It’s been an odd week for news about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. With the Sussexes’ absence, I was actually expecting William and Kate to step out for a ton of events throughout the month of December, because that seemed to be the whole f–king point of sending Harry and Meghan away: Will and Kate wanted the focus to be on them, their holiday special with Mary Berry, and all of their “regal” appearances. That’s what the People Magazine cover was all about too – to continue to embiggen Kate and Will, often at the expense of the Sussexes. But… Will & Kate continue to not really show up, and when they do show up, they arrive in separate cars and Kate shakes off William’s rose-trimming hand like it burned her. So… it’s always interesting when TMZ gets some royal news. Apparently, Kensington Palace favors leaks to Thomas Markle’s favorite outlet too:
Prince William and Kate Middleton are doing just fine despite some bad optics making their relationship seem rocky … at least that’s the story our Royal sources are selling. Sources directly connected to Will and Kate insist there’s been no falling out between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge … this after signs of friction in their marriage.
As you know, Kate seemingly denied William’s PDA attempt with a super-awkward shoulder shrug this week on TV, bringing comparisons to Donald Trump getting swatted away by Melania. The sources insist the whole interaction was taken out of context from the rest of the TV special, and what most folks didn’t see was Will and Kate being very affectionate and close-knit.
The bad optics didn’t end there, because as we reported … William and Kate showed up to the Royal Family’s Christmas lunch in separate cars. We’re told the couple rode separately because Prince George and William needed to be at Buckingham Palace 30 minutes earlier for a special event — which sources say will soon be made public, and explain the whole car situation.
The family certainly looks happy in their annual Christmas card. Still … that’s just a moment in time. Remember … Princess Diana looked happy in her family Xmas card pics, and she was anything but. The sources we’ve spoken with have generally been fair and accurate in the past, but we’re not naive. There’s a lot riding on that marriage, and damage control always looms.
I wish royal sources would just shrug and say “it is what it is.” That might be the ultimate “just like us” moment. The Cambridge marriage has some ebbs and flows, sometimes they fight, sometimes William cheats and Kate doesn’t say anything, sometimes she doesn’t want his hands on her, and it is what it is. What’s always been said of the Cambridges is that they’ll be together until William doesn’t want that. Kate is in it to win it, and right now, she’s sticking it out for the Queen Consort crown. Speaking of, People Magazine’s royal sources basically make the Cambridge marriage sound contractual:
One day Kate Middleton will serve her country as Queen, but for now, she takes a very pragmatic approach to her role as a working member of the royal family.
“She knows the importance of the institution and her role to play,” a source close to Kate tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “She knows that being a member of the royal family is a bit like having a contract, you sign on the dotted line and you deliver.”
In the last eight years since marrying Prince William, many think that Kate has done just that. She has impressed royal insiders with her ability to support the work of her husband while continuing to build on her own charitable portfolio in early-childhood education and development.
“Kate is in her element right now, she’s really stuck at it and persevered with what she believes in,” adds the friend.
“She has impressed royal insiders with her ability to support the work of her husband while continuing to build on her own charitable portfolio in early-childhood education and development.” She was supposed to announce her Early Years initiative by the end of this year. This, after she was supposed to announce it last year. This, after she was supposed to announce it in early 2019. Now she’s supposed to announce it in early 2020. And we still have no clue what it is. As for the idea that Kate sees her role as vaguely contractual… I mean, she’s not wrong? I bet she does feel that way.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid and Avalon Red.
building her charity portfolio??? LOL for days.
I did think we would see them a lot more in December. I feel like we usually do – they do a few Christmas charity appearances, but I don’t think we got any of that this year, did we? Unless I completely missed it? Maybe the Mary Berry special was supposed to take the place of all that?
I do think that Kate sees her role as contractual – she gets to wear tiaras and other priceless jewels and live in a palace, and in return she turns a blind eye to William’s cheating and puts in a few months of work a year.
I don’t really ever follow TMZ so I’m amused that they are leaning in so hard to the “troubles with the marriage” story here. Does TMZ regularly cover the royals? (Besides Thomas Markle….) Apparently though I saw on twitter that TMZ called KP to ask about the separate cars while they were still at BP, and then they all left together lol.
The “special event” for William and George sounds like a weird excuse. If it was that special, wouldn’t Kate want to be there? It reminds me of the tusk event that Kate missed – where the RRs kind of batted about a few different excuses before settling on “no babysitter.”
Could it have been some photo-taking with Charles and TQ… you know, Queen Bee, the Heir, the F Heir, and the FF Heir? Only thing I can think of that they’d need Wandering Willie and George there w/out Kate, Char and Louis.
That’s a great guess @Jan. The 30 minute reason is just priceless. I could see Kate traveling separately if William & George needed to be there an hour earlier, but 30 minutes!? Come on palace PR, what kind of idiots do they think we all are. They should have just let it be with a no comment. Why would they feel they had to provide an answer to a gutter-dragging media outlet like TMZ?
Really, JA. The palace has a space problem? No place for Kate and the kids to hang out while whatever was being done for that 1/2 hr. (and apparently Cam, too, as Charles got there separately)?
That’s the obvious answer. And anyone scoffing at 30 minutes either doesn’t have small kids or has forgotten what they’re like. If one kid has to be somewhere on time and one of the others is napping or eating or tantrumming or watching their favourite show, it is entirely normal for one parent to rush the Kids who needs to be somewhere up while the other parent waits the other kids out.
I don’t understand the refrain on here lately that if someone questions the Cambridges, its because they don’t have small kids. I have small kids. Many times there is no choice but to make the napping or eating or tantrumming one go with the rest of the family.
I think it’s also been made clear now that the reason was that “4 generations of the royal family” photo that was just released with TQ, Will, Charles and George. So, yeah I guess William and George both had to be there at the same time and it didn’t make sense to rush all the others there for no reason. Not really any big conspiracy.
I have small kids and still find it odd.
TMZ barely covers the royals so it seems really weird to run to them to release some explanation and honestly is more suspicious than just declining to comment.
Honest question: were Meghan and Harry “sent away” or did they take a break of their own volition? They said themselves they needed a break and were taking one, but I hear rumors The Queen “ordered it”. I believe Harry when he says he’s suffering and needed time away. Is it a bit of both or are we to believe The Queen pushed them out?
I think both, they were sent away AND they wanted to go
Yeah, that feels right. A bit of both. And I hate it all the way around.
If the Queen did have a hand in their taking a break, then shame on her. Andrew lies, gives up state papers, screws underage, trafficked children, and keeps setting up shady financial deals while the Sussexes work hard, show up, and do their job while his family, his friends, and the media throw them under the bus. What part of ordering the Sussexes to go away isn’t an insane response from the Queen. I hope Andrew is down on his knees every day thanking God that his mummy the Queen loves him; otherwise he might end up in jail.
I think they took a break of their own volition and it was approved by the Queen and Charles.
I would totally agree.
I highly doubt anyone is telling Harry what to do at this point. Any break they are taking is because that’s what they want and the Queen confirmed her approval to the public. Besides it’s not different from the multiple week breaks taken by the Cambridges throughout the year, except that those are never officially publicized.
I would agree they were taking the break only because they wanted if the picture wasn’t a lot larger: W&K are certainly having some troubles (no, definitively the shrug is A Shrug, something a wife gives to the husband when she is angry at him. It wasn’t any of the b**s**t they are saying. Any and every married woman went through it sometimes); following it, H&M were certainly stealing the spotlight from W&K, the last tour they did was a joke of coverage compared with H&M affrican tour: for one article they gave to the Cambridges, they gave four (minimum) to the Sussexes; still following, Andy needed protection from bad press at any cost: and the press was really mean on H&M during the discussion about what Andrew had done. H&M started to be pushed under the bus right, center, left. Only when they ecclipsed themselves, they targeted Bea. Probably due to W&K marriage’s trouble, and for the excessive interest on H&M they needed to make the Cambridges grand to the public. And it would be impossible with four sssss if H&M were around. So, H&M probably bolted out of being Andrew’s mop, K&W needed to get back the spotlight, not they were going to work. They just would be themselves, but more noticed. So, the queen had to get rid of H&M, and it’s possible they wanted to get rid of the RF. For a while.
Logically, I think it was all the Sussexes, as they said in their statement. Just looking at history, for decades the publicity and stories was all William is great and even he should the next king, bypassing Charles. William was the modern young one and Diana’s son, plus with hair he was cute. (It is a shame how some men’s balding makes them hot and others not so much. William is definitely not so much.) The monarchy did nothing about this story. They just let it ride for a long while. William didn’t really lose his luster until a few years into his marriage after he quit his military duties as a helicopter pilot and people saw his work effort.
Plus, it’s quite obvious with what I think is the most scandalous of royal stories ever with Andrew, they would take any coverage over that. They want the Sussexes who garner a lot of attention out there and very public now. I mean any story is better than the Prince Andrew is a pedophile story. Pretty sure they would be happy to have them in the public now. Logically it doesn’t make sense that they pushed them away.
I think they were definitely “ strongly encouraged “ to take a prolonged break. If it was just something they did on their own without consulting anyone, there would be a whole lot more negative stories and press speculation, as well as some Puce Morgan rants about not fulfilling their duties. It seems relatively quiet on that front so the RR dogs were probably called off at behest of the Palace ( or at least tone it down- they still get their digs in, even on articles not related to them).They wanted them out of the spotlight because headlines would be all about their events or baby Archie’s first Christmas. The Cambridge spotlight and headlines are a mixed bag of innuendo,propaganda, and fawning, but still kinda boring and barely skim worthy. Although I think Cambridge’s are being used as a bit of positive distraction from Andrew- taking one for the team and the Sussexes are better off out of that mess completely. Andrews heat may be on simmer for now but seems like more Andrew dirt is being dug up and it’s by no means over yet.
Please tell me ‘Puce Morgan’ was intentional…😂
+1 Flying Fish!
Puce Morgan. I’m glad I didn’t have a sip of tea while reading that!
Particularly, because (as I’m sure you know) “puce” is a color that was invented in order to conceal how literally flea-ridden the French royals were! No lie.
But, while I’m up… I think M&H are steering their own ship. The Firm needs them a lot more than they need the Firm… as has been repeatedly pointed out here. Even the folks who think they should break away admit that they could do as much independently.
TQ just wants homeostasis. They’re all – all of them – looking out for themselves. The Sussexes have shaken things up because they are a team and a love match.
I’ve said before my guess was some mat/paternity leave was saved for this time where they could spend time with friend/relatives that live abroad& that if the royal reporters knew where they were- they would leak it. Omid said they were in the US, reporter from the Telegraph said even earlier today that press didn’t know where they were and they were in undisclosed location.
However following a briefing with KP about the Christmas walk and Christmas cards, suddenly the Fail has an article this evening revealing they are in Canada which is then confirmed by BP. So suggests to me that royal rota actually didn’t where they were until today& probably weren’t keeping info on lockdown.
Puce Morgan is to die for!! Four thumbs up!
I really dislike the narrative that Meghan and Harry were ‘sent away’. It makes it seem that they have no agency or control over their own lives and activities and I think it’s very inaccurate.
inside any RF you don’t have much control of your own life, not only the BRF. There’s so many advisors, staff, secretaries… Unless you are the monarch. But, even then, you get stuck with the decisions you have to take and people buzzing in your ear. I’ve read that book ‘the rise and fall of the house of Windsor’ and I found very interesting.
If the queen ordered it then why all the stupid stories about how “ hurt” she was at not being able to see Archie for his first Christmas? I think the Sussexes made other plans and that was that. Nbd, just like when other family members make other plans for Christmas.
My speculation:
Looking back at the royal events in 2019 I think the Firm had planned a major PR campaign this Fall to prepare the public for the coming transition of power within the line of direct heirs (Queen, Charles, William). My bet is that Charles will be the Queen’s regent at some point next year to deal with the risks of Brexit for the monarchy. William will support his father in his role as Prince of Wales.
I think The Firm claimed the full spotlight for this PR campaign and acted to move the spares out of the way. How?
First: by distancing themselves from the Sussexes. When they knew they could not control or diminish H&M’s popularity the Firm ended the Fab Four campaign and split the Sussex and Cambridge household. They isolated them and refused to support the Sussexes against the bully attacks from the British media, because they needed the same media to promote their direct heirs PR campaign. They also sent H&M on a 6 week vacation during the PR campaign and probably “ordered” the popular Sussexes to keep quiet. (Luckily the Sussexes are not scapegoats and voiced their frustrations to the public earlier on through their African documentary and their lawsuits exposing the media lies/smears and clearing their names.)
Second: by distancing themselves from Andrew and his Epstein scandal. I think the Queen and Charles pressured Andrew to do the BBC interview and repair his damage to the RF’s reputation. When Andrew failed miserably the direct heirs forced him to step down as a working royal, which was used in the PR campaign to strengthen The Queen’s, Charles’ and William’s image as effective leaders in the public eye.
In this light all recent royal events make sense as concerted actions in this direct heirs PR strategy of the Firm, which may have already been planned in 2018.
Very interesting concept, indeed. Time will tell if your theory is correct @2cents
Ugh, I think we’re about six months away from Kate wearing a dress coat with “I don’t really care do u?” spelled out in buttons and tassels. I feel like her early childhood campaign is just abut her raising her children, in the same way BeBest is Melania BeBesting her son.
I’m hardly a Kate fan – she and her husband are as lazy as they come – but she doesn’t strike me as callous and cruel, like Melania and the coat.
Kate would never be that openly trashy. Certainly her actions, or really inaction suggests that this is more about looking good than caring about the topic, but she will continue to string the media along as long as it works.
Kate has shown a shocking lack of empathy towards people. She has gotten better from her hot pink coat wearing to 9/11 memorial/asinine comment to a disfigured child in India days, but you’re right, she wouldn’t be Melania levels cruel and blatantly indifferent.
I’d actually say it’s not “a bit” like haveing a contract but it totally is. Full stop.
Not sure about her delivery though…
The role the Royals expect her to fill is support for William and she’s held up her end as far as I can see. William is the one who needs to step up and be ok with her stepping up. She liked working in the beginning. They didn’t do a lot, but she was happy to do whatever in the first year or so. William is the one who didn’t like it and she followed his lead because that’s what she’s agreed to do. It isn’t her fault that William isn’t keeping up with his contract to the public.
It’s not William’s fault that she remains horribly bad at speeches and her low work count isn’t all his doing. She could at the very least match his engagement count but she has never gotten close to doing that. She takes full advantage of the the lowered expectations of being a “hands on” mother as if an extra 50 engagements would deprive the kids from ever seeing their parents.
She did not like working in the beginning and that is why her stans came up with the idea of “the queen gave them a pass to not have to work for the first couple of years of their marriage!” which was a lie.
This has nothing to do with William holding her back. The royal offices have all stated they make their own workloads. There have been plenty of times when her lack of professionalism has openly annoyed him at events.
What’s happening is that she doesn’t know what she’s doing and doesn’t want to learn, and William is rarely around, so she can’t count on help there. Not that he is forcing her out of the limelight.
I hope she doesn’t end up in a marriage like King Carlos of Spain and his wife. Years of pain and humiliation and endurance due to Carlos being an indifferent husband and a serial cheater.
Sofia chose to marry JC because she wanted the status of being a Queen. That wasn’t a love match but an arrangement between royals. She chose to stay in that marriage because she wanted to be a Queen, instead of the ex-wife of a king. Her younger brother was being thrown out of Greece, and sister to a former king gave her no status. She has had her own side relationships through the years. It was when JC’s cheating became public she started having a problem with it.
Well if she sees it as contractual then she hasn’t been holding up her end because she hasn’t been working! For nearly 9 years!
I think at one point Kate could overlook Bill’s cheating and be ok with it, because she was getting what she wanted out of the deal. In the early days, maybe that was the case, but I think something has changed. Maybe she thought he’d stop when they had kids or maybe now she’s thinking about how it will affect the kids or maybe she’s angry that he wasn’t discreet enough.
I don’t know, but if it led to a split or even just a rift in their marriage, even though the palace would throw all its influence behind Bill’s image, I do think the public would side with Kate as the cheated party. The royal family’s traditional sway with journalists and the print media doesn’t hold as much power as it once did.
I too think it has to do with the different dynamic of being a family. Whereas before Willy’s Wandering may have been going on in nightclubs and ski trips then that may have been easier for Kate to ignore. But the episode with Rose disrespects her in her Norfolk neighborhood with her children’s playmates, and who knows to what extent his “working out” with the mums at George and Charlotte’s school entails, thus disrespecting her in another close environment. If Kate feels her neighbors and the school mums now know the truth of their arrangement then she and Carol must be coming down hard on the Royal family to shut it down. Thus we get the current surge in embiggening Kate.
Although lately I’ve been wondering if the reason Kate is looking happier has nothing to do with Will and their marriage but more to do with some hot tennis pro at her swank club that she’s totally obsessed with and having him in her life makes faking it for the Royal Show that much easier.
I’ve been seeing her as the opposite lately. To me, in the last several months, Kate looks worn down, stressed, and a bit over it.
Agreed @L84Tea. Sometimes I truly wonder what I’m missing about the claims that Kate looks “happy”, because to me she hasn’t in quite a while. IMO she seemed happier in 2018. For much of this year she’s looked weary and drawn. It just seems like she’s not at peace (and we can guess why). She’s doing her big grins as usual but the eyes just seem…different, to put it one way.
@BD – I agree. I think in 2018, while pregnant with Louis and after he was born – she seemed a lot happier and more confident. I don’t really see that anymore.
Good point Leigh.
The media sided with Diana, but even if she had lived, I think Charles and Camilla would have eventually married and Charles would have landed on his feet as he has. The British monarchy is a 1000 year old institution that knows how to WIN, whatever the cost.
It’s very possible she got fed up. Before, she didn’t have the kids which looses the grip when a “daddy dance” goes in pictures all over the world. It’s very hard to explain that to kids. Not that she needs to do it now, they are too young. But she will! As soon as they reach the middle of the years of the elementary. And the ‘cases’ are getting ugly. Rose’s problem was violentely dealed with (well… violentely within RF standards) and hushed up as soon as possible. But it will get worse: he won’t stop for sure. And if she wants to wear that coveted crown she has to keep in line (like the Queen Mother said to Diana: fall in love and fall in line). I don’t believe, from all I’ve seen, William is someone easy to deal with. Every new video shows him more and more full of himself and condescendent.
so….have they ditched the whole “normal family” narrative? Cause that’s what I’m getting here. I also don’t understand why they weren’t more active in H&M absence. As for Kate “portfolio” of charity work….the jokes write themselves.
Kate’s jobs in the BRF were to have kids (which I think she wholeheartedly wanted to do) and “dim him her light” ie be a blank slate for people to project onto. And she probably knew that going in, but this self diminishing, it has to be soul crushing on some level , yeah? Getting to wear the big bling doesn’t change that.
Her job was always to work, which is why we were inundated with stories about her getting “princess lessons” and how she was going to “hit the ground running” when she married in 2011 because she had been royally adjacent for years.
Now we know what “hitting the ground running” really means, with Meghan in the picture.
I disagree that she was supposed to “dim her light.” We’ve seen royals become passionate about something and build campaigns around it – Prince Charles and the environment, Meghan and the HUB kitchen, etc. We’ve even see them try to do it with Kate “she’s the one who came up with Heads Together! She’s starting a Broken Britain project!” The problem is it just doesn’t stick because she is interested in living the life of a rich SAHM and not a working royal.
Add Sophie and Camilla. I can’t think of Anne’s causes but she puts in the numbers instead.
Dim her light? What light?
Her job is to work. It does not matter if she is not a naturally charismatic person, neither is Sophie, but Sophie is still her cheerful, engaged self.
She isn’t supposed to outshine or outwork wills and Charles though (and we know Wills doesn’t work that much), we know they get jealous and petty about that. So I’m sticking with “dimming her light”. Will would have a fit if she outshone him with a ptohjecg like Megan did. And good for Megan, she went in determined to use her platform to really do some serious philanthropic work and and has done/is doing that. Her light is shining bright, despite all the racist attacks from the British press and her in laws
As Anne fans consistently point out, Anne does more engagements some years than Charles. I don’t see Charles being jealous of her showing up and working.
No matter how hard Kate works, she isn’t going to become a charismatic person. She will not outshine William no matter what she does, not that outshining William is difficult. If they both showed up to work more often, it would be less of an event when they do show up. That’s the point. Work so much it is commonplace.
I think contractual is exactly the way to describe it. Iirc a couple of years ago there were stories about how the terms agreed upon when she got married had to be changed because she couldn’t keep up with them. This was around the same time as prickly princess stories.
Even without the shrug the tv special was odd. Kate was constantly jumping into convos with things that didnt have to do with what they were talking about. Ex. They all say no looking don’t look.” And she says ” no pressure. ” I use this as an example that kate is so far checked out mentally she only knows the talking points , even the talking points become a problem for her to enter into conversation at the right time. For example ” William’s Chritmas tree tradition is Christmas eve which is great cause …. ” then someone screams time and she looks lost that she cant finish that line.
Carole is back in the fold. They got rid of Quinn who made it impossible for kate to lay around and wait for William. All that push of all the work she was GOING to do then nothing. Then as soon as Carole is back people pr picks up on shadow kate. Who does so much being a shadow. Not talking at functions except whispers to wives. 🙄
The messy pr is a flashback to before. Responding to what they are criticized for changing it the next time.
@Jejej Hmmm… I’m not sure agree with your comments about Kate in the special, though the editing wasn’t flawless, and William felt more natural talking on camera to me. But the two examples you cited do make sense in the context of what they were doing. Her “No pressure” comment was in relation to him rolling the roulade without help (not to put too fine a point on it but Mary was saying “No helping!”) so that made sense to me as GBBO has shown that can be tricky business. The cut of her talking about William’s family was—I think—meant to be funny as it showed Kate being distracted by chit chatting with Mary as William decided to call time to his advantage, though they could have smoothed that moment out, imo. That last bit felt very in character as she and others have talked before about how chatty she is on walkabouts, to the point she always finishes last. I actually wish she had finished what she was saying because I have a feeling that she would have specified that opening presents on Christmas Eve with William’s family meant they could spend part of Christmas Day with hers.
I’m sure she had talking points, especially about the garden and Action on Addiction, but I noticed that it just takes her a minute to warm up and relax and I felt she got more natural as she went on in all of her scenes.
I thought the “no pressure” comment made perfect sense? They were teasing him and watching him attempt to roll it up – all eyes were on him and she was like “no pressure!” it was just a sarcastic, silly throwaway comment. It’s relatively common thing to say when the focus goes onto one person trying to accomplish something tricky and you want to playfully tease them.
He often says snarky things like that to her. It might just be part of their personal dynamic.
I don’t like either one of them. But, I have an ex who was snarky as the day was long, and we’d often trade similar comments. That relationship didn’t last, but…it worked for us at the time. So I wouldn’t read that much into it. Seems to me like a simple joke.
So they came separately because George and William had something beforehand at the Palace? There’s some speculation that an updated photo of the heirs was taken (and will be released this weekend alongside the Cambridge and Sussex Christmas cards)—I bet that’s why Charles and Camilla came separately too.
agreed. looking forward to this.
That’s weird. If they only needed a half hour, why didn’t they just all come and the non-Heirs can wait in the drawing room or something? God knows they have enough resources and space.
Yeah I think its weird if that’s the reason – if the picture only took a half hour total, why couldn’t Kate and the kids wait elsewhere in the palace? I would also be surprised if there wouldn’t be pictures taken of any other family members.
And why cause the problem of the extra car that someone else will have to return to KP?
To be fair, it might not be photos but something else. (Maybe footage for the Queen’s speech?) It wasn’t really specified. I still don’t think it’s that weird that Kate and the other kids + Maria came separately, even a half hour later, especially since Camilla came separately too. Kate and/or the other kids might not have been ready to go when Will and George needed to leave.
It strikes me as being very lazy and entitled all round if this is in fact the case. All those cars over something that took very little time.
I agree completely. Half an hour is not four hours before the pics or whatever they would do. She has a very competent nanny (and maybe a helper) with a valuable degree in her profession and I don’t think she would give her the day off to be dealing alone with waking up and dressing and feeding three kids and getting dressed all at the same time. That would be you or me. Never her. And about C&C it is not the first time they arrive on separated cars, with no pictures for excuses.
that’s it, they published the (really cute) pics today on the BP and KP insta accounts with the caption “four generations of the royal family…”
HRH McKeen needs a better dermatologist.
Also Wandering Willy looks more and more like Andrew as he ages.
I think he looks like Edward Wessex.
Does anyone believe TMZ has royal sources? But it’s interesting that royal gossip seems to be top click bait now& everyone wants in. Must burn Kris J.
Idk but I think certain Middletons are trying to control the firestorm of Shrug gate and separate cargate.
Why do you keep saying ~they~ sent Harry and Meghan away instead of adults deciding they wanted some time alone with their baby and away from their racist/pedo relatives?
Precisely because they’re Harry and Meghan. They are adults deciding their lives but they are also senior royals. It’s like having a job in a big company, you can do whatever you want, as long is approved by the company’s policy, your boss and doesn’t go against the “rules” of the company. It’s not by chance the RF is called “The Firm”.
“She has impressed royal insiders with her ability to support the work of her husband while continuing to build on her own charitable portfolio in early-childhood education and development.”
I almost spit out my lunch…..
I guess this explains a LOT and especially that article recently about them being and old fashioned married couple. Essentially we are being reminded that it is BILL-I-AM who will be Kind and Katie keen’s only job is that of a support act and mother,
Prince Philip has been taken to hospital. Said to be precautionary related to an existing condition.
Ouff. I mean, he’s not a young man. While I don’t particularly like the man, it’s rough having sick family members at any time, but especially hard during the holidays. My gramp passed at 90 a few years back. He’d made it through ww2 and a few heart operations. But in the end he had a cold that turned to pneumonia, and was stubborn as hell and refused to go to the hospital until he had to. So it’s good if they’re making sure he’s seen as a precaution.
If they’re taking him 125 mi. to London, could it be *that* serious?? Otherwise, wouldn’t they take him to the closest hospital? Especially as they’re claiming he *walked* into the hospital?
“A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.
Prince Philip walked into hospital today to have treatment for a ‘pre-existing condition’ on his doctor’s advice.
The 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh travelled 125 miles from his home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk to the King Edward VII Hospital in London’s Marylebone this morning.”
Pre-existing condition sounds related to the hip ops he had just before Harry’s wedding…
He’s 98. Most developed countries identify anyone 65 years or older as medically elderly. He’s super elderly and everything is serious
The Telegraph article said he’s had a bad cold for several weeks, this was a planned admittance for a pre-existing condition. He’ll be in for several days.
lol we been knew!! It’s clear from the beginning that Bill settled with kaity keen for the monarchy and found her reliable as she stuck around waiting for that ring for 7yrs!!
Mark my words because as soon as Meghan is back from holiday with tons of projects they’ll be scrambling to fix some existing project as Kate’s broken britain! I mean after all the hype about this being her year and her preparation 4 being queen..🙄
The tabloids are DESPERATE to gain control over the Sussexs narrative and are pushing on this “they were sent away” as opposed to the truth that we all saw that they were getting fed up with the pressure from XENOPHOBIC British press+ lack of support from this toxic family.
@LEXA
“So they came separately because George and William had something beforehand at the Palace? There’s some speculation that an updated photo of the heirs was taken (and will be released this weekend alongside the Cambridge and Sussex Christmas cards)—I bet that’s why Charles and Camilla came separately too”
I predict that the leaked picture of cambridges isn’t their Christmas card but that they’d share another one around the time the Sussexs post theres. Possible clue:signed by Catherine.
Good catch! I wondered about that single signature as well. But then I realized she was sending that to HER patronage, so the single signature, since it from HER ALONE makes sense.
Guess we’ll know soon enough 😊
KP has announced they’re doing this. The card was ‘leaked’ early, so they will share it officially and share another unseen photo soon.
Or in the case of the Sussexes, life in the BRF is like having a contract taken out on you.
LOL but so true.
God that’s funny. Thanks for the laugh.
Totally! So true. That target has been on their back since Harry started dating her. Anyway, weird article. It’s like they’re trying to rebrand the Cambridges as the traditional old fashioned nuclear family, with Kate taking a backseat to her king. Next they’ll be playing golf and doing needlepoint. Forces AGAINST change, for real.
Kate supported William’s skirting of his duties for the majority of their marriage. They were lazy and hiding out in the country until the Queen and Charles forced them to move to London. The evidence of Kate’s lack of support for her charities is there for all to see. It’s laughable to pretend otherwise. Who knows when Early Years will actually be presented. Well, that’s not truly. It’ll fall on a day when the Sussexes are doing something in order to step on their news cycle.
Kate’s marriage is a contract, where William has all the power. But she also is contracted to the people and they aren’t getting a favorable return on their investment.
Alright, I’ll just say it. William never thought any of this out and it shows. Not that he is some prize piece AT ALL, but William made a bad choice in wife, plain and simple. I get why he did it–he could trust her and I don’t think anybody else wanted the job. But, he had to know that whoever took this on was going to have to work and work very hard. He knew whoever would become his wife also had to fulfill the role of eventual queen–a role that comes with a lot of going and going constantly.
If all he was looking for in a wife was a pretty, sporty, yummy-mummy’ish type who looks good in a bikini and will take care of the kids while he runs around and plays, then he made a great choice. But he KNEW there was more to it than just that. And he knew Kate liked the easy going country life with lots of shopping and not much working. He knew it. He was really kidding himself if he thought she was going to step up and work like Anne or Charles or Diana.
So I’ll say it again, his choice in wife to make beautiful babies and look pretty was a good one. His choice in wife to hustle and fulfill the role of Queen was a poor one. Sorry Kate.
But William doesn’t even step up and work like Anne or Charles or Diana, so why would he expect his wife to do that? William doesn’t have hustle and he’ll barely fulfill the role of King, so why is this all on her shoulders? if the actual Royal in the relationship can’t be bothered filling his role? I mean I do agree with you, Kate really wanted the easy country life full of shopping and hair appointments and she is never going to do more than the bare minimum required for her role but at the end of the day William is the one who’s Royal and will be the King, so really it’s all on him and he’s not stepping up either.
I agree, he’s just as awful. I guess my point was he ultimately was the one in the position to know what was expected and had the power to, propose to (for lack of a better word), the person who would be joining this family. Trust me, I think William is awful–he’s bratty, selfish, lazy, useless, and cold. But my response about Kate was specifically referencing her because of what the poster before me said about not getting much return on the investment in her. This whole post is specifically about Kate. Doesn’t mean I don’t forget about stinky old Wills.
@L84Tea – I see what you are saying, and that’s an interesting way of looking at it. I think your point about “not thinking it through” is probably pretty close to the truth. William may have liked – and may still like – that Kate isn’t particularly motivated to work (after all, he’s not really either). But he also understood what was expected of him, and while he has been able to lay low for the past decade in terms of royal duties, that’s not going to be the case in the next few years. They are both going to have to step up big time, and I don’t know if Kate is prepared for that.
William was looking out for his own needs, which was someone who would put up with his peccadillos without a fuss. He didn’t much care if that person could handle the public duty part of the position. It’s not like he’s unaware of the amount of work his mother did or his grandfather, he just didn’t care.
I suspect that had William married a highly driven ambitious woman, BRF would have a Charles vs Diana part Deux situation on their hands by now.
William doesn’t seem to do well with highly motivated women. He can’t stand his own SIL by all accounts. He has to be in control. Maybe it has something to do with Diana dragging him constantly into her emotional mess of a life from the time he was very small. How powerless he must have felt as a child when she parentized him to feed her needs. Maybe as an adult he must control the woman and have the power. I always cringed whenever Diana talked about leaning on William.
This really has been a strange week with these two. Somehow I think this isn’t what they/their sycophants meant when they crowed about “taking back the spotlight” 🤔
Also, there’s been some really weird shifts in tone regarding the PR pieces on their marriage. First it’s “old fashioned”, now she apparently sees being a part of his family as a contract. Not exactly the happy, loving image you’d want to push out there…especially given their past attempts to play the happy, normal family.
Oh good, I thought I was the only one to be perplexed by the recent Cambridge reporting, phew! While some of these pieces are trying to be complimentary, they have a back-handed component to them that I’m finding confusing. Personally, I’ve long believed that the Cambridge marriage is more of a business transaction for William and Kate is the one who’s more “in love” or at least she used to be. I wonder how Kate feels seeing the obvious love and respect Harry has for Meghan, it’s gotta be tough for her.
Heck I have a great marriage of 25 years and I envy what Harry and Meghan have lol! Harry was NOT like that with Chelsey and Cressida either.
I wonder if — after the rose bush drama and Kate being publicly humiliated by William being so in discrete — the PR strategy was embigging Kate and their perfect marriage. Maybe Kate is having a hard time with William’s betrayal and cracks are beginning to show so now PR narrative is about the job and a contractual obligation. I mean it is one thing —I guess— to marry a cheater if your agreement is that he will ALWAYS be discrete. It must be another, to have to now live with the whispers and innuendo from the aristos and the public. That’s a whole different humiliation and psychological ball of wax.
Agreed. I feel like lately there are all these “unforced errors” so to speak and its unusual for them. The Tusk event (with the weird excuses given for Kate’s absence), the shoulder shrug in the TV special, the separate cars to the luncheon, William out late partying without Kate – none of those things are huge issues on their own. But when you look at the overall pattern, its starting to look a little off.
And then you have this line of PR about how its an old-fashioned marriage, contractual (I know the story isn’t calling their marriage contractual, but its close), etc. – and it almost starts to feel like we are being prepped for some announcement or scandal. Usually its all about how modern Kate is, how she’s changing the royal family, how theirs is a true love story, etc. This narrative is very different.
There are a lot of cold clinical terms being used to describe their marriage lately. Maybe it’s just a coincidence but you know it’s not what KP wants out there.
All the tabloid lies bother me immensely in the same way the Trumpian obvious lies do “Kate works so much” – she doesn’t! Don’t lie! Don’t even lie and fib to us because it’s just maddening! I don’t even mind the stuff like this, “she feels it’s a contract” type stuff. Make that up People or whatever. It’s the flat out crazy making lies they invent that make me want to scream and it’s not like I actually care about these people. I’m at the point where people peeing on my leg and insisting it’s raining is TOO MUCH. I’m tired after 3 years of dump.
*SNORT* KP responds to TMZ now🤣
TMZ had no chill calling while they were still at the party. Lol. It is nice to have a little American irreverence puncture all the royal hubris.
That part cracked me up. I’m sure that’s why they all left in one car.
Tmz has been on that story since the rose trimming started ..well the rose triming announcement in April.
Kate looks so off, everything together is just that bad pr just answer the last question but changing. 🙄
Chritmas pic was in France? Rose was in France too. During school holiday. Hmmmm
Also, it’s said the palace only responds to articles that are true……………. Shrug-gate has been great PR for them.
Embolden…It’s embolden. The word embiggen is a JOKE word made up by The Simpsons and yet you use is all the time.
Because the idea that Catherine is the savior and epitome of that is great and good and hard working in royalty, the entire world and the history of keen future future queen consort’s is a joke?
I love the word embiggen. To embolden someone means to give someone the courage or confidence to do something or to behave in a certain way. To embiggen means to blow someone up, to make them bigger and more important than they really are, it’s a false narrative.
I do too. Kaiser has embraced the ’embiggening’ word for Kate and uses it to great effect.
And it’s so much more fun a word to use than self aggrandizement.
I’m pretty sure she’s using it as a joke.
It’s a perfectly cromulent word after all.
I love cromulent too!
Embiggen, made up or not, is more reflective of reality than embolden. Embiggen points to using the media to propagate a positive narrative around Kate whereas emboldening her points to helping her make a positive behavioural change. Getting the media to print repetitive and fanciful articles isn’t emboldening anyone. It’s just lying tbh.
I’m a bit confused. We get three stories here.
1. Kate and Will have a Very Normal Marriage
2. Kate and Will have an Open Marriage Only It Is One Sided, but Kate is fine with that
3. Kate found out Will has been cheating and now she’s mad.
Which one is it? Obviously not 1. It could be a combination of 2 and 3: she knew she had to accept his infidelity but Rose, being her friend, was a step too far.
Only a person who has never done a real day’s work in their life could make this sort of ignorant comment.
But honestly Isn’t every marriage a contract? Couples promise each-other things and envision certain goals in life together. That’s why it’s normally so hard (and expensive) to divorce and divide assets and custody because you’re technically breaking a contract.
The Cambridge’s contract to me seems like the most conditional marriage contract ever. One must never step out of line, always follow husband’s lead, must bear an heir, must be perfect, and look the other way when your husband cheats, etc…
You are absolutely correct about marriage being a contract, but this is one where it weighs more heavily in William’s favor. Kate may get the prestige and position, but at what cost to her marriage and self esteem in the long run?
I noticed Kate’s face is kinda trending lately, Miss America yesterday looks so much like her except smarter kinder more likeable. I guess every dog has his day lol.
I admit, I get confused. Are William and Kate the saviors of the monarchy who will bring the institution forward in a modern way? Or do they have an “old fashioned” marriage in which the wife turns a blind eye to her husband’s activities, revolves her world around her children, etc.? (I was a stay at home mom, so I not making any judgment about that.) Every week we are bombarded by articles that list all the amazing things Kate is going to do (which don’t get done) and how she is dusting off the institution and making it relevant, then we get articles about how traditional their marriage is, Kate is content to be home with the kids (at the taxpayer’s expense!), she keeps her mouth shut and exists outside the home only to support William. I’m not sure the two versions blend well together.
What concrete facts is anyone going to get? A picture during intercourse.? Many many people shared what they knew. It wasn’t an out of left field he slept with Sally field and everyone is like what ?
Anyway it’s over now. He has had someone new for at least 4 or 5 months.
French?
And ps there were no hard concrete facts about camilla and charles until the interview di did. The book by Morton was thought by many to be drivel.
What concrete facts is anyone going to get? A oucutte during intercourse.? Many many people shared what they knew. It wasn’t an out of left field he slept with Sally field and everyone is like what ?
Anyway it’s over now. He has had someone new for at least 4 or 5 months.
French?
Honestly I’m perplexed. With Meghan and Harry gone William and Kate didn’t work more. So it wasn’t about work.
PR nightmare continues, everyone talks about the documentary and the touch.. They could have edited it out the program. Then arrive alone. There are very public displays on not being on the same page. What’s happening?
There have been some bizarre articles just recently praising them and once again throwing Sussexes under the bus. And they outed Meghan and Harrys location to use them as a human shield because they couldn’t take a little extra scrutiny. They wanted the spotlight. Shrug 🤷♀️.
@L4Frimarie
I also thought it was interesting the palace chose to randomly leak the Sussexes location just as the public began noticing trouble in the Cambridge marriage. Honestly it’s effed up.
The PR is all over the place. Feels like the old days.
Any racial abuse is intolerable. But we musnt be intolerant to the people who try to change. How else do we get a loving world?