On Saturday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a trip to MIND’s Time to Change program, where they met with young people who have struggled (or are still struggling) with mental health issues. By most accounts, William and Kate were engaged with the young people and they did draw attention to the project’s good work. And of course Will and Kate got something out of it too – they are newly “energized” about something, just a month before what will likely be several weeks of vacation in Mustique. Well, People Magazine did a write-up about the kinds of questions Kate asked of the youths. I found this interesting.
Princess Kate’s role as a royal mom of two has made her an even stronger advocate for fighting the stigma surrounding children’s mental health. During an event to mark World Mental Health Day on Saturday, she and husband Prince William praised the courage of young people for talking about mental health, and urged them to keep the conversation going with new ideas for tackling the problem. Kate bonded in particular with 19-year-old Emma Peacock, who was 8 years old when she was misdiagnosed with ADHD – she is, in fact, bipolar.
“I made the mistake of telling my friends first,” Peacock said. “That was not a good idea. Because they didn’t understand, they stigmatized it and I was excluded.”
Kate then asked, “Did you find it hard to tell your mother about it, not wanting to worry your mother? I always find you never want to worry your family about anything.”
Peacock responded, “I was so scared my family would worry, you always want to protect your family, so I found it really hard.”
The royal then turned the conversation to Peacock’s mother, Nadine, who was also at the event at Harrow College, asking, “From a mother’s perspective, how has it affected you?”
Nadine replied, “When your child is going through such difficulties and anxieties, and struggling with mental health, it is heartbreaking. A lot of her friends wouldn’t talk about it because it was taboo.”
Prince William told the group, “I could sit here and talk to you for hours. Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us. You are being incredibly brave doing this. I know it’s not easy for you re-living your experiences again and again.”
Kate, who has been undertaking a key role in raising the issue through a wide-ranging series of visits and events, added, “I keep thinking about what else we can do and how we can raise awareness. Keep the ideas coming. We think it’s so important. Talking about mental health is so important.”
William saying he “could” sit there and talk for hours is interesting, because just a few hours later, Will and Kate made an appearance at a World Cup rugby game. I’m just saying… if you want to give yourself time to really meet people, you don’t schedule your appearance in a short window of time in between hair appointments and rugby games.
But I found Kate’s aside especially interesting: “Did you find it hard to tell your mother about it, not wanting to worry your mother? I always find you never want to worry your family about anything.” WHOA. I mean, I understand that she was trying to relate to a teenager and good for her taking it to a personal level, but I feel like Kate might have revealed something very interesting about herself and her relationship with Carole.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
She needs to cut that hair.
I actually think her hair looks nice here. I don’t like bangs, but her hair looks quite luscious and shiny. It’s been worse.
Beautiful hair is easy if you don’t work 8-hour-days and have both the money and the time to afford the best.
And quit lining her eyes so heavily.
My thoughts, exactly. She should cut about 6 inches and get a professional makeup artist give her a few tips. But it will never happen, long hair is her security blanket. This is a girl who did her makeup for the wedding watched by millions around the world. She must feel she knows best.
Why? Is there a rule somewhere that says women of a certain age can’t have long hair?
M.A.F. — I think the only rule is that your hair should make you look good and, imo, the combination of the haggard face and Miss Teen America hair makes it look like a heavy wig. I’ve seen many Orthodox Jewish women wearing wigs that look very much like Kate’s hair.
it’s not that.. her hair could still be long but not this long – the volume and cut overwhelm her face, it’s too heavy. Look at CP Mary of Denmark – she has long hair but the cut is much more flattering. Kate looks as if her hair was her main hobby.
http://us.hellomagazine.com/royalty/1201505144681/princess-mary-of-denmark-s-new-lady-in-waiting-revealed/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/royalty/8865195/Prince-William-and-Catherine-Duchess-of-Cambridge-tour-a-Unicef-plant-in-Denmark.html?image=2
Yes, without layers, the bangs look severe and heavy.
Mary just got a new haircut that is very flattering. The extra messy length is gone and it looks much more professional.
It doesn’t matter how long or short the hair is, it matters whether or not it looks professional. Blowing into other people’s faces and KM shoving her hands through it all the time is not professional. If she wants it long, tie it up while she’s on duty.
Personally Im a fan of long hair (I’ve always had it, never want to cut it) but I have to say I think the bangs look ridiculous. She needs to lose those, stat. Otherwise I think the hair looks fine.
Thank you. I am so tired of people picking apart this woman’s hair and makeup and then turning around and criticizing her for spending too much time and money on her hair and makeup. It’s important or it’s not – which is it?
She just needs to remove the extensions/wiglet.
Her long hair without extensions/wiglet wasn’t overwhelming in the GF years.
Now she’s added the extensions/wiglet and it’s all you see. It’s especially disconcerting given the thin face and body.
Exactly
Yes, for a new look and a new family portrait soon I hope!!!
I think her hair looks nice but it really pulls her face down. The bangs are wrong for her, too.
I’d lop a good 3-4″ off of it.
+1,000 to all of these. Geez, she looks awful: tired, bored, shell-shocked, kinda out of it, too much hair, too much makeup . . .
As for not bothering her family – ah, is that why Carole Middleton practically lives at Anmer House? And Kate legged it alone as she went through her twenties being supported by her parents as the entire family participated in the Hook William At Any Cost strategy?
It might just be me, but lately she looks like she’s a bit stoned.
I noticed it too. It looks like she’s staring out into the distance in at least two of the photos. But she’s probably just bored.
The hair? It’s the first and last thing you notice about her. This women seems like an empty vessel to me – no personality, no interests, no friends and a mother who runs her life. And she gets to live with a spoiled, petulant man-child. Sad for a 33 year old with only the best opportunities and education. SMH
To be fair (and I know she has all the advantages of 24/7 support staff including nannies, chefs, housekeepers and her mother), I bet I looked pretty stoned when I had two little children. I would say exhausted and shell-shocked (although I had to balance child-rearing with a 40/hour week JOB). I know what you all will say, about how she’s a do-little, but in some ways I feel a bit sorry for her. She can do no right where the media is concerned, and she has the glare of the public eye on her all the time. I know she knew what the job entailed when she signed up for it. I just think she looks like she’s aged five years every year she’s been “Princess of the United Kingdom.”
(Doctor Who reference: Don’t you think she looks tired?)
I’d still bet most women would change places with her in a heartbeat.
@ Jan
Staring into the distance is new. Usually there was manic grinning and hair-flipping.
@AmyTennant – I would NEVER change places with her, to live in that gilded cage with that spoiled man-child. But, yes, she does have the media glare on her, but the reason it’s negative is because she is useless. Diana had the same glare but she worked her butt off for causes she truly cared about, so people loved her. People love Harry, and if he marries a woman as charity-minded as he is, I bet the public will love her, too.
People resent seeing the 1% who haven’t even earned it do nothing to pay it back. Popping out two kids isn’t enough nowadays, because how many people believe in “royal blood” anymore? She and William will never have a financial worry in their lives, and the people helping to support them have every right to be pissed when they don’t even pretend to care about the less fortunate people.
Maybe she’s exhausted being the mother of two very young children? Everyone says she’s a very hands-on mum and that George gives her a very hard time.
What everyone? Many people do not think she is a 24/7 hands on mother. They have a housekeeper for each huge home, loads of staff, and at least one nanny. KM is frequently sighted shopping, at the hairdresser, and working out with the personal trainer. The nanny is sighted out with the kids, with no KM to be seen. IMO, she’s not doing the heavy lifting of childcare 24/7.
With Nota on this.
Who says she’s hands on outside of the press who are only told so by their pr?
I would say Carole is a hands on grandmother for sure. Kate’s time is largely accounted for elsewhere from childcare. And as Nota stated the Nanny is often seen without Kate and with the children. We see those candid shots in twitter feeds or random posting and almost never from paps at events where a narrative is being pushed.
Just to go a bit further… With George a story was printed on how Kate has no nannies for him and looks run down from late nights with George crying like a lion. Same event had edited photos of Kate looking refreshed, but that publication chose to print a story about how Kate is a super mom doing it all and looking great.
Later we came to know they had atleast 1 nanny and extra staff just for George.
It could just be a new script for an anti-depressant or something they can make you stoned until you get use to it.
That’s what I was thinking too.
She’s often appeared like this. Some people just look glazed over when listening. It happens.
That’s the new look in her eyes!
I absolutely agree with her. My parents are getting older and I feel a need to protect them from those difficult moments in my life.
But you are no longer a minor ( I am guessing).
When you are that young and still developing, you will need an adult who can listen or get you to someone who can.
Faking interest is so hard, it ages you instantly. Just look at her face.
Bwah!
I don’t find her comment about not wanting to worry your family that odd, but maybe my family is odd. I always hate to tell my parents bad news because I know they will worry.
Yeah, I must be missing something. We all do what we can to protect our family. I don’t think it reflects on her relationship with her mom at all. Definitely not a “WHOA” moment.
I guess it depends on whether one’s mother is a confidante or not. If she does not have Carole to confide in, who’s left?
Her sister? Friends? Her husband?
She has 1 or 2 friends and then there’s her sister but outside of her family she doesn’t really have anyone. Its sad but Carole and William are the center of her world, if they weren’t suddenly there she wouldn’t be able to survive on her own.
That was the one comment that struck me as more unguarded – and perhaps more personal – than she may have meant (or even been aware of) as revealing.
Whatever one may think of her or her family, it seemed kind and empathetic that she made an attempt to appear more relatable to a troubled girl, and to share in the acknowledgement that it is not always easy to likewise share troubles with those who are supposed to be closest to us.
(I do wonder if this girl will later contemplate why it may have been oddly easier to relate to a duchess than to her mother or her friends, and if she will later recognize the fellowship of a fellow sufferer…)
It was also good of K. to subtly recognize that depression and anxiety are not intentionally selfish, and that many sufferers may feel even more isolated because they fear – for whatever reason – it is a burden they should or must bear alone.
This reminds me of that song “Mother, Mother” By Tracy Bonham.
You hide you’re not doing well and make it all sound fine to not worry them.
It’s worth a listen and easy to find.
In regards to Kate… This could easily be true, but she was and is by all appearances BFFs with Carole. And didn’t Carole once comment on how hot William looked to Kate with a “yum” or something once?
She’s starting to look like Michael Jackson.
She’s looking a bit rough lately and the back of her hair looks like extensions. It’s not doing anything for her face that long hair just hanging , even if she just trimmed an inch or two off it would help. The long hair is pulling her face down
I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but these two come off as being really phoney. They are just making fluffy small talk. If they really did want to do something worthwhile, they’d approach this much differently. They would spend more than a short time doing a pap stroll. There’s no way Kate is withholding anything from her mother, they are both joined at the hip, so to speak. Carole doesn’t want her to be truly independent, and Kate’s arrested development won’t permit her to be, either. They have a symbiotic relationship and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
William and Kate only care about themselves. They are just doing these appearances to get their numbers up. If the day comes when I see them actually doing something constructive I’ll change my mind, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
The whole thing seems so rehearsed and phony to me too. You just know they told the teen and her mom exactly what to say and that KWill memorized their lines too. Very staged.
Yes, it all feels like a hollow, carefully orchestrated facade. I wonder sometimes how people can be at all impressed with them. . . Their privilege and position is impressive, sure, but the people themselves don’t live up to the expectation. They represent a kind of vacuous deadness to me. Kate especially appears to be trying to fit herself into a mold that is unnatural for her.
I agree with the comment above that, if they cared about making an impact, they would go about this very differently.
No argument here. She’s as phoney as a three dollar bill and is out for number 1.
Terrific comment! They’re all smoke and mirrors. Now they can tick off a few more minutes of excruciating duty on the court circular to justify their luxurious and lengthy holiday escape.
The moment where I stopped giving Kate the benefit of the doubt was her appearance in Malibu Barbie pink at the 9/11 memorial that screamed ‘Look at me! Look at me!’ in the most superficial way. She just appears to me now to be a thoroughly thoughtless person. I’m having trouble taking her seriously and considering her as sincere.
The DM (grain of salt, people) mentioned yesterday that she would soon be participating in her first state dinner. They have been married for over 4 years, and she is just now attending her first state dinner? How come?
Now that you say that, I think that the 9/11 moment was it for me, too. My husband was a NYC firefighter and was disabled cleaning up down there. It’s the grave of 3000 people. And she shows up in hot pink. Of all the bizarre fashion decisions! White would have been fine, pale yellow, blue, brown, black. But hot pink or red? No. Just no. I thought she was an attention whore from that day. And a idiot, to boot.
@Lady D – a state dinner would involve eating wouldn’t it? It would be wasted on Kate 😉
Hardly anyone here defends either of these two, and when they do, the defense is most certainly not about their being “genuine.”
It’s sometimes very entertaining to read some of the quotes and in this case, I enjoyed these pearls of wisdom:
I keep thinking about what else we can do and how we can raise awareness. Keep the ideas coming. We think it’s so important. Talking about mental health is so important.
As in “Keep the ideas coming” folks – I’ve done my 15 minutes and now I’m off to see the rugby match!!
Here’s an idea. Will could take some of the young people to a rugby match. And Kate could take some of the young ladies on a shopping trip. All on their tab, of course.
They might actually enjoy that. But ‘keep those ideas coming! By the year 2019, we may choose one, if it suits us.’
I agree, aimee, I find that comment so strange. “You do the thinking, while we’re off to have fun!”
Sort of reminds me of this horrible boss I had once who would stroll around during a work crisis while everyone else was busting their asses saying “Keep up the good work!” doing absolutely nothing to help. I always wanted to stick my leg out and trip him but I didn’t have time.
Exactly! Also, I have a problem with her quote „Keep the ideas coming“. Are you for real? I mean English is not my first language, but to me it sounds strange. For someone who is supposed to be „energized“ by this issue, she is taking a passive stand. Like: „Everyone else should brainstorm, I can not, because my hair stylist said that creative thinking might cause damage to my hair extensions.“ Eyeroll. If she is too lazy even to think, then there is no hope for her.
You’re spot on, R-R. It’s like the people who like to brainstorm and come up with great ideas, but when it’s time to actually get to work and put those ideas into place, they’re looooong gone. Anyone can sit down and make plans, but fewer can actually go through with them.
Good point about the passive speech. It’s all “I’m not allowed cupcakes/ The missus won’t let me”, and “I’m well taken care of/I am very well looked after” kind of talk.
As for this: “I keep thinking about what else we can do and how we can raise awareness. Keep the ideas coming. We think it’s so important. Talking about mental health is so important.”
Could that be any more banal and trite????
When she speaks you can’t tell she’s educated. “Can you test the smell by smelling it?”.*facepalms*
Well, the Dolittles merely want to appear interested and concerned. They aren’t really interested and concerned. How I know this? Their questions indicate they didn’t prepare which is why William said he kept thinking about what else they could do etc. He should have gone there with some ideas in his pockets / his mind.
If nothing else a small token to show they are invested in this cause would be to arrange something. All the ideas are out there. There just needs to be some action on their part.
As an example… Camilla’s post rape examination baskets. Stocked with luxury soaps and lotions. It’s a small gesture. Even if Camilla didn’t brainstorm it on her own or buy the items or stock the baskets. She went there, listened, sat down with her team, and brainstorming became action.
So, Kate and William wouldn’t have to do much past showing up, listening, attending meetings, and taking appreciation. Always keep listening and talking about it, but also do something. Take a step past photo ops. I can’t imagine justification as to why they haven’t so far.
“Camilla’s post rape examination baskets. Stocked with luxury soaps and lotions.”
Wow – am impressed by that, regardless of who thought it i can imagine that the victims would have been touched by it as it would have been useful to them.
Betti – it later came out how hands on Camilla was with that initiative, and often meets up with them.
It made me side eye Kate’s donation of a baby Hamper to EACH which was clearly a re-gifted Hamper, with nothing special to make it stand out as coming from Kate beyond notice on website that is was from Kate. It looked shabby and grubby. Kate’s team didn’t bother to spruce it up.
It’s no wonder EACH and a couple of her other patronages have since appointed other celebrity patrons to help them. Kate brings nothing to the table and is completely useless.
Lak (4:44 comment) – Your last paragraph — did not know that but it doesn’t surprise me. You are spot-on in saying she brings nothing to the table. She floats in and floats out of these engagements it’s hard to figure out what exactly she accomplishes but we know it’s a big zero and it probably ends up COSTING the organization money to accommodate her, prepare for her visit, etc.
P.S. Why oh why can’t Kate shadow or try to emulate “hands on” royals like Camilla and Sophie?
LAK
That baby “hamper” was the plainest of the plain. Rewrapping out of that clear plastic storage container by adding a bow or basket or tossing in a small handwritten note would have been helpful. Or making a minor appearance? But if memory serves me Kate left for a vacation and the charity had to cancel the fundraiser for lack of ticket sales and interest. While a donation was nice it appeared like a throw away after thought when you know she was gifted far better items.
Not sure how true this was, but shortly after that fundraiser cancelation an article came out about how the charity wanted to drop her, but courtiers smoothed ruffled feathers.
Betti
That basket seems perfect. It’s something so basic, but so powerful for those in that position. All you want to do is scrub it all away.
Caitlin
It appears when you look past the photos and out of place comments on how engaged Kate is at these events a picture forms. She shows up often late, stays for less than an hour usually and about 10 to 15 minutes of that is actual talking. The rest is for the cameras and press. And regarding that talking it’s never been too deep, but this last one is a step in the right direction. Coached talking points or not.
Florc/Betti/Caitlin: speaking of Camilla’s rape kit initiative, she’s in the news today publicizing the initiative and adding her voice to those working to reduce sexual violence.
Florc: yes, she organised a vacation at the same time as the fundraiser. Due to lack of public interest, few tickets were sold and fundraiser was cancelled, but that’s OK, our dear darling duchess was too busy sunning herself in Mustique.
Ps: most galling of all is that the charity had been trying to drum up public interest for months leading upto the fundraiser so it wasn’t as if they sprung it on her and or she couldn’t help them before heading off to Mustique.
And yes, the charity wanted to drop her – their CEO (?) went as far as saying she hadn’t helped them and her patronage hadn’t made any difference to them. Courtiers persuaded them not to drop her. Meanwhile EACH quietly added Ed Sheeran who has been a very helpful patron.
These royal “work” duties crack me up – especially the misuse of the word “work”. It’s almost as if they show up to be “entertained”, fussed over amid great fanfare. Seriously, the red carpet is rolled out, a big fuss is made and the show begins – exhibit A – girl with mental illness proceeds to answer Kate’s rehearsed questions and provides her with some background info.
They walk around as though they are at a zoo or a science fair observing the various exhibits, feigning interest and surreptitiously glancing at the time.
@ candice
When I red the interview I too thought that the questions sounded as if learned by heart / rehearsed. It is like she used a manual:
– 1. appear to be interested = ask questions: “How has it affected you?”
– 2. relate to them on a personal level = tell them “personal” details similar to their issues: “I don’t want to trouble my family with my problems so how do you … your family …”
– 3. pretend to take the cause seriously = assurance: “We could listen to you for hours.”
– 4. pretend to support them = tell them they were brave
It seems to me that somebody had a serious talk with the Dolittle couple and so they now make an extra effort.
One thing I always noticed about Diana and that truly showed her GENUINE interest was her spontaneity. She was often ‘off the cuff’ and just so natural in her dealings with people, sometimes just bursting into giggles at something funny….Kate is so contrived, forced and stiff and clearly would rather be elsewhere.
Pondering thoughts: I’m with you 100% on that. I think you saw their prep notes! 🙂
@ bluhare
Oh thanks ;-D The conversation just seemed so unnatural and enforced.
Well, neither William or Kate have an education or work background that would give them the authority or knowledge to propose “ideas” about helping mental illness. It would be nice if they would put some money and energy toward getting experts together to craft policy solutions for access to mental health care. And then, you know, lobby parliament to implement them. But I’m sure that kind of thing gets in the way of rugby matches and vacations.
@ meh
My thoughts went into the same directions. People like the Dolittle’s could improve things by inviting people from certain groups over for dinner and make them talk. Arrange a meeting between the police chief and the respective politicians and victims and make them talk over a dinner. Bring these groups together. They wouldn’t refuse an invitation from the Royals.
But what the Dolittle’s do is mostly self-gratification. They get the pics about their work and their importance and the respective cause is mentioned merely with one or two sentences. After all pics of Kate and her wiglet and her accessories (husband etc.) are so much more important than their causes.
Ever since a Article about Kate and William claimed that Carole Always sides with William in arguments or disagreements and NOT Kate, her own daughter, I have suspected that Kate gets a stern talking to from Carole if she complains about her life.
IMO Carole worked too hard for this and won’t want to hear it on a regular basis, if Kate was unhappy about something concerning her marriage or life as a royal. Maybe Kate feels it’s fruitless to talk to her mum or most of her family about it.
I think we will look back and see her comment as a big TELL about herself, her own life, one day in the future.
I don’t think living w William has been as happy as she thought it would be, but the titles and lifestyle, probably keep her from looking to deeply at any feelings of unhappiness if they creep in too often.
“IMO Carole worked too hard for this and won’t want to hear it on a regular basis…”
Definitely heard that in her comment as well. I agree that there are shades of meaning in that particular observation, and that the more situation-acceptable one might cover the other… whether it was intentional or not.
I hadn’t thought about this train of thoughts: Carole ignoring the unhappy aspects of Kate’s life because of social climbing. So it is pointless for Waity Katie to complain to mummy.
I would have thought that Waity Katie must have quite some will power of her own otherwise she would have crumbled earlier under her mother’s whip, (psychological breakdown) ;-D
Carole and Mike ignored how badly he treated their daughter, Carole in particular encouraged the relationship (dunno about Mike) – if that were my parents they would have staged an intervention or my brothers would have bought him a pair of cements boots and taken him out fishing. But then again – she’s obsessed with him, always has been. It’s an obsession that was fuelled by her family and their ambition.
We had a similar situation in my family. The bride and groom weren’t actually all that keen on marrying each other. Both parents talked them into it practically the night before the wedding– his and her mother. Their marriage has not been happy but they stuck it out as they have two great kids. I did not see the wedding video, but my mother said it was one of the most uncomfortable weddings she’s ever seen. All because the mothers knew what was best and/or had their own agendas and weren’t really interested in their child’s feelings at the time. I know the bride’s mother now bitterly regrets it, but there you go. Too late now.
Oh dear. I hope there will be a happy end on the horizon.
There was a similar case in my social circle. A friend of a friend got married because of a pregnancy. The guy told my friend on the eve-of-the-wedding party that he didn’t want to marry her but both their parents pressured them. It ended in divorce and a lot of bitterness. Both of them had stuck to it for too long and there were a lot of negative feelings building up. One side felt suppressed and the other side felt alone.
They are better off now that they got divorced.
(Germans traditionally do the eve-of-the-wedding party or stag party or hen party together. So bride and groom celebrate their “Polterabend” which is named literally: “rumbling-noise-evening” because traditionally one breaks dishes for good luck. And no chance for either party to have some last chance carnal fun with a third party.)
@bluhare perchance are their names, albert and charlene?
I went to a wedding in Germany a few years ago — in Leipzig! It was a wonderful affair, really lovely. But they didn’t have a Polterabend! I was so disappointed!!
I believe William when he said he “could” talk for hours with them, meaning he still carries significant pain regarding his mother.
Undoubtedly, William received comfort and support when Diana died, but I suspect it wasn’t enough.
And if it’s true he had arguments with Diana just prior to her death, that would certainly add to his sadness.
“Could” means little imo. It’s the ability to, but not the Want. If he meantt it i’d suspect they’d schedule something for the near future. Outside of that it might be lipservice alone.
Perhaps they have scheduled future trips with this charity? We don’t know.
And while I feel the Cambridges haven’t earned all their trips to Mustique, I do tend to give William a pass more often than not, given his childhood (war of the Wales’), the death of Diana, and of course his personality. He’s a private person and he’s quite sensitive. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be for an introverted individual knowing their whole life is mapped out and controlled by duty. Sometimes I think William is focused on enjoying the time now before things really change ie Charles becomes King.
Citresse
Wouldn’t any future engagements be in their schedule if made? That holds true for all other royals.
And I give William no slack for that. He’s an adult and will not give an inch. If he’s upset at his future he can embrace it or walk away. Make the best of it. As it goes though he’s living with the same personality he had when Diana was alive.
Lastly I think you can enjoy your life before it becomes consumed with work and also prepare for your future. So the upcoming workload is less of a burden.
With William it seems all or nothing.
Excuses for any adult as to why they won’t work, but will spend their time for leisure with handouts isn’t logical imo.
His mother passed away almost 20 years ago. He is married with two kids. The family firm is being run by a bunch of retirees with significant health problems.
All he wants to do is hide away in the house paid for by the family firm, do nothing to earn it, and flit away on luxury vacations?
There are a whole lot of excuses given for him refusing to deal with something normal people deal with every day. LIFE.
FLORC and notasugarhere, yes I agree. If things don’t change for the better with William – especially when or if Charles becomes King, then William should step aside and have the private life. But he must accept he can’t take all the Royal perks with him in that private life.
Harry, IMO, would be a wonderful King.
Kate doesn’t strike me as shy when it comes to communicating her needs with her family. The Middletons revolve around her. I mean the women got her family to support her stalking William to Chile when she was only 18, never mind paying her expense through her twenties so she could shadow William. And cheese-on-toast Carole was left to work with the nanny when William and Kate headed off on another vacation.
I think she’s quite high-maintenance when it comes to her family. After all, she got them their invitations to the various palaces, and Wimbeldon and Ascot and she’s their eventual connection to the Duchy of Cornwall funds.
Good point about the invitations. She seems to have no qualms about requesting and then extending her royal perks to the Middletons, who in turn have no qualms asking for them. So, I doubt she has any problems sharing her personal life and feelings with them, either. They’re all *thick as thieves*, if you will.
@ Natalie
Quite right. Kate relies on her family a lot and in turn they get something. I am just not sure if James and Pippa got a good deal.
Would it “worry” HM if Kate attends the state banquet for the Chinese president???? I thought it was confirmed she’s going, but some web sites says she might go. Why are they giving wiggle room on this?
Because all she will do is giggle, stare off into space (thinking about packing for the vacation) and play with her hair. If she goes I will be surprised. I mean, her kids can be very useful when it comes to getting out of social obligations. But if she DOES go will she have to put her hair up to wear a tiara? I imagine she gets anxious when she can’t stroke the wiglet.
Hi all! Unless you are speaking to/with her regarding celebrities, fashion,shopping or a few sports, her eyes glaze over and she drifts off to Neverland.
I believe she is mentally stuck at age 19 and Willnot at 15(she when she gave up her life for the ring and to be his beck and call mattress..err girl). Willnot obviously since Diana died.
She is nothing but a narcissict meangirl. And the lights are on but no one is home.
Willnot is just a titled richboy who makes everyone’s life a nightmare. I’m.waiting for the public to unite and rise up to make them actually do work or lose the perks….
I will be adjusting my tiara to pass time.
Yes, Royal Central is reporting Kate “might” go while Hello is reporting she is going and speculating which tiara?
More tiaras please. They are much more interesting than this upturned mop.
Almost gagged when the DM mentioned the Spencer Tiara. It’s belongs to the Earls Spencer & was never the property of Diana. NOTE: No royal newbie(or 1 blood royal that has reached the age of 18) has ever picked their tiaras. NEVER. The HST Kate wore was picked &loaned by HM. It’s up to HM which tiara Kate wears. Le sigh.
Exactly. The DMail didn’t even do proper research. on The Spencer Tiara.
I think if Kate attends the state banquet, I’m pretty sure she won’t be wearing the Queen Mary Fringe tiara (my favourite) but maybe the Cambridge Sapphire tiara?
If she’s attending, my bets are the Halo or Palm (whatever that one is called), the two she has already worn. HM assigns tiaras and she seems to pick 1-2 tiaras per person.
I don’t buy that Kate doesn’t want to worry her mother / her parents. In fact Kate has “worried” or busied or troubled her mother a lot: no attempts at a career, always waiting for William, anxious to get the ring, money for fashion and fashionable holidays, highly dependent on family during the wedding and after, Carole is practically organising childcare and everything household-y.
Perhaps Kate wanted to state her (non-existant) independence from her parents. Just I don’t buy it.
As for her other questions: they seemed to have learned their questions by heart. And a tiny little bit of preparation AHEAD of going there wouldn’t go wrong either.
Did they offer anything concrete to the charity?
Well, at least they are trying.
My take is Carole wouldn’t hear it anyway, if Kate ever tried to complain or voice unhappiness about William, or the situation. Yes I know she wanted this life, but now once in I wonder if she is having problems.
The one time when Kate actually dumped William, because she caught him cheating at a party, or rather heard from several people who attended the party, that William spent the entire night sucking face with some girl and it went to seeing the girl a few days past the party, while still dating Kate…. Carole ….called William up and invited him over and pushed Kate to make up with him. She didn’t care that William had cheated on her daughter, she didn’t consider her daughter’s hurt feelings at the time, all she wanted was William and Kate back together. I know it’s hard to believe at this point that there was a time when Kate actually had a bit of backbone and actually dumped William briefly , but it was early in their relationship.
My point is I think Kate meant what she said at the event, but I don’t think it’s that she doesn’t want to worry her family or mum, I think it’s that Her Mum doesn’t want to hear it, even if Kate was unhappy or depressed about something.
I know I’m in the minority, but that’s my take.
Also I’ve noticed Kate tends to say telling things at times on outings. Like in Australia or NZ tour she told a lady, William didn’t like her dress or thought it was too loud. She once said at a gathering, to a woman, that William had not seen George for months. I really think sometimes, she reveals things, in her own way.
I agree. I think that if Kate complained about something that interferes with mom’s plans, then Carole would probably shut it down completely, either by discounting what Kate said or by playing the victim and saying that it hurts her to hear Kate complain.
Horrible to think that Carole might be still dictating terms after the marriage. I thought it was bad enough that she probably orchestrated the whole dating scenario, but if she’s still puppet-master in this marriage and unsupportive of Kate when she has issues or complaints, that’s really bad. I know you may not want to tell your mom everything that might be negative in your marriage, but when you try to talk to her about certain issues you’d want your mom to hear you out and not shut you down. If indeed this is the case that Carole is following her own agenda.
Was this at Uni or the time when the press published photo’s of him sucking face with another woman at a club and Kate had no choice but to ‘dump’ him (I’m of the opinion that in his eyes they were never serious and she was only his ‘go to girl’ when there was no one else)? I’ve never heard that one.
I’m not saying that she didn’t tell him to get lost at some point very early on but she also would have learned very quickly that he calls the shots and would’ve moved on very quickly to someone else.
William and Kate had two early break ups before the 2007 one, they were brief, but still breaks. This cheating episode was just before the big annual Middleton Bonfire….long before 2007. William was at some party, that Kate wasn’t invited to and he didn’t take her to the party, well he was with some girl and it got back to Kate. She was ticked off and dumped him. Carole told her to forgive him but Kate still hadn’t, she was really upset still, but Carole phoned him up and invited him to the Middleton bonfire as HER friend and once there, Carole encouraged Kate to make up with him and even said when at they were off alone talking about the situation, you two just make up and Kiss, then she encouraged the party into chanting Kiss, kiss, kiss. Carole supposedly clapped or applauded after they kissed. ….and Kate and William were back together again. Cheating forgiven….
I think that the ‘not worrying your family’ part might have been told to her by one of the employees there so she picked it up as a line to use in her small talk. Same with the comments of ‘keep the ideas coming’ and ‘ambassadors’ (which is part of the complete quote or maybe it’s all what Jason told her to say?):
“I keep thinking about what else we can do and how we can raise awareness. Keep the ideas coming. We think it’s so important, so really well done for being ambassadors. Talking about mental health is so important.”
……………
I think if Kate hadn’t done the plastic surgeries, fillers, botox, etc., then she’d look fresher. It’s her bad eyelid surgery that accentuates the bags under her eyes, making her look more tired. She tried to get rid of the female Middleton squinty eye look and the other things she did didn’t make her look fresher and younger.
So I don’t know if she’s actually tired and haggard as some people are saying she looks. I think it’s just that straying away from her natural features was a big mistake.
She’d look younger and fresher if she stopped with the dieting and got proper nutrition. Severe dieting and drastic weightloss contribute to premature ageing.
Yep – its the works she’s had done that’s making her look older. And i can’t with these photo’s – its the eyes and its boredom looking back at you.
Well at least they are trying.
I don’t know, Betti. I think the weight loss, dieting, smoking has a lot to do with it and at her age I am skeptical that she has undergone surgical procedures. Maybe I’m just naive?
Yeah, eye surgery could be. Before Kate had slightly puffy upper eye lids but now those parts are kind of hollow. The problem with that kind of surgery seems to be that it makes you look older. Famous “victims” with this kind of surgery were Joann Rivers or Vicky Leandros.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicky_Leandros
And Kate? Cheekbone implants, too, to bring out her cheekbones?
Her eyes in a couple of those photos are so vacant. It looks like she is pretending to pay attention, but mentally is counting down how long before she can leave and go on vacation.
Sadly she usually looks like that to me on Royal outings. I don’t think she really cares what other people are saying.
Didn’t her cousin or relative say that about her?
Somebody suggested dru_gs / tranqu__iliz_ers.
Why did you write it like that – don’t tell me these words are verboten?
Another comment of mine with the same content got lost. I don’t know why.
I think carol has and always will pull th strings and woudnt hear a word said against her blue eyed mealticket even if kate wasnt happy with her lot – if william is dismissive of her as he seems and carol always takes his side then its a lonely place to be even for a bird in a gilded cage.
+1
I don’t have a problem with the Middleton’s wanting to improve their “station” in life. My problem is that ma and pa DID NOT put waity’s well being first. And by that I mean her mental and physical being and her happiness. Now Mike is seeing the result of Carole’s ruthlessness to get into a palace/castle/hall. Instead of letting Kate grow up and make her own choices he allowed Carole to run the show. And now waity is so dependent on ma, I find it borderline pathetic. No wonder he likes to be at home. He now sees willnot for the smug arrogant man he truly is. I think it hurts him that he didn’t step up for his daughter more often during the girlfriend years
Going with this theory (that she is mostly miserable underneath it all, with no support from Ma), is it possible she’ll be labeled ‘neurotic’ (shades of Diana here) or something similar, if she doesn’t toe the line?
If her mother won’t support her and she continues to unravel (assuming that is why she looks so different the past couple of years), then perhaps Carole will assist Wills in keeping her behind closed doors and having Carole and / or Pippa take a more public role?
I realize that’s probably an unlikely scenario, but it’s where my mind wandered after reading posts over the past few days.
If W&K cannot handle the role for any reasons, they are free to step aside at any time and take their kids with them. Continuing to suck the taxpayers dry because they cannot/willnot do the SIMPLE job required? Unacceptable.
No, Carole and Pippa are not allowed to do her royal work for her.
Kate’s constant attempts to look, and dress like, Marina Fogle are so desperate. Why can’t she find her own style?
she looks like a tired mom of two small kids trying to care about something besides her next nap