Levin: The Earthshot Awards were ‘much too celebrity rather than royal’

Cambridge Earthshot arrival London

It’s the morning after the Earthshot Prize Awards and I can’t help but think that there’s a real lack of drama or excitement about the inaugural awards. This is supposed to be Prince William’s big legacy project, it’s the thing he’s been hyping (in his dull way) for more than a year. Keenshot is supposed to be HIS big keen thing, like Harry’s Invictus Games, Travalyst, Sentebale and Archewell. And now that the awards ceremony is done, people are just like “… And?” Even Angela Levin – who normally only has her knives out for the Sussexes – was super-critical about all of it:

Speaking on talkRadio, royal expert Angela Levin said: “I’m afraid I thought it was a bit of a cross between X-Factor and the film awards, I thought it was much too celebrity rather than royal and over the top with saying ‘you must not buy new clothes’. Of everyone sitting there with black suits and bowties, I can’t see that that worked very well, I think it should have been much more casual.”

When asked by Julia Hartley-Brewer if she thought the awards ceremony was too “gimmicky”, Levin continued: Yes, I did actually, and I thought the green velvet jacket looked horrific on Prince William, but that was an ‘I am green’. I do think that the clothes make a very important image for something that you’re doing and I felt it was completely over the top.

“As you said, Catherine is somebody who wears her clothes several times and we don’t make a fuss, but then suddenly last night, everybody was making a huge fuss about it. What I thought was extraordinary is that she wore it last in 2011 and she’s still the same size, having had three children!”

[From The Daily Express]

Wow, gimmicky and too celebrity? Criticizing the future future king for looking like a jackoff in his twenty-year-old trousers and Bond villain velvet? Yiiikes. If the Keenshot ceremony had been more casual, then what would have been the point? The whole point of this was that William has a big environmental thing and that HE is keen. I guess Angela Levin didn’t get the memo.

The London 2021 Earthshot Prize Award Ceremony

Cambridge Earthshot arrival London

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.

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165 Responses to “Levin: The Earthshot Awards were ‘much too celebrity rather than royal’”

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  1. Cg2495 says:

    Hahahaha!

    • Nina says:

      It’s interesting how tabloids have started pulling back a little on hyping the royals. First was the story about Baldingham not giving as much privacy to his kids as Harry does. And now this. Is it possible that the winds are shifting

      • Polo says:

        They haven’t though. There’s a million stories about how great they are blah blah blah. Too be honest it’s still same ole same ole. No one cares enough about will and kate to be moved either way.
        That’s why until it’s actually revealed that he and his team were behind the smear of Harry and Meghan nothing much will change.
        And by revealed I mean we need a credible journalist like Ronan farrow doing an investigation piece with all the details not just gossip

      • Virginia says:

        Any standing ovation for the keens? Were they treated like a superstars like a couple they constantly copy?

  2. Noki says:

    Where can we watch the speeches,I have only seen the video stills!?

    • FC says:

      Hello has part of the Kate speech video, and it’s… nothing. Just reading from a teleprompter presenting a prize. I laugh because 1. This was hyped to be a “keynote speech” and 2. the Earthshot twitter handle posted a bunch of videos from the event but didn’t include one video of Kate’s big speech.

      • Jais says:

        I think the keynote speech hype is for an event coming up this week and this was just supposed to be her presenting an award. Both things got hyped at the same time so it’s a bit confusing; however, the keynote speech is about addiction, I think?

      • FC says:

        Ohh sorry I got confused by all the keenness! Thanks for clarifying. 🙂

      • Jais says:

        np, and you’re right, the keenness is confusing and confounding!

      • Amy Bee says:

        @Jais: The Telegraph did report that Kate was going to make a speech at last night’s event. Turns out, like always, they were wrong.

      • Jais says:

        Huh? Thanks Amy Bee and FC! I really thought she was just presenting. But isn’t there another keynote speech coming up also or did I really get confused?

      • Cessily says:

        She presented an award last night and gave a keynote today.. neither has been released on video only still photos can be found.

  3. Vivica says:

    Kate in that last photo, does she not look like Margaery Tyrell? Is that who she is cosplaying this time? Does that Make FFK Joffrey?

    • Jais says:

      Wow, that’s a good reference lol.

    • myjobistoprincess says:

      may I add that the stiff arms on that last pic are very basic barbie doll

      • Lady D says:

        She looks like a freaking mannequin with that arm pose. Seriously, she looks like stiff plastic.

      • Lorelei says:

        IDK what it is about the Cambridges that they can’t ever just look natural in photos! As you said, they look stiff and wooden with their arms straight at their sides. But I feel like that’s slightly better than when they both do the crotch clutch? Either way, they end up looking awkward, and after 20 years together, I can’t understand why. Are they under the impression that they really should not ever be seen touching each other in any way in public?

        Maybe she should go back to carrying a clutch all the time, because at least then it looked like she was grasping the clutch and not just her crotch. Seriously, TEN YEARS in and they can’t manage to look natural for a posed photo?

    • myjobistoprincess says:

      may I add that the stiff arms on that last pic are very basic barbie doll

      • Lyds says:

        @lorelai, yes they are incapable of physical touch again.

        Remember when H&M were still doing royal duties and naturally affectionate with their hand-holding? That, for a brief movement, caused TOB to touch the small of Keen’s back for a few events. Well, that lasted a lot shorter than expected — now that they don’t have “competition” within the country for genuine PDA, they have gone back to “thou shall never touch thy partner nor look her in the eye when she tryeth her darnest to catch thou gaze for the world to behold.” Sad.

    • Anne says:

      My first thought when seeing her hair was “That looks almost identical to Meghan’s hairstyle.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kopy Kate wear her hair like this before, but it’s an identical style that Meghan often wears — the deep side part with hair over the opposite shoulder with long wavy curls. She really has no individual style.

  4. Snuffles says:

    Lord help me, I’m agreeing with this evil wench. It was one big hypocritical, ego stroke of a jealous prince trying to compete with his more popular, competent and effective brother.

    • I choked on my peanut butter toast reading this lol. Perfect comment and sums up everything to a tee. This event was the RoseArt crayon of events. Never even close to as good as Crayola.

    • Persephone says:

      @Snuffles the way I cackled at your comment..

    • SunRae says:

      @Snuffes The gag is, he could’ve done a credible pivot as the stately, quiet power to Harry’s showy diplomacy blah blah blah. Could’ve conned us into a false sense of security by disappearing to some estate and enjoying his unearned privilege, while allowing his media sycophants to create a believable persona and narrative.

      Yet he insists on these feats of mediocrity. I’ve never seen such out-doing zeal. REST, sir.

  5. Normades says:

    So basically it was a total snoozefest.

  6. OriginalLala says:

    I can’t with the “omg Kate can still fit into her old clothes” – I wish being skinny after kids and as you age and your body changes wasn’t seen as some kind of huge accomplishment for women. Kate does nothing for society but I am supposed to be impressed that she’s stayed skinny? no thanks.

    • Pao says:

      Its the way they praise this woman for literally nothing.

    • Mac says:

      It’s subtle body shaming for anyone who doesn’t fit into their pre-pregnancy clothes.

      • Nick G says:

        Oh, of course … just when I’m thinking she’s managed to keep Meghan out of her comments.

      • Jan90067 says:

        I want to see if there’s elastic at the waist of this dress, covered by the belt 😂

        (I know there *isn’t*, but damn, that’d be funny!)

    • goofpuff says:

      They forgot to mention how much easier it is to get there when you barely do any work and have a team of nannies, cooks, trainers, and all sorts of domestic help. It is kind of sad that all they have to say to praise Kate is what she wears, her hair, and how skinny she is. Its like they want to take a break from all their lying about her keeness and say something truthful for a second.

      • lanne says:

        Her staying skinny is Kate keeping her part of the bargain. She does the Lion King showing with her kids at the hospital looking perfect. She stays skinny enough to re-wear her wedding year clothes. She remains ‘approved of”. I don’t think there’s anything else expected of her other than maintaining her figure. I think there will be hell to pay for her if she doesn’t.

    • Esmerelda says:

      Well, to be fair, it takes work and discipline to stay thin and fit. It’s clearly her main job, the one thing her husband might care about the most, honestly, and she’s doing it well, as does any other trophy wife. Only, much like Melania when she was first lady, the public expected her to do a different job, the job of a public servant. So the press praises her for doing her Will-appointed stay-thin job, and we, the public, are a bit puzzled, as we expected more.

      • 2cents says:

        The Tatler ‘Catherine the great’ article speculated that K. may suffer from an eating disorder. So her thin look may not be as rosy as it seems.

      • Lorelei says:

        @Lanne, she’s purely decorative at this point.

      • Jan90067 says:

        Wasn’t that in Jackie O’s marriage contract to Onassis? She couldn’t gain weight? That, and the mattress mambo clause we all heard about.

      • Wiglet Watcher says:

        Esmerelda
        It takes work and discipline to stay fit and healthy. It takes an eating disorder to stay thin. Kate only has visceral muscle and for someone that works out daily as sources, her family and herself have confirmed she should have more definition and mass.

        She’s been said on KP approved articles to be on a liquid diet quite frequently and does cardio with light weight training daily on top of tennis and swimming. That alone will eat up almost a whole day.

      • Sarah says:

        I honestly think she’s taking fat burner pills; I’m not saying it’s not possible that she can maintain her figure with diet restrictions but that’s a heck of a lot of discipline and her skinniness gives me Rachel Zoe vibes.

  7. NCWoman says:

    Wait, is that velvet jacket “recycled”? Did William follow his own rules?

  8. Bookie says:

    That outfit on William?!? LOLOLOLOLOL He looks awful.

  9. Becks1 says:

    omg, I agree with Angela Levin, lol.

    But how interesting that her knives are out like this for Prince William, right? she actually said he looked “horrific” and that the whole thing was gimmicky, and the best thing she could say about Kate is that she can wear the same dress she wore 10 years ago.

    So, this seems to have fallen flat with the target audience. They also can’t insist anymore that William is okay to take helicopters and private jets because he doesn’t “lecture” about the environment….

    • Eurydice says:

      How many people actually attended this shindig? I’ve gone through a bunch of the photos and, counting up the different faces, I don’t see more than a couple of dozen. I know there were more, but did the press not find it interesting enough to photograph the rest.

      I had to laugh at the still from Will’s video – the image of his big, bald dome in front of an even bigger domed window – exactly the same shape.

    • ShazBot says:

      I have yet to see a single article about who the winners were and what their initiatives will do for the environment.

      • Eurydice says:

        The NYT has a pretty complete article that focuses on the awards, winners and goals – no mention of what people wore.

      • Isabella says:

        Five prizes given out. $7 million awarded, which is pretty cool. Costa Rica won. So did Milan. I think Kate announced the winners. Coldplay performed.

        But look who does the judging!!!! A really odd unscientific crew, including “actress Cate Blanchett, Queen Rania of Jordan and the Chinese businessman Jack Ma.”

    • Nic919 says:

      I’m pretty surprised that Levin was critical about the Cambridges. I suspect that she will write something scathing about the. sussexes shortly to make up for it.

      • Lorelei says:

        @Nic, I was surprised too. I would’ve thought she’d just lie like they always do and rave about how groundbreaking Earthshot is and how beautiful Kate looked. Levin is still trash, but I wonder if the fact that she’s pissed enough to write something like this will open the door for some of the others to voice their criticism as well. We’ve had about five years of CONSTANT PRAISE for the Cambridges, and hopefully the press is as over it as we are.

  10. Digital Unicorn says:

    These photos- awkward as fk!!! They really cannot stand being near each other and neither knows how to pose for a photo or what to do with their hands. She has def messed with her face big time and the hair, looks like Meghan’s stylist did it.

    Desperation, thy stench overwhelms me.

    • antipodean says:

      You know, Digital Unicorn, I was thinking exactly the same thing! It looks very odd to me that these two have absolutely NO warmness between them! They stand so close and yet they seem like chasms apart, like they can’t bear to connect physically. It just seems like they are repulsed by each other, at least Bill is by Keen, she seems like she would like to make an effort. Mr Antipodean and I have been together nearly forty years, and we still hold hands and connect with each other under all social and private situations. He is my support and friend at all times. These two just sort of drift along together as one would with a distant acquaintance. They can say what they like, but they avoid contact at all costs, which is not just “royal protocol”, but a personal choice, at least by Billy the Basher. Maybe he wants to signal that he is still “available” for the pruning of rose bushes.

    • swirlmamad says:

      I thought maybe he was actually looking AT her in that last thumbnail photo but upon closer inspection, nope…he’s looking past her at someone or something else. Carry on.

    • Amy Too says:

      It has a vibe like they’re both part of the hosting committee for the MET ball or something: they’re standing near each other because they have to greet the guests, but they don’t really know each other—the only thing they have in common is they’re both hosts this year—so they’re not interacting with each other, and their outfits are totally uncoordinated like one person dressed on theme for the gala (William) and the other just wore a pretty dress because she’s they type of vapid actress or influencer who doesn’t want to risk looking “weird” or not pretty (Kate).

    • Nic919 says:

      Someone is trying to do damage control with the awful body language because deux moi posted a “behind the scenes” text claiming that w and K were making out during commercial breaks and that Rose and Trinny were there having drinks and giggling with Kate.

  11. Lemons says:

    William’s outfit is horrendous. He couldn’t find any blacks that matched? No tuxedo rewears? And the royal couple doesn’t look coordinated together…their teams are failing them.

  12. Lurker25 says:

    An actor playing a plastic surgeon said this on a show I watched recently: “you know, clenching your Jaws like that often will lead to premature jowling.”

    I can’t unsee it. It all makes sense.

    Also: a part of the Sussex magic is how in sync they look – body language and clothes always in harmony.
    Who tf thought heavy green velvet goes with fluttery lilac? It’s a viscerally discordant combo.
    He looks like bond villain who captured a Grey Gardens princess.

    • 809Matriarch says:

      That’s what I was thinking too. Remember how H&M color coordinated everything during their farewell tour. The inner linings of his suit jackets matched her dresses. Meghan wore a red gown matching Harry’s uniform as well. That marvel comics green velvet blazer with Kate’s chiffon gown just NO.

      It looks like something one of the hippy warlocks would wear in a rerun of Bewitched. All he needs is some lambchop sideburns and a medallion necklace.

      • Harper says:

        The colors are so discordant that my eyes can’t stay on the photo. Two deep green colors (the Earthshot background signage and Will’s jacket) a neon green carpet and then Kate’s lilac. Major fail.

      • Nick G says:

        Oh, God, how I would love him to continue experimenting in this way with fashion! It would be such a treat to see what horrifying getups he comes up with! Just the thought of it is sending me into hysterics.

      • Laxmom says:

        “It looks like something one of the warlocks would wear in a rerun of Bewitched. All he needs is some lambchop sideburns and a medallion necklace.”

        Hahahaha. Perfect!

      • Kristin says:

        LMAO at “hippy warlock”, hahaha! I just spit out my coffee.

      • Jan90067 says:

        I love emerald and lilac… most purples and greens actually. They *do* go together, but the MATERIALS of the garments need to go together. Velvet and chiffon…not so much.

        My *first* thought was of Endora, on Bewitched. Sohe did lilac and celadon (light celery green), but both materials were the same. I loved it.

      • TeamMeg says:

        LMAO hippy warlock on Bewitched, @809Matriarch you’re killing me!

      • Fanciful says:

        Jan, agree purple and green totally go together but this combo is odd, her lilac doesn’t match his green. Though I think the color of the carpet is more Kate’s problem than elegant Bill. I don’t think lilac is her color so she looks off already. Add in the odd mix of materials and it’s not a good look. And no one comments on clothes and the weather? Isn’t she freezing (or he boiling? I don’t know the temps but presume cool).

    • Chica says:

      @Lurker, A Bond villain is giving him too much credit. He looks like the villain in a Bond parody movie. Like, like an oversized version of the Austin powers villain. (I forget his name, but he’s a little person).

      He seems sincerely sinister visually, but a joke of a mastermind all at the same time. The stench that wafts off of him is the one of inauthentic. Kate is inauthentic too, but she’s been acting her whole life, so has better performances.

  13. Amy Bee says:

    What Angie didn’t say is the Cambridges are trying to hard to be and outdo Harry and Meghan. That’s what really behind her disappointment.

  14. Sofia says:

    Is anyone actually surprised? The Cambridges have spent the last few years cultivating the Brexit/MAGA fanbase that includes the likes of Levin but they also think climate change is a liberal hoax so of course they don’t like Earthshot. Plus the palace/royal rota have also spent said years positioning the Cambridges as the anti-Sussexes as the “regal royal” ones to the “showy Hollywood” Sussexes. That sort of falls apart if the Cambridges are acting like the Sussexes (in their eyes)

    • Merricat says:

      Lol, + 1, Sofia.

    • Becks1 says:

      This is exactly their issue and will be their issue going forward. They have spent years trying to convince a certain part of the population that are “different” from those “other” royals and they are better and they are the true royals….and it turns out all along that they were always trying to imitate the Sussexes. Meghan being “too hollywood” is an issue bc W&K want to be “too hollywood,” Harry talking about climate change and travel is a problem because William wants to be the only royal who does that, etc. They just convinced their fans that they didn’t want to be Hollywood, didn’t want to talk about the environment, etc.

      And so here we are and that certain part of the population feels betrayed because it turns out the issue was never the Sussexes, it was that the Cambridges were trying to desperately to outdo the Sussexes and could not.

      • JT says:

        It was all about jealousy, and racism, but the smearing of H&M was trying to convince everyone that it was something else. William is jealous of Harry’s work, his charisma, his military career, and his wife. Now William is chasing Harry across the world trying to compete with him and his wife is trying to turn herself into Meg. They are desperate to be seen as on the same playing field as the Sussexes, while also attacking H&M for the very thing they want to be.

  15. ABritGuest says:

    Honestly best Kate has looked to me for years.

    I’m very very surprised Angela is criticising William- the press doesn’t criticise the KP duo. Richard Palmer suggested the backlash from William’s space comments gave a new story more than PR fluff so maybe they are mixing things up.

    Angela’s criticism is ridiculous as the number of celebrities was actually underwhelming considering the hype, royals like Charles do lots of events with music, tv & film stars all the time. they certainly cover royals like celebrities (which they pretty much are especially those who aren’t the monarch who actually has the constitutional role) hence her talking about Kate’s dress size rather than anything she said.

    • Pao says:

      I actually do think that the Cambridges seem to go for sparking a bit of outrage just to get some sympathy points. Not to much because they can’t rock the boat to much. But it seems like they have figured out that they can’t be vanilla and the activist the younger generation wants them to be at the same time.

      • Kfg says:

        Levin is mad bc they’re not feeding her Sussex stories. She can’t make money on fluff pieces on the lames so she had to get some revenge.

  16. mariahlee says:

    It’s incredible how different Kate looks based on the angle. I saw some pics last night where she looked… well, like her animation in The Prince. But she’s like flawless in these pics.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      It’s not the angle so much as the excessive Photoshop. And even in these pics she has that over-tweaked look you’d see on a Real Housewives show imo.

    • goofpuff says:

      Yes its 100% photoshop for official pictures.

  17. Lili says:

    I feel like this was a missed opportunity, they both could have worn some sort of sustainable clothing. to highlight a different aspect like no dye was was put into rivers, or some spider web fabric , or bamboo fabric , i love my bamboo socks. its great wearing old clothes but they re not teaching us anything new for the future and what that may look like. sometimes its the little things that have a huge impact

    • Eurydice says:

      Yes, I’m not fan of Stella McCartney, but she’s been about sustainable fashion for 20 years – and her latest collection is in support of Greenpeace, which is one of Earthshot’s Global something-or-others. And there are really interesting new designers in the UK who are focused on sustainable fashion.

      But the McQueen could have been marketed better. Instead of “look I can still fit into this gown,” they could have said the McQueen is going into partnership with the pre-owned fashion platform Vestiere.

    • mindy_dopple says:

      THIS!!! and it would have been more casual, fresher and stimulated a sustainable economy… which is what Earthshot is supposed to be right? Some new solution to the environmental problems we have, such as less clothing waste and recycled (updated) fashion.

      • Lady D says:

        I have a pink long-sleeved T-shirt in my closet that is made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles. It’s soft, warm and pretty. It’s become one of my favourite shirts now that it’s getting cold.

    • SarahCS says:

      But all of your comments would have required thought and effort! These two will NEVER change from their guiding principle of doing the bare minimum.

    • Courtney B says:

      Charles had a great magazine story about that. For all his flaws he’s leaps ahead of William on this issue.

  18. Merricat says:

    If I rolled my eyes any harder, they’d roll right out of my head. The Cambridges will wear clothes, but that’s about it for their efforts to live “green.”
    Paper tigers to the end.

  19. Nicki says:

    The fact that, despite being an avid reader, I still have no idea what these prizes supposedly achieve, is problematic. The PR seems to end with the words ‘Earthshot’ and ‘William’, which is still all I really know about them. The difference with the Sussexes is they highlight their causes with their own ongoing actions.

    • Monette says:

      Yes, yes, YES! I have no idea what this award represents or who won it. Your comment is exactly what I was thinking, but couldn’t articulate.

    • Fanciful says:

      I can’t see the definite aim either. With the Sussexes, everything they do has actions included, these two simply spout words.

  20. nina says:

    Did anyone hear or see that PWT announced that the next Earthshot ceremony is going to be in the US. According to the Washington Times, PWT made the announcement last night. O, the desperation of these people.

    • Merricat says:

      I can’t wait for the underwhelming Cambridges to show their performative faces to the un-adoring crowd.. They should go to Florida.

      • Korra says:

        LOL. I actually love your idea of them going to Florida. They can do some stilted couple photo ops with the DeSantises. And William’s awkward and tense body language will go unnoticed because no one does awkward and tense like Ron DeSantis — it is the one thing he is good at.

    • Eurydice says:

      Just, “the US”, as in, “somewhere in the US”? Does Will think he’ll just pop across the Atlantic to book the ballroom at the Midtown Marriot? Everyday weddings take more than a year to plan, let alone a royal visit to the US. And, if the royals’ local ribbon-cutting ceremonies are scheduled 6 months in advance, imagine what Will’s schedule will look like in Jubilee year.

    • goofpuff says:

      So screw the commonwealth countries?

    • Deering24 says:

      Hee. This should be good. I guess Los Angeles will be a prospective site? 😈🤣🤣🙄🙄

  21. Athena says:

    What annoyed me was the announcement that the U.S. was “hosting” the award next year. This is so unnecessary and such an obvious attempt to imitate the Invictus games and an excuse for William and Kate to come to the U.S. on a fake royal trip to TRY to compete with Harry and Meghan since they are not getting an official invite from the U.S. government. What award show gets hosted by different countries? Why the U.S and not a Commonwealth country or better yet Costa Rica. They really need to get William some help because it’s obvious that Harry’s success is eating away at him and left untreated will cause serious mental health issues.

    • Eurydice says:

      If I were Canadian, I’d be a little miffed. Bad enough to have to pay for them, but not to get any benefit, either?

    • TabithaD says:

      Bill is desperate to make this pisspoor effort into some sort of “international event”. He’s been watching H+M carefully and thinks he can pull off what they’re doing.
      LOL

    • Becks1 says:

      It would be nice if the awards show (if it HAS to change location every year) went to one of the previous winners – like next year is in Costa Rica or something. Just announcing it will be in the US without naming a specific city just seems like such an obviously desperate attempt to compete with Harry.

      also, if he gets some big US celebs to perform bc of their attachment to environmental causes, the issue is going to be that its most likely those performers will be very political and its going to be an issue for the royal family.

      • Eurydice says:

        Well, Milan would be nice, if the UK hadn’t dissed the EU. But, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be in the UK all the time, like the Nobel prizes – like which Earthshot is supposed to be.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Eurydice – oh I agree, I think its dumb to move it to a different place year to year and I think it actually sort of lessens its importance. Keep it in the UK (keep it in London) and have it be taken seriously as a prestigious award – don’t try to keep mixing it up to make it “cool” or whatever else the goal is.

        But if they are insisting on moving it yearly – do it in such a way that makes sense.

    • nina says:

      @ Eurydice. Exactly. You don’t see the Nobel committee moving the their ceremony to a different country every year. Didn’t they recently promote this as the environmental Nobel. Desperate, thy name is Willy.

  22. mindy_dopple says:

    Just here to complain about how atrocious they look side by side. There was no effort to coordinate their outfits, these two have ARCHIVES of clothing and they couldn’t find something that complimented the other?!?

    • Eurydice says:

      I’m sure they could have, if they ever spoke to each other. But, each must have a dresser who keeps track of their respective wardrobes – maybe they don’t talk to each other, either.

    • Over it says:

      It could be because they live in different houses and their people no longer make the effort to coordinate for them .

    • L4Frimaire says:

      Their outfits look so random and out of sync. They look like they dressed for different occasions. Kates dress looks very dated and is her older frumpier style. Williams jacket isn’t well fitting and looks like a Christmas party outfit.

      • Lady D says:

        The first time I saw her in that dress, I fell in love with it. It remained my favourite look from her for years. For some strange reason, this year she just looks washed out in it. It was beautiful the first time around, now I feel sorry for the dress:)

  23. L4Frimaire says:

    I totally forgot about this thing yesterday. Busy social Sunday and other things in the news cycle. Didn’t see the press about it and didn’t bother looking. I don’t like their outfits.

  24. KSK Pamuk says:

    The sows ear and his silk purse, both are a tragedy. Keen Kate with her wanna be Meghan hair, she really needs to stop with this obvious cosplay.

  25. MarcelMarcel says:

    Levin totally body checked Kate with that comment about her dress. She could have commented on the pretty tailoring, how stylish it is or subtly regal. Since purple has been associated with royalty since the Ancient Roman Era. So you could infer it’s her showing climate change activism has royal approval if you wanna make inane comments about clothes. Why comment on someone fitting into something after pregnancy like it’s a form of praise?
    I’m not a Kate fan. But I’m so glad I’m unknown and not famous. Because I couldn’t handle the pressure of literally *everyone* making asine and/or mean spirited comments about my weight.

  26. Lizzie says:

    Sure bring Gru part Deux to the us, let our media call out the hypocrisy. Looking forward to it. Sorry UK and Commonwealth countries future, future king forgot about you.

  27. Over it says:

    I got to say, in these pictures Kate seems to have toned down her looks of love and admiration for Willy. Maybe she is still mad about how much he ignored her at the bond premiere.Lol. And I hate Angela, I really do but good help me for once I agree with her, william looks RIDICULOUS.

  28. tamsin says:

    I’m glad some small environmental projects are getting funded, although I would like to know a little more about the projects themselves. I guess the five part documentary on BBC was supposed to do that, but we don’t seem to have any reviews of it that I can find. However, every little bit counts in the fight to clean up our earth. Since the focus seems to be on the “gimmicky” production, (IMO, from what I read, it doesn’t deserve Levin’s criticism) and the overall “look” of the event, I think the green jacket looked a bit twee, and certainly clashed with Kate’s lilac gown. I also think the gold belt clashed with the lilac, and it’s amusing that Kate’s idea of recycling is a very expensive evening gown. There, I think I’ve descended to the level of the RR in my commentary.

  29. Anwahets says:

    I will reiterate what I said in the other post. William is desperate for an Invictus style project without doing the work to build it from the ground up like Harry did and William and Kate are desperate to appeal to the US market. They can’t have it both ways. Climate change, their empty words condemning racism are not compatible with their right-wing base. They spent years working with the British press to drive out Meghan and never anticipated Harry leaving with her and free from the rota and this lacklustre awards show is not going to replace the money and access they are losing now.

    • Emma says:

      Exactly. The right wing base is primed to adore the English “royals” (in the UK and to a lesser extent even in the US), but if they take on more “progressive” causes like climate change, even in a deliberately superficial and ineffective way like these “Earthshot Prizes,” they’ll inevitably get pushback from the paleo-conservatives at Murdoch media or Fox News or the proto-fascist US talk radio / podcasts (yes, everyone should care about the environment, and it shouldn’t be a political football, but we don’t live in that world). It’s inherently contradictory for royals to make a big deal out of preserving the environment. (I know Charles has tried to put forth some minor and ineffective attempts as well, it’s still inherently contradictory and no one liked him saying/doing it either.)

      • JustJan says:

        So they can’t be seen to treat the awards with any interest or be seen trying to dignify it? That’s interesting. It might as well say, ‘ I don’t care, do you?’ because the people they’re really speaking to understand the jest. Had they been a fun couple they could have worn these recycled clothes and the situation would have been read differently but they looked awkward and stiff and definitely not vibing with nature. Charles seems to be popularly onboard. Mixed messages from the Firm.

  30. Harla says:

    Can anyone explain the difference between celebrity and royal? Imho, it very much seems as though royals are just tax-payer funded, inherited celebrities.

    • Lorelei says:

      @Harla you’re exactly right; they absolutely are celebrities. Whoever the current monarch is is *also* a Head of State, but still a celebrity. Celebrity just means a famous/well-known person. Idk why some people get so offended when the royals are referred to as celebrities, but it seems like the only ones who do are the people who would be Cambridge fans in the first place.

    • Mrs.Krabapple says:

      The royals are like reality-show celebrities. They are famous for being famous. Other celebrities — actors, athletes, even politicians — have become famous through accomplishment. The royals don’t accomplish anything, they are famous for being born/married into the right bloodline, and that’s it. People watch them for what they wear, how they look, and if there’s any personal drama to entertain. Reality-show level of celebrity.

  31. Just Me says:

    Well! Merry Christmas and Happy Easter!

  32. tamsin says:

    Just wondering if William made his comment about the awards being in the USA next year off the cuff. It doesn’t seem like the actual planning has been done, that they’ve picked the city or the venue yet. Also, wouldn’t moving from country to country for the awards leave a rather large carbon footprint? Since they’ve figured out how to do the awards in an environmentally friendly way in London, shouldn’t they stick to it? Did anyone from the US win one of the awards? If I were the US, I would be going “what?” right now to myself. The announcement appears out of nowhere, although I hear Bezos has contributed money to the award. If William wants his prize to be the Nobel, he should remember that the search for awardees is international, but the ceremonies always take place in Stockholm, Sweden where the awards originated.

    • Sid says:

      Exactly tamsin. Someone on twitter asked if that meant that Willileaks would not be coming to the U.S. and instead would attend virtually next year, in the same way that they asked that people outside the UK not fly in for the awards this year but use the virtual option. It would make sense and keep him from being a hypocrite, but somehow I doubt that woukld occur to him.

    • Cessily says:

      Why couldn’t they highlight other cities or areas around the UK? Why bring it here, we don’t even like our own awards shows what makes them think we want theirs?

  33. Over it says:

    I am not trying to be mean here, but in one of those pictures, the green from the jacket, the carpet and the light,is giving Willy a green tinge to his face. It makes him look like shrek. It’s hilarious.

  34. Margaret says:

    Sorry but willy does not look like Charles at all, just my personal opinion.

    • nina says:

      He doesn’t look like his mom either. He got all the worst physical features from both parents. The round Spencer egg head like his uncle and maternal grandfather, The Windsor baldness, the long crooked Windsor nose, the Windsor jowls…. Its like his face was designed by a committee

  35. Lady Digby says:

    When is any columnist going to mention Williams froideur towards his missus at all these public events? He is sulking so intently that his disapproval must be causing holes in the ozone layer!
    Sarah Vine is smoldering over being dumped after a 20 year marriage so I expect she could write him a column of advice in the Fail. Are they waiting for him to set a corgi on Kate in public before sticking an oar in, how restrained of them given their acres of unwanted advice to H and M!

  36. Rapunzel says:

    A few things:

    1. I can’t decide if Will wore this green velvet jacket because he’s been infected by Kate’s love of them dressing and wanted green for the environment…or if he is trying to copy Harry’s awesome green suit in Time Mag.

    2. I figured our Kate’s play with the lavender dress. Y’all, look up Gaia the Earth Goddess from Captain Planet, and tell me she’s not doing Gaia cosplay.

    3. Weird thought: what if Will saying the awards being in the US next year isn’t a stunt to get him and Kate to America… but is instead a plan to get out of going to the awards so he doesn’t have to work?

  37. Nyro says:

    Hilary Mantel was so right about Kate. She really is just a body and something to hang clothes on. All the talk marveling, praising, and gushing over just how insanely skinny she is has been gross.

    • Theothermia says:

      @NYRO omg I just started reading Hilary Mantel for the first time because her comments about Kate were sooo insightful! I found out about her dunking on the Cambridges and I bought Wolf Hall. I’m really enjoying it! She’s an incredible writer!

      Her comments on Keen are informed by an amazing knowledge of royal women. Reading her characterization of Catherine (Henry VIII’s first wife) and Anne Boleyn, it’s apparent she’s given deep thought to the ways in which women wield power within the monarchy… and she looks at Kate and sees a “jointed doll on which certain rags are hung.” like you said.

  38. nina says:

    The part where they brag about the performances by Coldplay and Ed Sheeran were powered by 60 bicyclists pedaling furiously did not sound as impressive as they thought it would. It just made me think of peasants of yore crushing grapes in a vat for their Liege’s wine.
    As with everything they do, no well thought out ideas, just off the cuff, seat of the pants, gimicky as usual.

    • Eurydice says:

      This. If it had been 60 members of the royal family pedaling furiously, then I’d be impressed.

      • SnoodleDumpling says:

        Are there even 60 members of the British Royal Family under the age of 55? Heart attacks and strokes are not on theme for Earthshot.

    • L4frimaire says:

      What a stupid concept. 60 people cycling to power a performance is just a stupid gimmick. It’s like galley slaves rowing the ship. It’s not green but exploitative.

  39. tamsin says:

    I think what would be nice is if they just had a TV special each year featuring each of the winners and a little mini-documentary for each so that people can really learn about their projects and see it in action. They could just provide work for local media people to make the documentaries. It could be appointment television, instead of this hybrid thing. If they really want to save the planet, they have to think of conserving resources and making a smaller carbon footprint. They could feature each of the finalists in various social media to spread the ideas. I would really like to know more about these projects!

  40. JJ says:

    They look so mismatched. I absolutely hate the turtleneck on William, he looks like Prince Albert in the worst way.

  41. jferber says:

    Do they have to come here? I’d actually like a vote on it. I’d vote no. His “initiative” is meaningless. He might as well title it Earth Thot and be the model for it himself in that bilious green jacket that should be outlawed worldwide. Because whatever the hell he is doing (anything?) we know his only motives are embiggening himself and trying to one-up his brother. To any normal world figure, it would be embarrassing. But not to William.

  42. Athena says:

    A sit down dinner similar to the Nobel Price would have been better.
    I was surprise at the judges, the Queen of Jordan, Cate Blanchett, Yao Ming, Shakira? I would have expected more heavy weights.
    Unless it’s not being reported correctly, I’m not sure how different the Milan initiative is from a number of smaller scale similar initiatives all over the world. The India project, the Bahamas one sound interesting and forward looking. Milan and Costa Rica seem status quo. They should look for more revolutionary and workable ideas.

  43. L4frimaire says:

    Levin is a hateful sea donkey obsessed with Meghan and Harry but she is palpably disappointed in the Cambridge’s with this one. The problem with her and the other royal reporter trolls is that they thought the Sussexes were the Cambridge’s main problem and if they’d just get out the way, all would once again be well in the kingdom and the Cambridge’s would be the best royals ever. However, the problem is now it looks like the Cambridge’s are chasing Hollywood and celebrity, wanting to go to America and be “ popular “ on the most shallow level. However, to creepy Levin, they think the Sussexes, particularly Meghan’s charisma and celebrity sullied the royal brand. The institution of the press and the Firm work hard for the Cambridge’s, but the Cambridge’s don’t work hard for them. They didn’t get the memo on what exactly they’re supposed to deliver to these trolls. Levin wants tiaras and diplomatic receptions and people in awe or something. Not exactly sure what she’s expecting from her sainted royals, but one of the reporters is trying to attack baby Lilibet’s name again, hashtagging Meghan’s name, and their royalist “ fans” are obsessed once again going on about Sunshine Sachs. They’re not interested in this apparently.

  44. Tessa says:

    The two appear to have no clue. He wears an outfit from the sixties. She wants to “show” that she can still be “in shape” after three children. How very shallow of her.

  45. Tessa says:

    It’s always all about THEM. But it was about HER at the Bond Premiere and now it is about his velvet outfit and her wearing an expensive dress again. Never mind those who applied for the prize.