to amaze me. He runs away from duty and uses every excuse in the book. She didn’t work before marriage, she basically hasn’t worked after marriage. They have two nannies, housekeeper, cleaners. She is spotted away from the house without the kids frequently so she is no SAHM. She has time to go shopping? Then she has time to go visit a charity.
Diana has been dead for almost two decades. I wish people would let her rest in peace and stop using her as an excuse.
Well said!!! 😀
How on earth do you know the bullying was false? All bullies say it is false. Also, the time to be hitting on Kate will be next year – not at the moment when she has a four month old baby and a two year old. Believe me I am no fan of Kate and William and agree with a lot of what is being said but some of it is going too far, completely unfounded and cruel. If the Queen did not want to be doing royal duties she would not be doing them. She and Philip both want to work until they drop. Also the Queen enjoys being Queen. I like Charles best out of all the royals and just because he has an engagement in Dumfries does not mean that he will not be at Balmoral that evening, regardless of the rubbish in the press. Also, Kate would not have had to be “coaxed”. She would have been told like all the others the Queen wanted to be there that she had to be. I should think that all of them would only be too pleased to be there.
As for Diana, I too wish she could be left in peace. William and Harry asked for that nearly 10 years ago.
One of the main stories was feces were put in her bed as part of the bullying. Funny, Middlton was a day student and never had a bed there. Just one example as to the false nature of her claims.
I’m sure Alexandra and the Duke of Kent – who have had had SERIOUS medical conditions in recent years – would appreciate a slightly slower schedule. There is plenty that needs doing in the UK, there is no limit to what engagements can be done, no set limit they’re not allowed to exceed. The UK is all but falling apart around their ears, but W&K don’t care.
You must be new around here. The well-earned criticism of Kate Middleton stretches back long before their engagement, marriage, and children. HM asks, she doesn’t demand. William is known for skipping out on important family events, like the 10 year anniversary mass for Margaret and the Queen Mum. He was skiing with the Middleton’s instead. He chooses not to attend these events, no matter how hurtful his neglect of his elderly family members may be.
Kindly tell William to leave his mother in peace, since he’s the one dragging her memory through the mud by using it to excuse all of his mistakes and insupportable decisions.
Caroline
All Nota has stated is true and long backed up. Things were quickly debinked.
And the Queen and Philip yes, want to work. Why? There’s a since of duty some have where it’s their purpose. To have the life they have means they have a role to fill. Both because they want to and have to.
As far as the young kids at home… Kate and William have left their children for days and nights for non work stuff. Why can’t they leave them for an hour for 1 work event a week? You just can’t use to kids as an excuse anymore when they are not raising them alone and do leave them for leisure events.
And again with Nota (whom I dont always agree with, but she’s nailing it lately) that William brings up Diana. Often and more for reasons of defense. Harry also does this, but in reference of her work continued and memory honored. Side point… When Harry has done this honoring William isn’t there.
Last last bit. William works full time? The copilot job was part time at best and he’s working 2.5 days of the 4 days on 8 days off of that schedule. What does William do wth his time I wonder.
I see below Anne covered this. Sorry!
“She is spotted away from the house without the kids frequently so she is no SAHM.”
Uh, SAHM just means you don’t have external employment. It doesn’t mean you’re under house arrest. And really, does “SAHM” have any meaning when it comes to wealthy people? I feel like shaming DK for not doing it right or whatever is kind of absurd, like saying she’s bad at shopping because she keeps buying really expensive coats. Well, yeah — YOU would be terrible at shopping if you bought those coats, but her situation is radically different from yours. Similarly, her version of “SAHM”-ism will bear very little resemblance to yours. She has full-time nannies, so of course she has the luxury of leaving the house whenever she feels like it. And it would be ridiculous if she didn’t take advantage of that. No one needs or wants to be glued to their kids 24/7.
William’s ‘full-time job’ is an estimated 2.5 days out of 8. It was announced that he won’t do the full schedule that his co-workers do.
Yes, that’s William’s stance too, that there are still older (elderly) BRF members who can go on working instead of W&K. Too bad the Queen can’t institute a pay-as-you-go basis for who gets what (taxpayers’) money for what work is done.
I understand that there’s always reasons told about why W&K can’t work. Because mommy and daddy got divorced, because one or both were bullied, because they’re the new middle class, because they might have mental, physical, and emotional problems (even though they’re always “keen” to work as their PR team says).
Kate’s prime job wasn’t to have babies. The royal lineage would have gone on with Harry being next. There would be no end to the BRF if Kate hadn’t been able to get pregnant.
“Snare?” There’s a reason why Kate was nicknamed “Waity Katy” and “Mattress.” There have been articles out lately here at CB and DM about how Kate used to go with William to weddings and other social events, but less so after the wedding. Same with the work issue during their engagement interview. But promised priorities changed.
Kate’s job was to have babies. It is preferred for all titles to go down through the direct line. Charles had two brothers and a sister but Diana had to undertake gyno tests before her marriage to ensure she could have children.
Breeding wasn’t and still isn’t her only duty/job. Hence all the disgust at her lack of work.
Diana MIGHT have been chosen as a broodmare but guess what? She also worked. Because she knew that was also part of the deal.
So what’s the excuse for Kate now?
No, her job is not to have babies. It is 2015, get with the modern program. Queen Fabiola of Belgium never had children and was considered a very good Queen Consort. As someone else can tell you (LAK?), the British throne has gone sideways more often than not in recent years. Queen Victoria. George V. George VI. Uncle David (Edward VIII) anyone?
No gyno test from 1981 could have guaranteed that Charles and Diana could have had children together. Things like incompatible body chemistries couldn’t be determined. You never know until you do or don’t. Two people could fail to have children together, divorce, and go on to be able to have children with new partners.
They have two nannies taking care of the kids, housekeeper, cleaners, personal assistants and shoppers. Why? So W&K are free to do royal engagements, just like all the other royal family parents have done before. A few hours a week of charity work is not asking too much, unless it is of two lazy wankers like Bill and Kate. (Threw that in for Sixer).
^ +100000!!!
Caroline: i’m only here to tell you that the throne has rarely gone to the direct line.
Yes, constitutionally that is preferred and that’s why we bother with POW and DOY and heirs apparent vs presumptives.
In practice, the throne has gone side ways more often than not. Going back to the earliest Plantagenet Kings.
A few examples going backwards from recent times, HM’s father and grandfather were 2nd sons.
Victoria was the daughter of the 4th son of George 3. Before her reign, her Uncle William was the King – he was George 3’s third son. If Princess Charlotte, George 4’s daughter, had survived childbirth, we’d be looking at the Belgiums as our royal family, NOT Victoria. Did I mention that Victoria was Charlotte’s cousin? Charlotte was raised as the heir presumptive of the UK + Ireland throne and was married to the King of Belgium. If she had survived that child birth, no Uncle William or Victoria as monarchs following George 4.
The Hanoverians were 50th in the line of the succession. Parliament discarded the previous 50 claimants, all of whom were catholics and with a stronger claim, not to mention direct one than the Hanoverians.
The second Stuart King, Charles 1, was a second son. Charles 2 and James 2 were brothers.
Not to mention the Tudors, and the Plantagenets right from the birth of England with Henry 1.
I digress, but I think the point is very clear.
Further, it also demonstrates quite clearly that we don’t have a need for babies by the direct heirs to maintain the throne. WK could have gone without, and the throne of UK and Ireland and the Realms would have remained safe and solid.
My concern is for the babies (not really). I thought Kate was breast feeding & couldn’t be separated from Charlotte. Please, someone please confirm that the wee ones will be traveling with Bill & Kate. Please. I just don’t see Kate pumping breast milk in excess for the weekend stay in Balmoral.
I also think something is up because Charles won’t be there. I like him and he strikes me as the type who wouldn’t want to miss something as momentous & celebratory as this.
Kate is probably a nervous wreck. The royal family also may have another Diana on their hands. If so, then Willie can protect Kate in ways he couldn’t do for his mummy.
She spent a full day at Wimbledon and didn’t leave her seat to pump. Odds on her still breastfeeding?
If they go to Balmoral it will be with kids and nannies in tow.
Dena
I’ll say this. It’s entirely possible Charlotte is allergic to Kate’s milk and she can only take in formula. It’s happened and it’s not all that rare. She appeared to have BFed George for a time. And a lot could happen during that course. Lack of production. Even with hormones and lactation therapy techniques. Or her production has been stunted in the 2nd pregnancy.
BFing can be very difficult. It’s not as simple as you would think.
1 thing is clear. Kate has no urgency to pump.
I’m having a charitable moment.
Enjoy above Posts – FLORC LAK nota, Caroline – all +1000
Dena +1000
something is up… WK will be given ‘private lives’ by HM royal decree or made to perform duties in GB (hence, the reason Prince Harry was in Africa space for WK service); OR minus all the royal perks – duties not forthcoming; Or
Prince Henry will be appointed heir (note P Harry’s return to UK – GB this month!). Let’s hope an ultimatum to Petulant Km, MIL meds – one can only hope.
Yessiree, once you pop out the Heir and Spare, you can tell them all to take a long walk off a short pier, and just enjoy the perks.
I know Scottish and British history thank you and could give you all the monarchs for hundreds of years. I am aware Fabiola was unable to have children but she also told her husband she would be quite willing to be divorced because of this. He would not agree because he loved her and also who is to say it was he who could not have the children.
I have said repeatedly I am no fan of William and Kate. I have written two letters to the Daily Mail – unpublished! – about them recently. I have read about them lots. However, by going OTT about them all credibility is being destroyed and you actually have people like me sympathising with them. The time to go after Kate is not now when she has a young baby and toddler but at the end of the year when she should be out and about doing engagements again.
“However, by going OTT about them all credibility is being destroyed and you actually have people like me sympathising with them.”
Ditto! These comment sections have gone off the rails. As soon as anyone points out that we don’t actually have a lot of information, rumours are just rumours, W&K have their good points, etc., a dogpile of hyperbole and name-calling inevitably follows.
In particular, saying DK doesn’t deserve her maternity leave because she doesn’t “need” it is so stupid. It’s not your call to make — she had a baby, therefore she gets mat leave, full stop. That’s how it works. It’s not based on how difficult your job apparently is or how much help you apparently have, and it’s not taken away from you if — gasp — you are sometimes seen outside the house without your child (YOU SELFISH MONSTER!). It’s based on the fact that you had a baby. Deal with it! If you’re going to be such an outraged libertarian about Kate taking mat leave, at least be consistent and say that NO ONE should have mat leave, instead of doing the least-libertarian thing ever by basically running after her with a clipboard scrutinizing her life choices.
In the United Kingdom you are not eligible for maternity leave unless you have worked full time for one full year. We all know Kate has never worked full time. So no she is not entitled to maternity leave. I’m sure no one would have a problem with her taking one or two months off. But she is not entitled to a full maternity leave. Absolutely no one is saying just deciding that she doesn’t deserve maternity leave. We Know she doesn’t because she does not and has never worked full time which you must do in order to take maternity leave in the UK.
I think you are missing the point here. Maternity leave is from paid employment where if you are lucky, you work for a certain number of hours a week, get holidays, pay tax and national insurance. Kate does not do this type of employment so all the arguments about maternity leave are completely irrelevant. I know all the arguments about her getting funded by the tax payer etc etc but it has all already been said. If it is Kensington Palace who has said about her being on maternity leave then they are wrong too.
Just been checking the regulations about this. To get maternity leave in UK, it doesn’t matter how long you have been with employer, how many hours you work, what you get paid. However, to get maternity PAY is when you need to have been working a certain length of time etc, etc. Check it out yourselves on one of the UK gov sites.
Whatever type of leave or whatever she’s taking, the argument that she hasn’t worked “enough” to take time off is based on nothing but uninformed assumptions. People think her job consists entirely of public appearances, which means that every second she spends away from cameras, she MUST be lazing around doing nothing. She’s either on display, or useless.
But she’s a high-profile member of the BRF. I’m sure she has a packed schedule when she isn’t on leave or holiday — probably a lot of briefings, meetings, some correspondence, planning and preparing for events, etc., etc. She doesn’t just show up to things with no idea what’s going on. (And to anyone who rolls their eyes like “oh, I’m sure picking out a dress and learning names of dignitaries is SO much work” — why do you dismiss that, but count the event itself as work? You can’t have one without the other.)
I don’t understand the attitude that the only valid work is work that is done in public. Actors are paid for rehearsal time. Royals are paid for behind-the-scenes stuff, too. And there definitely IS behind-the-scenes stuff, whether it gets covered in HELLO! or not.