The Cambridges took part in a BBC Christmas special with Mary Berry

I’m giddy with excitement at the prospect of discussing how un-royal it would be for a duke and duchess to participate in a television Christmas special. Just close your eyes for a moment and think about the criticism people would be lodging at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex if they even dared to agree to take part in a BBC holiday special with Mary Berry. How gauche, how Hollywood, they’re trying to be CELEBRITIES. But we won’t hear a whiff of those criticisms. Because the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are the ones doing the Christmas special. To be fair, it does seem to be focused on charity organizations?

Kate Middleton and Prince William are serving up a holiday treat! The royal couple is joining forces with British TV cooking supremo Mary Berry to throw a party for those who work or volunteer for charities and other organizations that help the needy over Christmas. In a BBC special premiering next month, Berry prepares some of her favorite festive recipes while Kate and William, both 37, get involved in the kitchen and help with setting up the event.

It will be the culmination of A Berry Royal Christmas airing on BBC One on Dec. 16, which also highlights some of Kate and William’s favorite causes. In the special, the parents take Berry — who is internationally known for her former role as a judge on The Great British Bake Off — around to some of those key charities. They also meet some of the recipients whose lives have been changed for the better by the voluntary sector’s help.

Prince William tells Berry, “Growing up, both of my parents were hugely charitable. My father set up the Prince’s Trust. He’s involved in so many different organizations. My mother has done her work with homelessness and, as you said, AIDS and other charities, and I think I’ve grown up in a household which has been very much a case of ‘well, we’re very lucky — you must give back.’ And you know, my grandmother becoming Queen at a very young age, in the days when it was a man’s world, it was very difficult for her to … make a difference,” William says of his grandmother. “And she’s done it. In her own very unique, distinct way, and you know, my grandmother and my grandfather together are the epitome of public service. And I personally get a lot out of helping people. I find that you hear and you understand and you learn so much more by giving a bit of your time, a bit of your day, to just be around.”

In the special, Berry also accompanies Kate to Liverpool to visit The Brink, the U.K.’s first dry bar set up by Action on Addiction. The bar provides a safe space for people who are suffering from addiction.

Kate also takes her fellow host behind-the-scenes at RHS Wisley, home of her specially-designed garden to inspire the next generation of happy, healthy children. Based on Kate’s “Back to Nature” garden, which was showcased at the Chelsea Flower Show in the spring, it is a crucial part of her efforts to encourage kids to experience the benefits of the great outdoors and is part of her ongoing work in the early years of children’s lives.

[From People]

Yes, I remember that Mary Berry was part of one of the dozen or so events around Kate’s Back to Nature garden this fall. I guess they were shooting footage for this back in September. Which is shocking now that I think of it – usually, the Cambridges’ M.O. is to announce their projects so early and spend months hyping them (see also: Kate’s garden), but here we are: a surprise announcement of a Christmas special which will be coming out in just a few weeks. The Cambridges have learned to announce something as it nears completion. Wonders never cease. As for this special… it sounds nice.

View this post on Instagram

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have joined forces with cookery legend Mary Berry to prepare festive food 🎄 to thank all those working and volunteering over the Christmas period. Swipe 👉 for a taster of what to expect from 📺 A Berry Royal Christmas… 1. The Duke, Duchess and Mary, along with some very special guests including @nadiyajhussain host a Christmas Party to thank and acknowledge staff and volunteers from charities and organisations who will be working tirelessly over the Christmas period. 2. At @rhswisley Mary joins The Duchess behind the scenes to learn more about The Duchess’s commitment to the early years in raising the next generation of happy, healthy children. 3. The Duke and Mary visit @passagecharity, the UK’s largest resource centre for homeless and insecurely housed people, which has helped over 130,000 people in crisis through its resource centre, homelessness prevention projects and two innovative accommodation services. 4. At The Brink, the UK’s first dry bar set up by @actiononaddiction to provide a safe space for people who are suffering from addiction, The Duchess and Mary meet the inspiring people whose lives have been changed by the help and support of the charity. #ABerryRoyalChristmas | Monday 16th December | 8:30pm | @BBCOne Photos 📷 by @mattporteous / Kensington Palace

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Photos courtesy of Instagram, Avalon Red.

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112 Responses to “The Cambridges took part in a BBC Christmas special with Mary Berry”

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  1. Kristina says:

    I think this is a good thing! A bit of modernity with the televised aspect, yet a “safe” venue like cooking show-esque and focused around their charities to tie it all in. I think they or their office is trying to do more, modernize, and also balance traditional. PS I like Kate’s dress 🙂

    • Exhausted says:

      But I thought anything modern was too celebrity and Hollywood. What changed?lol

      • Ainsley7 says:

        This isn’t really that modern. Mary Berry is as safe and British as it gets. She was one of the judges for the great British bake off. Very family friendly and very British. It’s a no-brainer. Too much credit is being given to Will and Kate over this. This could have been any of the Royals and it would have been more than fine. The too celebrity/hollywood thing has more to do with celebrities and such that aren’t British. It boils down to Meghan not being British and trying to use the skills she learned as an actress in her charity work. Her job is to represent Britain, but she’s not British. So, the way she goes about things isn’t British enough for the traditionalists. She can’t win, but I wish she would make it easier on herself by wearing more British and embracing British things while on duty. A TV special with Mary Berry would have been great for her! I’m sure Will and Kate will be fine, but they don’t really have the charisma for a tv show like this. Meghan would have knocked it out of the park!

      • Silas says:

        Meghan would have been mocked as being an actress who wanted to get back on tv. The other royals would have been accepted but Meghan’s critics hate the amount of attention she gets.

      • Guest says:

        Lol mary berry, god bless her, is as white as you can get. Safe, conservative, and white. Not modern or gasp diversified.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Kate’s fan base – 84 year old lily white ladies.

      • Chelle says:

        I love the Great British Bake-off. When I first saw this I thought how great it would be to have Camilla, Sophie, Kate and Meghan on baking a round of desserts.

        Mary Berry is as white and conservative as you can get. William and Kate have been playing it well for their audience since Meghan’s arrival. Less fumbles than when it was exclusively Jason and the team of newbies. Catherine Quinn also deserves a bonus. But so does Rachel Meghan Markle Windsor. She’s really made them up how they go about the game.

      • Mo says:

        I’ve enjoyed the Mary Berry specials they have on BritBox. One of them is Country House Secrets, which is about very, very posh folks in their enormously grand houses and castles. So William and Kate doing a Mary Berry special is kind of a turnip toff thing to do, I guess. Her shows are very relaxing. Confession: I imagine all her locations as Agatha Christie murder towns and murder houses.

        BritBox and BBCAmerica both have day and date releases with the US. I get BritBox when the new seasons of Vera are running. You can buy many BBC shows the day after they show in the UK on Amazon Prime

    • Samsara says:

      It seems like a good thing to be drawing attention so so many charities at a time of year where people make time for TV. People get so excited about Christmas TV.

      The one thing that bugs me and I know I might be misjudging William, but the way he talks about charity work still makes it feel like he doesn’t really comprehend it’s importance or just how privileged he is. It feels like when someone donates something to charity and then won’t shut about about it because they feel like that one deed makes them a good person and we can forget about everything else. To be honest I think ALL the royals are like this to some extent. They are NOT voluntary charity workers. They’re probably the best paid charity workers in the world and do the very least by comparison.

      • Circe says:

        I so agree with this comment. It’s like he knows what he’s supposed to say and is running down the points, but you can tell how he really feels by the way he structures the sentences around those thoughts. *I* like doing charity. It gives ME the understanding I need. He literally says that he gets a lot out of it but doesn’t once mention the people they are helping. It’s like for him “doing charity” is running a 5k. Hard work but so rewarding!

        “You learn so much more by giving a bit of your time, a bit of your day, to just be around.”

        Who says that? There is no connection there. He is the perfect caricature of the concept of noblesse oblige. His grandmother has done a lot but could have done so much more to do good in the world and so could William.

      • Silas says:

        No, i’ve noticed that too and both Kate and William do that.

        Why is Kate “learning about textiles” as an engagement? Why is William making off the cuff remarks about being bored by racism. Both of them are extremely self-absorbed.

        They do their charity work as dilettantes, not professional royals who are supposed to be doing this as work.

      • noway says:

        Unfortunately, I think we have become a society where we only see our preconceived thoughts. First lady Michelle Obama did wonderful things with food, kids and eating healthy and she was lambasted by some for the mommy state of telling us how to eat. Yes that was political, but It happens all over now, and I think people need to realize how bias they really are. It’s not a bad thing to have an opinion, but it’s not good for society when people prejudge everything someone does and their motives. Theoretically, society knows most people aren’t all good or all bad, although you wouldn’t know it by looking at our reactions especially when it comes to famous people. When someone’s actions, including their speeches are good at events which help people like this one we should applaud the action not prejudge the motive. Which if the event helps the charities who cares about their motive.

        The reality is you won’t elevate the Sussexes by belittling the Cambridges or the monarchy, especially if the Sussexes still want to be a working part of the monarchy. Which is what they seem to be doing. However, if you still can’t get out of the negative thinking about it, remember even a broken clock is right two times a day. This was just one of those times. LOL.

      • Silas says:

        @noway. The thing is follow-through. If their motive is feeling good, then they can get that with announcements and playing games and the bare minimum in work. And that is deserving of criticism.

      • Samsara says:

        @noway – I agree with your comments but I’m not letting the Sussex’s off the hook with this either. I 100% agree that tearing down the Cambridges doesn’t boost the Sussex’s and Meghan has chosen to be a part of this. That’s an uncomfortable fact which people wash over.

        The Sussex’s are perhaps better at playing their part. The Cambridges, like others have pointed out, sound very scripted and rehearsed. They don’t even try to do anything extra but I don’t think that any of them really understand a full working week, let alone the struggles of those on the receiving end of that charity. People want to believe that Harry & Meghan are amazing & William & Kate are terrible and will pick facts to fit their narrative.

    • Pearlime says:

      Doing something for TV is not that new for the RF and doing something with the likes of Marry Berry or David Attenbrorough will always make everybody look good.

    • Anne Call says:

      I also love Nadiya Hussain, she won GBBO in the sixth season and was really good as cohost of big Family cooking showdown.

      Wish the threads on Will and Kate didn’t turn so nasty. Kind of depressing when there are truly terrible people out there to drag. But I know it’s part of this website, so I usually don’t click on those stories. And don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to drag Andrew, who is a truly terrible person.

  2. TeamAwesome says:

    Kate is patron of Action on Addiction, yes?

    One of the comments on ITV’s social media of these pictures is quel horreur that Mary and Kate aren’t wearing gloves whilst handling food, which just made me chuckle.

    Mary Berry is the only English Queen I need, so I will watch the hell out of this, but I will side eye Bill and Cathy the whole time.

    • Pearlime says:

      There were a lot of comments during this year’s series of Bake Off about contestants not wearing hair nets and gloves as well. If you (have to) eat food prepared for a TV show, that is what you get.
      I saw an episode of Friends last week where Monica – the head chef – was in the kitchen preparing food, no gloves and several rings on her hands (she shows off her engagement ring to Janice).

      • Jennifer says:

        I think about that from time to time. Some of that food, I would not want to sample.

      • Mtec says:

        it’s a lot safer for chefs handling food to either wipe or wash their hands depending on what they are touching to avoid cross-contamination or anything else. This idea that it’s more hygienic wearing gloves to handle food is not necessarily right for all scenarios, especially because a lot of people who wear gloves think they can touch anything and are not aware of all they are contaminating. Perhaps it’s more appropriate when in a lunch line where you’re handling buckets of food other tools more than the food. but for all the food/ingredient maneuvering chefs and bakers gotta do, it’s way more hygienic to just use clean hands.

      • Smalltown Girl says:

        As Mtec said, sometimes washing hands is better. My cousin is a professional baker and she washes her hands and work space diligently, her hands get washed between every step and she points out she is more aware of it than she would be if she is wearing gloves.

      • M.A.F. says:

        I have only watched the seasons that are on Netflix and I cannot recall a single contestant wearing a hair net. None of the cooking shows they do, even the ones on the Food Network. Their hair has been tied back but some not as much as they should. Same with the gloves. I’ve only ever seen them wear gloves if they cut their finger. In college I was a line cook and I was never told to wear gloves, had to wash my hands all the time though.

      • TeamAwesome says:

        I’ve worked in a kitchen, no one wore gloves. I mentioned it in reference to the amount of pearl clutching over the Duchess of Sussex touching a cake etc. with a similarly ungloved hand.

    • Some chick says:

      All I can see is that bow dragging in the food.

  3. Rogue says:

    This is the relatable family image the Royals desperately need right now with the ongoing Andrew revelations. The ongoing fallout has seen lots of negative commentary around other royals- even Edward lol.

    Anyway the content sounds good and like the sound of The Brink. Will read up on it more.

    I think it’s fair to say that Meghan has brought some new ideas of working etc that whilst she is criticised- her white counterparts adopt and get praised for. Very typical for POC.

    • S808 says:

      “I think it’s fair to say that Meghan has brought some new ideas of working etc that whilst she is criticised- her white counterparts adopt and get praised for. Very typical for POC.”

      Yup yup yup. Business as usual for us.

      • Oh No says:

        Yup, the twice as hard rule being proven once again.

        And she better not talk about how ‘hugely passionate’ she is about anything because we now have a duchess that has shown us what passion is and has translated that into programs that have actually helped people.

        Hell, the #Sussexsquad has planted thousands of trees and raised money for neonatal equipment. Now that’s an impact 💪

      • Iulia says:

        Maybe being a POC is just one of the possible contexts for this pattern of injustice to be played out. For example I have seen it at work with narcissist parents, who sabotage their children all their lives. As adults many face this weird pattern of other benefiting from their gifts but not getting much in return. Also of irrational opposition from people. Maybe it’s just the effect of having a hateful authority. MM herself has a smearing narcissistic father. Of course RBF are bullies, they were groomed for generations to be entitled, but let’s not play poor victim here unless first one looks at their own mental patterns and family dynamics who usually cause what kind of people one attracts in life. With a narcissist father she will always face opposition of some sort, not matter her skin color or what she does or does not. I suspect in her case these are just reasons, not the cause.

    • Chelle says:

      Re: Meghan – that’s so sad but true. She really deserves some acknowledgement in the press and by the family instead of the constant scorn she receives. Harry had the Invictus Games but as a trio he, William and Kate were floundering on the charity / good endeavors / representation front. In her shoes, it’s very hard not to be angry.

    • sunny says:

      yup. Par for the course for POCs.

      This is a lovely idea though and any time Bill and Cathy can bring themselves to work, it is a good thing for the royals.

  4. AnnaKist says:

    Oh, yes – Queen Mary! It’s a “safe” television appearance. No one could possibly be offended by the lovely Mary Berry. They’re all looking very festive, which is nice. 🎄 🕯

  5. Call_me_al says:

    Cakes and gardens are great, Bill and Cathy, but would mean a lot more if there were more substantive social programs being created or sponsored by them. Ones we can see and that help people, not just meetings about initiatives.

    • Harla says:

      Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t believe that William has “created” any program or initiative. Prince Charles has the Princes Trust, Harry has Sentebale and the Invictus Games, even Kate came up with Heads Together but I don’t recall anything the Future King has done or am I just not recalling it?

      • Whatever says:

        I guess he created ‘Heads Up’ with the Football Association & Heads Together. All 20 Premier League clubs pledged to promote and support the initiative in 2020 a couple of weeks ago with big events planned for February and March next year as well as a documentary.

      • notasugarhere says:

        No, he didn’t create Heads Up. Harry worked with mental health for years before W&K got on the bandwagon. HU was W&K attempting to corral all of it under another umbrella name and take credit.

      • Bee says:

        @notasugarhere, it seems that Whatever is speaking of a new initiative called Heads Up, not Heads Together.

    • Chelle says:

      I’m wondering if this is the big announcement that was coming?

  6. booboocita says:

    The header photo is probably staged, but the apron with Kate’s pussy bow hanging outside on the bib made me giggle. What’s the point of an apron if your neckwear is going to be spattered with frosting, or drag in the batter?

    • PrincessSugarSalt says:

      My first thought is: OMG, what is she wearing? This has been said here a million times: she dresses like she’s stuck in the 80s. Kate hits it out of the ballpark once in a while and I love it. Most of the time though, I feel like she’s attending a throwback to 80s costume party.

      • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

        I thought she was wearing those hideous overalls from her Vogue shoot 😂😂

        Anyone also noticethat *someone*, is now wearing a center part (whilst not giving up those curls of course!)?

        Have to say thought, for once, Wandering Willie looks like he’s actually attempting a *real* smile, instead of just a grimace/baring his teeth. They both look really happy in that header shot.

      • Suz says:

        @Theog: I mean who wouldn’t be genuinely happy around Mary Berry? She is the loveliest.

      • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

        Suz, she is!!

      • Silas says:

        She’s dressed like Janet from The Good Place.

      • minx says:

        Isn’t the 80s look in, though? Not that I would wear it, I wore it the first time.

      • M.A.F. says:

        @minx – yes, some of the 80’s & early 90’s looks are back.

      • Dazed and Confused says:

        @minx — my mom always says that about trends in fashion. If she was there to wear it the first time, she’s not wearing it again.

    • Sally says:

      The pictures are all ‘for show’. When Billy and Kathy actually do something for the people, other than just words, I will rally behind them. Until then, Team Meghan and Harry, and of course that beautiful baby, Archie!!

    • Nic919 says:

      Apparently the original dress doesn’t even have this pussy bow and it would have been far more suitable for baking.

  7. aquarius64 says:

    The Cambridges are taking advantage of the PR mess Andrew created. William is taking on the first responders charities that Andrew had and have them folded into the Cambridge Royal Foundation. (I found no sign off from the queen or Charles.) I also think this is in response to the Sussexes: they put out their support to their charities on Sussexroyal while on leave. The Cambridges want to put out the wholesome British family image, but there is a Rose that is a thorn to that image’s sid1e. William thinks he shut down speculation on that front. He needs to ask Uncle Andy how having the palace machine shutting down stories work out for him.

    • Kitty says:

      You think they want some of Andrews charities?

      • Guest2.0 says:

        But wouldn’t that require them doing more work? Maybe they want to scoop in and claim the plum charities first, and the other Royals can have what’s left.

      • Silas says:

        They’ll just fold them into umbrella organizations and each new charity will get one visit. They can keep their numbers down by just neglecting the charities they already have.

    • notasugarhere says:

      What’s getting attention is Harry’s interview with Gareth on BBC, not this PR move with cake and Mary. (This was in response to #20, aquarius64, but showed up in the wrong place.)

  8. Aurora says:

    So it’s a series of photo ops with no tangible outcome or goal other than Cambridge PR?

    • noway says:

      No did you read it? They are going to various charities and highlighting them. Helps with publicity for the charities. Similar charitable event to pretty much all of philanthropy. Are you new to it or just hate them?

      • Kittycat says:

        @AURORA I completely agree with you.

        Its important to see the tangible results of pr initiatives.

      • Oh No says:

        Pshhhhhhh, they aren’t highlighting anything but themselves. You don’t need to be seen doing something to make an impact. These two know how little is expected out of them and how little they can get away with while still earning praise.

        People continue to lower the hoop and they still miss baskets…smh

    • notasugarhere says:

      Yes, it is another series of photo ops with no tangible results. W&K business as usual.

      • Lexa says:

        I mean sure, everything the royals do–including Harry and Meghan–can be classified as photo ops and PR and the like when it really comes down to it. The thing is, different events/projects CAN serve different purposes. The “tangible result” here is highlighting some of their charities–specifically, they’re highlighting volunteers and organizations that work through the holidays to provided needed services to people, often unrecognized. Giving a TV platform to the volunteers and organizations is not nothing, because it celebrates those workers and potentially may bring new donations or people seeking to use the highlighted charities.

        I get why people want lasting social programs like Invictus out of the Cambridges–I do too–but I think this is fine and will likely serve its stated purpose well as an easy way of celebrating the volunteers.

      • notasugarhere says:

        PR photo op playing with cakes in kitchen will serve a purpose? Ok, Jan. There is nothing here here, as per usual with these two.

    • yinyang says:

      Any action they take is always after the fact. They don’t act on anything unless they are called out on it first . eg commercial flight stunt, recycling clothes. William and Kate don’t care about anything except themselves. Period.

  9. gala says:

    Kate’s dressed like Bridget Jones’ mother

  10. Kittycat says:

    Honestly I am more than happy with the Cambridges trying to score pr points off of Andrew.

    Leaves them less time to smear the Sussexes.

    • BellaBella says:

      I saw an article about this PR event and all I could think was: “Look over here! At us!! Forget about Andrew! Look how mindful we are of volunteerism!”

      Didn’t work for me.

  11. Kittycat says:

    Is there any follow ups regarding the Cambridges Pakistan tour?

    I haven’t heard of anything coming from the tour.

    • Wowsers says:

      Same with Sussex SA tour. Haven’t heard of any follow ups.

      • Kittycat says:

        I didnt mention the Sussexes.

        And there has been follow ups from the SA tour.

        Meghan has been in contact with the family of Uyinene Mrwetyana and sent a message for the new foundation in Uyinene Mrwetyana’s name.

        Harry made a video message to The Oslo Review Conference regarding the land mines in Angola.

        But my question was about the Cambridges.

      • Rogue says:

        @kitty cat @ wowser I’m sure we will hear something trade/military cooperation wise post the Pakistan tour. A deal between Morocco post the Sussexes tour was only announced recently

        Post the Southern Africa tour, UK signed a continuity agreement with some of the countries they visited including South Africa, Botswana& Lesotho. Harry did a video link (yay been asking for this more) at a Landmine conference, a charity he is patron of, African Parks announced a partnership with Zimbabwe government over restoration of one of its national parks. Meghan did a video link this week pledging support for the Uyinene Mrwetyana foundation (the student who was raped and murdered near a post office, which Meghan visited). So theres definitely been follow up from that tour.

        @aquarius64 no comment on William& Kate’s situation my comment was that this is a very good look right now amongst very seedy press for the BRF. Seems like the Mail did big expose on Andrew’s use of tax havens, dodgy friends etc. And the Times had piece about how BP forced Andrew on one of the military associations after the Epstein allegations first emerged. He is getting hammered (rightfully). Funny to think what the press have been sitting on whilst they’ve been going after Meghan.

      • Olenna says:

        @Kittycat and Rogue,
        Thanks for highlighting the DDoS follow-on work and tour impact. Their efforts are often overshadowed by the media’s interest in negative stories. Here’s a few links in case anyone is truly interested.
        https://twitter.com/LThipa/status/1200383457781792768
        https://twitter.com/Hrh_Unbothered/status/1192820272577097733
        https://twitter.com/suitablyforsus1/status/1200543856372199424
        https://twitter.com/AFPAfrica/status/1194944275856986113

  12. Ariel says:

    Seriously, the way they keep going on and on about the garden, you’d think it’s the only actual project Kate has ever done… oh.
    Perhaps it is.

  13. Exhausted says:

    Are they raising money?

  14. Digital Unicorn says:

    Given what happened here in London on Friday I would expect the Royals to be out supporting the victims but no the only one to say something about it was TQ.

    Also, and I can’t believe I am about to type this, the Fail is doing some actual journalism with it comes to the Royals. The expose on Andrew, his money, sending state secrets to his pals the Rowlands is spot on. Andrew needs to go and TQ needs to understand her favourite son is a rapist crook.

    • Nic919 says:

      Meanwhile Niraj Tanna wants the Sussexes to drop their lawsuit … which was never the point. Good journalism is what is going on with Andrew and his illegal activity. Bad journalism is talking about parking lots and other false stories.

      • Digital Unicorn says:

        Very true. The Fail has always hated Andrew and that BBC interview opened the flood gates and they are not going to let off anytime soon. I expect them to continue to drop new stuff once Virginia’s interview airs.

        Tanna, he’s running scared as he’s was a Middleton/Cambridge mouthpiece for years – wanna bet he’s got something to hide. A court can force him to reveal his sources if he’s caught up in this and I think he is. Many of the RR’s are sh!tting it over this as they are about to lose their sources and all hell is going to break loose in that family. We already know Andrew has accused the Cambridges of leaking stories about him.

  15. Charfromdarock says:

    “ and I think I’ve grown up in a household which has been very much a case of ‘well, we’re very lucky — you must give back.’ “

    It is your JOB. It boggles my mind that he doesn’t realize that his career is public service.

    • Circe says:

      Yup. It’s very telling.

    • Catherine says:

      This is the stupidest comment. There are a lot of ways to be a “public servant”, one can ONLY cut ribbons, open businesses. It’s an entire other thing to ORIGINATE the Prince’s trust and build it until the powerhouse it is today. PC didn’t have to do that, no one expected him to. Diana didn’t HAVE to go to AIDS hospitals, she went above and beyond what anyone expected of her. Charles too. Yes they are public servants, but Prince Charles, TQ, Prince Philip, Diana are more “Michelle Obama” not “Melania Trump”. There is the minimum, what is expected, what they can get away with doing. Then there is the extraordinary, which I believe PW is referring to.

    • Nic919 says:

      Charles creating the Princes Trust as prince of Wales really shows that William has been using the whole “restricted role” thing as a cover to be lazy. Charles has been second in line to the throne since birth and yet he’s created a variety of charities from the time he was in his twenties. We can criticize his personal life, but he has done more than just wait around for 50 years. William is 37 and should have been doing far more for at least a decade. What Charles was doing at his age was exponentially more.

      • Silas says:

        William always hides behind other people.

      • Harla says:

        I recall Charles saying that when he wanted to start the Princes Trust the various courtiers and others were not at all supportive, apparently it just wasn’t done in those days. But as he’s continued to do, Charles has bucked the system and done what he thinks is most helpful. So william’s talk about the restrictions placed on him are really just his excuse for not doing anything.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Very telling. Not that he feels a personal need to give back, but that he’s been instructed he ‘must’. He and Kate share a lack of interest and concern with the world at large.

  16. Lightpurple says:

    I’m just here for Queen Mary Berry and Nadiya Hussein.

  17. one of the Marys says:

    I think this is a great project. It highlights several of their patronages and shows tangible support and appreciation of those volunteers and employees. Both Cambridges are in front of the cameras and not only shaking hands and cutting ribbons. And they didn’t spoil it by announcing too early. Poor William doesn’t photograph well does he and I don’t like Kate’s dress.
    I also agree with other comments that if the Sussex team did this it would be criticized as too celebrity and as pulling focus from the charities and onto Meghan. That’s a consistent criticism about Meghan that boggles my mind

    • Honey says:

      I really think the Cambridge team waits for the Sussex.team.to roll.something out then apply the ideas locally.

  18. R2Blast says:

    I’m so happy to see this! Holiday cheer and making yummy goodies with Mary. What fun! (It’s ok to take things at face value)

    • Lady D says:

      It’s never okay to take things at face value. That’s like judging a book by its cover, or assuming you know everything about pigs because you like bacon, or deciding a dude in a flight suit can fly a plane. No no no. This is something I taught my child for years. Get the facts, then react.

      • R2Blast says:

        You do your world view and thank you for allowing me to do mine.
        I’m not always all up in everyone’s business because I don’t have the inside info to be- however there are many circumstances where I do jump in, ready for action.

      • Maria says:

        You can have whatever worldview you want — but taking this at face value makes no sense. It’s another piece of PR that does nothing.

  19. Anne says:

    She looks like she has time-traveled from 1983 in a horrific dress. She has all the money, stylists and resources money can bye. Why would she wear a huge-ass pussy bow to a baking event?

  20. Guest says:

    So this isnt to Hollywood? Not to celebrity?

  21. Becks1 says:

    This seems like a nice, fun project that hopefully will help bring attention to the charities. I’m not going to hate on it. We can’t complain that Kate and will don’t work and then complain when they do. Of course they should work more, but it’s still something.

    And of course Meghan would be horribly criticized for this. But I feel like we can say that about anything any other royal does.

  22. liriel says:

    It’s not really modern and Kate doesn’t have modern vibe. Girl-next-door yes, but not modern. It’s very old-school but a good idea, charity, non controversial. I admit that recently she did the right PR moves. Also she makes William a bit more relatable since she was wealthy and all but no aristo so it works. William and some aristo women (his dream girl) would be too much for the public to handle and too out of touch.

  23. Mumbles says:

    I wonder if Kate complains that nobody asks her how she is.

    • Silas says:

      Yes. William wasn’t there for much of George’s first six months and we know that because Kate said so. She also talked about doing it on her own with George which makes no sense because she had family and nannies.

      When William was away for military commitment s in 2012, Kate did talk about how she was being well cared for. So it is something she wants.

    • osito says:

      Hmm…maybe, but I’d like to think she just expresses appreciation and gratitude on the rare occasion they do, just like Meghan did in her interview.

  24. Mego says:

    Katelania loves her pussy bows 🙄

  25. kerwood says:

    This is perfect for the Cambridges, right in their lane. They suck at glamour and have no real interest in contemporary issues like race (boring!), gender bias, LBTQ. But if you need someone to ‘build’ a garden that would suit the Edwardian era or bake a cake that Queen Victoria would have loved for her afternoon tea, or pretending that there really isn’t a sex offender in the royal family and the Cambridges are your perfect couple. They are the future King and Queen of the ‘Little Britain’ set. That’s why Kate insists on wearing those dreadful frocks.

  26. JanetFerber says:

    I liked watching Mary Berry on The Great British Bake-Off. Somehow she is very comforting and she can have an acerbic wit. Maybe my affection is really for Julia Childs-like women– so capable and seemingly able to handle all of life’s little (and big) ups and downs with grace and aplomb. I understand this might be wishful thinking on my part.

  27. Miriam says:

    This’s so typical! PR driven cambridges choose to do this instead of making visiting overseas troops like last year’s Cyprus visit a annual event(which would’ve helped with their LOW numbers)! I can only hope they repeat hosting service personal and their families at their KP like last year.

    Someone highlighted that they’re rounding up different quotas for inclusion(nadiya being there),feminism(Will’s random comments about queen pioneering or being first women on the job DESPITE HER BEING ELIZABETH THE SECOND!!!!),charity(including charities in this PR piece)..etc🙄

  28. Rogue says:

    @Samsara they are all fortunate enough to not have needed the support a charity can provide but not sure it’s fair to say none of them knows what a working week is like. Meghan always had a job since she was 13 and was a working actress until 2 years ago, William was a search& rescue pilot and Harry was in the army for 10 years.

  29. A says:

    Of course they did. This is such an easy PR coup for them, isn’t it. Mary Berry is a beloved British institution. The GBBO is incredibly popular. They show up, bake a few pies, say some awkward things in that posh mumble, and everyone will fall over themselves for how wonderful and wholesome it all is. And conveniently not talk at all about the fact that Virginia Giuffre’s interview is set to air on Monday.

    Imagine for a second if Harry and Meghan had done this. The Fail would have probably written some screed about how Meghan is bad at baking a Victoria sponge, the well-known corner stone of British cuisine, and this is the exact way she’s going to bring down Britain by being a scheming biracial American woman who can’t respect the structural integrity of a sponge cake.

    Anyway. The one thing I do really want is for all four of them (Meghan, Harry, William and Kate) to compete at a celebrity bake off at some point. Now THAT would be fun.

  30. Alicat says:

    Man I adore Mary Berry! If there were such things as house elves I would want a Mary Berry one to cook me all the bacony, creamy, pasta dishes to my heart’s content;)
    Given Kate likes cooking this is a great choice and can’t go wrong… hopefully William doesn’t make it too much of a bore.

  31. Spikey says:

    Who cares about the Cambridges when Nadiya’s on the show?? I advise each and every one of you to get one of her cookbooks (Nadiya’s Family favourites is the most popular one in my circle). She has a recipe for ginger rice pudding for when you’re ill that’s carrying me through cold season for the second year in a row. She is way more than a prolific baker!

    • Polly says:

      I will probably watch this show purely for Nadiya, although I like Mary Berry too. Nadiya is just the most delightful human being and an excellent cook.

  32. Jen says:

    Has Kate had more work done? She looks different around the eyes.