The Duchess of Cambridge’s Tatler debacle lasted for about two weeks. And those weeks were FUN! Those kinds of stupid picayune scandals are the absolute best. Kate and William “threatened legal action” because their hoity-toity Norfolk friends talked sh-t about them to Tatler, basically. And then W&K blamed Meghan! It was such a stupid-funny story. In the middle of that debacle, I sort of wondered if we would hear much of anything from Buckingham Palace, by way of “an unnamed palace courtier” taking the Cambridges’ side, or saying that the Queen was “shocked and appalled” by what was happening. Whenever the Duchess of Sussex breathed, worked, existed, smiled or walked, there was always some palace courtier going on the record to say that the Queen was disappointed/shocked/appalled by Meghan. Curiously, there was none of that with Kate’s Tatler debacle. So was the Queen even paying attention to it? Well… maybe?
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are being ‘watched closely’ by senior royals including the Queen and Prince Philip, royal author Tom Quinn has claimed. Speaking in Channel 5’s William & Kate: Too Good to Be True?, the expert said the Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, who just celebrated his 99th birthday, were monitoring second-in-line to the throne Prince William, 37, and Queen-in-waiting Kate Middleton, 38.
Explaining that The Firm was anxious the Cambridges wouldn’t ‘repeat mistakes made by other young royals’, Tom said they ‘didn’t want that to happen again’.
Speaking on the programme, Tom said: ‘The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, will be watching very carefully, especially given that younger royals in the past have got things very badly wrong and they don’t want that to happen again’.
Kensington Palace have not commented on the documentary when approached by Femail.
I’ve always thought that there are two options. One, the Queen is watching W&K and she’s cosigned nearly everything they’ve done for the past decade and she’s totally fine with their shenanigans. Two, the Queen, like Prince Charles, has taken a more hands-off approach to W&K and has, at times, given them enough rope (a horrible expression, but you get the idea). I go back and forth on what I think is actually happening and what the Queen actually thinks about her work-shy grandson and his lazy wife. I think the Queen appreciates that they don’t do enough to even pull focus from her. But I also think she probably does wish they would work more. And who knows WHAT she thought about the Tatler debacle. Maybe she wasn’t even briefed on it.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and Backgrid.
I think the queen knows far less than we think. I think her courtiers do everything and she just grumps around with her dogs.
My guess is she is super isolated and likes it that way.
So whoever is monitoring or not, it’s not her.
I agree. And if she’s not monitoring she should step down. #ATM!
Larak, I don’t know about that. I think she knows a lot but refuses to do anything. I could see your point but I truly believe she doesn’t care and she is at an age where she has lived a very rich, long, entitled life. I don’t think she cares. She has washed her hand clean. But that would PC is the one watching. So who knows. The lack of action leaves me question WTH is going on in that family.
I completely agree with this and I know it’s probably not a popular opinion on here but I don’t think she’s 100% with it anymore. I don’t know that many people in their 90’s would be mentally astute enough to run a firm, let alone one as prominent as the monarchy. While I’m sure she’s always been something of a puppet, I suspect those puppet masters have much more control now.
I have commercial clients who have aged ‘leaders’: One 92 y.o. still comes to the office daily, though he ‘retired’ 17 years ago. He’s bright, funny, and has still got game. At least 1 x monthly I cannot get access to service his plants because some big-wig is in there consulting with him and he waves me off. I don’t know what they are talking about, obviously, but there’s usually a sheaf of papers on the desk. When someone is in for just a chat, he waves me in, so he’s very much still consulted on important decisions.
I’m not willing to let her off the hook too easily. Maybe part of the problem is we just don’t know Who Is In Charge? Charles’ vacant ‘style-of-leadership’ has left a HUGE vacuum…Prince Phillip used to keep the family in line, and now, there’s no one or it’s just the men in grey suits……………
Lundi I have to disagree about your opinion of the sharpness of 90 somethings. Her Maj has had top medical care, nutrition and she is physically active. She is probably mentally sharp. I have an uncle who is 93 and he can run circles around me when we discuss current events. He does the RCAF daily exercises, walks a lot, does his own yardwork, doesn’t drink alcohol, eats healthily and has always been interested in technology. He keeps in touch with us “younger” relatives via his laptop and gets annoyed because my mom (89) refuses to Zoom or Facetime.
She knows nothing and revels in that ignorance. She has no power apparently other than in spending taxpayer money.
SOme like DIana and Harry and Meghan asked for help and she threw them under a bus. She was warned about problems but chose to ignore them until it was too late. The only one she coddles and protects is Andrew.
Her spending taxpayer money is a superpower! She’s so good at it.
Tessa. You are completely wrong about the Queen not helping Diana. That is not a complaint that can be made against her. She had a lot of patience with her and always saw Diana when Diana requested an audience. Prince Philip wrote Diana a number of the loveliest, kindest letters, signed with Much love Pa packed with loads of help and advice. Diana replied in kind. No-one threw Diana under a bus but Diana herself with the help of the press she so assiduously courted. Harry and Meghan I don’t know about. Harry is a troubled soul and Meghan did not have a clue what she was getting into. Kate definitely jealous at not being the lone female in the set-up anymore.
Carolind, it is your opinion I am wrong. I disagree with your post. The letters that they sent were too late. Diana had a lot of patience with her ostiching mother in law. Diana did not go near the press until Charles pals like Nicholas Soames leaked nasty stories about her. I am talking about early on. The Queen knew about Camilla’s place in Charles’ life and Princess Margaret hoped Camilla would give up Charles. The Queen was warned about Camilla but looked the other way as early as 1979. I think the Queen expected Diana to look the other way as well and she had no knowledge of human nature. Charles even took Camilla with him as “guest'” on his visit to Zimbabwe in 1980, The Queen finally did something in 1995 but only after things escalated with Charles and Diana giving interviews. She did the same thing with Harry and Meghan waiting until it reached a crisis point. She harshly took the HRH from DIana. And her mother The Queen Mum Charles’ affair with Camilla by lending a home in Scotland to them as a safe house (photographic evidence of them leaving the home together the next morning. Diana was thrown under a bus and I stand firmly by my opinion.
agree with you that she is clueless. most days are probably spent reading a good book, listening to music , baking pudding and riding her horses. she may be mentally sharp, but no way at 94 would she be au courant in all the happenings around the world. she would rely on her secretary/advisors to update her on the latest shenanigans in politics, family and celebrity news. I’d imagine Anne also gives her the latest Sussex gossip over a cuppa. also, if she were getting her updates from say, Scobie, then it would have a different emphasis from say if the Duke of York gave her the family update.
this article is just a warning shot to the cambridges to watch their ego, especially after they were demoted during the commonwealth service,
Royal Blue You think E2 is baking pudding? Oh my. I would leave it now!
On a different note I have a 97 year old father-in-law still sharp. I think the Queen is exactly like that. I don’t think she regards Kate very highly. They are complete opposites. William is never mentioned as being her favourite grandchild. A number of years ago Prince Philip told them to get the finger out. They haven’t. I do think she is an ostrich and William takes no heed of Charles. Having said all that I do think she is a remarkable woman for 94. Non royalist husband and daughter agree.
@carol i don’t think she actually bakes pudding. that was a dig at the staged four-king baking pudding photos at christmas.
and as someone who had a super sharp grandmother who passed at 102 i understand that some may be sharp with strong business acumen at that age, those are outliers and i don’t believe that is E2. not one bit. she is not known for her intellect, wit or intuition. she is known for her duty. and by that i mean you stay calm and rule. dutifully turn a blind eye to infidelity, dutifully protect your son wanted by the authorities for questioning, dutifully associate with foreign kings and princes who kidnap their daughters and imprison them, dutifully threaten to strip her grandson of military titles when he didn’t want his wife to be bullied, dutifully say nothing whatsoever about anything, dutifully be an absent mother. yes indeed. she has NEVER shown her sharpness or capability of making decisions. she is a puppet and i do believe Charles is the puppet master at this point.
I think she can’t be bothered and plays ostrich, like she has done with everything else over the years. I don’t think it’s an age thing I think that she just doesn’t care.
Thinking about her tendency to hide her head in the sand, she stops when it affects her and her routine. As long as Will and Kate show up to Trooping and Christmas lunch and don’t screw up too badly, I don’t think she cares what they do.
I totally forgot about what playing ostrich meant for a minute and thought it was some Terribly British game that Terribly Rich people play like cricket 😂
She’s doing this now with Prince Andrew, apparently in denial about his being with a trafficker. And defends and coddles him yet her ostriching caused the exile of Harry and Meghan.
‘The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, will be watching very carefully, especially given that younger royals in the past have got things very badly wrong and they don’t want that to happen again’.
Me thinks the Lady doth protest too much. Prince Pedophile anyone?
“The Firm was anxious the Cambridges wouldn’t ‘repeat mistakes made by other young royals”
I think, as usual, this royal watcher means Sussexes, as in the disgraced royals who are suing the papers…but what he should have said was that the Queen does not want the Cambridges following the examples of ” Andrew and his wandering dick that fucks trafficked teenagers” and ” Charles the one who does not give a damn about marriage vows and expecting Diana to pull up quietly”
Of course that’s the crazy part. Andrew is an actual criminal and rapist but let’s pretend Harry and Meghan moving to LA is remotely comparable.
Agreed. You can tell the allegiances/location of whoever this “source” was. Let’s make this an opportunity to have a dig (as always), rather than using a legitimate comparison of fucking up… Andrew.
I’m so over the RF being hypocrites.
I’ve read it as a Charles-and-Di style crisis is looming… Like, they’ve had the kids, now they can relax and “look around”… but not make the mistakes of the previous generation, ie get caught and divorce.
I’ve absolutely no proof for all of the above, it’s just what I’m reading between the lines.
I do not think William (or Kate!) would ever stoop to Andy’s level.
Divorce is not unheard of anymore, Peter Phillips the eldest grandchild of the Queen is getting a divorce. If William wanted out and met someone else I think Kate would be out, but would have to move on quietly.
Three of the Queen’s children are divorced. Her sister was divorced. Her nephew is divorcing. One of her cousin’s children is divorced (Davina Lewis). Her grandson Peter is divorcing as Tessa writes. The Kents have been separated for 30 years because she refused their divorce all that time ago.
The BRF is full of divorces. If William wants to divorce Kate, he will.
This is definitely in regards to the Charles and Diana messiness. Charles and Diana and Andrew and Fergie–both marriages imploded with scandal. There were sensational headlines–toe sucking, tampon-fantasies, tapped phone calls and dueling tv interviews. It just went on and on and was very damaging to the reputation of the royal family. The queen does not want a repeat of that time period. That is why she was relieved that Kate didn’t squeak during Rosegate and gave her the medal for staying silent and not going to war like Diana did.
Much of the “Will is just a normal guy” idea spawns from the excess of that time period. There was the thought that Will might have a more successful life if he was not required to stay exactly within the confines of the royal cage. Marrying an ordinary girl like Kate was allowed in the hope that he would be stable and happy. He may even had to promise the Queen that there would be no shenanigans like what she endured with Charles and Di. Almost a decade later, Will continues to be spoiled and undisciplined but he thinks by keeping his misdeeds quiet he is fulfilling his promise to the Queen. So of course the Queen is watching him because she does not want those screaming headlines and scandals again.
@Harper that was my first thought that the comparison is between Charles and Diana. William is the heir after Charles so they are leaning on him to show stability. I think they look at Harry and Meghan as more of a nuisance than anything else. I think that is how they view Andrew as well which is why they are not appalled at his behavior like the rest of the world.
After waiting years for the ring, Kate will dig in her heels and do what she must to to stay in the marriage, Her mother Carole would be the one IMO to complain the most if the Cambridge marriage went bad. She would call Kate a disappointment and not blame William at all. The only way she would leave is if she is forced out by William. If he met someone that he wants to marry he would move on and then later his spin would say he was “too young” to settle down and he felt “pressured” to Marry Kate and felt it was not fair to Kate that he only “settled.” Kate would be given a settlement and not complain. If she were ousted that way, Carole would still blame Kate. That’s how I see it and I can see Carole remaining “friends” with her ex son in law.
@Esme I read the same thing you do in the spaces between the lines
Tessa, if William wants out he’ll get out. Kate and Carole can play PR ball or they can try to play hardball against William and the Windsors. They choose the latter? The Tatler article was a warning shot across the Middleton PR bow.
Both scenarios suck. If she (& Charles)co-sign their behavior then they should be ashamed of letting a future monarch be this lazy, directionless and vindictive. If she is hands off then she should be ashamed of being asleep at the wheel when it comes to a future monarch. She’s a CEO, she can’t let an employee run wild like this.
The Queen cared enough about the laziness that she didn’t give Kate a fancy ribbon until stories of William cheating came out. Prior to that it was years and years of no family order. And people came up with a ton reasons why it took so long but really Kate was and remains useless. William isn’t much better but he’s her blood.
The Queen is the Queen but I also want to blame Charles for letting William and Kate go unchecked. He’s so spineless when it comes to William.
She also cared enough about the laziness that during the Long Wait, she was concerned that Middleton didn’t have a job (reportedly asking, “just what does she do?”) and voila, all of the sudden Kate has a part-time job as an assistant accessories buyer at the company owned by her parents’ friends. Which she gave up months later when the heat was off.
She probably cares but not enough to do anything. She has a history of throwing her hands in the air. Like how Diana went to her about Charles’ infidelity and her response was, what can I do? He’s hopeless.
I agree that Charles should have done more on the laziness but I strongly suspect that William acts a lot like Diana and Charles doesn’t know how to deal with the petulance of his son. Charles and Camilla made a public appearance today and while it was mentioned that Camilla has seen, but not hugged her grandkids, there was silence regarding the Cambridges.
That’s my take too, Nic919. Charles doesn’t know how to handle William’s petulance and whiplash temperament. Couple that with the Middleton control of him and his behavior towards Harry and Meghan? William is more of a wildcard than ever.
But she is also 93, does she even really ‘Watch’ anything. I believe she had the energy once upon a time to watch Princess Margret, Diana and Fergie. She cant be that hands on now,she probably likes to only be notified of things/engagements that are crucial to her name(like trooping the colours,hubbys birthday). The courtiers must have more power than ever now.
I’m like you, I never understood why he lets the Cambridges be so lazy without direction vindictive and give such an important place for Carole Middleton to direct the life of two future monarchs. Imagine Kate and William will being responsible of the monarchy it a just a nightmare.
I think William would throw a tantrum if Carole wasn’t included. I think they would do anything to keep him happy but they may be reaching the end of their patience.
TQ famously sticks her head in the sand when it comes to the family – Philip was the one who ran the family, with an iron fist by many accounts. Now that he is pretty much out of action, there is no one to keep them all in check. Charles is the his mother that way – it’s long been said he’s afraid to stand up to William, always has been like that with his eldest son.
It was said that Diana was the only one who could put William back in his box.
I agree. It explains why the BRF have been running around like headless chickens for the last few years. No one is keeping them in check. Like you say, Charles is too cowardly and I think Camilla quite frankly, doesn’t give a shit about keeping the firm together. She just wants to be a grandma. And everyone else is lower down in succession.
Camilla is the step mom so she could only do so much anyway.
Diana did want Harry and William treated equally and she wanted Harry and William to support each other. That said. I think she would have seen signs in William that are not so attractive and would have tried her best to keep William reined in. William was called a “sneak” when he was a child by Wharfe and WIlliam pulled a cheap stunt by barring his parents from an Eton picnic and inviting Tiggy. The Queen should have barred HIM from the event unless he took his parents. I think she would have seen to it that Harry and Meghan stayed and would put William in his place. She and Charles as co parents I think would have stopped it. Charles by himself coddled William and let him get his way as did the Queen. So William got this sense of entitlement and felt he could do whatever he wants. If he decided to go back to being co pilot tomorrow the QUeen would let him and not worry about his doing royal work. I doubt William listens to his Spencer aunts or Spencer cousins he is very arrogant IMO.
Nic, I see nothing like Diana in William anymore. He is like his father now except without the work ethic. He lacks the subtlety of the Prince of Wales and is more rash but i do see the streak of ruthlessness of a Windsor in him.
Honestly, he doesn’t really take after either parent. I see more Andrew in his behavior than Charles or Diana.
andrew is a bit on the lazy side, he never tried to push his way out in the limelight. William is on the lazy side but also pushy.
William has the jealousy, slyness, and PR game-playing of both his parents.
Yes, notasugarhere but the difference is there is no substance to William. At least Charles and Diana had work ethics and genuine interest in royal work and charities. William also is very inept and condescending during appearances.
Monitoring the Cambridges huh? More like enabling them, just like they’d been doing with Prince Andrew. SMH
Anything to take the focus off Prince Andrew, right?
“The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, will be watching very carefully, especially given that younger royals in the past have got things very badly wrong and they don’t want that to happen again.”
When Tom Quinn person speaks of of the QEII watching and mistakes not repeating themselves, I think old QEII is worried about another “heir to the throne” divorce in the “Rose Who?” = Camilla mode. The Queen is not worried about lazy Royal Layabouts but who they are laying with.
Well put, BTB! I agree with your take.
I do think someone – the Queen or PC – told them to back off the Tatler article. WE found it hilarious and the Cambridge reaction certainly added to a fun gossip cycle, but the article really didn’t say anything new, or anything that bad. I’m sure that the reaction from Charles or the Queen was the same as our reaction here as they kept seeing the flurry of articles defending them that was also just rehashing all the criticisms in the article – “stop talking about the article and everyone else will too!” It did make it clear that W&K are not ready for the big time, so to speak.
I do think the “not repeating mistakes” comment was about suing the papers, because there’s nothing else that they could repeat. William and Kate aren’t walking away. so I do think it was a reminder that they needed to take some hits in the press sometimes.
In general I have to wonder if the Queen and Charles ARE going to start insisting on more from them, since the Queen wont be in the public eye again for months and while Charles is starting to do more, he typically has a packed schedule so someone is going to have to pick up some of his events or some of the queen’s smaller engagements, and the logical choice is the couple who don’t really work that much to begin with.
According to Sophie, no one had really been asked to take more on. So I’m not holding out hope. But if I were Charles, I would be lighting the fire under their butts and tell them to get to work once this pandemic is over.
Why wait until the pandemic is over. Other royal houses are back out there doing some public engagements. We’re still only getting 10 minutes of Zoom being called ‘work’ for W&K. Most of the other BRF royals are in a COVID-risk age bracket. W&K need to get out there.
Kate, like Donald Trump, probably does not want to wear a mask as it will f$#K with her blowout and make-up.
All the British Royals need to put on a mask, go greet their citizens in the two hour queue at Primark & Waitrose and listen to their stories and concerns.
Charles and Camilla did an engagement today! It was awkward lol, but they were there.
@Becks1 – You last statement sums it all up as to why I like Chuck & Cam; “but they were there”! No matter how awkward it was, I am sure it was better than a Zoom call.
Chuck & Cam got up, got dressed and went out and did the only thing they can do now at this time: They thanked people personally.
At 99 years old, I can’t imagine Prince Philip is in a state of mind to be monitoring anything except his own personal needs.
No kidding. He’s spending more time falling asleep in a chair than anything else at this stage of his life.
Is this the doc that blamed Harry and Meghan for leaving and said that there absolutely no racism towards Meghan?
As for watching? Why? Are they worried that Kate’s going to pull a Meghan/ Autumn and run off to North America?
I’m guessing they don’t want another Diana/Charles situation with the Cambridges. The whole image of the Cambridges is built on the family image and “look at how normal we are! we just want to be normal parents and make chutney!”. It’s the only thing they’ve got going for them and it’s the only “appealing” thing about them. If they lose that, the BRF probably fears they’ll become massively unpopular.
The Cambridges can only play at being normal. I find it annoying that they try to put out the Image of being normal when they are super wealthy and privileged. It’s like Marie Antoinette playing milk maid. I don’t think the Cambridges have anything going for them. Especially after the way they treated Harry and Meghan.
The UK media blackout on reporting the Rose affair shows just how afraid William is of his “normal” image being shattered. He’s been the one to reveal weird things like saying he doesn’t see his kids enough, strongly suggesting he doesn’t live with them to see them daily. Once the kids get older it will also be harder to control the friends of the Cambridge kids and what they see.
If Kate ever did run off to North America I would so respect that.
It would surprise the heck out of me, but I would respect it.
If Diana’s death told us anything, is that the Queen’s method is always, “Don’t do anything.” Even “The Crown” showed the Queen being taught to never comment on anything.
And I doubt Prince Philip is watching anyone. He’s most likely being watched round the clock because of dementia.
I’m not a Will and Kate fan, but the Queen isn’t in a position to be overly judgey to them considering how hard she stans Prince Andrew.
Agree- to be honest this generation of royals have nothing on the ones that the Queen& Philip actually raised. They don’t really have much scandal at all compared to all the affairs, political interference, failed businesses, dodgy property deals, using taxpayer funds illegally, friendships with paedophiles& arms dealers etc, criminal accusations around their staff etc that surrounded Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.
I wonder if this is part of why Charles & the Queen seem so lenient with William (aside from the fact that he seems to have a nasty temper). William & Kate are lazy & dull, but on balance, that’s far less damaging than what some other royals have been involved with or adjacent to. A country mistress is almost quaint by comparison.
It isn’t quaint when he threatens the press into withdrawing proof of his cheating. When he files lawsuits in European court about his ‘right to a private life’ as a way of covering up his cheating.
Some claim Charles shouldn’t be allow to be king and Head of the Church of England because he was unfaithful. Well, William is unfaithful too. If it were to be used to prevent Charles from taking the throne, it has to be used to prevent William from taking it too. That makes his cheating a public and political matter, and he’s using the power of his position to silence a free press about his cheating.
@notasugarhere All good points. My perspective was that the cheating is definitely an issue for Will & Kate’s “happy family” brand, so I’m not surprised that he was determined to hush it up. KP’s reaction of course hushed it up about as well as they buried the Tatler story lol. But I could see how the courtiers might have the perspective that they prefer a dull, lazy couple they can control (I think they are probably wrong about the last part) versus someone like Andrew who has all manner of skeletons in his closet & is unmanageable to boot due to mummy’s favoritism. The Church of England angle is interesting. I hadn’t heard about that being used as a cudgel against Charles.
The monarchy would have loved if buttons and wills did something that have impact like the prince trust , Harry’s invictus or Meghan’s cookbook. But the kp residents are so dumb they cant come up with any good initiative beside their lip service mental health campaign. I bet pple wouldn’t complain if they did something like that and barely work . Pple wouldn’t question them if they claim to work when they are home
The monarchy would have loved if buttons and wills did something that have impact like the prince trust , Harry’s invictus or Meghan’s cookbook. But the kp residents are so dumb they cant come up with any good initiative beside their lip service mental health campaign. I bet pple wouldn’t complain if they did something like that and barely work . Pple wouldn’t question them if they claim to work when they are home when they have something to show
I notice the latest vile comments about Meghan and Harry mentions the Queen having custody of all the great grandchildren (based on some 300 year “rule”)and she should “take Archie away” from his parents. But maybe allow Harry to come back and “help raise Archie.” Disgusting.
Tessa – No matter what “law” is on the British “books”, QEII cannot take away Archie from his parents. It would not stand-up in an American Court, European Court or British Court after Brexit unless the Sussexes were prove incapable as parents.
That 300 year old law is no longer legally valid. As Bay said, no court would “approve” of a 94 year old woman taking away her 8th great-grandchild from his seemingly fit parents.
It was a rule designed at a time when child custody laws weren’t a thing. Now that they are, it trumps whatever law a royal 300 years ago wrote.
I did not refer to the “law” the ones who want Archie taken by the Queen do. Specifically referenced are the great grandchildren and not so oddly it only impacts Archie, according to the bloggers.
@Tessa – Sorry I misunderstood the point you were trying to make.
The tumblrs are one crazy lot of craziness.
I’m pretty sure the “law” you’re referring to is for grandchildren, not great-grandchildren (because people just didn’t live that long back when it was written). So, even if this “law” were valid, it wouldn’t apply to Archie anyway. But I agree with the others that no monarch in this day and age is taking away grands or great-grands from their healthy and capable parents.
Those frothing haters don’t know anything about law or royal history. QEII doesn’t have the right to take Archie from his parents, but those tumblrs will keep screaming in their echo chamber about it.
I am sure the Queen will fly to the US to kidnap her US citizen great grandson lol. The BRF has enough disdain already. They pull a stunt like that and they would be finished. Not that they could get away with it anyway, the Queen has no authority here, they would laugh in her face.
Oh geez, yet another snide attempt to bash Harry and Meghan. It’s been said many times over the years that the Queen doesn’t interfere with what family members get up to, she tends to stick her head in the sand when difficult situations within the family arise and doesn’t intervene until the situation compromises the crown. I do wonder though now that Charles and Camilla have made their first post-pandemic visit , how long will it take to crowbar Wills and Katie out of Anmer Hall?
This is how I read the quotes as well – more Sussex bashing. It’s enough already. All of the RRs and palace mouthpieces are disgusting bullies and flat out liars (as we saw with the Liza Minelli story!).
I think we won’t see the Cambs for the rest of the summer. They’ll be off on their usual hols so they can “spend time with their children like normal mums and dads.” *inserteyerollhere*
I remember reading in one of the many biographies of William & Kate, that the Queen was quite concerned that Kate hadn’t found a job more than a year after she’d graduated from university, and that was when Kate got the job at Jaeger, working 4 days a week. I do think that the Queen would like them to work more but at the same time she probably remembers that during the early years of her reign, she had less time for Charles and Anne because she was adjusting to being Queen. On the other hand, I’m pissed that it is is okay for William & Kate to do the bare minimum, but Meghan & Harry received all kinds of flack for a) wanting to do more, and b) wanting to step back for a bit. They were damned if they did, and damned if they didn’t.
SHe worked at Jigsaw, owned by Belle Robinson and Belle said that Kate’s hours had to be very flexible because of her dating William. Workers there rarely saw Kate. I don’t think Kate worked 4 days a week I think it was very sporadic from what I read. It was flexible part time work. She only lasted at Jigsaw for about a year and was given compassionate leave after the breakup with William and she never went back.
The Queen did not give them two years off, the Malta Lie is just that, a lie. She didn’t give any of the other royals years off to raise kids, she did not give W&K years off for it either.
All those lies came from Kate stans and bemused RRs who were grasping at straws as to why two 30-year-olds weren’t working for the family Firm. Taking all the perks, doing none of the work.
@nota – I read in several books written on Bill & Cathy in the earlier years of their marriage that QEII agreed to give them two years off to settle into marriage because she did not want a repeat of the problems with Diana. Hence William’s job when they were living in that modern renovated farm house in either Wales or Cornwall (I can never remember which one).
However, everything I read may be total made up BS.
ETA: I looked it up at it was Anglesey, Wales.
In the engagement video Kate said she would hit the ground running. However as months went on and then years, the spin about being given time to not work because working means getting divorced or some nonsense was trotted out and likely showed up in the hagiographies because the Cambridges really did much of nothing. William was still at the RAF, but Kate was really doing sweet eff all but shop and she couldn’t be bothered to join the local RAF wives club, mostly because she would be in London or Buckleberry more weeks than not.
@Bay – that wasn’t the original line, as Nic919 points out. Kate was going to hit the ground running – one of the nicer explanations for their long dating history was because William wanted to give her time to experience royal life and to really know what she was getting into. Diana didn’t just start off as Princess of Wales and a busy schedule, she was also very young, had a child less than a year into the marriage, had no real life experience, etc. So the nice explanation for why William didn’t propose to Kate and kept her “waiting” was he wanted her to have some experience etc before marrying.
Of course that wasn’t it at all, he just wasn’t ready to get married to her yet, which is fine, just don’t package it differently.
Then after they got married and took off to Wales (where Kate was staying supposedly with William but in reality was back with her mom quite a bit), it got passed around that they were given “two years to adjust.” Problem with that was, how is hiding in Wales, avoiding almost all royal duties, going to help you adjust? Adjusting, to me, would have meant staying in London and gradually ramping up your schedule.
then after 2 years, they were supposed to be full time royals, hence why they got Apt 1A at that point, Kate had George and I think they still lived in Wales, then shortly thereafter started staying at Middleton Manor a great deal, then at some point they got ANMER, which is when people realized…..they weren’t going to be FT royals…..they were going to be “hands on parents.” Then she had Charlotte, so no FT work yet…
then in 2017 they finally moved to KP “full time” so George could start school and that was when they were finally going to be full time royals. And Kate got pregnant with Louis so we’re still waiting.
So, even if the 2 years in wales thing to “adjust” was true…..they took 4 years after that to even pretend to be FT royals.
BTB, those books were written by confused RRs who couldn’t understand why W&K weren’t working, as Nic919 and Becks1 write. That two years to ‘adjust’ was complete fabrication, repeated by Kate stans who insisted she didn’t need to work.
I think the queen and Charles are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the Cambridge’s. I don’t think they ‘agreed’ with what they were doing, but they also didn’t do a damn thing to stop it. I think harry has been able to go to the queen to talk to her about what’s been happening hoping that she will help, but she hasn’t lifted a finger to help him. That’s why I don’t give a sh*t about her feelings regarding the Sussex’s exit, cos she had every opportunity to do something and didn’t. Both the queen and Charles have both been thrown under the bus by William and Kate in the past, mostly when they use the ‘we want to be proper parents unlike the queen and Charles’ as an excuse to ditch duties. Their ‘popularity’ came at Charles expense in the past, especially with the whole ‘skip a generation’ campaign. But I think the queen and Charles are running scared about challenging the press or the Cambridge’s. I think William probably emotionally blackmails them all the time, and the press have decades worth of dirt on them. The closest the queen came to defending harry and Meghan was in her statement where she confirmed that she knew about their exit for months.
Williams failed ‘regency’ campaign during that beginning of the coronavirus seemed underhand, he was hoping to push the queen and charles out of the way, to look like he was the one in charge. I can imagine that must have been infuriating for the queen and Charles. They could easily knock the Cambridge’s off their pedestal but don’t.
William also tried to claim he was running the show around Harry and Meghan’s departure. And he tried to claim, through PR leaks, that he was the one demanding Andrew be sacked.
He always wants to be perceived as in charge, but doesn’t want any of the work or responsibilities of the job.
I don’t understand why they’re still so afraid of William. I could see them being wary of his threats and tantrums in the first few years after Diana’s death. But at this point it’s become ridiculous to be beholden to the emotional blackmail of a grown man nearing 40. If he’s ever threatened to walk away from the family, perhaps they should call his bluff and see what happens (hint: nothing will happen). It’s doubtful that Will would ever do anything to seriously jeopardize his status as 2nd in line. He might hate having to be the heir, but he loves all the perks and privileges that come with it. They could easily put him and Kate in place and yet they refuse to do so.
All I can think of is that William must have some major dirt on the queen and Charles which he is holding over their heads. It’s must be pretty bad that they would let harry walk away rather than challenge William. I don’t think anyone there wants William to be king, expect for Kate obviously. But they need William to remain ‘popular’ to secure their future. People only accept the Charles as king because his reign will be short and it will be williams turn after. But with the tide turning on William, they might as well abolish with whole thing after the queen dies.
With regards to QEII I think William has lots of dirty -dirt on Prince Pedo.
With regards to the future Charles III, I have no idea because after the Diana episode could there be any worse dirt out there. The idea that Camilla was not the only one during his marriage to Diana is very common knowledge.
They let Harry walk away because they all were united on not wanting Meghan in the family. William was doing their dirty work for them so why get in his way? I think Charles has a lot of issues and might have found it useful to have his two sons not united anymore. And now William is more exposed and has to do more.
Meghan is no longer a senior royal, William wants Charles’ approval and to publicly outshine Harry so he actually cares about his role now even if it’s for petty reasons and so does Kate. This isn’t Kate coming into her own/ Golden age of Kate etc. -It is Charles who is coming out ahead.
lol, I am so freakin’ Southern that first pic is making me twitch even though it’s totally irrational especially with those two.
This article implies the Queen is watching and ready to step in of they get it wrong. She has been watching them be lazy freeloaders for their entire marriage. She hasn’t stepped in yet.
So this is implying she has approved all past behavior. And why the monarchy will probably end with her.
You guys are giving her too big a pass! Yes she’s clueless about normal things like self service checkout when she asked a shop manager if the machine checks if people are stealing!! She’s isolated from mundane every day things but NOT from the affairs of her own family.
I agree that courtiers control her daily routine and probably access to her but the real person controlling it all is Charles. He ousted all her old courtiers and officials and appointed those loyal to him probably to keep an eye on who comes to see her. Tim shipman even alluded to this when talking about Sussexit and how harry tried to come see her but was blocked by courtiers
Therefore I doubt that she would be keeping watch over the keenbridges. At this point they have more control that future POW ever had before! Once charles is king he’ll need to watch his back
In the picture, the Queen looks more modern than Kate.
I love the word “picayune,” and t’s so under-used.
why is she so picky who she watches pity she wasn’t monitoring Andrew closely the day he ran off to Pizza Express with Bea.
Harry is just as lazy & work shy as William.
Tessa, I don’t know what age you are or which nationality but I lived through the Diana days in Britain in the pre-internet days. People in other parts of the world didn’t know what was going on. Diana played to the press probably from about two years in. One minute she.would be courting publicity, the next she would be wanting secrecy but if she was courting them at the same time…If Charles was doing something special on an engagement she made sure she topped it and all the attention went to her. She often used to phone them anonymously to give them tip offs as to where she was going privately. I live fairly near Balmoral. Once when she was staying there, she was going out with the boys. The policeman on duty told her not to go a certain way because the press were there. Guess the way the lady went. She was laying her trail in that famous Panorama interview. She basically said Charles was unfit to be king. She thought E2 was maybe going to die quite soon. She wanted the throne to bypass Charles and go to William and guess who would be regent? Her own father said she was not mentally stable enough to be marrying Charles. The poor thing was bulimic BEFORE her marriage. She used to eat huge packets of cereal and then had to own up to staff who thought they were being stolen. She fell out with all her family, all her friends. Had affairs with numerous men, broke up one marriage and still people – DM readers and people who live abroad- think she was perfect!
Royal blue E2 actually is known for her wit, intuition and knowledge of political affairs. Out of the public eye she has a dry wit and is a fantastic mimic and has a hearty laugh. Countless British PMs have said she has tripped them up on several occasions when they have gone into sessions with her unprepared. You might say “They would say that” but where does your knowledge of her come from? I have worked with people (military) who knew her personally.