Duchess Kate has gotten a lot better at public speaking: how & why did that happen?

Duchess Of Cambridge visits  RHS Wisley

Here are more photos of the Duchess of Cambridge at RHS Wisley, where she was premiering her latest iteration of her Back to Nature garden. I think it’s possibly found a permanent home there, with some updates. Kate seemed very relaxed at this event, and it definitely feels like she been more relaxed, in general, at public events for more than a year now. Even though the Keen fans yell at me for daring to talk about both duchesses in the same story, it’s crystal clear that Kate’s growth and comfort within her public role happened as soon as she had “competition.”

Which brings me to this – not only did Kate play with kids (she was really cute with a lot of the babies and little kiddos), but she also made a speech. It was just a variation on the public remarks she’s been making about her garden for months. But because we are in the Brave New Keen Era of royalty, everything Kate does must be praised to the hilt. Royal reporter Emily Andrews tweeted this about Kate’s RHS Wisley speech: “I was really struck by how much more confident Kate is at public speaking. Today’s engagement was very her, and she was in her relaxed element, but I remember when her elocution lessons left her with strangled vowels & v nervous delivery. Lovely job today.” Ah, so we’re blaming her terrible public speaking for seven years on “failed elocution lessons,” huh? It’s weird that suddenly those terrifying elocution lessons left her nearly voiceless for seven years and then suddenly she was super-comfortable with public speaking… as soon as Meghan came around.

For what it’s worth, she has genuinely gotten better at public speaking.

Duchess Of Cambridge visits  RHS Wisley

Duchess Of Cambridge visits  RHS Wisley

Duchess Of Cambridge visits  RHS Wisley

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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171 Responses to “Duchess Kate has gotten a lot better at public speaking: how & why did that happen?”

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  1. Oh No says:

    The bar is so low.

    Public speaking can be nerve racking, nausea inducing, and extremely intimidating. There is no denying that.

    But let’s be clear, there’s a difference between all of those things and being unprepared and uninvested when you make a speech.

    Even the worst public speakers are endearing when the topic is something they care about.

    • joro says:

      Totally agree with this.

      The bar is on floor for non people of color. Every time this is brought up, non poc act like it’s a made up concept.

      Kate is stepping up NOW because a new duchess entered the scene and took the privileges and platform of her new station to make a real difference.
      It shouldn’t have taken Kate 10 plus years to make a worthy speech, follow through with charity missions or anything else.

      While Kate get lavished over for doing the bare minimum as a future Queen consort, Meghan gets raked over for using her station for the better.

      • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

        I think it’s down to Louis. Ever since she had him, we’ve ALL commented on how much more relaxed Kate seems, how much more content, confident… I think that THIS is finally showing in her, the way she relates to people more confidently, speaking more comfortably… JMO though, but I have definitely seen a difference.

      • Bettyrose says:

        The bar must be pretty low if we’re calling that relaxed. It seems incredibly rehearsed and inflexible. Was there a Q & A? How is she offscript?

      • Nahema says:

        Honestly, while Kate has improved, I don’t think she is great at public speaking and to be fair, few people are. As time has gone by, she has become more relaxed and I can’t defend the sheer lack of work from the Cambridges but to compare her to Meghan in this instance does seem unfair. Meghan is naturally comfortable in the spotlight and seems to even thrive in it.

      • Bettyrose says:

        Nahema, agreed that the comparison to Meghan’s natural skill is unfair. But Kate’s not doing herself any favor with that pretentious accent. She’d seem more relaxed and natural just being herself. She’s well educated, so how bad could her accent be??

    • ejodee says:

      Just reading your comment back in a posh British accent. Well played, writer. Carry on.

    • ELLA says:

      In that case, the bar is at an all time low.
      Simply put, she doesn’t care enough to speak about any issue freely and here we are applauding her speech at “a garden event” Geez!

  2. Lucy2 says:

    Maybe she feels less pressure now, and is getting used to public speaking, feeling more confident? I don’t know, maybe everything doesn’t have to be some big drama and competition?

    • OsGirl says:

      Right? After 7 years, we would ALL get better at something. People are way to invested in both of these women.

      • bros says:

        beta blockers probably. they work well.

        she still sounds like she’s trying on someone else’s voice and accent though.

      • charbon says:

        At some point you guys might want to acknowledge she went to some of the poshest schools around.

        She didn’t exactly have an Eliza Doolittle accent beforehand.

      • Nic919 says:

        Kate does not have the same accent as her sister Pippa and they went to the same schools. No one ever said she had a cockney accent but the fact that she has trouble speaking comfortably and sounds different from her sister would suggest that it’s not her natural accent.

    • ByTheSea says:

      Well, I’d feel less pressure, too, if I knew my nearest competition was going to get eviscerated every time she so much as breathed. So there’s that.

      • Anon says:

        I’m very confused about “nearest competition”. What are they competing for?

      • Maria says:

        +1 ByTheSea

      • Snappyfish says:

        @Anon. Exactly right. What are they competing for? Nothing. Each is secure in their own lives. I think the 2 women get along perfectly well. Besties? No. They share a similar experience. I, for one, would like them to join forces & run the place. Their husbands are spoilt children in men’s suits

      • Seraphina says:

        @Anon, the competition is for public approval. Performing your duties well (and performing many) is the name of game for their privileged life style they are allowed to live. Doesn’t look good if the QC is outshone by a mere Duchess, an American one as well. PR is what is at stake.

      • kacy says:

        @Seraphina But is public approval finite? Aren’t the Swedish royal children, the crown princess and her sisters reasonably well liked?

      • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

        wrong place…oops!

      • ELLA says:

        HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

        So would I !!!!!

    • s says:

      Agreed. Additionally, I personally feel a lot of it probably is tied back to Catherine Quinn joining her rather than her new sister-in-law…

      Having a good staff behind can increase your confidence in these types of situations in leaps and bounds.

      • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

        I always think back to Diana, who was a shy, young girl. She KNEW she was terrible at it, so she got help! She got a speech coach (who would video her giving speeches so they could watch together and give her pointers), she got Sir David Attenborough (through Charles, of all people!) to help her write speeches… SHE MADE AN CONCERTED EFFORT TO IMPROVE. We’ve never gotten that from Kate, and she has EVERY ADVANTAGE at her fingertips. Really shouldn’t have taken almost a decade. Didn’t she have to do orals in Uni?? That gives you SOME experience as well.

      • Nahema says:

        Have you ever watched the Kings Speech? Speech impediment aside, there was always the huge anxiety as a hinderance. Maybe she has been having help and maybe that is the reason for some of the improvement but we are all plucking most of these assumptions from thin air and making them fit our agenda with both Meghan and Kate. We don’t know what is really going on.

      • Nic919 says:

        No one ever improves at giving speeches if you only do it once a year. Practice is the only way to get better and regardless of whether or not Kate is good at speeches, she needs to give them as it is part of her job. It was no secret that giving small speeches is required of a future consort, and Diana was an example of someone understanding the need to improve. Kate just isn’t one to put any real effort into things that don’t interest her. Her entire life to date is proof of that.

    • minx says:

      I think it’s a good thing…and about time.

    • Shannon says:

      This. Ugh, I put this comment in the wrong place, oh well lol

  3. Sierra says:

    When the media’s hatred is not focused on you and on someone else, you gain confidence.

    Kate knows Meghan is the one with the target so of course she is relaxed.

    • Xo says:

      It wouldn’t surprise me if Kate spent her first years in that role terribly insecure. She’s the outsider, remember? The girl who wasn’t a Calthorpe.

      We’ve heard rumours that she was judged and dismissed by william’s social circle.

      Kate may have broken the mold, but Meghan shattered it. Of course seeing Meghan enter the family would help her relax.

  4. Erinn says:

    I mean, this is the goal, is it not? Everyone complains that she can’t give a speech, or that she can’t be bothered to be interested. But when she does better, that becomes another problem? Hell, maybe she got some kind of treatment for anxiety – it could be anything. But at the end of the day you want your public figures to be decent at presenting and speech giving.

    Maybe the bar IS set too low – but any upward trajectory is obviously a good thing.

    • Maria says:

      No. I’m happy she’s doing better, and more confident, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need to be doing more. She can do better than the low bar set for her and she knows it. She is capable of a lot and has the connections to make whatever she wants happen. She needs to be doing it. She is not a victim and saying “well it’s better than nothing” is insulting to the public AND to her, imo.

      • ShazBot says:

        Maria – this is why I’ve always felt a little sorry for Kate. For her late adolescence and her entire adult life, she has been told by everyone around her (including her parents, which is heartbreaking) that she is NOT capable of a lot more, that she CAN’T do better. That being William’s wife is the pinnacle of achievements and what should take up all of her energy. She’s literally never been encouraged to try – in fact she’s probably been discouraged. I will never forget their early marriage visit to that UN food distribution centre with Frederick and Mary, where Kate spoke to reporters and it was awkward and painful – she was clearly unprepared and focused too much on her accent. But William’s reaction while she was speaking was MORTIFYING. She gets zero support.

      • Maria says:

        I have to agree honestly. William always looks extremely irritated or at best bored when she speaks. I don’t think he is limiting her work, that’s all on her, but it can’t be helpful to know your husband has no interest in your growing and learning.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        I think William looks bored no matter who is speaking. Unless the engagement deals with football, William always acts like he would rather be some place else.

      • Mrs.Krabapple says:

        Was she alone? She always seemed more relaxed when William’s not around. I also think she got some extra assurances/ concessions from William (like maybe a revised nuptial agreement) after the Rose stories came out. She does seem happier since then.

        On a side note, she looks like a real housewife the first picture — had some work done, or just photoshop?

    • Anne says:

      In the 7 years she has been married to William Kate has barely done any speeches. She always looked nervous and I felt for her but I said with practice she would get better. What motivated her to do more speeches in the last year is Meghan. Let’s not forget her mother’s quote about speeches last year. It is a good thing that she is stepping up because as future queen consort she will be delivering speeches all her life so better now then never. Yes the bar has always been low for her she has skated by putting in the least amount of effort and praised for it.

    • Iknow says:

      I think the point some are making is that she didn’t give a F about getting better. If she had, she would kept practicing, keep giving speeches, made an effort to become a better at her “job”. But when Meghan came around, all of a sudden, she’s getting much better. I’m glad she is. But it evident she had no desire to improve herself until it benefited her in some way.

    • Nic919 says:

      Kate was marketed as the most educated princess ever at the engagement and she was going to hit the ground running…. back in 2011. And then she proceeded to take forever to do one speech and then remain very bad at them for year upon year. There has only been noticeable improvement in the last year or so, which happens to coincide with when Meghan entered the family. So something motivated Kate to be slightly better or someone.

      I do think Emily Andrews is overdoing the praise for the speech. Kate is okay now as opposed to horrible. There is still room for improvement and if she shifted away from the posh accent she puts on she would do even better. Most of her issue is she is not speaking in a way that is very natural to her.

  5. Janey says:

    Meghan is so good at public speaking / addresses that she had to up her game. And frankly it couldn’t have gotten much worse.

  6. Digital Unicorn says:

    Nothing like a bit of competition to get a fire in the belly going. GF has made an effort as she doesn’t want the comparisons to someone who is better at it. Wonder how long it will last and PROVES that Katie Keen can do well if she has a reason to.

    Plus its well documented how competitive as a person she is.

    • HK9 says:

      If Kate is anything, it’s competitive. We have the well documented way she pursued Will & cut off any competition she could-and what can we say, she got the ring.

      • Dali says:

        Well documented pursuing a man? Facts or gossip from mainly the DM from back in the days when they were attacking her constantly and calling her middle class waity katie? But sure, women pursue men. How dare we.

      • HK9 says:

        Facts. It is what it is. Where did I say I agreed with the way they attacked her? She pursued him and got what she wanted. That’s not a bad thing either…..you’re reading way to much into my comment.

      • Your Cousin Vinny says:

        Can you share what the facts are? From what I can recall there was only speculation from the same tabloids we discredit here on the regular. Or maybe that’s just confirmation bias. Either way I would genuinely love to know the facts and their references.

  7. Becks1 says:

    Her public speaking has improved, but part of that, I think, is that she is doing more of it now. She gave relatively few speeches over her first few years as duchess, so now that in the past 2 years or so she has given a few speeches a year, it makes sense that she seems more comfortable doing it. And we can all pretty much guess why she is giving more speeches.

    So, good for her, but yeah, the bar is set really low.

  8. Beli says:

    Someone else is now around and giving speeches and doing it well. There’s finally a motivation to step it up and actually speak and to actually try at it.

    And blaming elocution lessons for her poor speeches retrospectively is a bad show. This has never been mentioned before.

    • Nic919 says:

      To be fair, many of us have been saying that her new posh accent was part of why she was so bad at the early speeches. And she wasn’t motivated to really improve herself in speaking with the new accent… until the last few years.

    • Your Cousin Vinny says:

      It was repeatedly mentioned that her old-fashioned posh accent was newly acquired and in stark contrast to the noveau posh accent used by her peers and husband. She seemed uncomfortable and it was speculated that this was down to her accent being unnatural for her. I remember digs from the media about her accent being “posher than the queen” even though she was middle class.

  9. Dali says:

    Maybe she asked meghan for advice??

    • Hope says:

      Oh, I like that. Let’s go with that. Kate asked Meghan for help and they bonded over Meghan giving Kate advice.

      Nothing wrong with it at all but it drive some Kate stans nuts that Meghan could ever teach Kate how to Duchess better

    • Himmiefan says:

      Maybe she did. It’s always made sense to me that they would trade advice over tea. There’s a lot they can help each other with because they’re part of a very small pool of people who know what it’s like in their positions.

    • Jamie says:

      Women helping each other instead of “competing.” I like it.

    • Elisa says:

      Now that would be all kinds of awesome!

    • Lowrider says:

      I doubt it.

  10. Nives says:

    The bar is so low for her LMAO

  11. Seraphina says:

    Vast improvement. Good for her. Maybe it is the competition. But Kate’s accent sounds off for reason. But I’m an American so not quite sure if she is still in posh sounding arena.

    Let’s just honest here, if it is Meghan who has made her up her game, she can’t compete with her. Meghan loves what she does and Kate doesn’t. And it shows.

    • Becks1 says:

      I’m no accent expert, at all, but others on here have said that she changed accent drastically to sound more posh, and now she is going back to her natural accent, so maybe that is why it sounds a bit off?

      • Maria says:

        I second this. Part of how awkward her early speeches were was due to how painfully posh she tried to make her delivery all the time. It’s still posh but not so “prunes and prisms” so it’s a tad more relaxed.

    • Nic919 says:

      It remains obvious that Kate is speaking words others have written for her, even if her delivery has improved. At this point, a short speech like she did yesterday shouldn’t really require a podium and notes. It should be said off the cuff, especially if the topic is something she deeply cares about.

      • Fallon says:

        I’ve always felt a lot of her issues came from her reading words she clearly hasn’t practiced. Should you really need to read off “I hope you all have a wonderful day”?

      • BeanieBean says:

        What I find curious is that she had a notebook (Smythson!) with several pages of text stapled together. It was a fairly short speech. Is it a sentence or two per page in a really large font?

  12. M says:

    Her accent is still very unnatural and ridiculous, just like the rest of the royal family. It’s so far beyond RP that it sounds like a parody.

  13. GG says:

    Perhaps Meghan has given Kate some pointers on how to feel more confident in her public speaking. I’d like to think Archie’s birth provided some common ground for Kate and Meghan to get to know each other on a deeper level.

    Personally, I feel like the competition narrative between the couples is low hanging fruit, as is suggesting that camp Cambridge is behind E V E R Y attack on Meghan. (I acknowledge that they are probably behind S O M E.) If you see who benefits and who has the most the gain from constant focus on Meghan for converting oxygen into carbon dioxide, it’s not the Cambridge’s, it’s the Y O R K S. Fergie is still ILL that Meghan announced her pregnancy at Her daughter’s wedding (which to be fair was probably just the first time in a while the whole fam was together and they were excited and blurted it out). Prince Andrew is Mummy’s favorite son, so he’s acutely aware on how to manipulate staffers for information, and to give them stories to leak to the press. This is the tactic of misdirection that Fergie and Andrew use to their benefit to hide exactly how intertwined their relationship is with Epstein. Fergie has been broke for DECADES. How has she managed to maintain her lifestyle? Through advantageous “loans” from Epstein. Andrew is pissed at Charles for the girls being relegated to grandchildren of the queen instead of full time royals and thus anything that smears Charles’ children or their wives feels like a win for Andrew. Andrew preyed upon children, I don’t know why racist vitriol feels like such a stretch for Andrew to some people.

    • Becks1 says:

      Well, many of us have said on here for the past year that the smear campaign seems to be coming from several camps. I don’t think its 100% the cambridges, and I can absolutely believe that Andrew is behind some of the attacks – I think he was behind the tiara-gate story, for example.

      That said, I think in general the Cambridges certainly capitalize off the attacks and use the negative stories to their advantage. For example, last year, when Meghan was under constant attack for how much her clothes cost, we saw Kate wear several repeat outfits in a row, which was unusual for her (to wear so many repeats in a row.) now that that particular criticism of Meghan has died down (temporarily, I’m sure), we have seen Kate in new dress after new dress. Another example – last month, when the Sussexes were being slammed for their private plane use, William and Kate went out of their way to make sure they were photographed on a budget airline going to Scotland.

      It’s those kinds of things that make me think the Cambridges recognize that they can twist the criticism against the Sussexes in their favor.

      But, I don’t disagree with your overall point that Andrew’s hands aren’t clean here either. He would absolutely throw Meghan and Harry to the wolves for a variety of reasons, even more so now to distract from his crimes.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        Andrew would throw anyone to the wolves to save his own skin. However, this time around nothing is going to work as his reputation and good name (if he ever had one in the first place) is beyond repair.

      • RedRoyal says:

        Did you read the blind item on Crazy Days and Nights the other day? It sounds believable.

        Today’s Blind Items – Royal Family Bonanza

        Much of the vitriol and leaks about A (alliterate one) are coming from B’s (pedophile and lover of them) camp. C (on again/off again ex of B and apparently at least once orally serviced the dead pedophile) is still livid about various grudges relating to A’s pregnancy announcement and D’s (offspring of B&C who spent time with the pedophile, but not as much as D’s sibling) wedding. C has been slowly edging her way back into the family with the hope of remarriage once E (racist old guy who, much like Larry King will seemingly live forever) kicks the bucket. All this scandal isn’t helping that cause. Keeping the focus on A’s antics also keeps it off B. C contributed anon tips for the foreign television show that trashed A.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Bay – I believe your first sentence absolutely, and I want to believe your second sentence is true, but even if it is, Andrew doesn’t believe it (if that makes sense.) so I do think he would do anything to try to distract, even if it hopefully fails.

        @RedRoyal – I have not read that (I don’t read blind items) but I can believe it like I said. I think Andrew and Fergie have a lot of skin in the anti-Meghan “game” so to speak. I just don’t think its 100% them.

      • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

        RedRoyal, usually that site’s “blinds” are full of sh!t, but damn if this one doesn’t hit a bullseye (at least, in the way I’ve felt a lot of shmears are coming from. The *bulk* of the leaks from: the Petulant Pedo and his Feckless Freeloading ex. Even though it seems they like Harry, I wouldn’t put it past Bea and Eugenie to be jealous of Meghan, and let a few “slips” out. I also don’t put it past William to “benefit” in his petty little ways, and Kate will never go against William, at least not overtly. And of course, TQ will forever be an ostrich and keep her head firmly in the sand and let it all keep going on (only coming up for air to ride with Petulant Pedo for PR).

        What I *don’t* get is Charles not stepping in w/a word to the press. If he wants his “slimmed down monarchy” to thrive once TQ kicks the bucket, he’s in for a BIIIIIG surprise when there will only be W&K left. HOW can he POSSIBLY think that all of this being flung at his daughter-in-law (and son) can be good for The Firm, in ANY capacity??

    • Noodle says:

      I read a blind item about how Fergie is the source of a lot of MM gossip. According to the writer, she is still salty about the pregnancy announcement being made at her daughter’s wedding, and wants to deflect from Andrew’s crimes. If true, it’s a bit ironic considering Fergie was the black sheep of the family for so long, and now she’s inflicting the pain unto another.

      • Maria says:

        That’s even worse considering William and Kate didn’t invite her to their wedding and Harry and Meghan did.

      • Tourmaline says:

        Yes I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s salty about Meghan’s pregnancy news interrupting the anticipated afterglow of the Eugenie wedding. Even if the stories she told the family at the wedding are wrong the news came out in the media soon after and I can see the Yorks mad that their ‘blood princess’ had her spotlight dimmed.

        Fergie and Andy honestly creep me out a lot, they are bare knuckled brawlers when it comes to keeping their perks and their status (using any human trafficking billionaire and bribe they can get their paws on) and embiggening their daughters. It’s creepy too because between William and Harry, Harry has been the one who has been reported to be closer to the Yorks, being good friends with Eugenie at least and I think he has stayed at the Yorks Swiss chalet at least once years ago. Plus of course inviting Fergie to his wedding which the Cambridges did not.

      • Candikat says:

        Does anyone know more about this supposed “pregnancy announcement?” Like, did Meghan go up to the mic and spill the beans to everyone during the couple’s first dance? Or did somebody at her table notice she wasn’t drinking and guess, and then that person whispered to another, and then that person … etc. The latter seems more likely. I can see how Fergie might be steamed about a formal announcement , but I also have trouble imagining it went down that way.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Candikat – its unclear. The announcement said something about how the family was told prior to the wedding? I think? I could be misremembering. But people got very up in arms that she announced at the wedding, and my impression was that they probably told the royals (including the Yorks) shortly before.

    • Nic919 says:

      At the time of tiara gate, many of us were saying that Andrew was behind that because there would be no way that William or Kate would have had any idea about something like that. That said some of the other stories, like cry gate, would have had to come from KP or Carole because who else would know about how Kate acted at a dress fitting for Charlotte.

      I agree with Becks1 that regardless of the source of the stories, the Cambridges have capitalized on them, as we saw with the budget flight episode. And considering how Fergie was okay with borrowing money from a pedophile, I wouldn’t be shocked that she has planted anti Meghan stories in the media for money.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        I really want Bill Normal to “act out” again because “Turnip Toffgate” is/was much more interesting to discuss than “emerald tiara gate”.

      • Your Cousin Vinny says:

        @bay, I firmly disagree, adultery nearly always hurts a family, especially the children. I don’t think it’s fun to watch people go through that. I would much prefer the biggest scandal to be an argument about who gets to wear what tiara and when – as long as it really happened, of course.

  14. Basi says:

    Wow. So much passion. So much feeling in that speech. Tongue firmly at the side of my mouth. Eyes rolling up and down the street.

  15. Pineapple says:

    I firmly believe Kate and Will are behind the Meghan smearing, at least in part. Certainly they have said NOTHING in order to stop it. It is not rocket science. Kate has started really working, why? Well, Meghan, of course. To say anything else, to not allow that to be a part of the conversation, is untruthful. For YEARS Will and Kate seemed almost aggravated with their roles. Now, suddenly, they are keen? Nope. Just nope.

    I am super happy Kate is successful now, working and seeming to enjoy it. Perhaps it is time to stick up for her new relative. Perhaps her husband can also … I mean, if it’s not about competition than it should be a no brainer, right?

    • Wowsers says:

      What are Will and Kate supposed to say? Why doesn’t Meghan own husband say something?

      • Pineapple says:

        @ Wowsers … Will is the King to be. I think he would have some pull with the papers. Kate and Will are apparently good friends with the Editor of one newspaper or magazine. I think they would have some pull. You are right, the Queen, Charles … they could ALL do something. When famous, powerful people are speaking out about the devastating racism Meghan is facing, I think the Royal Family could join in. I think it would be a nice ethical and moral thing to do.

        As for Harry, he married Meghan, he has already broched this topic once. It is now time for his family to make the ethically correct decision and speak up. And like I said, if competition isn’t an issue, this to me is a no brainer. Who would allow a young, woman of colour to be vilified like this? Who? Ethical people? No.

      • s says:

        While I have largely stayed away from the issue, I agree with Wowsers…

        While I know many don’t believe the rumors that they don’t like about Harry and Meghan it seems pretty clear from all sides that Harry and Meghan have decided take the reigns themselves and this likely involved them asking Kate/Will/Charles/TheQueen to let them handle it.

        I find it odd how people want Kate/Will/TheFamily to simultaneously let Harry and Meghan do their own thing and “shine” but also constantly fly to their aid when they mess up — they can’t have it both ways…

      • Becks1 says:

        Except…..its not about flying to their aid when they mess up. Its about showing that you DONT think they messed up. No one is saying William has to go out and give a huge speech about how great Meghan is, but he doesn’t have to feed her to the wolves either. Even when they were under the same “house” at KP, the KP press machine did nothing to protect Meghan, which I’m sure is part of the reason for the separation.

        There is not a whole lot Meghan can do to defend herself. Harry can try, but a statement from someone who is NOT being attacked would probably go a long way.

        Instead we get stories about Wiliam taking more control of the relationship with the press and Harry and Meghan being exiled. There’s letting H&M handle it, and then there’s making it worse.

      • Fernanda says:

        Why is it William that’s supposed to come to Meghan’s aid? What about Charles? He’s next in line to become King! Perhaps Meghan’s husband should come to her aid as well. Seems to me Meghan puts herself out there in an American/Hollywood way. She should then take the heat.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Yet another brand new poster on here saying Meghan is too Hollywood. Seriously? Go look at other married ins in royal families except Kate. Kate is the lazy exception here. The rest of them, like Meghan, got to work relatively quickly, worked with charities, raised money, gave speeches. Doing the job they’re supposed to be doing, instead of lazying about for eight years post-wedding.

        The staff at KP answered to Petulant Bill. Under his direction they did things like leak Kate’s Broken project three days before the Together Cookbook was published. Released info about the Shout initiative making it look like Harry and Meghan weren’t really part of it. Some of the organizations involved posted on their own SM to correct that. KP staff allowed all negative, racist, abusive posts about Meghan to stay on their SM page, but immediately delete anything negative about William.

        Charles and HM made it possible for Harry and Meghan to get away from KP and W&K, mid-year. They agreed to the separation of the Foundation. That *is* their way of supporting Harry and Meghan.

    • Tigerlily says:

      Fernanda correct me if I am wrong but are you saying Meghan deserves the racist crap being thrown at her because she is American/Hollywood & “puts herself out there”? Please explain because I am sure you don’t mean this. Or do you? If you do then go back under the bridge you came from.

    • Mia says:

      Becks : “Its about showing that you DONT think they messed up.”
      If you have been following any of the royal news at all you can probably guess that the royal family believe that Meghan and Harry have messed up. Royally. Of course they are not going to come out and try to defend them.

      • blue36 says:

        Yeah, I don’t really know why people are expecting the RF to come to Meghan’s defense, they are too busy defending Andrew and his fingers. While I do agree there have been some missteps (like private jet gate – which I still think was blown out of proportion), stuff like that 60 mins doc and the over the top ranting about her guest editing vogue is unjustified. Stuff like that needs to be called out, especially that vile documentary! I would have at least a little bit of respect if they called out the racism Meghan faces, much different than regular criticisms. I mean just recently people have been blocked by the RF twitter account for mentioning Andrew’s ties to Epstein, but any racist disgusting comments about Meghan are still allowed.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Only if you’re reading “royal news” on places like RD would you reach that conclusion. Otherwise? Harry and Meghan are doing the jobs they’re supposed to be doing, and that is what the people running the family firm (HM and Charles) want them doing. HM and Charles funded their separate office, they’re rubber stamping the Foundation changes. That’s how they support Harry and Meghan – by getting them away from William.

      • Mia says:

        notasugarhere: I don’t know what RD is. I read news from the normal sites including The Guardian, which recently had an article that spelled out *exactly* why H&M and Meghan in particular was having such difficulties. The Guardian as you probably know, was and still is rooting for her. Every single major publication in the UK has had very critical articles on the Sussexes in the last two weeks. Her popularity in the most recent poll was below 50. They have made mistakes but it is important to first acknowledge and then act on them. Michelle Obama gave her very good advice : keep your head down and observe and learn for the first two years. Meghan should have followed that advice word for word.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Plenty of articles have been published in the last two weeks, both in the UK and outside, calling out the press for constantly attacking her. Attacking her for things other royals do. Attacking her for things she hasn’t done.

        The vast majority of criticism about her has been shown to be made up, manufactured controversies. Meghan is doing her work, not blathering on about it for months before pretending to do it. She showing up with large, completed projects. Learning, doing her work, getting it done. Again, doing what she’s supposed to be doing.

      • Becks1 says:

        @mia – yeah, no. I just don’t agree. Meghan has not made any big mistakes. She just hasn’t. She’s not perfect, but I can’t think of a single “scandal” over the last year that would be a “big mistake.” Things like the cost of her clothes – if Charles and the queen didn’t like it, they would limit what she spends. That’s how they would slap her down. That’s not happening.

        I the RF knows that she’s not making major mistakes but they are willing to let her bleed in the papers bc of other, ahem, issues.

        Private jet-gate? The royals all use private planes. That wasn’t a mistake in their eyes.

        Meghan is working her butt off. That’s what they care about.

    • Your Cousin Vinny says:

      How do we know they haven’t offered to speak out? H and M might prefer to handle it themselves, it’s possible.

  16. Guest says:

    Kate is the perfect queen consort to be. She will never overshadow willy. Queen Elizabeth will have the last laugh. Never again will the Princess of Wales be a game changer and change the lives of the misfortune. Nothing but cutesy events for our consort.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I hope this is sarcasm. Go look at the other consorts or future consorts in other royal houses. The women often outshine the men, and those men have no problem with it.

  17. Maria says:

    I like her hair a lot better here.

  18. Rogue says:

    In 2017 certain press labelled her “Duchess DoLittle”. In 2019 she’s “never put a foot wrong”. Knowing that the press no longer criticise her as they have a new target and she will get praised for everything could help make her more relaxed and confident.

    After Meghan’s speeches in the Australasia tour, a Telegraph writer said Kate should be doing more speeches. She’s listened and is doing more of them so has likely made it less nerve wracking for her. Good for her

    • Tourmaline says:

      Yes it’s funny how the pendulum now swings to the never put a foot wrong category. Back in 2015ish DM was saying she was known around the palace as the Prickly Princess and was difficult to deal with. Now lo and behold everything is perfect.

  19. aang says:

    She also grew up over the last 7 years. Having children, just the act of birthing them and then feeding with with my body increased my confidence in myself an immeasurable amount. I felt capable of doing something important for the first time in my life. I became more confident in every aspect of my life. I was in my 20’s not 30’s at that point but I wonder if Kate is coming into herself after 10 years of pursuing a ring. William treated her badly over that time and did it publicly. That must have done a number on her confidence and self esteem. That said I will never forget that both of the women we are discussing are living lives of grotesque privilege funded by centuries of wealth stolen from black and brown people the world over. So I don’t admire or feel sorry for either of them. They made a choice to be where they are.

    • notasugarhere says:

      In the last seven years, we haven’t seen him treating her better than he did during those dating years. He ignores her much of the time in public, looks frustrated around her, and goes off on lads vacations without her. And of course, Rose Who?

  20. Louisa says:

    8 years too late.

  21. TheOriginalMia says:

    The bar is so low. She still sounds ridiculous with that fake accent, but I’ll give her credit for being interested in her garden project.

  22. ME says:

    Woah, I think that was actually the first time I’ve heard her speak (I’m fairly new to the royal-watching game). It seems like she was looking down at her scripted remarks too much.

  23. Vava says:

    Not impressed.
    Anyone can stand up and READ A SPEECH.

  24. shelley says:

    I guess a somewhat “positive” royal post is better than reading about pedo Andy’s problems?

  25. MD says:

    People who are very nervous giving speeches don’t suddenly get better because they have competition. If anything, it would make the problem worse. Perhaps she is genuinely more confident now. I think this happens to women as they get older. I for one feel a lot more confident and ‘DGAF’ now that I am 40 and a mother of two kids. I shudder when I remember how self-conscious I was in my younger years. Of course she may have other motivations, but such a change really must come from within, IMO.

    • Gingerbread says:

      @MD Stop talking sense, now we can’t blame the “competition” between Meghan and Kate.

    • Becks1 says:

      No, but they do get better by practicing, and you only practice if you are motivated to get better. Kate did not appear to be motivated before. Now she is.

      • Brandy Alexander says:

        I have to disagree with you a little. I used to have to give open to the public seminars for a job I had. I knew the material inside and out as it was my normal day to day job, and I would rehearse each time for days on end. But no matter how much practice I had, as soon as I saw a room full of people looking at me, my palms would start sweating, my heart would start racing, and I would rush through the presentation as fast as I could. I hated it. So, no, it’s not always just a matter of practice.

      • Becks1 says:

        Well, of course its not going to work for everyone. But I am also someone who has anxiety about public speaking, and I find that the more I do it, the better I am at it, to the point where people don’t even realize how nervous I am about it. So obviously, practice isn’t going to help everyone, and for some people, anxiety about can be crippling. But, actual practice with people trained to help people speak in public, can help a lot of people, and it seems to have helped Kate.

      • Brandy Alexander says:

        This is why i had to disagree “a little”. LOL. We’re all different, and different things help all of us. I just think to say all of a sudden she started practicing more and is now doing better is not necessarily true, though it certainly could be. None of us actually know what brought it about. (And for what it’s worth – I think she has been better, but I don’t think this particular speech really showcased it).

    • Elisa says:

      ITA with MA. Ever since Louis was born you could see a visible change in her public appearances. She is way more confident and relaxed now. Of course it helps that the media fully focusses on Meghan now. Simply compare the headlines about Kate today to the one’s a few years ago.

  26. Becks1 says:

    Also, I want to point out that Kate and William have been married for almost 8.5 years. People keep saying “7 years” but they got married in 2011.

    • notasugarhere says:

      So many years of “being keen” to avoid work. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Exhausting isn’t it?

  27. Marie says:

    Never put a foot wrong?! Everyone makes mistakes in that family, even precious Kate.

    Kate was dragged by the media for being, lazy , boring and difficult and now she is the best royal ever and offers so much advice on how to be the absolute best royal.

  28. Bookworm says:

    People who are not as old as I am may not know that Diana was virtually frozen at having to speak publicly for her first few princess years. She did very little of it and was hesitant and visibly nervous. It took years for the confident Diana to appear.

    People all grow and change at different rates and in different ways. I personally think she bloomed when Louis was born.

    She and Meghan are very different and in different roles – I like to see them both succeed.

  29. RoyalBlue says:

    She stood up and read from a piece of paper. And are we now to praise that as a job well done? Why are we infantilizing her?

    • BayTampaBay says:

      Because she IS infantile due to all the domination and browbeating supplied by her mother and husband.

      • RoyalBlue says:

        Good point.

      • notasugarhere says:

        She is not a doormat. She picked out William and her stagemother helped forced them together until the bargain was sealed. She knew what she was getting in the man who cheated on and dumped her constantly for 10 years.

        This is her choice, and for 8+ years she’s gotten away with the WAG lifestyle. Chickens coming home to roost now, open public speculation about William’s infidelity, and a SIL who proves you don’t need 8 years to figure out the royal job.

      • Your Cousin Vinny says:

        Genuine question – how did Carole manage to “force them together” ?

        I know people who went to St. Andrews at the same time and they didn’t start dating a prince. What did Carole do that their mums did not? Going to the same university or even doing the same course didn’t appear to be enough for any of the other girls. You’ve got me thinking now my own mum should have stepped up her game, lol.

        Maybe, just maybe William was genuinely attracted to her by his own accord?

    • Le4Frimaire says:

      This is so true. She is so often portrayed in the press as some rookie instead in a grown late 30s adult with 3 children and a very visible position that supposedly has some responsibility. Some of the coverage of her verges on participation trophy and isn’t she such a perfect little princess for trying. Whatever. She knows her place and is comfortable in it because no one is going to tell her to do anything differently or expects much more from her. Public and palace and royal reporters are happy with it.

  30. Mtec says:

    Yeezus christ we’re still talking about a garden? Aside from attending meetings and fundraisers, what else has she even truly developed in the past couple of years?

  31. kerwood says:

    Well, good for her. She devoted 10 years of her life to nothing but getting this gig. If she’s finally becoming competent at the most basic requirements after all these years and three children, congratulations. And all it took was for Harry to marry a Black woman.

    • Harla says:

      Actually it’s more like 16+ years, including the dating years.

    • Lena says:

      @kerwood COTD.

      • Lady D says:

        I looked up COTD on Urban Dictionary. They said it means choke on two d*cks. Can you please tell me what your version stands for?

      • Lena says:

        @Lady D
        LOLL, omg that’s definitely not what I meant. “Comment of the Day” is what it’s supposed to stand for, at least that’s what I thought.

      • Lorelei says:

        Omg! I think she meant “Comment of the day.” I didn’t know until right now that it stood for anything else!

      • Lady D says:

        Thanks, Lena. That makes a lot more sense. Lorelei one should exercise caution when navigating the site Urban Dictionary. It has taught me a lot about today’s vernacular, but some of them are surprising shall we say?

  32. Walker says:

    She might have learned the art of public speaking just now…or better yet I would say she just has perfected it. From my understanding and experience tall people tend to draw more attention and look to have more authority. As the famous quote states “Tall people make great leaders”, and great leaders draw attention hence following. In this article there are a few candid pics of the duchess but I can’t tell her height, maybe because of the heels LOL. Still my curiosity got the best of me. From a quick google search I did apparently she is 1.75 m. https://celebsheight.org/kate-middleton-height
    Do you guys thinks its true? To me seem a little bit taller.

  33. Rach says:

    She dresses well, Meghan gets credit. She speaks well, it’s coz of Meghan. She works more after maternity, it’s coz of Meghan. Meghan gets bad press, it’s Kate’s fault. I don’t think they are that consumed with each other. Each one has a role & plenty of causes to pick from without stepping on each other’s toes. Kate isn’t threatened by Meghan, she is a mother of the future king & a future consort. Made up stories, give it a rest!

  34. wisdomheaven says:

    The bar couldn’t be lower for Kate, but I guess improvement is improvement no matter what.

    I think this is also the first “confirmation” (if anything Emily Andrews says could ever be seen as such) of Kate taking lessons for her posh accent? I know there has always been speculation on this front. Its seemed rather obvious given how uncomfortable and sometimes unintelligible her speaking is. But interesting to see it confirmed by a reporter.

    I feel like many of her problems with public speaking would probably go away if she dropped the over the top accent and just spoke naturally.

  35. Lene Malan says:

    Did Harry defend Kate when she was being called names??? Did anybody defend her? Just asking..

    • blue36 says:

      Yes, Harry has defended Kate against how the media treated her

    • blue36 says:

      I also believe David Cameron defended her when there as an article by Hilary Mantel that came out, as did many RRs

      • notasugarhere says:

        It wasn’t an article by Hilary Mantel. She was giving a speech about her book, Bring Up the Bodies, at a book festival. Speech was called Royal Bodies and you can find the text of the speech online. It included sympathetic comments about what it must be like to be royal, from the Queen to Diana, like being an animal in the zoo.

        Comments in that speech were taken out of context and attacked. Looking back, she was telling the truth about Kate without realizing it. Designed by committee with a fake, empty smile and all that.

  36. EllaChase says:

    If that’s better what did she sound like before? Terrible and should be an embarrassment to the RF.

  37. Yoyo says:

    Is the cost of visiting this garden, going to be in another post?
    £11.00 adults £8 children just a quick glance at the prices.

    • notasugarhere says:

      OMG. Another “Save the children of Broken Britain” but only if they can afford to pay to enter flub. £13.05 adult, £6.60 kids 5 and up. At least this time under 5s get in free with paying adult.

      Quinn needs to get her act together if she’s going to spin this garden concept for years to come.

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      I thought after the Chelsea Flower Show her garden was going to a hospital not going on tour so she can milk it for all its worth. Its really the only thing of note that she’s done work wise.

  38. jules says:

    Hello & People Magazine are both fluff rags & knock themselves out trying to curry favour with the royals. Nothing of substance here.

    It would certainly be a frosty day in hell before they covered anything to do with Andy’s mess. Today Lainey has posted the letter Virginia’s lawyers sent to pedo Prince. Popcorn time.

  39. liriel says:

    Have you seen guys https://www.instagram.com/p/B2HHE9lnLqu/
    it’s 11 year old Kate SINGING – my fair lady.
    maybe you get more shy as you get older but it made me wonder.. was she that shy and unprepared to give a speech but she was brave enough to sing..

    • Tourmaline says:

      Not that it has anything to do with Kate, but I think it’s pretty accepted finding that girls tend to be more confident before adolescence and often that confidence wanes during adolescence and young adulthood.

      • liriel says:

        Actually I agree I was the same. The runway thing at the uni.. Of course she likes showing up not speaking. So yeah, I was wrong.

  40. Mary says:

    Better drugs.

  41. liriel says:

    The dress is hideous. Like literally sometimes she picks well but most of the time the misses are horrible. It’s not only her fault, she has a stylist..
    I’m completely not sure but does her very posh accent is more prominent sometimes less? It sounds more natural but I feel like she slipped for a few second once. Out of curiosity, anyone?

  42. Amelie says:

    I watched a clip of her speech on Instagram, I think she sounds fine but doesn’t really look different from any previous speeches? Public speaking is nerve wracking so no shade from me about not being good at it as it is the thing I am most phobic about. But she didn’t sound different from any previous speech I’ve heard in the past however many years she’s been a Duchess.

  43. Molly says:

    I would be FIRED if I gave that speech. She should stick to sports, smiling, wearing expensive clothes and whatever else she does 360 days of the year when she’s not “working” the other 5. The dress is UGLY but she looks great for a 50 year old

  44. Rogue says:

    Michelle Obama’s advice about taking time& not being in a rush to do anything was in December 2018 when the smear campaign was already in full flow. Meghan had already launched the Together cookbook& done two tours by then.

    The whole Meghan is working too hard came up again this week by Diana’s old press secretary who suggested she shouldn’t do so much as she was constitutionally unimportant. Where’s that argument when usually Princess Anne tops list of engagements each year& is lauded as the hardest working royal?

    Fact is press wouldn’t have given Meghan the room to ease in gently. Royal reporters had started to suggest she wasn’t doing her bit last July when nobody knew about the cookbook. If she had done way less she would have been called lazy. Even this week Fail was asking why Meghan wasn’t at Harry’s event on Tuesday and Express had headline about how Meghan’s maternity leave was longer than Kate’s.

    Remember with Michelle some feminists etc weren’t happy with her “mom in chief” positioning and some had suggested she could have set an example as a working professional whilst still being First Lady. Meanwhile Miss Einstein visa Melania is barely doing anything& nobody seems to say much about that. Would have been same with Meghan. Black/mixed race people are always expected to be the world’s mules.

  45. Keira says:

    I agree Kate seems more relaxed these days. That said, public speaking is not rocket science. There are a lot of strategies and I’m sure a decent public speaking trainer could ramp up her speaking presence. Watching her speak at this latest garden appearance vs. Meghan at the Smart Set launch what strikes me is that Meghan tells a story, makes it personal, makes it big, shows her passion, shows the connections between and makes it feel like she’s speaking with you personally, knows her key points enough that she doesn’t need notes, in a word, compelling …I don’t get this with Kate, or William for that matter; maybe K&W don’t think they are able to improve, so don’t even try?

  46. khaveman says:

    You know what, if it took Meghan to propel her into conquering a fear of speaking, then it’s a good thing. The future queen SHOULD be able to be in front of crowds. Meghan has a lot of experience speaking as her job, so I don’t think comparing the two is fair. I hope both women get the credit they deserve, b/c lord knows they love to knock us down/back. Girl power!