One of the many “like mother, like daughter” things about the Middleton family is their love of all things tennis-related. Carole Middleton is particularly keen on tennis, and her children share her love. I have no idea if James, Pippa and Kate are any good at playing tennis, but they absolutely enjoy watching it, especially from a royal box at Wimbledon. Pippa and James even got in trouble last year when they “pushed” their way into the royal box at Wimbledon, and when I say “they got in trouble,” I mean that the Daily Mail went after them, with unnamed royal courtiers bitching about them anonymously.
Well, now that another Wimbledon is nearly upon us, and it’s looking more and more like Kate is going to push out the poor Duke of Kent as the royal figure who gets to pass out the trophies. This will likely be the Duke of Kent’s last year handing out trophies, and Kate has apparently already been made a patron and member of the All England Club (which is in charge of Wimbledon). And now that Kate has her foot in the door, the Mail’s Sebastian Shakespeare says that Carole and Pippa Middleton want to be included too!
Pushy Carole Middleton has a social advantage when it comes to securing membership of one of the world’s most exclusive tennis clubs. After the Duchess of Cambridge was appointed patron of the All England Club last month, I’m told Kate’s tennis-mad mum Carole and sporty sister Pippa are lobbying to be admitted to the home of Wimbledon too.
‘Carole and Pippa have told friends they would love to join Kate as members,’ says my man on Centre Court. There are also whispers that Carole’s good friend Jane Henman, the mother of former British No 1 Tim Henman and a member of the All England Club, is putting in a good word for Carole with the club’s secretive membership committee. But existing members say Carole’s efforts to be ‘parachuted in’ thanks to her royal connections are not fair play.
Kate jumped the queue to become an honorary member in 2013, thanks to her celebrity status. However, being invited to become a temporary and, subsequently, full member — the most prestigious category — is usually a case of ‘filling dead men’s shoes’. One member tells me: ‘Both Carole and Pippa Middleton enjoy playing and watching tennis and they’re closely related to the Duchess of Cambridge — but that really is no reason for them to become members. Many of us think it’s a mistake to allow too many club-standard celebrities in, as it waters down the playing standard.’
At present, the All England Club has around 120 full female members, and 35 female honorary members, who include all surviving Wimbledon women’s singles champions. The source adds: ‘There’d definitely be an objection if Carole and Pippa were invited to become temporary members — or even honorary members like Kate.’
Jane Henman has entertained Carole at the Wimbledon championships in the All England Members’ Enclosure and was a guest at the Royal Wedding, with husband Tony. The former Junior Wimbledon player is also Carole’s ladies’ doubles partner, and has advised her to limit her exposure to the media. So she won’t be drawn on Carole’s game-plan. Jane tells me: ‘I have nothing to say on the matter.’
My feeling is sort of… “are we really going to clutch our pearls about this?” Don’t get me wrong, I think Carole often comes across as a gauche, pushy social climber looking to cash in on her daughter’s royal connection. But this just seems like it’s one petty, internecine “scandal” too many. I doubt the All England Club’s membership is a paragon of substance over style, and of course all of these clubs allow well-connected people to pull strings and get their friends and family members “in.” That being said, if the club does allow Pippa and Carole to become members, the meltdown in some circles will be amazing.
The Daily Mail also had a really detailed story about how Carole managed to get a “bespoke” three-wheel, all-terrain baby buggy for Charlotte – go here to read. The thing that struck me was “why isn’t Kate picking out her own baby buggy?” And “Does Kate just need to have her mother stage-manage everything about her life, including baby buggies?”
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet and PCN.
that last picture… handincrotchitis is genetic?
No. This looks like something to call the doctor about.
Kate looks more clutchy, rather than itchy.
Whether you like the woman or not, she is the future Queen’s mother and the future King’s grandmother. She may have married her way in but she rightfully belongs in these circles. I laugh at the old money who did nothing except be born, mocking those who hustled for what they have. Deal. I love how angry the Middletons make people.
Yeah, the Middletons actually did something for their money. I don’t get why they would want to spend time with these snobs.
It’s hysterical that in England your very point counts against them. Everyone is always so snarky about their rise from modest family/careers to multi-millionaire business owners – as if they should be ashamed.
I am a confirmed Anglophile but I guess the American girl in me can’t wrap my head around certain aspects of the culture.
I always found these things weird, but it’s a cultural thing. Like, in my country going to a private school is something you’re ashamed of. It basically means you’re dumb. In Britain it definitely isn’t.
But I also get why people get snarky about the Middletons . because they want to belong to a class that doesn’t want them, and that’s kinda sad.
Locke
Because the financial goals motivation from a great many accounts was to be part of this group.
Whether William and Kate actually get to the throne is anyone’s guess. I’d say the monarchy will be gradually dismantled after Elizabeth II dies. It’s had its day, too expensive and a poor use of public funds. I’ve no doubt that some members of the All England Club are there through nepotism, so big deal, two more useless women won’t make much difference. It’s strange that this family thinks that buying their way into well-connected circles makes them ‘better’ than others. William was such a fool to get involved with the Middleton’s, a real dope.
Maybe not with Charles, but the disdain building for the Cambridge will only increase as they take on POW responsibilities and still fall very short.
Yes, JustVisiting, Charles gets things done but the Cambridge’s are not used to doing much of anything so have no standards to speak of.
Agree w/ Kat. Her mother ordered her baby buggy?! The horror. My mom buys lots of things for her kids as do many moms I know, with is theproblem? They sat in the royal box at WWimbledon, well the Queen ain’t using it so why not the future queens sister n brother. These are ridiculous rules. Like William bending down to George on the balcony for Grandmas B-Day to show him the planes n calm him down, hilarious how Queeny jabbed him n told him to rise,lol. How dare he speak to his son while she’s there. Enough with these stupid rules. Maybe William likes the Middleton s cause they remind him of how his late mother wanted him to be. Enjoy family time w/out bending the knee to grandma.
As Wimbledon is my all-time favorite tournament of the season, I’m all for them denying Carole & Pippa memberships. Why should they get memberships? They don’t meet the qualifications. The only reason those two want a membership is the status of it. They’ve finally made it, when really it’s Kate who has. They are just hanger-ons.
What are the qualifications?
Maybe I don’t care much about this is because I find tennis such a boring sport to watch. The only time Wimbledon was interesting was when Ivanisevic won. Besides, any sport where you have to dress up to watch it is not for me. Let the Middletons enjoy it, why not.
Probably a contribution to the sport, which neither Kate nor Pippa nor Carole have done. Only reason Kate isn’t on the waiting list is her title. Otherwise, none of the Middletons would be close to being given temporary status.
Charlotte probably has a million buggies, it’s perfectly normal for her grandmother to buy her one.
The one thing Kate gets criticised for I don’t get is the fact that she’s close to her family. Their level of closeness is perfectly normal. Desirable, I would say.
The reason Kate gets criticized is not because she’s close to her family, it’s because she appears to be totally dependent on Carole to manage her life and incapable (or too lazy) to run her own household. There’s a big difference.
Baby Charlotte, unfortunately has her squinty eyes in some photographs..
When the sun is shining directly into her eyes? Mine squint too. I think pretty much everyone squints when when the sun is in their eyes.
Wow, Carol has a tiny diamond on her solitaire ring. I don’t get it.
I just had the same thought. I wonder why it’s so tiny. It must be sentimental.
Maybe an heirloom?
If it’s her engagement ring, they weren’t rich at the time, were they? So a cheap ring makes sense.
So Carol got Kate a jogging stroller?
Yup. A relatively inexpensive one it seems. In a boring color that they don’t make anymore. Not sure why this is news.
was it in Angel Gabriel Blue? lol..
Given the photo on the story with the family out with the kids shows a completely different buggy brand – the Mountain Buggy – I think the buggy the company are going on about was for Grandma. Kate’s buggy is a lot more expensive, and a lot better for genuine off-roading. It’s also not a British firm. (I have one, too, which is why I know it’s not a Nipper!)
The company aren’t going to get many more celeb orders with that level of discretion.
I feel like this is just courtiers wanting to slag off on Carole. She can’t just be made a member unless a space opens up-or if she won the tournament. She could have applied years ago (she doesn’t need Kate for that), and been on the waiting list ever since. People wait for years on the waiting list.
The All England Club’s full and life membership is limited to 375, based on the number of seats in its original Worple Road stand. There are 120 temporary playing members and 70 honorary members including Kate, past singles champions and people who have given special service to the sport.
With a cap on the full membership, spaces tend to open up only if someone dies. Aspiring full or temporary members must be proposed, seconded and supported by four full members, all of whom have to write a letter in support of the application. The applicant’s name is then put on the waiting list. A committee will judge each application, with most temporary members eventually becoming full members.
Scal .. is there a limit on how many memberships go to one particular family? I ask because a posh country club in my area has a waiting list, etc.. and sounds like a similar set up and they have a strict limit on how many memberships can be had per family. There is a limit of two males and one female per family and that is based on numerous recommendation letters from sitting members, etc.. So based on this, I see no issues with declining all female Middleton members some type of membership.
I don’t think there’s a limit on families (at least not in honorary members) The Williams sisters are both members, and I believe another family or two that has multiple Wimbledon winners.
They would need 4 letters from full members, and since Kate is a honorary member she wouldn’t be able to write one. If they knew folks who are full members who were willing to write for them, and they went through the process including being on the waiting list then I don’t see the big deal. Being related to a honorary member doesn’t give them any special benefits.
I don’t get wanting into social circles that previously laughed at your status–and probably still do in secret. I guess entrenching the elite and their perception of themselves is fun when you eventually get to become one of them.
Well, Carole had to get signet rings for the family, so it appears to me she is hungry to join the snobs.
How could I forget those rings?! Pippa wore hers like it contained magic or something.
Eh. In the wake of Brexit the press is going easy on the royals so we’re getting some Middleton fan fiction.
After this Brexit decision who cares they will be the only ones sitting in the Royal seating area the rest of the country will have left for Southern Ireland. The way everyone’s feeling right now the royals will be head of a very small country indeed.