If this was 2012, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be tucking in for a lengthy “break” from public view following a “grueling” tour. They would have taken a two-month break ahead of the tour, then they would have needed weeks of “recovery time” following. But it’s 2016 and no amount of Taj Mahal-posing can keep the press from breathing down their necks. So on Monday, the Kensington Palace Twitter had to announce some new engagements for THIS WEEK. The horror! First, KP announced an event today, with Harry and William visiting Pinewood Studios, the same place where Star Wars Episode VIII is being filmed. Considering Workshy Will, the president of BAFTA, couldn’t even be bothered to show up for the BAFTAs (or the pre-BAFTA dinner hosted at Kensington Palace!!) two years in a row, the fact that this event was thrown together at the last minute speaks volumes to me.
The second event KP announced? The Obamas are coming to England as part of President Obama’s farewell tour – this will likely be his last visit to the UK. So not only is he making the trek to Windsor Castle (because the Queen refuses to return to Buckingham Palace), but now the Obamas get to have an official dinner at Kensington Palace. A dinner hosted by William, Kate and Harry. The dinner is going down on Friday, and I think we all know that Harry and Michelle will be flirting like crazy. But I don’t think Pres. Obama really gives a sh-t about William – it seemed like Obama barely tolerated William last year, when Will went down to Washington to do some kind of White House photo-op for conservation.
What else? People Magazine had a story analyzing the (awkward as hell) body language between William and Kate during the India-Bhutan tour. The basic gist? There really isn’t some prissy protocol about not holding hands or showing warmth and affection. Will and Kate really are that physically awkward around each other. Also: the Daily Mail is making a huge deal about these photos of William touching his face while at the Taj Mahal. Some people think he was crying. I think he was sweating, especially since he was wearing a jacket and it was more than 105 degrees out there.
I’ll post the photos of William and Harry’s visit as soon as we get them!
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, WENN.
Well, if Harry’s co-hosting, at least there’s a chance the dinner will actually be fun for those attending!
There is no doubt in my mind that the Obama’s wanted to see Harry and the Cambridges have been foisted upon them. A dinner at apt 1A? See, haters that 4 million wasn’t a waste after all. This is pr to shore up William as a statesman. It must gall him that Harry outshines effortlessly.
I agree. Really W & K need to go away with their team and actually build a strategy that doesn’t include coat tail riding and false interests.
This’s last minute hosting (jump on the bandwagon) of the Obamas has the look and feel of a 5-year old saying ‘look Mom I set the table’. What’s their relationship to the Obamas. Nothing. Just find some teens, 20 & 30 something year-old people who are doing interesting and important things and host them. Don’t try to resuscitate the India/Bhutan trip in this way.
Exactly, it def feels like W & K are using the Obama’s and Harry on this one. I mean, W & K wouldn’t deign to invite the Obama’s to their wedding — but now that they need a PR boost, and it’s all “Welcome Obamas” — get outta here with that nonsense. (Yes, yes — I know every argument as to why it was FINE for W&K to not invite the Obamas to their wedding; have heard them all; it still bothers me.) We all know Michelle and Harry have a shared bond over the Invictus Games; that’s who they’re coming to dine with — Harry. The thing with W&K is that their PR came has been sloppy, which gave us a chance to READ, honey — and now its gonna take a whole lot of effort and genuine change to re-write the script.
Snapper you are spot on, IMO. I’ve been waiting for some “bad” story about Harry to come out. Throwing Harry under the bus is William’s MO. I would dearly love for Harry to break with the Kensington Palace PR machine and get his own. Something to at least fight for himself. Or, maybe Harry really doesn’t care. Because he’s 5th in line and likely never going to be closer or even perhaps farther.
No offense to Harry but I highly doubt the Obamas wanted to see any of them. They were invited and boring dinner with “important” people is part of the job. I would actually love to be a fly on the wall after dinner to hear what the obamas really think of these privileged idiots. Whatever you think of their politics, the Obamas are both very smart, hard working people from regular middle class backgrounds. Im sure they have some thoughts…
Kk – I disagree, Michelle made a point to see Harry last summer at Kensington Palace with her daughters for tea. I read that Harry didn’t want photographers there, but Michelle made sure a White House photographer was there.
KK,
MTE! Since politics is off the table, the Obamas aren’t country gentry and don’t hunt that I’m aware of, probably don’t have much time for television, and their daughters are long past toddlerhood, WTF do they discuss with the Cambridges?
Swapping stories about long hours, hard work, and ramen noodles to thrive at Ivy League colleges with little money?
But yeah I can see Michelle & Harry hitting it off.
As others have stated, Michelle and Harry have hit it off and or have mutual project in ‘invictus’.
Michelle has hosted Harry every single time Harry has visited USA officially, and visits have been reciprocated when Michelle has visited the UK.
The Cambridges didn’t invite the Obamas to their wedding, spared less than 5mins for the photocall with the Obamas during 2011 summer visit, haven’t met Michelle on any subsequent visits, and William was hella awkward and merely tolerated in Washington with Barack.
This dinner is the Cambridges is piggy-backing/coat-tailing on Harry’s efforts to foster diplomatic (or personal) relationships for himself.
Let’s hope KP has a master of the household (or they borrow the one from BP) who will be in charge of the dinner because otherwise it will be as lucklaster as that risible pre-India reception The Cambridges held at KP.
Michelle and Harry DID hit it off. There are photos of them at a basketball game, and she was very giggly around him.
I want Michelle to run away with Harry, off in the distance. hehehehe. I totally ship them.
They are 2 people who have natural chemistry, granted one is married to the most powerful man on the planet at the moment. W&K take note – this is how you make powerful friends.
Unless William decides to horn in on it, we’ll get the Harry-and-Michelle Show at Invictus in May.
Shared interests also includes educating girls. I believe I heard Harry mention that if only casually on one of his last outings.
Just a gentle reminder that Harry isn’t some innocent precious flower – this is the same guy who turned up to a costume party dressed as a Nazi, and the same guy who referred to people as ‘rag heads’.
Yes Williams press machine uses him and throws him under the bus, but no one made him strip naked in Vegas, or speak racist slurs!
As I’ve said before I’ve got a soft spot for the guy – especially compared to the Will and Kate, but he’s been pretty shitty in his own right, too.
He did stupid things when he was young, as many people do. He apologised and has learned from them. (I also think soldiers have very different standards for acceptable terminology – obviously it’s not right, but speech in the Army is more rough and ready than is accepted in other walks of life).
But he has matured into a good man, by all accounts. That’s what Michelle Obama responds to.
Clare: We didn’t forget. We are responding to someone who apologised for his stupid behaviour and promised to do better in the future. He is delivering on that promise.
PR or not, he is showing a more positive, useful public face than in the past.
His brother? Not so much. William doesn’t acknowledge any mistakes or missteps. At best, he blames his advisors or the Queen or Charles for his mistakes, and at worst, he lies about it and then shrugs off any criticism as if it doesn’t matter.
Will was there when Harry rented the costume and wore a “native” costume himself, which has since been spun to be a “lion” costume. The theme of the party was Colonials and Natives, which is a poor choice to begin with.
Clare: I agree with you. Everyone acts as though Harry is the Fortunate Son, but you made me remember things. I can forgive even someone in his position for the naked Vegas fiasco, very immature, stupid but harmless. But dressing as a Nazi is unforgivable. I won’t give the youth excuse. Does he as a Prince not know how many millions of people were brutalized, tortured and killed by the Nazis? Bland, boring, William is looking better by the minute.
LAK: I couldnt agree with you more regarding Wills. I’m just a bit befuddled by how everyone seems to forget all the crummy things Harry has also said and done (nowhere near as shitty as Will, though). I just feel like Wills gets called out and Harry doesn’t – part of it is that Wills is such SO shit that he makes Harry look good. I mean the guy still goes hunting, also goes on expensive (and frequent) holidays etc – its not just WIlliam, yknow?
Having said that, I suppose he HAS apologised, and he is definitely the lesser of two evils. I realise I am extra critical of these fools – especially bitter as I feel like we pay for these goons with our taxes, which could be going towards better schools and healthcare!
Harry got called out a lot, Clare. And I haven’t forgotten those things. If there’s a repeat of them, then that will be it for me.
bluhare/Clare:
I think people have already forgotten how much Harry was called out on his behavior. It’s not been until the last couple of years that he’s really seemed to mature, and find focus in his life, especially now that he’s out of the army.
And I think that is what people are responding to, that’s he’s appeared to have grown up in the last two years. He’s always been the charmer, but he was side eyed for his behavior.
He’s matured, and William has regressed.
Some of the current response to Williams behavior seems to have been an unleashing of a buildup of opinion that’s grown quietly over the years concerning his behavior/work ethic (lack thereof), but he’s been the one with the lifetime of positive press, and Harry hasn’t had that.
Clare: on the taxpayer money issue, you are preaching to the choir here. They are all at it, but WK don’t care that we know they are.
With regards Harry, his good press, even on this board, started after he came back from Afghanistan the 2nd go round. Initially it was skepticism, but he has won many people over in the past 2 years, and that is what you see reflected. If you look at archives from before that, everyone is ripping him to shreds. Constantly. And that Vegas stint did not go down well at all.
He has never hidden behind PR, or obvious PR. He apologised for Vegas within days, didn’t scream privacy or legal action and promised to do better. And he has.
Personally i like that He doesn’t appear to be a hypocrite in his public persona because PR or false PR in public figures makes me ragey.
With regards the hunting, conservation is a recent thing, but not in a committed way nor should we expect it from him. There is background to this.
When Kate joined the Royal Foundation, there was a division of labour as far as causes. Harry would champion Wounded Soldiers and army causes, William would take conservation, and Kate would take children + any personal charities they each espoused.
Harry didn’t attend any functions or gave any indication that he was interested in conservation. Itvwas syrictly William’s area.
Due to his improved public profile around the time of the Spanish hunting trip, set against William’s spectacular own goal with said trip, Harry was dragged into the conservation conference William was chairing that week to give good PR. With a side order of being thrown under the bus by dragging out decade old hunting pictures.
Aside from that conference, Harry didn’t touch conservation again until his big trip to Africa last summer. And he continues to stay out of conservation unless called up to spread good PR.
From that respect, i don’t think he is a hypocrite, nor should he hide his hunting trips.
* i’m completely against hunting, so giving Harry a pass isn’t an endorsement. I’m merely pointing out an activity he partakes in where he doesn’t pretend otherwise.
I think people appreciate sincerity, apologies, and improvement over time. Harry has improved, William has gotten worse. Since Harry’s mistakes were published and most of William’s were hidden, it makes for an interesting discussion.
A soldier being shipped out to a war zone, where people vowed to hunt him down and torture him publicly? He and his buddies let off steam before being deployed. On his vacation time, in his hotel room, his privacy was invaded.
He wasn’t lying to the paraolympians, sneaking off on vacation instead of preparing for a tour, and sunbathing naked on a balcony in view of a road.
3000+ people filed complaints on his behalf. A meme in support of him went viral with military from different nations posing naked. Whatever some think of his behavior, many people in the military understood and supported him.
LAK, I always find it interesting William is touting conservation. He is the one who “accidentally” killed two different endangered birds (not Harry as some think).
The racist and Nazi stuff were bad. But Harry seems to have grown and matured a lot since then. We’ll see.
The naked Vegas thing is an entirely different matter. An adult got naked in the privacy of his hotel room with a bunch of other adults. It wasn’t the public’s business on any level, nor was it wrong on any level. People condemning him for it at the time sickened me. People still condemning him for it sicken me even more. This puritanical nonsense is gross.
In the public formal rooms of KP, not in 1A their home.
I’m thinking it was Harry’s deal and W&K piggy-backed on, like William does with other of Harry’s events. The Invictus Games is next month, iirc, and Michelle and Harry are involved in it, so they have something to talk about and promote to the press. And they’ve always had good rapport and seem to enjoy each other’s company. I think they understand each other’s personality when it comes to interacting with each other and the public. And I think PBO appreciates this, especially since it involves good works.
If W&K wanted to meet with the Obamas, then they could have done so over at the Queen’s formal dinner party, which would allow them just to be guests thus involving no work for them. For this ‘private’ dinner, W&K would have to bother themselves with even a little bit of work, which I’m sure they hate.
I totally believe this was originally setup for the Obama’s and Harry. Otherwise wouldn’t protocol call for the president to have an event with the heir to the throne: Charles and Camilla (or Diana in the past)? It doesn’t make sense to meet with the heir’s children unless it’s regarding an important global event like the Invictus games.
I see right through Wills again trying to outshine his little brother by pulling the rug under him instead of actually working for it. Harry seems to always be the one entertaining Wills in public and making him look good. So I can see him agreeing to always take one for the team.
Wills comes across as selfish and protected by everyone in his family. Sad.
Doesn’t Harry live In a guest house at KP? I am wondering if W+K are hosting as a favor to Harry, who really did hit it off with Michelle.
As adorable together as they are, Michelle isn’t hitting it w Harry when she has the dishy leader of the free world at home. Barry sure gives Harry a run for his money in the babe department!
I’d like to be a fly on the wall at that dinner. Will the ladies trade recipes? It would be so cool if the girls came too and chatted it up with Harry. Guess whose coming to dinner?
Er, you’Re probably not referring to the film with Sidney Poitier and Spencer Tracy….time has passed and I’m from that era.
It would be lovely for those girls to meet Harry. Bet they’d have more to say than, “gosh, interesting. “
Ohh, I hope for the pictures the girls are there too. Has Malia picked a college yet?
WELL (a breathy gossipy WELL), Bettyrose, my ma scrutinizes the NY Times and says the top contenders seem to be Harvard and Stanford, of course. Of course they are. I’m excited — the girls seem to have been raised to make the most of their amazing opportunities.
Who, well, that makes sense ..but I read she visited Berkeley, and I thought a state university (albeit the premiere “public ivy”) would be a cool choice.
WRTP: I’m not from that era, but I loved that film. What a cast, Sidney, Spencer and Katherine. Don’t make films like that anymore. Not even sure if many actors measure up to their standards. It was a classic.
I thought she was leaning towards film studies at NYU?
I think the Obamas and the Clintons are great. But Malia must be getting better advice than to go for film studies at NYU, as a freshman. The optics are terrible. She should do what Chelsea did, say she will be studying medicine (it doesn’t matter where) and then transfer to what she really wants to do afterwards.
Everyone needs to follow their own path, but I would be surprised if she didn’t pursue politics/law/public policy. When you’re raised in that culture, it’s hard to shake. Any of the uber-prestigious schools in the running will prepare her for that, but a west coast education (a la Chelsea Clinton) at least gets her away from the fam for awhile, which might be important for someone with her pedigree to establish her own identity. We know the Obamas are staying in DC until Sasha graduates high school – and then will probably split their time between NYC & Chicago. But I’ll be interested in her future career no matter what choice she makes.
Yeah, I’m sure Kate will exchange recipes from dishes she makes with her own hand. LOL. Remember the PR that Kate was going to cook for 30 people at Harry’s b-day (which she cancelled her participation in because of HG or whatever?). Fish cakes, Eaton Mess, beef wellingtons. LOL.
Nancy: Oh, not me. The Obamas & Harry will have to work hard to carry the evening, enduring both William’s inane jokes & Kate’s constant hair flipping. I bet they call it an early night.
Okay, as much as I like to rag on these two for all kinds of things, their body language is not it. Come on. Some people just aren’t into PDA. They had to be careful not to get too touchy-feely in public for something like a decade, that sticks. Also, when you see them in staged photos when there aren’t hundreds of people around, they seem perfectly at ease and like a normal couple. It really looks to me like it’s a matter of being uncomfortable when they know they’re being watched as opposed to uncomfortable with each other.
Also, the Obamas are such a power couple, both highly educated, both smart and witty. WHAT does that dinner conversation look like? They probably requested Harry so they’d have someone to talk to.
You make a good point about their awkward body language – he didn’t want people getting any ideas about them during the GF years, she was never really made the ‘official’ GF thou she fronted to the press that she was.
I am soooo shipping Harry and Michelle.
You beat me to it Naughty. What the hell will they talk about with two working professionals. I mean, really?
Yeah, for everything they do and don’t do the body language and lack of PDA is pretty whatever. Some people just don’t like doing it and they actively resisted doing it for years. That doesn’t go away just because you’re married. My husband usually looks like a wooden mannequin when I try to hold his hand in public. Doesn’t say anything about us other than he dislikes PDA.
The PR is deceptive re- is William crying? The attempt to distract from the negative reviews of the tour. Also want you to believe William has a heart. He doesn’t.
These people are still human beings and none of us actually know them personally. Comments like this are a little bit extreme, imo. He doesn’t have a heart? What did he personally do to you to make you feel that way? I feel like we have blinders on at this point.
His comments and body language since he was quite young. Comments from others ( various staff) who knew him quite well. Comments from his own wife. Comments from the media. Leaving his family on Easter weekend as well as other times. Don’t be confused. Anyone can love selfishly. There are certain individuals who cannot feel any genuine care, compassion and respect for others. They learn to feign emotions and manipulate others into believing “it’s part of the job” when confronted.
Maybe Kate will whip up a batch of her famous chutney for Michelle. And Harry will totally own the dinner convo.
I think that Harry usually stiffens up when William and Kate are around. It would have been much better if only Harry was the host of this private dinner. I think he would have invited interesting people, especially those involved in the May Invictus games. Since W&K are partly hosting, I doubt they’ll think of inviting more interesting people to help entertain the Obamas, as I think William thinks of himself as very entertaining and doesn’t seem to like other people outshining him.
I’m sure the obamas would rather have dins with Chuck and Cam.
Chuck, Cams, and Harry, but not W&K, judging from what happened the last time W did the press op with PBO.
I’m dreading the Obamas coming. Even though I love Michelle, I wish they would go somewhere else.
If dinner with Twit and Twat can distract from the inevitable howls of outrage from all the Brexiters at whateveritis Obama ends up saying, and the inevitable endless defences from the Inners, even I will look kindly upon Twit and Twat. Sadly, I fear this will not happen and I will be reduced to self harm by paper cutting myself with my referendum voting card.
(The Brexit debate is sending me insane, in case you hadn’t noticed.)
Hi Sixer. Another day another CB rage against the Cams!! Just thought I’d put my oar in and say what bugs me about POTUS visiting us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCv7Sj9bKvI
Haha. Most ridiculous willy waving ever, isn’t it, that presidential motorcade with the silly car. Makes me laugh every time. You never know, it might get stuck on a traffic calming bump again, to everyone’s hilarity. We can but hope. We get Normal Bill and Chutney. The Americans get the hokey cokiest hokey cokey of motorcades. I couldn’t call the winner! Actually, I could, because I love FLOTUS. Might pick a new winner post election, though.
On an actually serious note: I don’t mind which Johnny Foreigners stick their oar in to this referendum. All welcome. I just cannot stand the domestic howls of outrage afterwards, from both sides.
Willy waving describes it beautifully (and we don’t mean the D of C’s do we?) and I would love it to get stuck on a speed bump again, because I’m nasty like that.
JFs can stick their oar in as long as they don’t mind being told to butt out. I don’t think for one minute that POTUS is advising us what he thinks is best for the UK . You’ll have to call FLOTUS FFLOTUS next year.
From another thread – where/how do you watch Walter Presents?
I’m not entirely sure either of the domestic inner and outer campaign leaders want what’s best for you and me, either, spidey. So y’know. The rest of the world might as well join in with the bloviating. It’s a free-for-all of arrant nonsense as it is. I might start a one-woman campaign for decorum and accuracy in politics. That would certainly count out 99% of contributors!
Michael Gove said voting out would be an act of “patriotic renewal” today. Give me strength.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/walter-presents
You can watch all the shows online but some of them are also being screened in the usual weekly format, either on C4 itself or More4. I might try Kabul Kitchen next.
Good luck with that! I’d settle for honesty.
Thanks for the link, I will have a look.
It’s awful, isn’t it? I can’t watch the news any more. I’ve turned to the New York primaries for a bit of light relief. And it’s still more than 2 months away, God help us.
It’s truly awful. Both politicos and media. I’ve retreated to book blogs!
OMG have you been following the hoohaa about whether Obama should or shouldn’t comment in Brexit? It hasn’t even happened yet – why are they fighting over it?
And yes – also bloody sick of brexit chat. What an fing nightmare.
This tour has actually made me feel sorry for them. I still understand a lot of the criticism and much of it is valid. But some of this stuff is just the pleasure people get out of being mean to someone they feel safe in slamming because they are pretty universally disliked, and it’s unattractive. They don’t love their children. They don’t love each other. Their feet are ugly. They’re too thin, too bald, too toothy, too frumpy, too tall, they have veins in their arms. Pretty much too much.
You are being kind and decent GNAT…. More credit to you.
I have been constantly criticizing them, although it was mostly to do with their no work attitude combined with lots of controlled PR. I don’t care about their thinness, baldness, pedicure or lack thereof, even the wigs.
The only thing that annoyed me were the fashion faux pas with the flying skirts, and the fact that not only did Kate spend a fortune on theme dressing, she spent an additional fortune in entourage, she actually sent people ahead to photograph the “backgrounds” for the trip so she could colour coordinate. After all that effort – which we don’t see her putting into, I don’t know, youth mental health care, she should have nailed every second of the tour fashion wise. But she didn’t. When you set yourself up as a fashion icon wannabe, because that is all there is to you, eyeliner, nude pumps, crotch clutches and sausage curls, you’d better make sure to have your sartorial fame on. Or grow up, put some effort into actual work and do it consistently for the next decade.
Honk for Harry, that’s all I got. I will miss the Obamas…. Why can’t they stay and the Dolittles go?
Nothing to add really. These are my reasons. They simply aren’t doing their jobs. They behave as if they are private citizens and they aren’t. They are not above reproach.
GN – yes, some of the articles written about them were petty (the feet) and harsh in tone. However, W & K are almost 35. Thiry-five. My sister, at 53, is the ultimate narcissist but even she is able to fake a reasonable amount of interest in other people. Honestly, she treats funerals as part of her social calendar.
W&K have and have always had an entourage of people at their beck & call and still 5-years in we get the Dull & Giggly show. Of course, I’m on the outside looking in via photographs but where is the growth? I’m not seeing it. I’m not footing the bill for that freight but where is the return on investment?
Every now and then I have a thimble full of compassion for them but the mishaps are so glaring that it’s just too easy to knock that thimble over as I am reaching for my keyboard to comment on their . . . their . . . ineptitude, I guess. Do better & they will get better & not so much of a critical gaze.
Peace
ITA, Dena!
I think the feet article wouldn’t have been such a big deal if William/KP hadn’t put out the PR that Kate wasn’t going to wear hosiery on the tour. They made her body part a ‘thing’ for their pre-tour promotion and gave the press something to focus on. Really stupid move on William/KP’s part.
+1 GNATTY. Plus all the ones. I’m getting uncomfortable with the extreme and personal turn this pile-on has taken. William is heartless, they don’t love each other… Etc. It’s gone from valid critcism to ugly and mean and I’m not cool with it.
I would let the ultra thin body go (her business), but when she refuses to try food in a host country or try food served to the poor as on a previous tour, I consider it rude. It is just manners to try something at least once when she’s being filmed for the whole world to see. Her actions present only two possibilities in my mind and neither are positive. A) She is incredibly rude, snobby and self-centered B) She has an eating disorder.
Her actions with the Indian sweet bothered me more than anything else on the tour, even though the skirt flying up incidents all make me cringe. Maybe I’m being unfair, but I believe before she had her elocution and table manners for the rich classes, she should have had basic classes that taught her how to be well-mannered, gracious and kind to all people, seeing that she continuously represents the British empire.
I really wanted to like, admire and even feel sorry for Kate as she takes on the monarchy and the world, but she just makes it so hard.
On a good note, I loved the Taj Mahal dress.
Agree. I’m sure I mentioned it either here or elsewhere but her refusal to try the food really did it for me. I don’t give a toss about her, she can have eating disorders and allergies up her wazoo for all I’m bothered it’s the optics of the thing that got to me. It’s not like it was ‘sprung’ on her – she knew what was coming and her refusal looked REALLY bad for that poor man and his business. She possibly has cost him untold opportunities, who is going to want to try his stuff after such a global snubbing as this? Words can’t fully express how bad I feel for him – I run a business myself and know how important (the right) publicity can be, especially to those starting-up. Now he’s going to be the guy that the DoC turned her nose up at, his stuff ‘isn’t good enough’ and that appalls me. Her and Will need a boot up there precious behinds for their behaviour. I’m SO done with them.
I have yet to see evidence of any redeeming qualities in either of these two wastrels so they deserve the constant criticism about their work ethic and character. They are manipulative *liars* of the first order, and I’m supposed to go easy on them? Everyone else does in that family and that’s the problem. They are never held to account.
As for the foot criticism- dwelling on that is just a red herring to distract from very valid critiques. There is SO much wrong with the Cambridges, the foot issue seems like a nonstarter to me. People get outraged about criticism of her feet but not at the way she (and he) behaves? SMH.
Further, their behaviour, especially his, suggests that he doesn’t love her, they are not good friends, for who treats his wife like utter garbage, for years? And yes, I believe Willy *is* heartless- evidence his cruel treatment of his inferiors and animals and colleagues and press and his wife and the pathological lying that he engenders and the disrespect he shows for his mother’s memory, among other things; he is narcissistic and arrogant with a piece of coal for a heart. Willy gets what Willy wants and he strides through life as if he’s the second coming of the Sun King.
Both of them are gilded losers, but people get dazzled by the fake glitter which Willy’s PR team is pushing more than ever now. They exemplify all the worst in pampered humanity.
Ya know, I’m not a mean person. I’m actually a nice person. I always try to smile at strangers, hold doors for people, and make lil kiddies laugh at the supermarket…but these two are just too much. And the dog being put to sleep after he left the service!?! W…T…H…F ? ‘Pampered humanity’ is being generous.
An aside: My 10 year old dog that I rescued as a puppy just got diagnosed with cancer….and I’ve been crying like a baby for a week. I want to kick WW in the youknowwhats a couple hundred times…but that’s me being nice again.
The dog thing pushed me over the edge.
ITA about the pedicure issue. Those types of stories are diversions and click bait, and the DM is the worst offender.
What dog thing??? Clearly I’m lost
I agree. Lord knows they have their faults, but it’s really getting harsh. I honestly think Kate was trying pretty hard this tour and it makes me feel kind of bad for her. Even William, who I rarely defend, doesn’t deserve the personal attacks he’s been getting (doesn’t love his children, etc.).
I will say, it’s really frustrating to think that with just a few small changes they could really have had us eating out of the palms of their hands though. Just think, over the past few years if they had even both worked once a week or once every other week what a difference in opinion people would have about them. Also, I understand not wanting the children at many public events, but if they’d release pictures once a month or every other month I think that would have made a big difference. It just would have been so easy. (I do really think Kate just defers to William on these matters. She seems to want to please him, so he gets his way. I would think she’d be happy to show off the children in their cute outfits. I’m also of the opinion that she would step up and do more work if he wanted it).
As far as the public body language, I do think they’re both just awkward people. However, if I was one of the advisers, I would have reminded them before the Taj Mahal that they might want to hold hands. Not very romantic to have to remind them, but it would be a small thing that the public would eat up. I just think little things like that could make a huge difference if they would just do them.
eta: Her feet shape look fine to me, but a simple coat of polish would have prevented anyone from saying anything. Strange to me that she wouldn’t get a pedicure before the tour when she knew she would be barefoot and photographed. I always have polished toes when wearing open toed shoes, but that may be a regional thing.
Well I never wear nail polish. Shoot me! Honestly the comments are disgusting on here. Says more about the person commenting than it does about W&K. Ugh!
The majority of comments about the two of them on here are about their lack of work ethic, their lies, their spending, and their PR games. Those are honest criticisms not disgusting IMO.
@ Joannie, to quote hmmm above, “People get outraged about criticism of her feet but not at the way she (and he) behaves? SMH.”
Too toothy! LOL. I love GNAT.
I agree with GNAT. All this criticism of the most petty things is just way over the top. I would like to see the feet/hair/marriages of all the people lobbing the insults. None of us are perfect, and these people are just trying to do their “job”.
It’s true that the criticism has descended to a level of pettiness, but in part it seems to have devolved out of frustration that these people are NOT just trying to do their “job.”
I part ways with you with your last sentence, ladysussex. I think they’re doing the bare minimum and sometimes not even that.
I agree that many criticisms of their appearance are ridiculous and even offensive at times. They aren’t going to see it, but other people with un-manicured toenails (seriously we’re supposed to worry about that now too?) or who are balding or etc. might, and that’s the issue.
However, W&K are definitely not people trying to do their jobs. That’s exactly the problem. Criticisms of THAT are totally valid. Everything else is a distraction. Someone speculated a while ago that maybe the ridiculous foot-type criticisms are by pro-W&K people trying to tar all criticism with the same brush. And while I don’t really believe that it’s intentional, that’s the effect it’s starting to have.
There have been plenty of people who have called out those comments when they’re made, GNAT, including me. I criticise them for what they do. I do not care if they’re in love, love their children, or have fabulous grooming habits. As long as they do their jobs and don’t embarrass the firm while doing them, then I’m good.
I do agree that there are a few posters who would probably find fault if one of them ran into a burning building to save orphans and their puppies, but most of us aren’t quite that bad!
Agree with GNAT. But I also think negative press around toes and toothiness distracts from the question the press should be asking … What was the point of the tour? They hit the big tourist sites, so I guess that was to encourage more tourism to India and Bhutan? If so, why demand privacy when they were out being tourists?
I feel sorry for Kate, too (William not so much). She is in a role for which she is ill-suited and ill-prepared, and it shows in her work ethic and her fashion choices. I think she actually tried to do well on this tour in her own way, but then she just makes clumsy mistakes, like wearing flowing skirts to war memorials, and that’s all anyone ever talks about. That being said, I don’t have a problem with a little snark about W&K. That is what makes CB fun.
the first picture looks like a budget 80s adventure where Will is the macho guy and Kate is turned off by his arrogance but ultimately falls in love with him.
lol, so true! all wills is missing is an 80’s mustache.
Raiders of the Lost Tiara.
With Michelle coming my I wouldn’t be surprised if this was meant to be a thing for Harry and the Obamas that the Cambridges invited themselves along to. Probably only going to get pics from Instagram. Looking forward to all the Harry and Michelle pics at the invictus games.theyre adorable together!
He could be teary or sweaty or gotten watery eyes from the sun. It’s really hard to tell from the photos. The pics could be worked into whatever narrative someone wanted to craft.
And they didn’t do the Taj Mahal event in the early morning or early evening, thus making it a hot excursion. Dumb move on their part, but for this tour, they kept either being late to show up (ex: the Bhutan hike) or just didn’t get out before 10/11 am anyways.
The Marketing Department is thrilled to report that they will be hosting the President and First lady of the United states at a dinner on Friday night in honor of the success of fourth quarter sales of YouCareWidget, reports Marketing Assistant Cath M. of the struggling MeWidget team.
“Well. I’d say, we’re gobsmacked, ain’t we!” said Cath M. “We’re all gettin’ our hair done, ain’t we! Just when you think nothin’ can be more of a thrill than buyin’ all the trinkets your bag can hold up in India, Mr Wallering heard that the very Mrs O t’were comin’ in to have meat and two veg with Mr Goodeone of the YouCareWidget team,and then we hear her hubby’s comin’ too! Imagine! an’ before you could say spit spot the pony’s hot, Mr Wallering was on the telephone from his vacay at the Humber Bridge beauty area to say he’d be super happy to join the dinner in support, and all that ,an’ it weren’t more than two hours on the phone with Mr Goodone that he was invited to come break an egg with everyone, and bring some team members too! In fact His request for toad in the hole was not possible, more’s the pity, but we was told Mr Goodeone did do kindly agree to act shorter than Mr Walltering whilst in the receivin’ line as it were. I must say we girls all have quite the heart thump for Mr Goodeone, don’t we just, tee hee, he’s always the first one to tell us cheers and tally ho just when we thinks our team can’t be in a worse fluff, so we can keep on trudgin’ until Mr Wallering shows up again! I tell you, that puts static in even a nice girl’s slip, don’t it! Ah, that Mr Goodone. Well off to buy some scent and a new frock! party’s Friday! Mr Wallering is writin’ his remarks and is looking up what America is as we was told to have points for polite sensation. Blimey, what a coop der grab for Mr Wallering! Makes our team feel chuffed even if we was in last place in Widget innovation the last twelve quarters!”
This comment is a coop der grab. I hope you save these for posterity, Liberty.
LOLOLOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
“putting static in a good girl’s slip”
I can’t stop chuckling.
“meat and two veg”, LOL! Reminds me (a Northerner) of living in Memphis and ordering lunch in the south side diners. I’ll have a meat and 3: Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, okra, baked macaroni and cheese, with cornbread. Now, that’s what America is!
So… remember the big excuse that W and K don’t work because the Firm doesn’t want them to be overshadow Charles?
Here’s yet another prominent engagement for them, so can that excuse please be retired finally?
Thanks Natalie, I agree and hope that excuse can be laid to rest too.
@Liberty, you deserve a prize. These Cambridge/Honk for Harry! threads are my favorite way to start the day!
I feel like Flotus and Harry wanted to have a tea party and it was gate crashed by The Buckets.
I do think that if the PDA went in the other direction there would be cries of how unprofessional, because then it would have looked even more like a holiday instead of a work tour.
Regarding pres.,Obama’s visit, It’s considered a great honor for the Queen to host a head of state at Windsor. It’s her preferred residence, and I was on a tour there last summer and there were all these great photos of her and Pres. Reagen riding horses. The tour guides told us she only invites the ones she really enjoys to Windsor. THE PRESS IS FULL OF SH!T is my point here, has it 100% wrong. Really drives me crazy when they get it so wrong. Also….Windsor is only 20 from London. Not exactly a hard drive.
Plus Buckingham Palace is in a really bad condition. QEII and her people have been almost criminally negligent when it comes to the upkeep of one of her primary residences that also has a representational function.
Was she too busy trying to pay down the mortgage? Too many older people are carrying debt into retirement.
*Just kidding.* Who makes the decisions about spending money on renovations?
For decades, the crumbling state of BP has been rumbling on. However, each year, the Queen chose to divert money earmarked for it’s repair to other things. Most recently, to WK’s KP apartment to the tune of millions.
As a result, what was simply a fracture, is now a crisis. Which is par of the course for our Ostrich Queen.
LAK, thanks. Had a bad feeling about it – that the money was diverted to a less useful purpose. In Canada, the Prime Ministerial residence had all kinds of serious problems left unaddressed and with the government change last fall, it was determined that the house was unfit, especially for small children. The new “first family” (“prime family?”) has had to move into other living quarters for the time being.
The trouble is during the last 10 years economic circumstances, I can just imagine what the response would be if a vast amount of money had been spent on the royal palaces.
Spidey, Dire economic climate or not, The Queen is given money via the Sovereign Grant ( and all it’s other previous names), to maintain buildings. She chose to spend that money on other things like £4.5M on the Cambridges personal digs in KP, and now we find out they’ve also refurbished Diana’s former apartment to be used as reception space….i wonder whether that extra cost will show up this June in the official accounts or will it be hidden elsewhere?!
BP crumbling has been known for decades. Every time there is an article about the frugal Queen, there is always an amusing anecdote about some aspect of BP’s decay that was brought to her attention, noted, and then nothing done about it, staff choosing to simply work around it.
Yet money can be found for other projects apartments 1A, 8 and 9 for WK to pretend to work when in reality they are left empty most of the time.
We’ve reached or are about to reach crisis point because the Queen has been a poor manager of the money given to her.
She rarely does anything forward thinking that isn’t self-serving unless a crisis forces her to do it.
And has the cheek to expect the govt to fund it at all times.
The DM reported months ago that BP had to close off one of its dining halls because of fear that the ceiling was caving in.
LAK, they’re redone Diana’s old apartment just for reception space? Because of course, cannot have receptions in 1A with the massive space and new catering kitchen(s). Weren’t we told that was part of why they needed such a large space and so many kitchens – for the receptions they’d be doing as part of their jobs?
And precisely this kind of thing is why the claim that the royals are good for tourism is false. Buckingham Palace being overseen by a government — or even charitable — preservation group, and open to the public, would be far better for tourism than this.
Catherine, that’s a great reminder! Very good point that an invitation to Windsor is an honor. Buckingham Palace is considered more of a working palace, but Windsor, Sandringham, Balmoral are their private residences.
Historically and architecturally speaking, KP is more important then Buckingham Palace. Replacing a leaking roof on a Christopher Wren is never a bad idea.
The 7 million total wasn’t for fixing a roof. The space was perfectly habitable, had running water, and was fine as long as the walls weren’t torn down. The asbestos was safe where it was. Asbestos mitigation was only required because they unnecessarily ripped out historic walls just because.
The header picture, I dont like it. Seem arogant to me (the whole hands on hip, like someone who is ready to boss around)
I think all the bad press from India and Bhutan tour were because of themselves/their PR team.
They admitted sent surveyor team just to inspire her theme costume, they made a big deal about pose in Taj. They gave the bait.
anyway I dont understand why some people think they must be hurt with all the negative comment on gossip sites. From what I read so far, I dont think they ever care. Yes they care of their image, sort of. But they dont care about peasant like us. Or what we think about them. They dont care
Did anyone see the article featuring quotes from Chutney McWiglet?
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/7083186/Taxpayers-blast-William-and-Kate-tour-of-India.html
Quote from the Sun:
“What did they say to the people they were pictured with? The Palace would rather you did not know.
Indeed, some of Kate’s comments were banal at best and clumsy at worst. Meeting a chef who had been badly injured in the Mumbai 2008 terror atrocities, she murmured: “It must have been a surreal day.”
And when speaking to charity workers helping India’s street kids, who are mutilated to make money begging, she managed to utter: “Gosh, so interesting.” ”
–
*sigh*
*shakes heads*
I saw that too, ouch! Someone on Twitter made the comment that if this is what is written, you have to wonder what is being said behind-the-scenes, so much more than the tidbits we are being given.
So strangely disconnected. Either her grasp on situations is that shallow or she has some strange idea that royals must murmur banal and “non-controversial” platitudes, the conversational equivalent of making the ‘queen wave’ to spare physical energy (and avoid carpal tunnel?). Even if you’ve been coached to avoid anything that sounds like an admission of British responsibility for anything wrong (sigh), what is the problem with saying it’s terrible and asking what is being done and what more could be done? (And then following up on the latter in some capacity). Sigh.
Or, “I’m sorry you had to endure that.”
Wow. There’s not much else to say. She really has no social skills whatsoever.
I used to give her more credit in the intelligence department, but not anymore. All I see now is a dull, shallow, pampered and complacent woman. BTW, I can’t remember who called it in a previous thread–that pics of the kid(s) would be released shortly after this less than stellar tour–but they were right. Check the DM for a new pic of PG (looking just like Pippa) with Gan Gan.
Obvious PR is obvious.
Why can’t Chewbacca co=host with Harry? That would be fab.
That would be one of my fantasy dinner parties. The cast of Star Wars, especially the older cast, and Harry with the interesting people he knows.
A movie studio visit and an Obama dinner is WORK???????? These people are gross.
And wearing clothes! I”m sure Kate has an extra dress or two from the tour that she didn’t get to wear and must be worn to promote meh fashion!
If I were the Obamas, I’d rather hang out with just Harry.
That’s cool they are going to Windsor, too. Wonderful!
My sympathy is with the Obamas. Dinner with the Doliitles sounds riveting. At least Harry will be there to add some spark to the evening. Will and Kate do nothing outside their own family group so I can’t imagine them having much to talk about with people. I am surprised this is happening as I expected them to be resting after their strenuous tour and not appear till Trooping the Colour in June. Major PR stunt, I think
Mrs Obama looked a bit bored when they last met K and W – it was when Kate looked desperately thin and a bit vacuous with the serious face pulling and hair twiddling and that gold coloured dress in one of the palaces. At least she can talk about fiesty George, Charlotte and Amner Hall this time round.
Picturing this dinner party with my well educated and charming President and First Lady and William and Kate frozen at the ends of the table, unable to lead dinner party chat. They always sound inane and uncomfortable speaking to strangers. I’m guessing a few interesting couples or other govt officials will be invited too ? Still, relaxed and charming hosts will set the tone and I erupt in nervous laughter picturing them in this role. Despite not being newlyweds they do not seem to have the polish you might expect for such entertaining.
In William’s mind, walking around the Taj Mahal for 45 minutes equals deep experience in international diplomacy, so he’ll probably be insufferable all night.
Yup. While Harry talks about helping to build a school in Nepal, William can talk about how he sweated while walking around the Taj Mahal because he was too lazy to wake up earlier to beat the heat.
I couldn’t care less about her feet but why does she always feel the need to show the world her body? Even at the Taj Majal photo she is seating with a dress that shows her underwear. We were told to oblivion that they made extensive scouting of locations to prepare the prefect outfits and she has at least 3 wardrobe malfunctions and worst of all this last faux pas. And William is not clean in this mess, his poor fitting underwear left lots to desire. I am so tired of the grimacing and lack of interesting in everything they are supposed to represent.
Georgie is quite the chunky monkey!!!