Prince William skipped Commonwealth Day to go on a lads-only ski vacation

Duke of Cambridge, Patron of SkillForce, officially launches the charity's new award programme, The Prince William Award (PWA), while visiting a primary school in Wales

Yesterday was Commonwealth Observance Day, celebrated by many members of the royal family annually. It’s a day to mark the Queen’s ever-shrinking empire and celebrate the Commonwealth nations which still make up a hodge-podge of the British empire. The Queen has always been focused on bringing the Commonwealth nations closer together, perhaps to the exclusion of keeping Britain in the EU. Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke of York and more royals were in attendance at the Westminster Abbey service, which I will cover in a separate post.

Interestingly enough, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were not in attendance. At first, I thought their absence was about their already “full” schedules, as they head to Paris in a few days and God knows they rarely work for more than three days a week. But as it turns out, William jetted off to Switzerland for a “lads only” ski holiday. He left on Friday and he was still partying on Monday, apparently. With whom was he partying? Lads, obvs. And one attractive blonde model. You can see some photos here.

Work-shy Prince William ducked out of a Commonwealth Day service to go on a lads-only ski holiday. The 34-year-old instead enjoyed a liquid lunch in the Swiss resort of Verbier. He was the only major royal to snub today’s important Westminster Abbey service and palace reception. But onlookers joked Prince William was doing his bit for Commonwealth relations by boozing with with Aussie model Sophie Taylor.

Historian and royal biographer Robert Lacey said: “It is surprising.”

Wills was snapped high-fiving Sophie Taylor during a lunch washed down with beer, wine and Jagerbombs. Later his group — on a lads-only jaunt — met up with the 24-year-old and her pal at another posh bar where the drinking continued.

One skier said: “If I were Kate I wouldn’t be very pleased to see my husband living it up with two stunning girls. William and his pals had skied to the restaurant, while the girls came up the mountain specially to meet them. The boys ate lunch and the girls joined them for a load of drinks. William seemed to be getting on very well with Sophie and they were giggling and laughing. Once they’d finished skiing for the day, they all met up with the girls again at another bar.”

William sloped off to Switzerland on Friday with chums Guy Pelly, James Meade and Tom Van Straubenzee. After the meal on Sunday they met up again with Sophie at another restaurant before moving on to a gig at a hotel and club where she works. Revellers said Wills enjoyed dancing to rock band Hussy but looked “very worse for wear” after downing “several drinks”.

His uncle Prince Andrew had been in Verbier separately with ex-wife Fergie but ensured he flew back in time for the Commonwealth Day service, followed by a reception at Buckingham Palace. The Queen sees Commonwealth Day, celebrating the culture and ties of 52 member countries, as the most important in the Royal year. She was joined for the service by Prince Philip, Charles, Camilla, Harry, Andrew and Edward.

Historian and Royal biographer Robert Lacey said: “It’s surprising he’s not on parade at a time when the politicians are saying our Commonwealth links are more important than ever in this post Brexit era. Any British royal has to demonstrate that occasions like Commonwealth Day matter to them, and it doesn’t look that way if you choose to go skiing with your friends.”

Last night Kensington Palace would say only that his “schedule is private.”

[From The Sun]

Well, that’s very interesting. I’m starting to wonder if William has a Ben Affleck-esque self-defeating/self-sabotaging streak. Clearly, William didn’t think his little ski holiday would get out, but somewhere along the way, he could have realized that by skipping Commonwealth Day, journalists would actually try to find out where he was and what he was doing? The optics of this could have been easily controlled if William actually gave a sh-t or if he had better people doing his PR. I guess we’re supposed to say “Poor Kate,” but God knows. William seems to love to leave her at home while he goes off gallivanting with his friends. I’m surprised Jecca Craig wasn’t on this trip.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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226 Responses to “Prince William skipped Commonwealth Day to go on a lads-only ski vacation”

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  1. jmooo says:

    Kate knew how William is when she married him. She wanted the title, now she has to deal with the negative sides of all this.

    • Vylette says:

      She was asked to stay home on commonwealth day .Her presence would have made PW’s absence even more conspicuous. Now , by default, both the DOC’s are being called out. But I wont say poor Kate as she knew what she was getting into. They will throw her under the bus to sheild PW

      P.s. Edited for typos

      • notasugarhere says:

        How do you know she was asked to stay home? Seems like a big assumption.

      • bluhare says:

        It is an assumption (unless she actually knows!), but one that makes some sense. William’s absence would have been all the more obvious had she been there as well.

      • notasugarhere says:

        But if it turns out that the “insiders” were pushing the “he was working at EAAA angle”? No reason for her not to be there.

      • Vylette says:

        Yes, I should have added it was an assumption. Mostly read it on royal forums and Twitter.

      • Megan says:

        I doubt anyone had to ask her to stay home, I’m sure volunteered to skip the event.

      • JennaR says:

        To me, her NOT going made it all the worse.

    • marjiscott says:

      It should be noted “Kate and HER MOM” wanted that Title….

    • Pandy says:

      Yeah, must be a hard pill to swallow though. I wouldn’t want to wonder what he’s up to and with whom.

    • lavnbb says:

      I wonder if Kate will decide it’s time for baby 3 now.

      Is this display and boys-girls join in, weekend , PW trying to humiliate Kate until she looks like a total doormat?

    • Lavnbb says:

      William once dumped Kate in the middle of a ski holiday with a group of friends during the Univ years. He ended the relationship half way through the ski holiday and ignored Kate the rest of the trip. The photos look so uncomfortable for her. He looks perfectly happy having dumped her, having a great time with his friends. He’s at one end of the table in one photo she’s at the other trying to fit in with the rest of the group and ITS so awkward because everyone knew he dumped her, he did it in front of the group. She Hung around the rest of the holiday trying to get him to talk. He has always treated Kate like crap and she accepted it. He knows he can do as he pleases and she will put up with it,

  2. Lora says:

    I really try to understand, why she stays with him. He clearly doesn’t love her. Money isn’t all that…

    • Indira says:

      She’s going to be Queen Consort, that means a lot to her and her mother.

    • Karen says:

      ^ she allegedly told Harry’s ex to accept the cheating as it comes with the territory. This is a old school royal marriage – mistresses okay if I stay #1.

      • Lora says:

        Thats really sad, no wonder she is shrinking

      • Megan says:

        Kate told Chelsea Davy that cheating rumors come with the territory and not be bother by stories in the tabs. That quote has gotten twisted over the years and used against Kate.

      • Citresse says:

        And so sad if you’re not number one ie- Diana knew for years Camilla was Charles’s true love. Diana shrank too, you can see what happened by 1986, Expo Vancouver, she fainted. Diana later admitted she was trying to survive on the occasional chocolate bar but even some of those didn’t stay down due to the bulimia. Diana really suffered but kept up appearances until the boys were older. She disclosed way too much information to young William and I think it messed him up to a large degree and now we’re witnessing these acts of rebellion (Verbier), it’s his unresolved anger.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I’ve always taken what Diana said about the tissues, etc with tons of salt. Both boys were away at boarding school during the War of the Waleses.

        It hasn’t stopped him from being a cheater for a decade or living with his family in the house where Charles and Camilla had their relationship. I don’t think he has a problem with cheating, or in how his parents treated each other. He has a problem with how their mess impacted him, not how it impacted his parents.

    • notasugarhere says:

      “The prize for Kate of being the Princess of Wales, I think she will put up with anything that’s thrown at her.” – James Whitaker

      Their relationship has always functioned with them spending a lot of time apart, both before and after the wedding. Hence the taxpayer funded security upgrades at Middleton Manor, due to the amount of time she spends with her mummy while William is somewhere else.

      • Erica says:

        And the late James Whitaker is right,Kate will put up with everything William does. The sad thing I think William always knew why Kate clung on for years, and it wasn’t his sparkling personality. I think that’s why he treats her the way he does.During her waity years she knew he chased after other William but didn’t care .She was focused on the crown and all that entails.

      • Maria says:

        I really miss James Whitaker.
        On a different topic Queen Margarethe of Denmark’s brother in law, her sisters hubby, died suddenly. 82 years old. Sad.

      • lavnbb says:

        I miss James Whitaker too, he wasn’t a sycophant and he investigated stories in detail and didn’t let a lot slide. Promising to show the kids at a press tea, would not have swayed James Whitaker.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Maria, it is sad about Richard. Their relationship always seemed strange to me, that they were together but apart (emotionally?). The whole heir situation, with the Nazi-influenced house rules preventing the heir from marrying his non-noble girlfriend? Also strange. Although, if they wanted to marry they could, they would just lose their cushy lifestyle.

    • LucyHoneychurch says:

      You and your husband don’t ever do girls or boys trips? I don’t know if he loves her or not but I don’t think you can make any assumptions about it just because he goes on trips with just the guys on occasion. I’m sure the model who was along was paired off with one of the other men.

      • notasugarhere says:

        The questionable aspects are 1) him ducking out of the Commonwealth event and his office possibly lying that he was at work and 2) him partying drunk at 3am with other (mostly) married friends. Are these the actions of a happily married, mature 35-year-old father of two?

      • Maria says:

        He has a public image. Your husband can take off and no one needs to hear about. He should know that this type of thing will get into the papers. He’s been a royal all his life. And it’s damned embarrassing for Waity, the whole world knows what her lazy husband is up to.

    • Sarah says:

      I think he has akways cheated on her, but sometimes, he gets caught. Remember the hunting trip with Jecca Craig? As soon as he came home, he and Kate went on another “honeymoon.” Having lunch in a group with this model is one thing, but add dinner and later going out – it just looks bad for him. Kate must be spitting mad.

  3. Kaz says:

    William clearly doesn’t give any thought to the negative PR from something like this. Stupid stupid man. Poor Jason. It is not enough to have the rest of the family at the Commonwealth event – he is in line for the throne and shouldn’t be skiving off. What a dill.

  4. TheSageM says:

    Is that a comb over in the first picture?

  5. Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    This is why he is so paranoid about his ‘family’s privacy’, he doesn’t want anyone to see that he still lives the bachelor party lifestyle. I wonder what he’s done to upset the Middletons to make them yank his chain like this – I’m convinced they are behind the leak on this one, they’ve done it before. There is a ‘poor Kate and the kids’ vibe and veiled insinuation that there is something going on with the model, who’s BF was part of the party and gave a quote in the article. Again, typical Middleton MO, make it look like he was there with a side piece (regardless of actual facts).

    As for ‘poor Kate’ – she knew exactly who and what she was marrying, she has no right to play the ‘poor me’ card. Its the kids i feel sorry for – they are stuck with 2 self absorbed dysfunctional parents. It a sad situation and he is making the same mistakes his father did – this will end in tears.

    It looks very bad that he didn’t make the effort to attend Commonwealth day and instead went on a lads boozy ski trip. He needs to walk away from the throne.

    • Sixer says:

      I think we should banish him to live on the new royal yacht we’re apparently building. And I have a name for it, that’s like Boaty McBoatface but is altogether more rude. Beginning with C and ending Next Tuesday.

      • Maria says:

        there will be a new Royal Yacht? I just commented on the other post about my visit to the Royal Britannia in Edinburgh.

        That seems to me such an colossal waste of money to build and maintain a royal swimming residence. Why not just have a private jet take you wherever you need to go?

        I mean they had flowers flown in and stored in a cooling room, so they had fresh flowers everyday. The silver was polished everyday. The amount of hierachy from the family to the officers to the simple sailors was just mindboggeling and so old fashioned.

      • Sixer says:

        Oh yes. We’re in Empire 2.0 now, didn’t you hear?! If you didn’t laugh, you’d cry.

      • frisbee says:

        posted in the wrong place!

      • bluhare says:

        Hahaha, Sixer!

      • Jaded says:

        Ah yes….the Good Ship DollyBop – Prince William’s personal floating shag pad….

    • notasugarhere says:

      I think it likely they were behind the Mustique photos (when William was hunting with Jecca). And the Easter stories about an 18 month old CC singing along with all the hymns while daddy missed her first Easter to be with Jecca. Since the Middletons only go to Church at Christmas and Easter, I think it unlikely she knew any hymns. Not sure about them leaking this one, although the addition of the women joining the party might have put Carole on the offensive.

      • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

        Considering it was supposed to be a boys weekend and they are papped with attractive blondes makes me think it rattled the Mids and is why it got leaked. Both have previous for going on holiday separately and to me this just has the Mids yanking his chain over it as it reads a lot like the other occasions where the narrative has been ‘hes cavorting with other women while leaving poor Kate and the kids at home’.

      • K says:

        I find this so interesting! If indeed it were the Middletons who leaked this, aren’t they scared that William will find out?

      • Lisa says:

        @K
        He’d have to be an idiot if he didn’t already know. Oh wait…….
        Or he simply doesn’t care as he always had and will always have the upper hand in that relationship. He has what the Middletons want – the possibility of a crown for their daughter and social standing, if not acceptance, by the upper crust. The Midds are the ultimate enablers for both Lamebridges and everyone involved know it. Both parties are pathetic IMO.

    • Eleonor says:

      and the LEAVE ME ALONE I am a poor boy who lost his mum because of the paparazzi will start in …

    • lavnbb says:

      Remember the day Kate had to be rushed to the hospital for early pregnancy HG pains. She was staying at her moms and PW was staying at one of his Aristo-friends home for a weekend party. Carole reportedly was livid and told Kate to call William and get him back to the Middleton home to drive her to the hospital. The Midds would not drive her to the hospital, they waited for William to come back even though her pains were supposedly so bad.
      Reports at the time were that several things were in play with this move… 1. To make William come back from the weekend-party and pay attention to his newly pregnant wife. eg: Carole telling him to get his priorities straight, wife comes first. 2. Kate was angry he had taken off and spent the weekend at a Aristo friends house party*allegedly girls were there and lots of flirting was going on by William. 3. To save his image, it would have looked bad if PW did not take his wife to hospital and he was known to be staying at a friends weekend houseparty.
      Still the weekend houseparty news leaked out to a few choice Daily Mail reporters,*some believed Carole and Kate leaked it with the HG story details, to try to shame him) but it was swept away in the news that Kate had HG, so most people ignored or never heard that William was spending the weekend away at a friends home-houseparty while Kate spent the weekend at her mum’s house. There have been rumours since the marriage that Kate spends most of her time with her family and mum while William does and goes wherever he pleases. This latest outing in Verbier is William doing what he probably always does in private but it gets hidden. I even hear that the press has known several times, he was at friends parties without Kate, having a grand time,, but the press choose not to report it.

  6. sarri says:

    PW doesn’t care what other people or the press think about him. Not very smart and I really wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll be the reason for a royal Brexit.

  7. MunichGirl says:

    I’ve just read the comments on the Daily Fail. The DF journalists really don’t hold back anymore and the readers are extremely annoyed by the Dolittles/young royals.

  8. detritus says:

    How can it be lads only, but girls came?
    Not going to lie, if I wasn’t invited to something because boys only, then other girls showed, there would be hell to pay.

    • Loopy says:

      Is it fair to keep bringing up Jeca Craig, she is a married woman now and I doubt she cares at all about William.

    • Amanduh says:

      Right?! You best be coming up with a damn good reason ’cause that sh!t wouldn’t fly…

      • detritus says:

        I’m not even sure there would be a reason that would cover this. I’d be annoyed depending on the length of the trip already, and then to find out there WERE girls there. Nah.

    • Megan says:

      @detritus the girls live there. The Sun article noted that Sophie Taylor works at a hotel in Verbier.

      • detritus says:

        I get that part, but for me, it doesn’t matter.
        If my partner specifically didn’t invite me on a trip so it would be guys only, then partied with girls, it’s not a boys only trip. It’s a boys carpool to a trip/party that’s coed.

    • Shambles says:

      I’m with you, Detrius.

      My BF went on a cabin weekend in the fall with guys he works with. He actually invited me, but I could tell it would be weird so I declined. I would have been the only girl there, and I could tell this really was a guys thing. Even then, if girls had shown up, I would have been pissed as hell.

      But had he specifically told me he couldn’t invite me because it was supposed to be boys only, only then to go party with women? Heeeeeeeeellllll nah. Those are cheater activities. I don’t know if we’d have lasted much longer

      • Megan says:

        I really don’t think it is a big deal. It doesn’t seem like the lunch was planned before they arrived. Plus, I don’t worry about my husband cheating on me. I have bigger worries, like that Trump is going to get us all killed.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Partying and dancing drunk at 3am with a couple of cute blonds in the group wouldn’t matter to you?

      • Megan says:

        No. I am hard pressed to believe a a cute blond 20-something would be interested in my husband (or William for that matter). If hubby wants to party with his pals every once in a while, I don’t mind. Better them than me because I am so over crowded bars and clubs.

        I tend to think Thomas van Straubenzee is the point of interest. Rich, connected and single.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Perhaps your husband doesn’t have a decade+ long record of being unfaithful?

      • Megan says:

        If he did I would obviously have made my peace with it since we are still together.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Interesting choice for any self-respecting woman to make IMO.

    • mary simon says:

      @detritus I’m with you on that! I would be very angry and suspicious that one of the supposed girlfriends is actually there to be with William.

  9. ncboudicca says:

    “Boozing” it up and then more skiing? Stupid.

    • ArtHistorian says:

      That article really went out of the way to emphasise how much William was “boozing it up”. Hmm…..

      • notasugarhere says:

        Didn’t the DM also make a big deal over his drinking at a wedding a few years ago and breaking a tooth?

        (Hi, AH, great to see you again!)

      • Megan says:

        Yes, it seems like the tabs like to push the narrative that William has a drinking problem.

      • notasugarhere says:

        If he gets so drunk at a wedding that he trips, cannot break his fall, and snaps off a tooth? They don’t need to push the narrative very far from the facts. This is also the man who was videoed stumbling drunk to a car and getting behind the wheel.

      • Megan says:

        William definitely seems to have binge drinking issues. Not sure if it connected to a larger problem with alcohol or just immature behavior. Either way, he needs to get it under control.

    • Maria says:

      Someone should remind him that his twenties are over.

  10. AfricanBoy says:

    I don’t feel sorry for Kate. William never was this great faithful prince and she knows that. I’m pretty sure it’s also Carole who tells her to ignore things like that because she desperately wanted that Kate marries him.

  11. Maria says:

    their PR and spokes people are so not good at their job. One excuse was that they had attended two years in a row and were planning to do so in future.

    Guess what, when you are a Royal certain functions are a yearly commitment and not a pick and choose. At the end of the day this is a job and if you do not like it, then quit. Renounce to your royal titles and live a simpler life, when you can go on lads skiing holidays without anybody caring. If you can afford them that is…..

    • HappyMom says:

      There is no PR spin that makes missing this acceptable.

    • paddyjr says:

      As the “heir-to-the-heir”, there are certain events that are “must-go.” If he wants to go on a boys-only ski trip and party with girls without his wife and family, that’s one thing. To schedule that trip for one of the most important events on the Royal calendar, that’s a slap in the face to the Commonwealth countries, TQ and the UK as a whole.

      I would love to see old school Philip slap some sense into PW as he showed he could during the Townsend affair and War of the Wales back in the day. But he is getting on and probably wants Charles to take care of it. However, I have a feeling that, if PW and the Middletons continue with this charade, they may push Philip too far and he will unleash some unholy H*ll on them. He has spent too much of his life protecting TQ and the Firm to let them destroy everything.

  12. frisbee says:

    For the minority of Brits who are Republicans like me, he’s a gift, really, you couldn’t make him up. The BBC History magazine had a little piece on Edward VII and it could be describing William

    http://www.historyextra.com/article/premium/king-war-his-country-edwardVIII-wallis-simpson

    “But senior politicians and many who served him as officials already had concerns. “I doubt he’ll stay the course,” Baldwin told the Labour leader, Clement Attlee. They thought him lazy and erratic, with a negligent attitude towards his duties … He turned up late to events or cried off at the last minute, and he was rude and offhand.
    History repeating itself – literally

    • Sixer says:

      I don’t credit all this Rexit stuff, more’s the pity, but I really do not think William will ever be king. If push comes to shove, he’ll bow it himself sooner than do it. But I think he’ll be pushed.

      • Amelia says:

        He really is turning into David 2.0, isn’t he?

        This is thinking a lot further down the line with a healthy pinch of imagination to boot, but imagine if Harry and Meghan did get happily married, and did end up moving up in the line of succession?
        An American, divorcee-actress as Queen Consort! Someone make it happen, PLEASE, it would give the Daily Fail readers an aneurysm for the ages. It would certainly be a reversal of historical circumstances.

      • Sixer says:

        Absolutely, he is a David 2.0.

        I honestly think, if it came to it, he’d scupper the whole monarchy rather than be king.

      • bluhare says:

        I agree. “If I can’t have it, no one can!”

      • notasugarhere says:

        Sir Alan Lascelles – Private Secretary to King George VI – on the subject of Uncle David/Edward VIII

        Before the end of our Canadian trip that year, I felt in such despair about him that I told Stanley Baldwin (then Prime Minister, and one of our party in Canada) that the Heir Apparent, in his unbridled pursuit of wine and women, and of whatever selfish whim occupied him at the moment, was going rapidly to the devil and would soon become no fit wearer of the British Crown.

        I expected to get my head bitten off, but he agreed with every word. I went on: ‘You know, sometimes when I am waiting to get the result of some point-to point in which he is riding, I can’t help thinking that the best thing that could happen to him, and to the country, would be for him to break his neck.’

        ‘God forgive me,’ said SB. ‘I have often thought the same.’

      • Sixer says:

        Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.

      • Sharon Lea says:

        Wow Frisbee, that could describe William.

      • suze says:

        Unless it were a Regency situation, Harry wouldn’t be king. George would. And if you think Carole and Kate clawed their way out of Bucklebury to let that go, you have another think coming.

      • notasugarhere says:

        If William stepped out of line, they’d find a way to take any kids under 18 out too. The optics would be too bad. He refuses to do the awful job but will force it on his beloved kids? And who would raise the kids to embrace their royal role? Certainly not Bill and Kate Normal? Would they be handed over to the sovereign, who legally would have the rights to them?

        At one time, there were politicians who proposed kicking out Uncle David, skipping over Bertie and his already-born girls (Queen Elizabeth), and going to the next brother in line. That was an active part of the getting-rid-of-the-useless-heir discussions. Nope, if William goes, the kids go too.

  13. Talie says:

    Kate is a pragmatic, shrewd woman. What bothers her with this stuff is more the sloppiness of it than what actually went down. There was a Vanity Fair article that went in-depth before their engagement and there were plenty of anecdotes about her being hyper-aware of William’s image and protecting that. A little bit Jackie Kennedy-esque.

    • notasugarhere says:

      There were also many stories that she didn’t have a problem with the cheating, just when it became known and it embarrassed her. Not concerned with his image, but her image and how it made her look to be in a relationship where he frequently strayed publicly.

      • Maria says:

        And she seemed to tolerate any he Waity Katie label for what eight years? So I guess she is prepared to tolerate anything and everything for the price of a crown and a title. How pathetic in this day and age.

      • lavnbb says:

        The problem is he may humiliate her publicly to the point where the public sees her as a total doormat and wonders where her self esteem is and loses total respect for her.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Or the public would see the entire Middleton family willing to put up with anything to keep the “prize” they caught.

  14. Prairiegirl says:

    No one outside Britain cares about Commonwealth Day.
    — Signed, a citizen of a Commonwealth country.

    • Nic919 says:

      True, but this is more about William once again ignoring something that’s important to the Queen, when his uncles who aren’t in line to the throne or his brother, who isn’t direct heir, make an effort to show up and he can’t be bothered. Andrew was in the same location skiing on the weekend and made it back, so why couldn’t William? It’s not like he works so hard that he needs this vacation.
      Besides last year he skipped Easter to go off on his own to the wedding of an ex. He doesn’t even seem to care about the important holidays. He just does exactly what he wants when he wants, consequences and appearances be damned.

    • addie says:

      Agreed. Few from Commonwealth countries care a fig about Britain either. Maybe a few oldies.

      • Vox says:

        I’m young and a member of a Commonwealth country and I care. For as long as I’m a part of the Commonwealth you bet my ass I care if the royals do their job or not. If we’re going to support you, do your job the way TQ and the older royals (and admittedly many of the younger, lesser royals) have always done. If you skip out on Commonwealth Day and you’re the heir apparent that is definitely a slap in the face to the royal family and all the Commonwealth nations. Why even have a monarchy in the future if William behaves that way?

    • birdy says:

      Maybe it doesn’t matter to other countries in the commonwealth but he should still be attending and not on vacation. There was an attempt by ‘insiders inside the palace’ (so you assume his PR) that tried to spin he was working the co-pilot job at the time of the service. That got slammed by the press with the publishing of the photos so I am guessing the press are more than unhappy with the games the Cambridge play at the moment and are taking the small victories where they can without impacting on their access.

      The Commonwealth Africa Summit is currently on in London so a number of leaders of African countries (or their delegates) would have been at this service so it is not a standard run of the mill event that he could easily miss. You would think this one would be deemed important and on the must-go-to list. Wasn’t it a significant anniversary for the commonwealth service this year? So he can’t turn up to Christmas or this yearly event but his name is getting thrown around to attend the commonwealth games in Australia next year? Nothing serious, only the fun, fluffy events for will.

      It was only Feb this year when Will was named patron for the Royal African Society. So he didn’t show up to the summit (not that he was scheduled but it would have been easy to do so) and he then didn’t turn up to this event which he should be at every year. Yep, he is a solid King in the making.

      And not so surprisingly in the last 4 hours they have announced that Kate will go to the national portrait gala on 28th March. Deflecting has began, Kate gets another new dress. Will new photos of the kids to be released next or will they be conveniently found by the paps to attempt to re-work the narrative???

      • notasugarhere says:

        Wait, I hadn’t heard that. #PoorJason tried to spin it that he was off working hard at EAAA, in order to cover up the vacation?

    • Polly says:

      Lo,l thanks Prairiegirl, I’m a resident of a Commonwealth country and had no idea it was Commonwealth day (or that such a thing existed).

      • Prairiegirl says:

        LOL, you’re quite welcome. A no-show at a non-event that no one but Brits care about!

  15. Kitty says:

    William is a future King and he missed Commonwealth day! Well it’s more apparent now that he does not want to be King.

  16. eXo says:

    When I see William, I see one of those unhappy rich spoiled kids. It doesn’t matter what you do, he never really is happy.

    • Montréalaise says:

      He always does look miserable, doesn’t he? Whenever I see a picture of him at an official event, I can imagine what’s going through his head: ”Only fifteen more minutes and then I can leave…. Only fourteen more minutes….”

    • PennyLane says:

      That’s what tends to happen with spoiled children – they are unhappy, dissatisfied, often complaining and whining.

      Always getting your way makes a person petulant, not kind.

      • HappyMom says:

        See this is when I wonder when people say “Oh if Diana was alive he wouldn’t act like this” He’s spoiled because his parents spoiled him. And for as great as Diana was at a lot of the royal duties, she wasn’t exactly quiet about how she felt about the royal family. That has to have rubbed off on him too.

      • notasugarhere says:

        And yet Diana was the one seen spanking him in public to get him to behave.

  17. minx says:

    A “vacation” from what?

  18. DiamondGirl says:

    I don’t think Diana would have let him pull this crap – whatever her flaws, she took the duties seriously.

    • paolanqar says:

      Oh come on now… he quit his job in order to take on more Royal duties with Brexit and all and that is what he is do… oh wait!

  19. littlemissnaughty says:

    I mean a lads only weekend is nothing scandalous, my friends/friends’ husbands do it too. But they don’t miss important events for it and they certainly don’t tell the wives to stay home only to post hot girls on Instagram or whatever would be the equivalent. He really is too stupid to become king. But who’s asking me.

    No PR person will ever be able to make these two look good. And why exactly was Kate not at the service?

  20. Gossip PHD says:

    This story is huge. Someone (carole) leaked this.

    • sage says:

      I agree, not sure if it was a Middleton. But someone sold him out.

      • TheOtherOne says:

        Andrew (since he was there and then left)? Fergie (who is always hard up for cash)? Charles (gave the OK once he realized neither W or K would be there for the very important Commomwealth Day? Who I ask who???

        I am so here for this type of scandal. It gives my brain momentarily breaks from The Donald.

      • lavnbb says:

        I think someone in the Palace wanted this leaked to TRY and get William in line.

        In this instance, I DON’T see how the Middleton’s leaking this helps them, because William being seen on ski trip hanging out, flirting, or possibly attracted to other women, makes the supposed Kate-William-Middleton-clan LOVE STORY look false. It weakens their image too at this point when he is supposedly according to the syrupy press, a happy family man wanting to be surrounded by the supposed bosom of Love from the Middleton’s.

    • LA Elle says:

      Or someone from inside the palace who is fed up with his behavior and lack of respect for the institution.

      Kate got out of, from her perspective, a boring event. Why would she want to do something that might mean she has to attend more boring events in the future? Will’s work shy ways are to her advantage.

    • HappyMom says:

      Verbier is not exactly off the beaten track though-it would have gotten out. Also-just the fact that he skipped it-hard to miss.

      • graymatters says:

        I agree. TMZ has footage of Will dancing. There’s no way anyone thought that this trip was going to stay under the radar.

      • Lavnbb says:

        One of the girls around the group lost her phone somehow the morning after. hmmmmm

        Probably right into a tabloid, just saying.

  21. my3cents says:

    How do the British people put up with this constant waste of money and zero lack of work ethic that’s going on here?
    I am at a complete loss of logic how this institution still exists.

    • LA Elle says:

      I would say I agree, but I’m an American, so at present I can’t really criticize any other country for the idiots wasting taxpayer money …

      That said, there’s a long history of the English and now British monarchy. There’s probably also a good bit of inertia: keeping them is less effort than abolishing them. There’s even something to be said about have a head of state who is above political parties and machinations. The impression I’ve gotten from a lot of Brits is, yes, they cost money and live a life of luxury but there’s a trade off of life in a fish bowl and supporting charitable causes, British society, etc.

      But you need that trade off.

      From the few Brits I’ve talked to, Will’s actions are making them rethink the monarchy in a way they hadn’t previously.

  22. M.A.F. says:

    It is moments like this that I wish Kate would really just say “f**k it” and go to these events alone. Or do more work period. Show him up for once.

    • Meow says:

      I don’t think the rest of the BRF like her… if she turned up alone they would just giveback her the cold shoulder anyway. Her common blood is probably an embarrassment – they cling to the idea they’re above everyone else, after all.

      Plus all the animosity with York princesses, etc.

      • peanutbuttr says:

        I doubt it’s the common blood that rubs them the wrong way. The Queen likes Sophie, who was totally middle class and didn’t have the fancy schoolin the Middleton children had. The Queen also frequently invites Sophie’s father, who was a tire salesman, to Christmas activities.

      • Lisa says:

        I doubt her “common” blood has anything to do with anything in her case. The reason they dislike her is more about her laziness, her spendthrift ways, her obvious immaturity and desperation and her clinging, social-climbing mother/family IMO. Considering her expensive education, Kate is still a spineless dud who can’t make a move without her mother’s input while being a doormate where her husband is concerned.

      • suze says:

        I don’t think common blood is remotely an issue – but obvious social climbing is.

      • Where'sMyTiara says:

        Fair dues, the animosity w/ the York princesses was largely down to how Kate treated them (and William enabled that by not shutting that down). She’s reaping what she sowed IMHO. For every story we heard (ie, the skating rink charity party where Kate made Bea cry), there’s got to be a dozen little put downs we will never be privy to. Which is a shame, b/c I would love to hear gossip about Bea or Eugenie putting Kate in her place.

    • Sharon Lea says:

      M.A.F. – I do too and that is, in essence, what Diana did. She didn’t go to those big events alone, but she certainly stayed busy and truly cared about people. But Kate can’t go against William in this way or it probably would be the end of their relationship. He would turn on her like Charles, fast and cold.

  23. weegiewarrior says:

    I cant decide if he is incredibly arrogant or extremely stupid – or both. It might not be his choice whether he ever becomes king or not – in a world where Trump can become president anything could happen.

  24. Maria says:

    For Robert Lacey to have commented negatively on the situation, what Willy did was certainly a no-no. Isn’t Lacey married to some lady-in-waiting to the Queen? Regarding Uncle David, Winston Churchill referred to him as a man-child, even though he was over 40.

    • Montréalaise says:

      I’m surprised Robert Lacey was surprised – this is lazy Will we’re talking about, after all. It’s obvious that Will has surrounded himself with yes-men who would never tell him how bad his lack of work ethic makes him look.

    • LAK says:

      I’m surprised Robert Lacey made a negative comment at all. Robert Lacey’s comments about the royal family espevially the blood royals is ALWAYS sunshine and rainbows.

      • Maria says:

        Now if Ingrid Seward of majesty magazine comes out with a criticism, they are in real trouble. They walk on water as far as she is concerned.

    • LA Elle says:

      That’s why I’m wondering if the leak came from palace sources.

  25. milibili says:

    I don’t understand what kind of person are these? do you have no moral? how can you cheat on your other half like this? and models(both gender) now seem to me fancy words for prostitutes now a days. I mean really? why are you going after a married person? it’s not like he is gonna marry them, for money it is then. yup fancy words for hoes.

    • Anatha says:

      You call the women that are also at the party hoes as they are the one at fault? Women who apparently just happen to be there and aren’t approaching William in any way that seems unsolicited. Shouldn’t a married guy know better than to skip his job, leave his wife at home with the children and party with his lads? Shouldn’t William be the one to get the blame? If anyone is a hoe it’s him.

      • lavnbb says:

        One or both of the girls works there during the Winter season and has every right to be out and about in Verbier. William and his group invited the ladies over.

  26. sage says:

    Heehee, Billy does not care what the public thinks of him. He will live his life as he see fit.

    He emits negativity.

  27. Sharon Lea says:

    Can’t help but think back to William deciding he would not wear a wedding band, from the get go.

    To me, the other point this story is making is his drinking. I remember reading that William liked to get his booze on, and party, and was able to do a lot of this in his 20s and during weekend shoot parties? The story I read pointed out that Kate wasn’t into heavy drinking and gave him room to let off steam this way.

    • notasugarhere says:

      W&K were said to goad Harry who couldn’t drink as much as she did (crack daddies being her drink of choice). Plenty of photos of W&K both utterly smashed and stumbling out of clubs for a decade. William even admitted he always partied more than Harry, but the press only publicized Harry. One of the rare occasions when he wasn’t throwing his younger brother under the bus.

      • Sharon Lea says:

        Really? Guess I must have been reading a Middleton sourced fluff piece. ha That is annoying that they goaded Harry, he didn’ t need that. William sounds like such a jerk at times.

  28. Malibu Stacy says:

    Oh my, tmz just posted a ridiculous video of PW dancing like a fool. It boggles my mind that he thinks he can just do whatever he wants and not have to do any work whatsoever.

  29. Your Mom says:

    What it WRONG with them?

    • lavnbb says:

      What’s wrong with William. IMO He stuck himself up under the Middleton’s through his 20’s ,even though he ventured on his own at times it was rare. I really don’t believe he took the time to know himself much and one day it all come tumbling down.

    • Maria says:

      When Diana was alive, not so much since, she was branded as mentally unstable, unhinged, paranoid, suffering from a personality disorder. This mostly came from Charles’ camp, Penny Junor, Nicholas Soames. Someone even wrote a book “Diana on the couch”. Her eating disorders were well-known. Now if this is true, it is entirely possible that William inherited a mental illness. These things are often hereditary, mental illness often runs in families. I am beginning to think there is something to that. William seems to me as becoming a bit unhinged. He seems to totally lack common sense, and is totally acting like someone who has a screw missing.

      • Mildred Fierce says:

        I do think he has the famous Spencer temperament, but he also has inherited Charles’ ability to hold a grudge and his great-uncle Edward VIII’s immaturity and work-shy ways.

      • lavnbb says:

        In one of the books written about the Spencer, it was said that some of the Spencer’s of past had a self-destructive streak. I can’t recall who but it was a few past ancestors. They would work out their angst and frustration by self destructing and no talking to them by others helped, they would spin until self destruction was complete, then they’d be fine once a situation was demolished, then they’d try to rebuild from the emotional ashes. It was very interesting but these were ancestors from a few hundred years ago, I believe.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Much of the info about Diana’s temperament came from her family, brother included.

  30. trishy says:

    Unless Wills changes drastically, I think Charles will be the last king. Nobody is going to want to support a do-nothing monarchy.

    • lavnbb says:

      That’s probably what he’s hoping for.

      • Maria says:

        Well I think he wants the perks. But I am interested in the book you mentioned about the Spencers. Do you remember the title? In a way, if Charles and his camp were so intent on describing Diana as mentally ill, it will be hard to shake off that label off William if that accusation was really true

  31. Joannie says:

    Who cares! What difference does it make in your life? And getting rid of the RF wont make a difference either. Does one think it will put any more money into their pocket or suddenly healthcare and education will improve? The politicians will take care of it for their own use. It wont go to the good of the people. In fact you will see a decline. Such naive thinking.

    • Cee says:

      You could open up the Royal Palaces and What Nots to tourism and events and make serious money. The amount in taxes going into their upkeep, allowances and security? Redirected to NHS, schools and unis.

      Just IMAGINE everything else that could be improved by their abolition. They can sustain themselves with their private funds and still live better than everyone.

      • Tina says:

        What Cee said. They can even keep the Duchies, I’ll be generous. (But the Crown Estates are still ours).

      • Joannie says:

        I agree but that wont happen. Politicians are corrupt and greedy. The public wont reap a benefit. A republic doesnt come without a price tag. That’s reality!

      • Disco Dancer says:

        CEE don’t waste your time explaining all this to Joannie. She’s sucking off the Royal teat real hard and has been doing this for years. Frankly, her sycophantic attitude is irritating.

    • Disco Dancer says:

      Joannie did Willie once promise to make you his princess or something? You are blindly devoted to the RF and you put down people who don’t agree with you. I’ve also seen that you support a lot of Trump’s racist immigration policy and the hatred he peddles against foreign workers and immigrants- so go figures.

    • suze says:

      You are on a gossip site – of course we care.

  32. Kitty says:

    Yep its more apparent now he does NOT WANT TO BE KING!

  33. PennyLane says:

    “Historian and Royal biographer Robert Lacey said: “It’s surprising he’s not on parade at a time when the politicians are saying our Commonwealth links are more important than ever in this post Brexit era. Any British royal has to demonstrate that occasions like Commonwealth Day matter to them, and it doesn’t look that way if you choose to go skiing with your friends.”

    All I can think about regarding Prince William is the phrase, “You have one job”.

  34. LA Elle says:

    I feel bad for Will’s PR. At the very least, he could have gone skiing in an EU country. That way, his PR people could have said he was just trying to take advantage of easy travel through Europe before Brexit …

    • ArtHistorian says:

      He’s not making it easy for his PR people – maybe they have stopped trying too hard?

      • LA Elle says:

        Oh! Maybe his PR people are the one who leaked his trip!

      • ArtHistorian says:

        The plot thickens! 😉
        This would make for a funny sit-com about the poor royal staff with the obnoxious boss – alternating between doing nothing (because said boss is lazy) or putting out brush-fires because said boss is stupid. Complete with in-house shenanigans of various kinds. With an extra dose of thinly veiled mockery that the boss never catches because he doesn’t do sarcasm well.

  35. Yolanda says:

    Anyone wants to bet he went home with the pretty blondes afterwards?

    • Where'sMyTiara says:

      mmmhmmm… under whose bed did blondie’s mobile end up? Surprised none of the tabloids have asked this yet. Perhaps they’re being coy about pushing things too far.

  36. Izzy says:

    Is there any way for someone from the Commonwealth to start an online petition to urge TQ to force Useless Bill to step out of the line of succession?

    Asking for a friend (naturally).

  37. Jessica says:

    Am I the only person who doesn’t think he was ‘caught cheating’; just having a boys weekend. I don’t think Catherine minds it’s just bad PR for William.

    • Joannie says:

      Agree! Click bait.

    • HappyMom says:

      I don’t think he’s cheating. I just think he’s tone deaf, lazy and spoiled and off with his guy friends for a ski weekend.

      • Jessica says:

        Agree about being tone deaf; the combination of going on a boys trips while missing a royal engagement that the entire Senior Royal Family went to (excluding Anne and Sophie who had other royal engagements) looks bad. If had it had been last week or the weekend before I don’t think he would have gotten as much criticism for not appearing at the the Commonwealth Day ceremony.

        I’m assuming he gets his tone deafness from his grandmother.

      • Maria says:

        Still, very embarrassing for Kate. Really bad for his public image. That on the heels building a basement under KP, this guy is just not bright.

      • lavnbb says:

        He seems to not care about humiliating her with the public. It makes her look like a doormat and him look like he might indeed cheat. I’m not saying he did but it doesn’t make him look good.

  38. Alexandria says:

    I think he’s miserable. Not arguing this to garner him sympathy. I just think he is. During his teen and undergrad days, I’d argue he had more freedom and leeway. He probably misses that. He doesn’t know what to be and he resents his position and I believe he is envious of his pals who can be themselves without the scrutiny. I think he doesn’t mind stepping down and this latest act reflects it even more. I mean, seriously what does he have to lose? He has some money from his late mother. Charles won’t leave him penniless even if he cannot access Duchy money directly. His grandparents may leave him some property once they pass. He’s actually good to go. Perhaps he’s satisfied with a royal lineage to boast of, some lease free property, some liquidity and rich friends to take him places. He grew up in luxury, perhaps that’s why he doesn’t covet the throne and its ‘power’ as much as say, a person like Carole. He probably thinks it’s overrated.

    • Jessica says:

      Besides looking like a weak and lazy loser if he gives up his rights to the throne that just makes things more difficult for George. He’ll be King that much earlier (early 30’s) and may either end up resenting his father for not giving him time like William is getting or end up doing the exact same thing.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Even worse optics if the petulant manchild refuses to do the job he thinks is so terrible, but forces it on his children. If William stepped out of the line, a way would be found to remove his children too. As long as they are under 18, it is easier.

    • Disco Dancer says:

      I wonder though if a lot of his rich friends will still wanna be his friend if William is no longer the future King??

  39. Lin says:

    Lainey has a link to TMZ video of Will dancing in a club. I promise you will giggle.

    • Where'sMyTiara says:

      I don’t know what’s sadder: the fact that he’s dancing on his OWN, and his clearly thinking he’s All That on the dance floor, or the fact that he is dancing like Bill Cosby out there in addition to the above.

      Wow. Just, wow. The cognitive dissonance is STRONG in this one.

  40. Laura says:

    This idiot is a LOSER with a capital “L”. He lives a life that the majority of us will NEVER live – unimaginable wealth and the ability to make REAL change in the world, for those less fortunate – and he does absolutely NOTHING but act like an overgrown, arrogant moron. I think he is as fake as a $3 bill whenever he does his public duties and that partying like an 18 year old is the real William. I don’t think he particularly enjoy married life nor fatherhood…I think they’re just convenient excuses for why he cannot be a full-time royal yet. He is an embarrassment to his mother’s legacy.

    Shout out and massive respect to those who work full-time, raise children (or not), volunteer in their communities, and are generally the exact opposite of everything William stands for (laziness, arrogance, irresponsibility, selfishness, etc) – its people such as yourself that deserve to wear a crown!!!

  41. Tess says:

    Ew he is so gross. I don’t begrudge any parent their “me” time but this is skeevy for a married father of two.
    For all the mouthfuls that have been said about how he waited so long to marry Kate because he saw how unhappy his parents’ marriage was and in particular how unhappy his mother was, he doesn’t seem to care AT ALL about how Kate or her family might feel. I don’t agree with most, Kate knew who he was and what she was getting into, but that is far different from being in it years later with two children added to the mix. What you think you can manage when you’re younger has to change as you grow and mature and have children.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I don’t think he has a problem with cheating, given his 10+ year record of it. He chooses to live in a house where his father and Camilla had their relationship. I think he has a problem with how the cheating and breakdown of his parents marriage affected him, not what it did to either of his parents.

    • lavnbb says:

      I don’t think this marriage will last twenty years, no matter what Kate puts up with or what the Middleton’s might want. I believe William married her because she waited and he would have looked like a cad if he didn’t after a ten year wait and constant Middleton hovering pressure, namely Carole . I never believed he was that much in love with Kate.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I think that was a big part of finally marrying her – because he “owed” it to Carole and Mike. I also think he married and pulled all the stunts he did to try to delay full-time royal work.

        If he kept moaning about the kids privacy, there would be some who fell for it instead of recognizing it as another way to dodge work. Must keep kids out of public eye, must live in country — when all the other royals live in the country, raise kids out of the public eye, AND work more than W&K.

  42. Lisa Smith says:

    I’ve said it before, after Charles and Camilla shut this Royal family thing down. Will and Kate aren’t interested in working, so they can take his inheritance and permanently retire. Turn the royal homes into museums or schools.

  43. Jessica says:

    I think William is overconfident in himself and the stability of the monarchy in the same way that a lot of people were overconfident that Clinton would win the election. William shouldn’t overplay his hand, it could bite him in the rear end. I still think Spain’s monarchy is the most critically in danger of being abolished but the BRF may not be as solid as they think (imo that would be the Danish and Swedish Royal Family).

    • notasugarhere says:

      Spain and Belgium have had big shakeups in the last few years. Politicians from 5 different parties are calling to have all royal funding stopped for anyone except the king and heir in Sweden. Calling for full access to the monarch’s finances, so they can make sure he isn’t sneaking money to anyone else in the family too. I don’t think Sweden’s monarchy is all that secure, but I think Denmark’s is. ArtHistorian would be the boots-on-the-ground expert on the Danish monarchy here though.

      • Jessica says:

        You’re right about Sweden; CP Victoria and Princess Estelle just seemed so adored that they should be good for the next 2 generations. They shouldn’t take things for granted though.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        I’d say that the Danish monarchy is fairly secure – Queen Daisy is very popular and she has carefully cultivated a public image that is neither too remote nor too familiar – fx through television programs where she has shared her memories of more frequently programs about the royal gardens and residences (and her wortk with art and the theatre). Those are very enjoyable – she shares a lot of her historical knowledge plus what she specifically like etc. She calls herself “Aunty Queen”.

        However, there have been some rumblings sin the press. Especially about the yearly apanage – that especially pertains to the fact that Joachim gets money though it traditionally is only the monarch and the heir that gets apanage but when he got married for the first time the Parliament inexplicably decided to award him an annual apanage. Now people are wondering if he expects his children to be supported by the State as well. Furthermore, his ex-wife Alexandra is also supported by the State, which is not popular anymore. What is less publicized is the fact that Count Ingolf of Rosenborg has received government money for most of his adult life even though he does no work for the DRF. It is his consolation price for being disinherited in 1953. 1 million DKr a year for having once been the heir presumptive is quite a lot of money through the years (he’s in his 70s).

        There have also been some political missteps – most notably the the CP couple going on a State Visit to Saudi Arabia but that has to be laid at the door of the Foreign Ministry.

        CP Frederik and Mary are fairly popular but she could cut back on her spending and he needs to get his ass in gear. She’s more visible and more popular than him. He’s kind of cruising along on Mary’s work and reputation because she’s doing the significant work with her Foundation. Secondly, his membership of the Olympic Committee has caused controversy since his vote clashed with the Danish governments official stance on Russia and doping. That membership is not apolitical and it would be a good idea for him to withdraw from that.

        Finally, let’s not forget that the Danish monarchy is about as old as the British one – and such old institutions have their own inbuilt inertia. Furthermore, the DRF also rests on a reservoir of goodwill that has been carefully cultivated since the 1940s – mainly because the late Queen Ingrid was a natural at PR and she taught her daughter well.

      • Jessica says:

        ArtHistorian

        Would you say that a majority of the Danish public like the monarchy overall or are just apathetic. I think that’s where the problem lies with the BRF; yes they have lovers and haters but most of their public seems apathetic and that should be concerning for their institution (apathy can turn to dislike really quickly). CP Fred is well-liked even with his shortcomings but Charles isn’t (comparing spouses Mary is the most popular member while Camilla is the least popular; yes this matters). William is liked (hell he was the golden child) but in 10 years that could look completely different if he stays on this course. I think one major slip up on William’s end and the BRF could be in serious trouble.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        Jessica,

        I’d say it is a bit of both. They’ve been good at making themselves appear somewhat accessible – fx through television programs and the annual summer cruise throughout the country. However, they need to pay attention to their spending. The amount they get is set by government but it would be smart of them to not to be seen as being conspicuous consumers.

        As in most monarchies, the RF don’t play much of a role in the daily lives of people but they are good at attracting a lot of positive attention when it comes to special events – both Jubilees and annual events. They have also taken pains to collaborate with the business sector when they go on State Visits. Generally, they are accompanied by a business delegation on State Visits and though the royals themselves aren’t directly involved with making contacts and closing contracts, it has been a successful endeavour. They just provide some royal gold dust. They have been smart about trying to make themselves useful beyond the role of a silent figurehead. Many of the foreign visits are made in conjunction with spearheading Danish business and culture abroad.

        There’s also a larger cultural difference between Denmark and Britain. In Denmark, the class system is much less rigid than in the UK. It can appear as though we don’t have one, which is misleading. It is just that the aristocracy isn’t very important here. I do applaud that Mary and Frederik haven’t put their children in a posh private school (unlike Joachim). They go to State school – in an afffluent neighbourhood but it’ll still give them more opportunity to interact with children from other walks of life. (I went to State school in an affluent aerea myself yet we still had Somali refugees in my class).

      • notasugarhere says:

        Thank you AH. I love it when you bring out your royal knowledge! I’d love to spend a day with Daisy and Camilla together, now that would be an outing to remember.

        I am still amazed they managed to keep Alexandra on the payroll, even after Joachim and Marie married. But I’m also surprised that those two do royal work instead of living privately. They’ve announced that only Christian will be a working royal in the future though, right? That they’ll follow a Dutch model of only the heir being supported by the State.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        Thanks, I’d love to have tea with Daisy and Camilla as well. I think that would be a hoot and a half!

        Yes, they’ll go back to the tradition of only the monarch and the heir being supported by the State. That was the original agreement when Denmark became a constitutional monarchy. However the lines have appeared blurred since the 1920s when the DRF lost a very large part of their private wealth due to a bank crisis. Some members of the extended family lost everything and very supported by their more high-ranking relatives. There has been a lack of transparency in the past.

        Joachim was never supposed to have been supported by state funds. The fact that Joachim and his family was given money was completely unprecedented and I have no idea who came up with that bright idea. Joachim’s finances were different when he divorced Alexandra than they are now (since he sold his estate) so her divorce settlement comes from the public as well – plus she walked away with the Alexandrine Diamond Drop Tiara. A royal family heirloom that she has no use for anymore. As much as I like Alexandra I do think her keeping the tiara reflects badly on her.

        I really would like the whole Alexandra situation to be solved because she has since been married and divorced again. However, there are probably a lot of legal complications. In the end, this situation wouldn’t have arisen if the government hadn’t suddenly decided to give Joachim a yearly apanage. They could have worked out an arrangement like Daisy has with Benedikte. Daisy gives her sister some money from her Monarch’s Grant as compensation for Benedikte’s work representing the DRF.

  44. Jaded says:

    How bad does it have to get before he gets publicly called to the carpet? Before his father cuts him off? Before he is scolded by HRM into doing what he is paid a LOT for? It’s time for a massive William-shaming by all the press, including that royal fart-catcher Ingrid Seward, and a call to have him step out of the line of succession. F*cking wanker.

    • Maria says:

      Hear, hear!

    • Caroline- Genevieve says:

      My understanding is that QE2 is leaving everything to Charles and Charles has chosen to let William run his own life and public relations.

      Word is – William is an utter nightmare. He will not be contradicted or listen to others. Totally stubborn. Always right.

  45. Citresse says:

    CDN evening news outlets are repeatedly reporting Charles and both sons will be attending Vimy Ridge Commemorations.
    I think this is an attempt to deflect attention away from this Verbier situation.

    • Where'sMyTiara says:

      Aaaaaaaand the Daily Fail has put up EAAA photo op of William “getting back to work”, right on schedule.

      You are such a one-trick pony, Jason.

      The more I see of Jason’s work, the more I think he may be related to Sean Spicer. Both are completely ham-fisted about the PR.

  46. Nikki says:

    I don’t see it as cheating or humiliating Kate, but I see it as so ENORMOUSLY STUPID! So much of his behavior is like a huge F U . So incredibly ungrateful and self indulgent. I agree: since his elders obviously never shamed or demanded enough, let’s see if public outrage and mockery get through to ANY of them!!

  47. Caroline- Genevieve says:

    This is incredibly common. William does this on his own a lot. And he and Kate sneak away together also.

    The wealthy nobility, such as the D of Westminster family love to give William their helicopter and private residences for a quiet weekend away. The taxpayers never hear about it as it is a friendly gift provided to him. And it is all by private friends, so nobody knows. And usually Kate isn’t invited and sometimes an old friend, an ex ‘Willabee’ is.

    This is how William and Kate snuck away to France when they were supposed to be preparing for a trip…and Kate got papped nude? Staying at a Windsor family estate. On the sly…

  48. what's inside says:

    I think he is doing exactly what other males of his family have done for generations.

  49. Ravine says:

    Ugh, that Sun article is pathetic. Most of it is just picture after unrelated picture of Sophie Taylor in skimpy clothes (GASP), trying to sell you on the idea that she’s this sexy temptress that Will MUST have lusted after all weekend. It’s frankly insulting to the both of them. Yes, she’s pretty — that doesn’t justify an endless photo essay that may as well be called “She’d Sure Be A Smokin’ Hot Sidepiece, Fwoaahh.”

    • nem says:

      yes it is.but in a sneaky way.this blonde thin girl is exactly the type of posh girl he was chasing during his bachelor’s days like the calthorpe branson one.the shade is vicious

  50. JackieJormpJomp says:

    My f*cking days…
    Just buzz the hair close. No one cares about bald i 2017, but everyone laughs at combovers….

    We can see your scalp and we can see your indifference. You have no game, Wills.

  51. Anare says:

    I am amazed that William is allowed to get away with this crap again. Doesn’t anyone in that family have the balls to set him straight? He could go skiing with his pals any time. Why the hell would he go when he knew he would miss an important function and that it would cause a scene? He truly must not give a sh*t. I don’t really care if he is falling down drunk. That’s his business. Having the ladies around for days is tacky but that’s for Kate to deal with if she cares. But to thumb his nose at the Queen (his grandmother!) and at the country that is supporting him by willfully turning his back on this function is scandalous. His petulant behavior will keep getting worse if it goes unchecked. No wonder Harry stood around with his uncles with a big happy smile on his face. He probably tipped off the press to stick it to his idiot bro. 😂

    • nem says:

      he seems to be going full hubris mode.

      • Where'sMyTiara says:

        Hubris is a creature that walks around with his d-ck in his hand.

        Yep, that sounds like Prince Workshy.

        I don’t think Harry tipped off the press. He’s not the jerk that his brother and dad are in that way. He’s been raised to be loyal to the family, and to duty – like his brother; unlike William, Harry takes those charges seriously.