Last night was Burns Night for Scotland and Scottish people, a celebration of Scottish poet/literary figure Robert Burns. January 25th is celebrated every year as Burns Night, and there’s a Burns Supper, recitations of Robert Burns’ written works and all kinds of activities. Because of the pandemic, the British royals were left Zooming their celebrations of Burns Night, attaching themselves to the Scottish celebration in the hope of reminding Scotland of their historic ties.
The thing is, the Scottish independence movement has never been stronger. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced this past weekend that if her party, the Scottish National Party, wins a majority in the May election, she’ll call for another independence referendum. There’s also ample evidence to suggest that Prince William and Kate’s Covid Choo Choo tour strengthened the Scottish independence cause – Scots were completely pissed off at the royals’ insistence at traipsing into Scotland during a full pandemic lockdown. Even Scottish royalists were rolling their eyes at William and Kate’s tone-deaf super-spreader tour. So it’s really funny to me that Will and Kate decided to record a lil’ message for Burns Night:
This Burns Night, we’ve teamed up with @NHSCharities to provide staff at @NHSTayside with a Burns celebration lunch of haggis, neeps and tatties.
Thank you for all that you do — Slàinte Mhath! #BurnsNight2021 🏴 pic.twitter.com/nvALnO9LzR
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 25, 2021
A haggis dinner? I would not give my enemies a haggis dinner, but I get that it’s a “Scottish thing.” I would think overworked nurses and doctors would much prefer a cappuccino and some donuts, but what do I know. Also: when William and Kate are in Scotland, they are the Earl of Strathearn and Countess of Strathearn, but Kate’s red tartan is not the Strathearn tartan. She knows what the real Strathearn tartan is because she’s carried scarves with the tartan before – the real tartan is a yellow background with red and green plaid. I have no idea why she theme-dressed in a red tartan dress?
Anyway, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall recorded separate messages for Burns Night.
“With Auld Lang Syne, he gave us words which have become a symbol of fellowship the world over – and never has that sense of connection been more important than now.”
🎥 During virtual celebrations with @RobertBurnsFed, The Prince recited one of Burns’ most famous poems. pic.twitter.com/nRxvbLsvoN
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) January 25, 2021
The Duchess has also marked Burns Night in a message to @aberdeenuni, of which Her Royal Highness is Chancellor.
🎥 Watch as HRH reads a favourite Robert Burns poem, ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’. pic.twitter.com/5qoVIYfALI
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) January 25, 2021
Screencaps courtesy of video.
I guess I now have to give them credit for figuring out how to talk to people in Scotland without a train.
AH!
I think this just reminds people that the super spreader choo choo tour was dangerous and a complete waste of time. KP really tried to argue that it was essential work worthy of crossing multiple countries and here they are doing what the COVID tour should’ve been in the first place.
haha yes! I realize that i criticize almost every nice thing they do but, lord, these rich people are out of touch. This is totally the equivalent of a pizza party – the sort of thing that would excite a 4th grader.
Adults don’t want food from you. They want money or time. Adults want money to pick their own meals or have time off to do things that are not work. PERIOD.
If you cannot do that then fund NHS retirements, fund better PPE, fund an order for additional vaccines so that the light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter for those people.
Don’t fund Haggis and then get online to brag about giving the middle class something they don’t need or want right now.
IDK, haggis is surprisingly delicious. I never would have believed it until I tried it.
I guess she wore the tartan because it’s tartan and she doesn’t care for the differences. I’m not Scottish so idk if it’s a massive deal to the Scots what type of tartan Kate (a non Scot) wears.
And I can see Scotland leaving the union within 5 years and definitely with 10. Heck NI might decide to join them and unify with the ROI
Tartans are a big deal.
Again I’m not Scottish so I have no idea. Although I can understand why it would be
She looks like an idiot having to wear a tartan simply to speak to Scottish people every time she does anything remotely Scottish themed. This is what children do. If she’s not going to wear the right one then don’t wear one at all. I’m sure the Scots would be ok not seeing a tartan every time.
It’s just as bad as wearing green or the flag colours every day she was in Ireland. It’s a childish understanding of how to interact with people.
You don’t see Charles and Camilla put on tartan items for this and they have actually done something for Burns night prior to this year. Even Palmolive remarked that this was a first for the Cambridges, especially after they gave Scottish independence a huge boost due to their arrogance.
The very least she could do is spend more taxpayer money for her theme dressing. Have a kilt made out of the tartan associated with their Scottish titles. She cannot even do that. Instead she does things like waste 8000 on a custom ‘Scotch Dress’ from McBurton, Wickstead knockoff tartan outfits, etc.
It just screams “the only thing I know about Scotland and Scottish people is tartan!” And because she does it every single time, it comes off as patronizing. Like the Scotts are supposed to be so thrilled that she knows tartan is a thing there. Even though it’s super obvious and everyone knows that, and even though she continually proves that all she knows about Scotland is tartan. It’s like she’s asking them to give her a big welcome and a pat on the back and be super thrilled about the fact that she knows this one, little, very vague, costumey thing. And they’re supposed to feel honored that she knows this one, little thing about their country. I feel like it’s similar to when Grandma would visit and give a child one old stale peppermint candy from the bottom of her bag and then expect you to be SUPER HAPPY about it and thank her profusely. Maybe it was cute the first time. But then Grandma does it every single time, and it becomes “a thing” that she thinks you look forward to, even though you don’t really like peppermint candies.
It’s like kate’s doing the very least and they can’t be mad about it because she’s “trying” to make them happy by constantly wearing tartan even though constantly wearing tartan is such a cliche stereotype about the Scotts, and by doing it every single time she’s perpetuating this stereotype. Stereotypes can be harmful and very limiting. It would be like if she wore a sweater with dog sleds on it every time she did anything related to Canada. Like sure, people maybe used to get around with dog sleds sometimes and some people still do it for sport, but it’s a stereotype and it’s not true of all Canadians all the time.
She wore the maple leaf brooch every time she came to Canada. The queen wore it once or twice here too, but Canadians are quite familiar with the maple leaf symbol. And the second tour was not well received especially when they refused the food at the local Yukon Territory hotel they were staying at and ordered pizza. Wearing a maple leaf brooch won’t make up for that rudeness.
I totally agree with the childishness and silliness. It makes the whole endeavor seem stupid and silly, meaning the monarchy itself. What is it there for? These stupid shallow platitudes?
The weirdest thing is that she lived in Scotland for the best part of 4 years, when she was at uni here. She might even have been to a Burns Supper or two. It shouldn’t be a foreign country to her.
@WaitWhat – excellent point that I keep forgetting. She’s not ignorant of Scotland. And in general, wouldnt that have made this video so much more personal? “we have many fond memories of Scotland, and we remember celebrating Burns Night at St.. Andrews, etc.” But there’s nothing. Well, I should say that I did not watch the video, so please tell me if I’m wrong, because maybe I am.
Sofia, it matters mainly because she’s a Duchess, and it’s the very damn least she could do.
I didn’t say it didn’t matter. I initially said I don’t know if it does because I’m not Scottish and I don’t want to speak for a group of people – especially one that I don’t belong to.
And when you told me it matters, I once again repeated that I’m not Scottish but I understand why it does matter.
I believe the print she’s wearing is the Queen’s tartan? Royal something? I think it’s a pointed attempt by her handlers to associate the royals with Scotland. Dress and even the event, given that the independence movement is getting stronger. Trying to foster up last minute goodwill.
No, it is a Wickstead dress in a cream/red tartan not a kilt done in the Royal Stewart.
Thing is, her OWN tartan isn’t bad at all! Make it into a skirt, with a black turtleneck/sweater and it would’ve been great for this time of year! Heck, even a red turtleneck or sweater would look great with this.
Here’s what it looks like: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=countess+of+strathern++tartan&t=osx&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.staonlineshop.co.uk%2Fimages%2Fthumbs%2F0002486.jpeg
She has a scarf in the Strathern pattern – it would have looked nice styled appropriately with a turtleneck or something for the call. As it is she ended up looking both childish and dowdy .
(THEOG) JAN90067 But that would require a good amount of forethought and this even was probably thrown together as a hamfisted PR bandaid after Sturgeon’s latest statement, or after the emails came out. Agree that her actual tartan is quite nice and frankly would have been more elegant and Old Money to go with something special like that. Ya know who might have put that kind of thought into it? Ol’ Rose Hanbury
“Childish and dowdy” describes her overall sense of style perfectly. She often somehow manages to simultaneously dress like a seven year old and a seventy year old.
I hope I live to see Scottish Independence AND Irish reunification.
Hear, hear!
I am Scottish and live in Scotland, about 3 miles from Culloden Battlefield. Scottish women generally do not wear kilts, unless young girls wear mini kilts. Tartan trews have possibly become more popular for men. Charles wears the kilt a lot in Scotland and Camilla also wears tartan a lot when there.
I loathe Johnson and all his works and also loathe the SNP. They are doing exactly the same to the highlands as they accuse Westminster of doing to Scotland. All the good jobs have gone from the highlands to the central belt. The SNP also insist that everything is centralised and local councils do not have a say. Their MPs have all to vote the same way – their way. No freedom of choice. I was in USSR in 1979 and the Soviet way then is the SNP way now. Odious organisation.
So tone deaf!
It’s obvious the Royal Family is eager to show that the Scottish are important to them and to dissuade people from the independence movement. William and Kate have never shown any interest in Burns Night before this year. Charles was the one to regularly observe it. The funny thing about the Haggis lunch is that William and Kate didn’t donate it. It was sponsored by their new patronage NHS Charities and some food providers who have Royal Warrants.
I would have been great if Kate wore a Scottish designer rather than a fake tartan that she wore to Wales but I’m not her stylist. The theme-dressing she does is childish at this point.
Exactly.
I’ve never known any of the BRF giving this much damn about Burns Night before.🤨🤨
I’m surprised they didnt donate the lunched, but really I’m not. they keep just putting their names on oher people’s initiatives… but I was originally goint to say – Meg & harry gave lunch to workers – so Willie and Katie also wanted to give dinners to workers. can this even be real?
Yes. I noticed that too, the cosplaying of Meg & Harry with the lunch donations.
Dont they have personal family pictures to put in the background? They always have those boring magazine pictures everyone has seen before.
I’ve wondered this as well. Plus, this is not Amner Hall, it is Sandringham so someone decided that they should bring their pictures from their home, KP or Amner, to display behind them when they do Zoom calls.
True to form pic’s of themselves and their kids only. No books, vases, candles or anything.
It’s bc they want to copy Meghan and Harry, without actually giving the public a true glimpse of their home, which allows them to remain private while giving off an air of being down to earth and open.
They are so dull it’s painful.
Looking forward to when M gives birth and returns to public life, by then she’ll be able to move around with intention and less restriction and I am looking forward to what Archewell will be doing.
I don’t understand why there’s a table & sofa in front of the double-doors. Are the doors for show only? Or is the set up? What if your escape route is through those doors & you’ve got them blocked?
It’s only a set-up. Why would I put up only public pictures in my own home? This was not personally set-up, it’s just staff printing existing photos to which they have access to – and those are only the ones that were made public. Nothing feels ever personal with these 2.
The Duke and Duchess of Kopytown strike again. I watched the video and I almost felt sorry for Kate. She was fidgety and she could not stop her thumbs from doing some sort of weird movements. As for the tartan dress, really? I think they were made to do this by the Queen. The Scottish referendum is looming large.
She seemed very nervous considering it was a video they were making.
Why is she so uncomfortable doing a brief video at sandringham sitting next to her husband? This isn’t a public setting at all.
It would not surprise me at all if the plan for her to do this herself and he decided to show up and be a part of it.
I just don’t think those two are living together.
Not a “body language expert” but she fidgets and has her hands held tightly together and her lips pursed together when not talking and she also never looks directly at William. It’s almost like she’s ticked off at him.
She does look like she has some personality sitting next to him. Granted, it is anger, but it is something.
she looks like she’s about to meth fidget out of her skin. what the hell is going on here.
also: sorry about the pandy, here’s some sausage
ur welcome
love wills and kate
Seriously, they both look like they want to be anywhere but there and they’re refusing to even glance in the other’s direction. The constant close-ups do a poor job of hiding the tension too (kind of emphasizes it imo). Their Zoom calls have always been awkward at best, but this one definitely takes the cake. How hard is it to sit still for a few seconds of a recorded video?
They hardly show Kate at all in this video, and when they do it’s just for a short bit before cutting to William or footage of the NHS workers. It seems like they were trying to edit around her fidgeting, but it’s still very obvious. She looks like she’s being held at gun point the way she keeps agitatedly rubbing her hands and thumbs.
They weren’t this awkward in the first zoom videos they did together. It seems like there was a blow up of some sort and one of them is residing in sandringham. It makes not sense for her to be worse at this ten months in. And her husband shouldn’t be making her feel awkward.
So at first glance this seems nice and like something we have suggested they do (omg they totally read this site dont they lol) – or it even seems like they were copying H&M from two weeks ago with the whole “sending food” idea. but when you look at the press release, its clear the food is NOT from Will and Kate or even from their royal foundation – I think their idea of “teaming up” was just to do this video.
She wore that plaid dress as part of the super spreader tour (under the red coat) so maybe she is trying to remind people of that trip? At any even its weird but its Kate – talking to people in Scotland, must wear plaid!
The new zoom room is still so weird and distracting to me. Are we really to believe that the only pictures they display are the pictures they share on IG? Like so many other things, they just miss the boat. People like looking at “zoom rooms” because it gives you a glimpse of who someone is – yes, many of the rooms are curated and the items in there carefully chosen, but there is still a glimpse of personality. Like Meghan and Harry’s doesnt have anything blatantly personal in there, but its obvious that things like the art prints and the books werent just picked out for the zoom and nothing else. Charles and Camilla’s studies were fun to see because they were kind of messy, camilla’s books had bookmarks throughout them, etc. This room comes off as cold because its SO staged and fake. It also looks like the table with the pictures is in front of a door, soooo……that just adds to the staged effect.
Oh my God, you’re right about the door! I’ve just noticed it. Considering they’re Zooming from Sandringham, for some reason, it’s definitely staged. Kate Stans have been angry that people are saying that they’re copying Harry and Meghan but this Zoom room proves that William and Kate they are indeed studying what Harry and Meghan are doing.
Oh yeah, there are quite a few who go balistic at the insinuation that Kate copies Meghan. They will defend the way Kate parts her hair into the ground.
Was thinking how inauthentic the setting was as well. Also, how stiff both of them are in this setting. Her theme dressing is ridiculous and if I were a Scot I’d think is was almost meant to mock. These two come across as so desperate.
It shows she has a shallow understanding of Scotland that she slaps on any ole tartan to do a short video. I can’t see anyone but a devoted royalist who would find this impressive.
I just checked the door and you’re right Becks1. This is completely staged. I know they’re trying to copy H&M, but they don’t have an authentic bone in their body. Staging a zoom room in front of a door. Really? Why is it so hard for these people to be real for even a second? Yeah the royals are stiff and cold, but even Charles comes off as a real person. And they didn’t donate a damn thing, just taking credit. Again.
@Nic919, but that’s the crazy part–there are A LOT of those. It blows my mind on Instagram and Twitter how many people (mostly women) think every single little thing Kate does is amazing and impressive. I don’t know if it’s projection or them being anti-Meghan or what, but it’s nauseating watching so many people praise her to the heavens for the most idiotic things–like her ridiculous theme dressing. Women love to descibe her as “soooo regal”. It’s weird and hilarious.
She is fidgeting like a child in this video and yet the same people post classy and regal as if those words have no meaning. They should simply be honest and post she’s so white, because that is the only thing they are praising here.
When I read the title I flashed straight to Harry and Meg donating lunch
For MLK day. Until just like you after reading the article. I was stare straight. To donate usually means you spent money on it.They didn’t.these two love to use other people money and hard work and just ride in for the end credit . Just like the Christmas pantomime.william and Kate only take and take, Charles money, taxpayers money Harry and Meghan style and ideas.
The poor Sandringham worker who had to move that table in front of the door just so they could do their Meghan living room cosplay. I’m dying of laughter. Are they refinishing the floors at Anmer because this Sandringham location change is so odd? And the giving meals to essential workers is more copycatting of Meghan and Harry.
I know we keep talking about it but the Sandringham location is SO odd! I wonder if someone decided that it sounded more regal to say they were working from Sandringham as opposed to Anmer Hall? or if William pitched a fit because Harry is zooming from his huge Montecito mansion and William wants to zoom from someplace bigger? Its clear they wanted people to know they were zooming from there, but the room is pretty similar to their latest Anmer Hall room (the one that was obviously a copy of Harry and Meghan’s room), just a bit more Sussex-esque, so why the switch?
I dont know why this bothers me so much but it does lol.
@Becks: lol it’s not just you! I’m also wondering why they made the switch from Anmer to Sandringham. Anmer might be having repairs or something idk (but I feel like they would have said that tbh) or like you said, they want a more “royal” place to Zoom from and remind people that they’re the FFK and FFQ
@Becks: The official story is that the Queen gave them permission to use Sandringham as their office. The question is what’s wrong with Amner? If it’s to protect their privacy at Amner that’s fine but they’ve shown the public their front door and zoomed from a room there in the earlier months. It’s just a weird decision to make. Does it mean they’re living at Sandringham because travelling between houses doesn’t make sense during a lockdown.
So they’re refusing to stay in their own household, and possibly spreading infection to-and-from the main house at Sandringham to Anmer. Because they want everyone to remember he’s in line to inherit Sandringham.
@AmyBee – exactly! It’s not like they were showing us their bedrooms at Anmer or anything. It was an exceedingly generic room – with a shot of the door behind them, sometimes a window, and then the Meghan cosplay room*. I could buy the “the Queen is letting them use it as an office” explanation if they actually WERE using an office – like if they were sitting at a desk or something – but they’re still on a couch with the same damn framed pictures behind them in front of the door! Its so WEIRD.
And like you and Nota pointed out – this means they are either living at Sandringham or they are going back and forth from their house to Sandringham which doesnt make sense during a pandemic.
I’m thinking Will decamped to Sandringham when he got his corona. With three kids, nannies, cooks, housekeepers and gardeners, plus Carole, Anmer is a full house. Plus the fact that Will contracting corona was an open secret amongst the royal staff, and the fact that no mention was ever made about Kate or the kids quarantining makes me think he just drove over to Sandringham and recovered there alone with his telly and the poor unlucky Sandringham staff that didn’t have a choice.
Or he caught it Houghton Hall way, then had to quarantine at Sandringham not Anmer.
The NHS charity also lists one of its partners as Daily Mail.
Meghan’s actual zoom room is so much nicer still! It’s so cozy and soothing
This zoom room set-up is one corner of the White Drawing Room at Sandringham. It’s one of the rooms on public view when Sandringham is open for public tours. The room has two sections and at the Cambridge zoom end there are two sets of double doors with a fireplace between. One set might be false doors, there are photos from different times showing furniture placed in front. It’s a very grand and ornate setting which they’ve tried to disguise.
I’m intrigued by their office and zoom arrangements. William has been filmed in his KP office and his Anmer office. In each he has a large desk and imposing fireplace. Kate appears to have no designated office or space that is exclusively hers. In the KP shots when William was filmed making a phone call from his office desk, Kate was filmed sitting at the console table behind a sofa in the formal reception room. The table had been temporarily got up as a desk but it was easily identified from the many photos taken when they entertained the Obamas (with the prominent slave painting on the wall) . Diana had her own office at KP. Camilla has her own office at Clarence House. Even with this Sandringham arrangement the setting with Kate is informal. Town and Country referred to this as Kate’s temporary office but it it clearly is not and William has now muscled in as if to emphasise that fact.
Kate and Will: We bring you Corona virud and haggis!
Scotland; WTF?
You know what the NHS workers would have appreciated more? NOT going on a stupid superspreader tour.
And a pay rise.
They don’t look very happy sitting at their little tables waiting for their food, do they?
@ MY TWO CENTS-I started bawling when I saw the NHS workers. They looked so lonely, sad, tired. Even Helen Keller would have seen they needed what Kaiser mentioned: better & more PPE, pay raise, time off. I would have thrown in a massage gift certificate and nice soft fluffy robes to keep too.
I guess I cried because the Trainbridges could do SO MUCH MORE with so little effort. Give some damn cash!!! Try to put themselves in the place of a NHS worker for one damn minute! STAHP copying H&M’s optics & do what moves you (oh right, no souls, no passion, no f*cks to give).
I’m from the States and have no room to talk. Maybe I’m projecting how I’m feeling on to the workers. I’m so lucky to be retired, married, roof over my head & food to eat. But the looks on their faces just reminds me of how we’ve ALL been sh*t upon and f*cked over by our “leaders”.
On one hand, not surprising that cheetolini didn’t even care about formulating and enacting a vaccine distribution plan; on the other hand, how could someone be so sadistically evil and cruel?
I’m just starting to allow myself to feel the true horror of what this man did and what his “party” are still (trying) to do to us 💔
Will and Kate’s biggest problem is they’re not authentic. Nothing they’ve done so far shows that they’re behind it 1000%. I don’t know what Will and Kate did before, but they’ve literally phoned it in since Meghan came on the scene. What’s happened?
They’ve always phoned it in.
They have always done this. It is simply that another more authentic couple is now getting media attention making their shallow offerings more obvious.
They always phoned it in, it just became so much more obvious compared to Harry and Meghan, and thats a big reason why Meghan had to go.
Also, just in general, what was acceptable for a new royal is not acceptable for a woman 10 years into the job. Kate should have a very clear legacy established at this point for some of her patronages, she should have a clear relationship with some of them, considered she has so few, and she doesnt. If anything she has become lazier as time has gone on .
Yup. Someone mentioned on a thread the other day that a KP staffer was once caught on Twitter trying to survey Sussex fans about what they like about Harry and Meghan, no doubt trying to steal ideas for the Cambridges to copy. But the funny thing is that FFK and FFQ fail to realize that people don’t like the Sussexes because they wear certain clothes, eat certain foods, decorate their house with a certain style, etc — they like them for being their authentic selves. The Cambridges can try to sell all the narratives they want about living as “normal”, humble, family-oriented, dutiful countryside-dwellers, but none of it is authentic.
I’m not going to hate on anyone sending food to the awesome frontline workers, but I’m side-eying this “partnership”. How much is this just William and Kate slapping their names on someone else’s initiative?
Whatever, I guess we should be grateful they didn’t deliver it by hand to a crowded hospital ER accompanied by a brass band. Learning!
Also, thinking about how to describe Kate’s tartan cosplay made me realize we are missing a great opportunity to refer to her husband as Groundskeeper Willie. Do with that information what you will!
BAHAHA!!
Lol
Groundskeeper Willie definitely works. I’m now remembering the Halloween ep where Willie literally goes up in flames and it fits Duke Incandescent With Rage.
The carelessness of the tartan says everything.
Yes.
That dress hurts my soul. If it was their tartan (which it isn’t) I would still hate the style but understand the point. Instead we have ridiculous theme dressing which always makes me think of when kids have a party or a theme day at school.
These people are so pointless.
Nicola Sturgeon, you go girl. These people are nervous about what she will do.
How she’s been portrayed here by the UK media but more likely the English media has been awful. I even got sucked into it and found her annoying just because and then I stopped and thought about why and changed my mind. My partner who is English is annoyed at her but I suspect it’s because he’s been influenced by the tone that the media have set about her.
I hope Scotland makes a break for it. The people at Westminster don’t really care about anything much less their constituency or beyond than lining their pockets.
ginger i think the fallout from brexit will seal the deal. let’s see how it goes.
Is this usually done?
I smell desperation.
Noticed the table in front of the door too. Those throw pillows do not go well with that sofa. Discount purchase?
The bar is so low but I’m still amaze that Kannot couldn’t stop fidgeting.
These two just don’t have any original thought or initiative on their heads. What a waste of space and taxpayer’s money.
Haggis is one of the key Scottish national dishes and an important part of our culture and heritage – a culture and heritage Scots have fought to preserve (anglicisation, cut out of school and university curriculums for decades, political disenfranchisement etc). I find it offensive when people make derogatory comments about other country’s/culture’s foods particularly in conjunction with an important celebration of identity and heritage (as well as a fun night). You can get veggie and vegan haggis if you’re not into meat.
Zero time for the McCambridges though.
American here & I agree. Also, I *love* haggis & get it whenever I get to visit Scotland.
I’ve always wanted to try haggis but I’m vegetarian and didn’t know there was veg options! very cool!
Veggie haggis is so good! Most of the Burns Night food is veggie or can be adapted easily. And you can buy chocolate with haggis spicing too. I was doubtful when I moved here but have now learned to love haggis
I completely agree and I think that people who diss haggis haven’t really eaten any. I had it a couple of times when I visited Scotland and thought it was pretty good, actually.
Haggis is absolutely delicious and pure comfort food served with neeps and tatties. I find that the only people who have negative things to say about haggis are the ones who’ve never actually tried it.
I highly recommend visiting Scotland as it is a beautiful country full of incredible history, and while you are there try haggis. It’s surprisingly savory and delicious.
On what earth does someone who considers themselves to be “woke” and “liberal” think it’s okay to make derogatory comments about a countries national dish. I imagine if someone had made the same comment about a traditional Chinnese dish there would be a massive, and deserved, push back.
It is indeed tradition to have a haggis for Burns night. It is delish. However, a socially distanced plate of haggis in your work xlothes during the day while you’re exhausted from treating patients with covid isn’t the usual way of celebrating. You’re supposed to get trashed and read lots of poems to each other and then pass out from too much heavy wine and food. These poor people probs had to go straight back to work! Will and Kate probs didn’t consider this reality, given that they’ve never really done a proper job.
It comes off as totally tone deaf and patronising. I especially hate the way that they both say cheers in Gaelic at the end. Burns didn’t even speak in Gaelic so it just looks totemic and false, like Kate’s dress.
Do these workers even want to all sit together in the same room with their masks off? I know they’re socially distanced but air travels and droplets moves around the room. Especially when the central heating is on and forcing air to circulate. My friend works at a hospital and she makes sure that she is the only person in the break room when she takes her mask off to eat. And if a bunch of other people come in, they kind of stagger who takes their mask off and eats. But they tend to not all take their break at the same time anyways because that’s not how hospitals work. They definitely don’t all sit together in the same room with their masks off for 30 minutes to watch TV and eat a full meal. So was this the workers’ actual and only break time and they were all forced to take their break together in the same room, eat this meal that they might not like, and watch K and W? Or did they have to stay late after their shift to participate in this?
Theme dressing. Peter Pan collars. Painfully forced smiles. Slapping their name on something someone else organized. Must be a day that ends in Y for our dear Cambridges.
The only way that this could impress me would be if they went out and killed the haggis animal (a sheep?) and butchered it themselves. Also, as soon as I saw the headline, before I even clicked through to the article, I knew that she would be wearing a massive amount of plaid.
Wow, the work she has had done recently is so obvious now. I never really noticed it until this vid and pics.
The last few published photos and zooms are pretty jaw dropping. She’s crossing over into that territory now where she’s looking less and less like herself.
Add in she’s now copying Meghan’s hairstyles from the past year or two.
And again, why is the video so blurry? The shots of everyone else look fine, and the thumbnail picture is fine, but the video of will and Kate is super blurry.
They have the filters on as they did for Kate’s other video.
The funny part about this is that THEY didn’t send any food. Other charities did. They were just zooming them purely for the zooming purposes
Are they popular in Scotland?
A, Haggis is a wonderful, tasty dish.
B, Kate McCosplay needs to put the tartan down, it’s not even her clan tartan!
As a Scot, this doesn’t help the case for the union. If they had coughed up the cash themselves for these workers I would be impressed but all they seem to be doing is riding on the coat tales of NHS Charities and the small businesses that put it together.
Maybe my hearing is going, but I still have trouble understanding her. Interesting how her accent sounds nothing like Prince William’s. I think she’s been watching too many episodes of “The Crown.”
Her faux posh accent has been noticed a lot on here so it’s not just you. If she wants a posh accent, I don’t understand why she hasn’t invested in elocution lessons and tried to have a “genuine” one.
I always have trouble understanding her. I was talking about her with my mom this weekend and said that and my mom said its because she is talking in a posh accent and I said “but I can understand the Queen, I can understand Charles, Camilla, Anne, William – its literally just Kate that I cant understand.” I think its because its not her natural accent and she’s worked so hard to mimic the posh accent that it ends up sound kind of garbled.
As an American I have never had any trouble understanding any other royal. There is plenty of video of the queen, her parents, Philip, Charles, Diana, William, Harry and so on. They are all crystal clear yet Kate is garbled. It’s very strange.
Because it is a put on accent. Peter and Zara,who you know are actually related to the Queen, don’t sound that posh. Kate is beyond embarassing.
I understand most Scottish brogues better than I understand her. Her fake accent means she doesn’t enunciate properly and I think her veneers get in the way of her words as well. Her sister and parents don’t sound like her and the born royals like William and Harry don’t sound like her either. Whoever gave her elocution lessons failed mightily.
Huh. Since they love the Highlands so much, maybe they’d consider land reform so that Scottish people could own more land instead of aristocrats who only use it for hunting or fishing? Lots of reforms could take place to make the Highlands and Scotland a place for all to enjoy.
Sorry for ranting but the BRF is slowly driving me mad.
If I was an exhausted Scottish healthcare worker I’d be insulted by that tartan dress. Just wear a somber black turtleneck sweater and a fancy scarf if you want to Zoom your support. These people have degrees and have to pass licensing tests and work 12-hour shifts on their feet. Plus, it’s a freaking pandemic and they are putting their lives at risk. I saw a study that said 50% of the air in a hospital corridor had corona detected; it’s not the time to bust out the gimmicky, costume clothes.
And the fidgeting! In Speech 101 in college, I once got a critique where the teacher slammed me for jiggling my leg the entire four minutes of my speech. I never forgot that and afterward was always conscious of trying to keep my nervous tics in check. Why isn’t someone helping Kate?
What if you’re Scottish and you hate haggis? Or you only eat your family recipe. Then you have to sit in these uncomfortable chairs while these useless rich *ssholes serve you haggis and you’re supposed to be grateful for it? How about send a book of Burns writing to each health care worker without a video with them flinching and fidgeting? It just seems like if it was a Polish thing you send them peirogies. So….cloying, and stereotypical, and condescending.
For those who disparage haggis: Try it! (Unless you’re vegetarian; though there is a veg version). Haggis, neeps (mashed swede/rutabaga) and tatties (mashed potato) is pure comfort food. It usually comes plain (or deep fried at the chip shop) but there’s a more nouvelle variant with the ingredients stacked, with gravy, this is delicious. Try an image search “haggis neeps and tatties” and you’ll see it looks nice! Because it is! 🙂
For those non-vegetarians who insist on finding the ingredients disgusting: have you considered what goes into hot dogs or any sausage, anywhere?
Alright I googled and Haggis neeps and tatties looks pretty good, especially in the stack. (for the record I’m not opposed to haggis, its not something I really think about, lol). Maybe I’ll add that to the list for my eventual trip to Scotland, I dont think we have any good scottish restaurants around here.
Haggis is great! Sooooo delish. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it 😋
I tried it when I was in Scotland, in high school one summer. I didn’t care for it, but I gave it a try. Tatties sounds awesome though.
Her dress is ghastly. It looks like something I wore for Christmas in the 80s….as a child.
Ann, I literally had that same dress as a small child. And I too wore it for Christmas.
@Interact, thank you so much for explaining what the terms mean and describing the dishes.
I did find a recipe for the “Neeps” and its shockingly close to the one my dad’s mother passed on to my mother. There’s definitely not a drop of Scottish in either of them, lol my mom is brown-asian mixed so it’s funny I’ve been raised up eating a Scottish comfort food without even knowing it.
Taking on Harry and Meghan Identity almost complete. However they would let the ‘partners’ who actually provided the food release a thank you and not film and promote themselves.
Cosplay Karen in the zoom of gloom again. I think she is nervous because they must know that Scotland has strengthened the argument for independence and when it all comes down to losing his regal rations, Willy the worn out lightbulb will throw her under the bus and blame her wanting to do the epic epidemic super spreader so she could wear new plaid dresses from the store Sister Wives Inc. Also, I hope they are not in Sandringham because Anmer is getting a reno. My guess is these two are spending at an all time high because they can’t stand being with each other anymore and renos and spending ridiculous amounts of money are the only things they have in common. Just a guess though.
That’s a very good theory actually.
Seconding that the reno theory is a good possibility. Lord knows these two love expensive (and often unnecessary) renovations. You know, I wonder if she’s also tense because this video probably isn’t the first take they’ve had to do. Probably fought with Will after screwing up a line for the nth time.
Frontline workers That I know and from my time as one burned out early on donuts and pizza. Coffee and energy drinks are always perfect. If someone sent a care package of red bulls and monsters it would be a hit.
So, they took a page from Harry and Meghan yet again. The Sussex are the gold standard advisors.
maybe Uncle Andy can get them a deal on the Pizza Express that he loves to talk about.
I saw on Twitter that this is the queen’s tartan. You know, since she and Kate are BFFs and all.
It is a skirt by Wickstead, not a kilt in the Royal Stewart tartan.
When you look at all the donations ex-royal Sarah Ferguson has arranged for the NHS, this looks very skimpy and like a major PR effort. Fergie even gives the credit to the ones who actually donate.
You know it’s bad when divorced royal Fergie has done more for the NHS than these two. I think Fergie is sketchy in many ways, but the donations she’s arranged actually help people. This is simply a PR exercise.
That pic of Kate with the Miss America smile is hilarious. Please always use that as your header pic because it induces giggles over here. Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish – don’t see the need to criticize that. I used to be an event planner in D.C., and the British Embassy held a Burns Night dinner at my venue one year (venue is a historic house built by a Scotsman). The caterer served vegetarian haggis because real haggis is illegal to serve in the U.S. *eyeroll*
Re: Kate not wearing the Strathearn tartan: perhaps she got notes to stop cosplaying countries? Probably not – she’s still wearing tartan.
@Sandra, I didn’t realize imported haggis was illegal in North America, sure enough I searched and it turns out the haggis I had in Canada must have been a kind manufactured without illegal ingredients. It seems that in 2017 Macsween of Edinburgh started to make a special haggis that can be imported to Canada and I suppose the US too and other companies are probably doing this. Or I guess it could be made specially in North America too. Thanks for the interesting information!
@Interact – This event was before 2017, so I didn’t know that they started to make special haggis either! There’s a comment below this that points out perfectly why this seems so weird. I don’t know enough about Canada but in the U.S. there are “foods” available that are void of any nutrition and are basically poison to your body: chemicals in sodas or snacks like Doritos. Why is haggis considered so bad?
Thanks for the info on Macsween. The veggie haggis was good from what I remember. I would be interested in trying this imported one.
The haggis that is allowed in Canada and the US is not allowed to have sheep lung in it. The version they make has sheep heart instead. This has been in place since 1971. Macsween was only allowed to import their modified version after having their premises inspected by the CFIA and modifying their recipe.
Lung is placed in the same category as genitals, spleen and udder as foods that cannot be sold for commercial purposes in Canada. The US has similar rules as well.
In the US, nothing can be imported or produced using sheep’s lungs. They are classed as inedible by USDA because of fluids that can enter them during the slaughter process.
I love DC and all the embassy parties, events, and socials. My Favorite of them all was the EuroNight, or La Maison Française at the Embassy of France held every September.
I Never made it over to the House of the Temple, but it’s a beautiful construction. I live in LA now, and miss DC. I really ought to have appreciated it more when I lived there.
I feel the hate for Haggis is so odd. Americans consume things that I think are far more challenging to eat. An example of this is cheese in a can which is essentially squirting aerated cheddar and assorted chemicals into your mouth. At least with Haggis, the ingredients are known, and there is a use for commonly discarded parts. And when seasoned well, haggis is actually good eats!
Except cheese whiz isn’t our national dish, just a silly snack food. It is spread on crackers. Nor is it made from sheep parts. We don’t hate on haggis. Most of us don’t even know what it is.
Haggis is one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten in my life. That is all.
Is it tasty? It looks pretty unappetizing but some of the ingredients I really enjoy. If I ever travel to Scotland I’d love to try it.
I’m not particularly fussed about people who aren’t Scottish wearing tartan, but it’s an awful dress.
Not sure I’m okay with the flippant dismissal of haggis when it’s our important national dish (and comes in tasty vegetarian options, having previously been vegetarian). But then again I might just be conforming to the angry Scot stereotype. Off to calm myself down with a dram…
Now would that be a wee dram or would it be a bigger dram?
Confession: I don’t like whisky. I like Drambuie though even though there’s whisky in it and it’s got dram right in the name!
At least two fingers!
There’s plenty of variation in whisky – if you’re into Drambuie, I’m sure one of the sweeter varieties (Aberlour, Glen Grant) might convert you!
The only thing worse than Drambuie to me is Glayva. The owner of the bar I worked in was English and without fail he would get hammered on Glayva or Drambuie and yell about how England was the greatest country in the world and the rest of us were just peasants. Eight years of him getting drunk, me cutting him off, him firing me, me pointing out no bartender if I left, his grudging “okay you’re not fired”, and by then his cab would arrive and he’d go home to do the same thing all over again the next day. I don’t have a lot of fond memories of either liquor.
I’m also really offended by all the sneery comments about haggis! I love it. Maybe these other people just don’t know how to cook it properly. Hope you enjoyed your whisky!
the funniest thing to me is how blasé the staff look when they’re returning the toast, like ‘yeah whatever’ no enthusiasm or smiles, yikes and this was released by KP. Were the staff united in not giving W & K anything to brag about lol
Yep. Just like when they were on the red carpet with the kids a few weeks ago. No one clapped or cheered. They barely got a second glance from the people around them. It was quite revealing. Outside of the most hardcore royalists, they don’t inspire anything in anyone. Everyone seems pretty indifferent toward them.
This GIF posted on Twitter yesterday speaks to that as well.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ladyrocksavage/status/1353638486268588033
The crown is doomed because no one gives a deal about these the Future Futures. Good riddance.
Yay, I have a new twitter account to follow! Hilarious!
I saw the photos from that engagement and later saw the video and wow what a difference, there was no interaction between them and the other audience members, their kids looked confused, it was eye opening as you said
I saw the beginning where staff cleared a cute little family out the way for their entrance, how rude.
I feel like the whole video deserves the sad trombone treatment. It’s just painfully disjointed and strained from start to finish.
A few weeks ago, I saw a TikTok that compared Kate’s style to the American Girl “Samantha” doll and now I cannot unsee it.
But she’s really more of a felicity or Kirsten with those prairie dresses… all about those original 5 American girl dolls! I had Addy.
I was a Kirsten girl, myself!
I was a Molly girl. I still have my books from the 80’s.
She does have another ‘Scotch’ outfit that mimics one worn by Addy.
loooool
This just proves their Covid Choo Choo Tour could have been a Zoom Meeting.
Kate must practice the “caring” face before a mirror.
That was painful to watch. Those two are clearly having difficulties, if not downright separated. The thumb twiddling, pained expression and lack of any kind of warmth or body language between them is startling. Compare it to Zooms from Meghan and Harry; they constantly look and smile at each other, finish each others’ sentences and present a genuine partnership. Kate especially is stiff, nervous and totally unable to show anything but a phony empathy. She looks like all she’s thinking about is getting the hell away from him. And don’t get me started on the tartan cosplay…it’s utterly tasteless and demeaning. I’m sure the NHS workers would have preferred coffee, tea, sandwiches, pasties and assorted finger food because they’re frantically busy – they need food on the run, not a sit-down haggis dinner.
Haggis is disgusting. My Scottish grandparents and relatives over there hated it and never ate it. Yes I have had it here and in Scotland. Plus the smell. Ugh. And, vegetarian haggis isnt haggis, no matter what you say.
As per the tartan: it is easy to order the tartan fabric to be made into whatever you want. No excuse wearing the one she did. Plus the dress is awful.
How lame.. the bar is set so low with these two it’s nearing hell. you know what I just realised .. they are the same age or close to the same age as Crown princess Victoria of Sweden and prince Daniel. Maxima and Letizia are 49 and 48 they are nearing this age… and they both appear to be these young 20’s that don’t know their ass from their heads! they seem very infantile and childish.. still learning the ropes? still settling in to things?
They both have zero personality. William comes off as a complete dolt and Kate acts as though she’s some pre-pubescent gawky teen trying to find herself.! REALLY?
@alibeebee I totally agree. They both act incredibly immature and it’s painful to watch two adults almost 40 years act like this. At this point, after almost 10 years of marriage how much more time do the both of them need to get it together.
Don’t worry. THIS year will be Kate’s year, unlike other years that were definitely her years too. THIS year she is finding her voice unlike all the other years she was finding her voice. THIS year she is coming into her own and growing into her confidence. THIS year she will singlehandedly save Broken Britain and cure cancer.
And don’t forget, there’s always next year!
As for Will, he’s done what the rest of us have done (or tried to do). Pursue or further develop a hobby. His just happens to be Rose gardening. He’s just like us!
@Heather
Exactly. You’ve covered every cliche excuse KP has come up with to explain the Lamebridges actually growing up and doing their damn jobs. I predict these two pathetic pampered poodles will be the end of the monarchy. Nothing against poodles.
Kate still acts like she is brand new at this and she is nearly 10 years in. It’s pathetic.
I find Kate’s theme dressing very embarrassing. Is it protocol or some weird stereotypical ignorant fancy dress? Like when she wore only green in Ireland. Was it suppose to be a compliment, assuming all Irish people dress like green leprechauns? And where’s willies kilt? Why don’t they play the bagpipes too? Giving the nhs staff haggis, was that apart of the burns night tradition, or were the Keens just stereotyping Scots assuming they only eat haggis? I can’t tell.
its tradition to have haggis on Burns night
William and Kates wardrobe hardly ever match cause his wife’s silly theme dressing.
Neither of them are known to be great in front of the camera so I’m sure they filmed this 45 second greeting at least a dozen times, yet this is the take they chose. So that means they couldn’t find one take where she wasn’t a nervous wreck, twiddling her fingers with her leg bouncing around. Basically, what’s going on with her?
That’s the thing that gets me. You know they had to do more than a few takes of a simple ‘thank you’ message, and she’s more than likely the one who screwed up. Do the staff even tell her to stay still when they’re filming? This isn’t the first time we’ve seen her fidget and fuss in the videos they filmed over the past few months, but it’s weird because she’s usually at home with no audience to put on a show for and no unfamiliar people to interact with. She wasn’t even with William for those ridiculous mini-vids for Early Years, and she was still fidgety in at least one of them. There’s really no excuse for this.
The thing is William comes across okay here. He’s dull generally, but the way he speaks isn’t a problem imo. Kate on the other hand comes across as someone who’s new on the job.
But the thing is, they seem to be playing into it for their conservative tradwife base. Dominant William, submissive housewife Kate. Probably explains the frumpy fashion we usually see.
I just don’t get why she switches to Top CEO with blazers randomly, especially in her solo engagements. You can’t sell both images. Choose 1. Meghan doesn’t shy away from talking or professional workwear with her husband, no matter how much a red cap whines about her being a dominant/masculine woman.
Why is she theme dressing for a Zoom call?
WHY??
Yesterday was also Welsh Valentine’s Day, did they acknowledge that?
What is tartan and how is it different from plaid?
Also, note that they can’t even copycat right.
Ok- this is a public service announcement: I’ve just noticed that one of the food suppliers was Fisher and Donaldson – they make the absolute best custard filled donuts in the world. You can find them just off Market Street in St Andrews if you ever visit there.
Your life will never be the same again (ok, neither will your waistline but- you only live once!!)
Let’s not forget that CP Victoria and Prince Daniel have been married less than a year longer than W&K and Prince Daniel didn’t have 10 years of being a Royal significant other. W&K do still act if they are figuring out their jobs 10 years later. Other Royals have managed, W&K just can’t be bothered.
Nit Wits.
Succinct and spot on, LOL!
I’m sorry, I think Tartan is gorgeous and would be thrilled to have a lovely Tartan as part of my heritage. But that dress is…I’m at a loss for words. She looks upholstered, rather than dressed.
The themed dressing she does usually misses the mark and it’s way over the top compared against what the other Royals do, so I am going to guess it probably isn’t necessary. I agree with those who think a turtleneck paired with a meaningful Tartan scarf would have been a more stylish tribute.
I have to put this with all the other things they’ve done recently that probably sounded like a good idea in their heads and then was executed in as awkward a manner as possible.
They just don’t have ANY charisma. It’s shocking, really, to see how much more poised and charismatic Charles and Camilla are by comparison. Think about it, Charles and Camilla…looking charismatic.
I guess Charles was right to feel threatened by Diana all those years ago and all of them are right to be afraid of the appeal of the Sussexes now, because only by comparison to the absolutely lowest common denominator, the Cambridges, can Charles and Camilla seem poised and fresh. God help the U.K. This is what you all are left with and what your media pundits demanded.
This is the future future King and the English Rose the BRF and the RR’s and their mindless masses of supporters demanded. Enjoy.
I hope the healthcare workers enjoyed their dinners and stayed safe while doing so. They deserve the best that can be given and much better than these royals seem willing to give.
I guess these two can never have an original thought between them. Harry and Meghan sends lunch to workers on MLK day. Now, K&W sends haggis dinners to Scottish NHS workers. FOH. I am tired of these two.
It is necessary to appreciate and celebrate this kind behavior of Prince William. Good always wins. Of course, when you do good, you don’t have to think about other interests.
Gloming on to someone else’s idea and taking credit is ‘doing good’ now?
Good don’t go around colonizing the world. Good don’t live off hardworking people if they don’t need to.
I wonder how scots feel about the royal cosplay.
lol you can smell their desperation from a mile away 🤣 the whole thing was awkward to watch especially as you can see Katie’s nervousness when she says “i really hope you enjoy it!” As a scot I can back Kaiser’s statement about Scottish independence becoming very likely. Their pandemic tour exposed how useless and smug they are and I’ve seen even royalist Scots questioning their significance if they can’t even bother or listen to Scottish law/government request to delay their PR tour.
As for the haggis dinner, I know no-one who likes it and frankly I’ve never tasted it!! I think NHS/fromt line staff would’ve appreciated a monetary reward or tangible policy that perhaps would waiver their tuition or rent fees! I see the keenbridges are still copying H&M but instead of PAYING for a goodmeal from their pockets like the sussexs they hijacked other people’s efforts(in this case their new patronage NHS charities..) which arranged for all this