Here are some photos from last night’s National Portrait Gallery’s Portrait Gala, which happened to be Duchess Kate’s first public event of the year (you read that correctly). Remember how, last week, it was widely reported that the Queen had finally put her foot down about Kate’s (cheap, too-short, too-young) style? Well, I think that report was probably dead-on. I just wish the Queen had vocalized some strong feelings about Kate’s insistence on wearing her hair down even for formal evening events.
First, the dress. It’s a repeat, but we never talked about it the first time around (because we didn’t have the exclusive photos). It’s Jenny Packham, and she wore it first last October for a private dinner. I’m not hating the dress. I like the way the dress “walks” – it’s very pretty in motion, but slightly boring when she’s not moving.
But the real story is the jewelry. FINALLY. Some jewelry p0rn. Kate wore the Queen’s “Nizam of Hyderabad” diamond necklace, which Queen Elizabeth received in 1947. It’s very, very pretty. And I hate the way Kate is covering most of the diamond beauty with her friggin’ hair. ENOUGH. We get it, Kate. You love to curl your hair. Now pull it back for red carpet evening occasions and let us see the necklace. If you’d like a close-up look at this necklace, go here.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I love her hair like this but you’re right, it’s a shame to cover some serious rocks like that
to me, that hair looks stupid
It’s very ’emo teenager hiding from the world’, which…no. You’re a princess, stand up straight and show us your face and the jewels! I do ADORE the dress though.
Agreed ! And it makes her look much older. It’s too long, therefore all flat on the top of her head and then BAM ! sausage curls. Argh ! She looks like a cocker spaniel (isn’t it her dog, maybe it’s on purpose ??)
Stunning outfit except the hair is out of control messy. That straight lock of hair at each side of her face is just hanging there, dangling into her face. Worst hair I’ve ever seen on her.
To me she always looks very unpolished, she has a type of Wag beauty considering her access to money and the best of everything (clothes, makeup and stylists) that is out there. But what do I know, I aint no princess either.
Side note: Jecca Craig was also at the shooting holiday Will attended, things that make you go hmm.
Badirene- Niraj Tanna suggested on Twitter that Jecca is Williams Camilla. Tanna is the Middletons personal photographer who was hinting that Kate was pregnant and would announce it on the exact day that she did, so I the think there is possibly some truth to it.
+1. To me, she looks absolutely deranged – what’s up with this manic smile and wide-eyedness? Plus, her arms look really unfortunate in this dress – kind of huge and ugly.
OMG I just realized what that too-long, flat & floppy, half-curled, center-parted hair reminds me of – a cocker spaniel with floppy ears!
That dress and that gorgeous necklace DEMANDS an up or back hair do.
Why even wear a necklace that stunning and a dress with that great neckline if you’re just going to cover it all with hair that looks tangled and messy anyways?
This was my fear in regards to jewelry pr0n here. Her hair would cover it all.
Judging from the side shot I think her hair is down to cover up er extremely poor posture.
Side comment.. Isn’t walking with books on your head in all the “princess training” movie montages? How did she not learn this?
Her hair and posture are atrocious.
Oh m, I wrote on the other post that I didn’t think Jecca was William’s side piece. But Tanna knows his sh*t (more than just the preggers thing too. I think he’s actually William’s spokesperson and not as much as the Midd’s).
Could William be pining for Jecca? Certainly an option. Must think on this new info… (Didn’t Jecca turn him down cold???? Hmmm)
I saw her on GMA this morning and my first thought was DAMN DIAMONDS!! My second thought was UGH HAIR!! If she’d only wore her hair up she would have shown off not only the diamonds but also the dress.
It is not just Tanna- Palmer & Richard Kay’s replacement is Sebastian are finally reporting instead of cow towing to the PR of the palace. It is about time the truth is told & journalists do their jobs without fear of BRF.
I do not like to hear anyone has trouble in their marriage. With that being said when one sells their soul it does not surprise me in the least this has finally started to come out. Beware Harry! Settling for less and contract marriages are no way to live one’s life.
Btw she looks dreadful and her speech was pathetic. In @ 41 seconds she looked down 27-29 times with a few long pauses. Painful to watch! Not very good for a uni grad- she must have failed speech 101.
What @Anna said- emo teenager.
Love the jewels, like the gown, hate the disneyprincess hair.
It’s like she is quietly acting out by adding extra hair extensions and extra eyeliner.
I’m kinda pissed at her because what she can pull off fake in a day with help of hair stylist minions, I have that wavy brown long hair everyday. She makes me look bad, like I’m fake.
Kate doesn’t have a presence. Some can light up a room when they walk into it. Kate doesn’t have that ability. Other than her clothing, hair, and the queen’s jewels she isn’t so interesting. Well, at least she looks pretty.
+1. That’s my biggest critique of her. I feel like there’s supposed to be more there, but there isn’t. She looks like a girl who has gotten the chance to play dress up for the rest of her life.
Oh Anaya, Let those gems light up the room! If they weren’t all covered up they could have!
i used to like her. but now i can see your point. and to me now she is just boring! she loves her hair nd yes its pretty hair, but she just looks the same, soo soo boring!! i would literally die if i ould have access to those diamonds and dresses.
She is dripping with jewels and yet she still looks like a boring drip. What gives? Even diamonds seem to lose their lustre around her. She might as well be wearing that gawdawful Zara necklace again.
Again, contrast Kate Middleton’s pathetic, giggly attempt at public speaking with the engagement interview of W-Alexander and Maxima. You can see the number of people in the room, so it was an intimidating audience. Maxima starts speaking at around the 5 minute mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e-si815TfE
Maxima was 30 at the time, giving a speech in her fourth or fifth language.
Once again, The Netherlands for the win.
It annoys me that her posture isn´t straight. Girl, throw your shoulders back and look up!
Yeah. You’d think she would have learned that by now.
Especially wearing such a stunner of a necklace, you’d think she would at least try and show it off. I feel like reaching into the pic and pulling her shoulders back, lol.
I should have read down before posting. +1 to all of it.
Agreed. I was thinking maybe some ballet classes or deportment classes or ‘carriage’ classes, something–maybe practice walking with a book on her head? And learn to do something with those arms & hands!
Yes, we would all nail this every time if we were Kate…. especially with the news coming out about our husband hunting/vacationing with an old flame and how it is perceived by the public, even if we may have agreed (?) to it.
I see her trying. That huge (fake) smile says it all – she’s trying. I suppose what we want isn’t a human being after all. Just a doll. A perfect, public princess doll. I guess one day she’ll get it completely right. After all, we demand it.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t critique, but some of us have to try to be kind … sometimes. (Let the lambasting begin.)
Never mind. Carry on.
I agree. Bless her heart she had just found out this was breaking in the press and yet she sucked it up and did a public event. So what if she wasn’t perfect but damn if she didn’t try.
Her smile usually looks forced or overly happy. It’s never looked all that genuine since she lost some weight/got veneers.
Florc,
Are you intentionally missing the point?
Zing
My english isn’t always so easily understood through text, but I believe I am not missing the point. Only trying to make my own. Some of my message didn’t post so let me explain it.
Do we know she just found out William was with Jecca? That news aside this is the same behavior and mistakes she does while attending evening events and speaking events.
The rest of my point is that Kate doesn’t show a genuine smile. It always looks forced and strained. This is partly because of her veneers. It’s somewhat of an unnatural fit and we see that on a subconscious level.
That her hair was down and a bit messy on top of her poor public speaking and odd, forced smile are not out of the norm for her. So, making an excuse for it this time only makes sense if you forget all the other times she’s acted the same.
Kate fans should really stop trying to give her a pass for everything; it’s pathetic. You can’t blame William’s hunting trip for Kate’s frivolity — she was frivolous before the trip, and she’ll continue to be frivolous after. Expecting a woman in her 30’s to act like an adult is not expecting her to be perfect, just as fans pretending that she is perfect doesn’t make her so either.
I also take exception to categorizing as unkind anyone critiquing Kate. It’s offensive, unnecessary, and intellectually derelict.
Kate has yet to nail anything in her position as the Duchess of Cambridge, and the only result of her lackluster career is a never-ending litany of excuses. But I suppose none of that matters as long as she looks pretty and we have plenty of fashion and jewelry “porn”. SMDH.
@Phaedra. I’m sorry, that reply wasn’t meant for you. It was for poster above, @Anaya. Forgive me.
The volume of the skirt, the length, the open neckline, the fab jewels…..this screams to have hair away from your face and shoulders. What dumb stylist let her leave the house like that? The hair weighs her and the dress down!
I hate the monster necklace. I can’t even think of a dress this would look good on. It’s so huge and flashy. Then again, I’m not a necklace kind of gal.
I don’t get the big deal about having her hair down—it’s the sausage curls though that ought to go. She looks lovely, but I wish she would cut back on her eyeliner.
As more times goes by, she becomes more meh to me and Wills becomes more eye-roll worthy. Seriously, Kate was groomed by her mother to solely be a rich and powerful man’s wife. If that was put in your head as a child, who knows? Plus, she has a young baby. When I put those two together, her amount of work compared to the other royals doesn’t bug me….. However, Wills was raised to reach out and do public work and he just seems to be so….slacker-ish compared to Charles and Harry. Did he really need more freaking school? 99% of the time I feel like more school is great, but he’s 31 years old and his whole life is funded by the tax-payers…And I honestly feel like Kate would have reached out more pre- baby George if Wills had encouraged her. I also feel bad for her, because he seems to barely spend any time with her (and is probably screwing around already imo).
More college was a way to pad out his gap year for the outraged public. We know he doesn’t do much but have fun and play!
She looks a lot like Katie Holmes in that first pic.
t
I think Kate looked gorgeous. Best I’ve seen her in a while, and I don’t even mind the long hair.
However, I heard her give her little speech on TV, and she just sounded SO wooden. Paused in all the wrong places, and her intonation was off – very fake, insincere and wannabe posh. If it was someone else, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt and say they were nervous, and that not everyone is cut out for public speaking. But seeing as it’s Kate, and that it’s not the first time she’s giving a public speech, I have to say that it just reflects her shallowness and inability to care about anything other than shopping and holidays.
Yes, another of her awful speeches–short, banal, and poorly delivered. It’s been said before, that for what she’s saying & in the time allotted, there’s really no need for a written text. That’s another class she needs–public speaking. I would have that that she would have had enough training by earning a master’s degree–you know, presentations of your research topic to the class or seminar.
The master’s she earned at St Andrews isn’t equivalent to the U.S. masters. It is still an undergraduate degree but with a different name. Her degree is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree. Some older institutions still award undergraduate master’s.
But yes, I agree about the public speaking. If someone’s nervous I get wanting notes. But she looks down at her notes during the wrong times created awkward pauses. Also, she looked down at her notes to say thanks and enjoy your evening to the crowd (paraphrasing). I know that public speaking is nerve-racking, but if you need notes to thank the audience, I think that’s indicative of an entirely different issue.
During her “Princess Trainging” in becoming the most prepared royal bride ever she’s seemed to have forgotten everything.
Someone should really have put their foot down and told her no more shopping or riding lessons until she gets a grasp on public speaking. It’s such a huge part of her job/role!
And e fake posh accent.. She’s struggling so hard to maintain it. I wish she’d drop it and focus on the information more. Maybe she’d seem more likable then?
If she did learn to string a proper sentence together and speak with more eloquence… would we even like her then?
I think there’s a lot of truth to hiding behind her hair. It almost seems like something’s going on. Not that long ago, there was an article about Kate playing Eliza Dolittle and singing in a school play. Granted, she was quite young, but still. The lead in a play. And now she has trouble with a one minute generic speech?
Haven’t got a clue what it could be . . . nerves? The photos of William with Jecca Craig just came out yesterday; did they bother her? Does she hate being away from her baby? I don’t know, but she seems much more subdued than she used to be.
I kind of feel like the royals are letting her screw up and act odd on purpose, like they are building her up to tear her down. I don’t know why, but I feel like they are going to let her keep messing up and receiving bad press. Is she popular in England? I get Diana vibes going on in her situation, but it’s like the royal family is ready this time and they are going to come out on top and looking good. I just don’t understand how the royal family lets her get away with barely working and shopping so much. I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling, but this William and Kate situation is very odd to me.
“That’s why her hair is so big, it’s full of secrets.” haha
Love the dress, and the necklace of course. And positively hate that hair now! Somehow have the feeling that we have to thank the Zara necklace for this jewellery porn 🙂
The dress is lovely, BUT:
too much hair (you don’t see the necklace)
too much eyeliner.
Passed a chance on looking classy and elegant. Shame.
yes, she really doesn’t know what a good make-up and hairstyle mean, she could look beautiful, elegant, classy but at the end she looks unfinished, nearly cheap
Yay!! The report was true. That’s what I’m talkin’ about! Jewelry! Alright!
I’m embarrassed at how excited I am by this development.
LOL, GoodNames!
At last she’s finally working again. I love Jenny Packham gowns but the hair doesn’t go. It looks ratty and I agree would be better swept up to show off the jewels.
A british magazine wrote that Kate is wearing an extension so maybe that is why her hair was seldom put up, it would have shown.
We have a Wiglet Watch here on the CB Royal Loonies site (which *ahem* we NEED, the site that is). And, as a great many fantastic women have shown me — she does indeed get a lot of Hair Help. Look at how thin her hair was last week for her trip to Mustique and then compare to last night. It’s not a huge difference this time but still enough to be noticeable.
I think she’s still wearing extensions for length. I think her hair looks different bc she’s not wearing the weaves that usually give her more volume on top. For comparison, look at the airport pics from her recent trip. Her hair was very ‘normal’ looking, in length and thickness.
Ah LadySlippers. You flatter us of the Wiglet Watch and honor our crusade with help from our Wiglet Wagon.
She hasn’t gone overboard with quantity again, but my only real thought on her hair is…
Those poor diamonds… and possible matching earrings… Suffocating under that thicket and getting dingy from whatever product is in her hair rubbing on them… I’m sure a steam bath is in their future, but why must they suffer like that?
Dammit, FLORC. I was really hoping you’d get the Wiglet Wagon out of the garage so we could go for a spin!
Bluhare
Terribly sorry. What was I thinking! It just had a tune up for all the Kate sightings approaching too.
Everybody in! It’s Wiglet Watch 1st quarter 2014! LadySlippers, LAK, Bluhare, Sachi, Mich, Angelic 21! Pile in and help yourselves to the tea to keep warm.
All right, FLORC!! Now I’m officially on patrol I don’t see The Signs of The Wiglet. Do you?
One lump or two?
2 please. Thank you.
Bluhare it looks so knotted like she had her window down on the ride over.
And I do see some wiglet-esque signs in the back of her hair. The front sides from scalp to nearest curled point falls flat whiel the back seems t be fairing much better. Maybe it’s just blended better and not so obvious in volumn.
What do you other Royal Wiglet Watchers think?
Looks longer. Normally when hair is curled, it gets shorter. Some kind of magic has to happen to attain curls that make one’s hair hang longer.
She can’t wear her hair up probably because it is a wiglet/hairpiece/extensions yup. She’s looked good when she has worn it back a few times, mainly under a cute hat. Recently wore it in a thin low pony tail with that cream frock cut up to the thigh and costume necklace. I think she looks sometimes amazing when she gets her hair pinned back and less eyeliner, more smudgy.
That hair looks ridiculous with the jewelery and dress, and why is she all of a sudden walking like Justin Bieber?
+1!
Thanks for that closeup of the necklace! 🙂
The necklace is stunning, right? It goes nicely with the dress.
Yes, it’s stunning. Bring on the jewels!
I am so over her stupid hair. She needs a change. I have never known another human being to be so devoted to a hairstyle with virtually no change for over a decade. Try a bob, or some bangs, or straighten it and do a center part. Do something else! Please? It’s driving me crazy!
Yes!! Time for someone to give her some good hair advice. Thank goodness the Queen talked to her about upping her style and lowering her hemlines.
People in the spotlight keep things the same all the time. It’s their image, their look, and they stick with it.
Could be a fear that William wouldn’t be attracted to her anymore. Men who like long hair tend to be staunch about it, a few of them.
Camilla hasn’t changed her hair in donkey years… she says Charles likes it. To each his own 🙂
The Queen hasn’t changed her hair in 60 years.
How this woman is a style icon is beyond me.
I think she looked great. Don’t understand the criticisms thrown her way, but whatever. She appears to be a nice person, a bit quiet and understandably nervous if she has to speak in public. I find her charming.
This. However this time I wish she had her hair up. That necklace deserves to be on full display.
I really find her quite strange. Hair and make-up is said to be one of her (few) interests, but she has one single make-up look in her repertoire and three incredibly boring hairstyles up her sleeve. Every woman I know around Kate’s age, whether they are into fashion and beauty or not, has at least a dozen different looks to work with, and they change it up depending on the situation. Kate can’t even attempt a different shade of blusher or a different variation on her favorite hairstyle. God forbid she try something slightly different with her eyeliner or cut more than an inch of her hair off. It’s not like she’s found a classic look that suits her either, she always looks dated and often completely inappropriate.
You’re right. It is a bit ironic. I wouldn’t mind if a woman with no interest in beauty or fashion kept coming out with the same look, but when it’s Kate, who appears to have no interests other than fashion, it’s a bit odd. Also, she’s got the kind of hair facial features which I think would lend themselves well to different looks, so it’s odd that she doesn’t mix it up a bit. Even at her wedding, where Bobbi Brown supposedly did the make-up for some of the Middleton women, she still had the harsh eye-liner and streaky blusher look. And the loose hair.
The wedding makeup was not Bobbi Brown. Kate is said to have wiped it all off and put on her face herself. I wish we could’ve seen what Bobbi Brown had done. I’m certain it would’ve been more subtle and flattering.
I’d like to see her wearing some lipstick colors, eyeshadows, less black eyeliner. Everyone would.
Kate, oh Kate….Another official appointment, another bad look. Don’t get me wrong. I like the dress, I like the necklace, but she doesn’t look royal at all. Her main issues are hair and makeup. She always reminds me of an english cocker spaniel. http://www.pethealth101.com/breeds/images/cocker_spaniel_english_top.jpg Imho she is no style queen or fashion ikon.
Dress is pretty. Necklace is gorgeous. Hair needs work.
I know there was a speech but she tends to be awful at those so I’ll quit while she’s ahead.
No bring up her husband’s pr disaster with hunting in Spain’s new reveal: that his ex girlfriend was part of the small hunting party?
I just read about that. The only woman in an otherwise all-male group? Hmmmm…….
Even if it was platonic, its not good pr for the “happily” married couple image for sure. But it sucks the press won’t pick up on the story, because if the roles were reversed Kate would be getting flogged by the press.
Yeah – I’m not one to assume that you can’t be (platonic) friends with an ex, or that just because a man and woman are in each other’s company, they *must* be doing it. But this really doesn’t look good. The hunting trip was bad PR to begin with, but now we find out (though you’d have to search to do so) that he was there with a bunch of male friends, none of whom brought their female partners? And yet his ex-girlfriend is there?
Now, there may very well be a fairly innocent explanation (maybe she’s a hunting enthusiast) but William should be enough of a pro to know that one can’t do this sort of thing when one is heir to the throne. So he can’t be bothered to accompany his wife when she takes their little boy for his first holiday, but manages to find the time to go hunting, and with an ex-girlfriend too? It just doesn’t look good.
What bugs me is that he didn’t have time to go on his son’s 1st vacation but leaves the same weekend/week he returns. Also raised my eyebrow was not the presence of Jecca but the fact that she was the only girl in that trip. Now my ex is still 1 of my closest friends but I’ll never go on a all girls trip with him being the only guy. IMO Jecca is doing something with someone in that hunting party otherwise I don’t see why not even a single wife/gf accompanied them. Her being their alone as the only girl in a trip that looks like boys weekend is fishy to me, even if I’m coming across as close minded or judgmental.
It’s fishy all around. He probably does have a thing for Jecca. And what’s with the royal’s bloodlust and hunting for fun anyway? Seems sick to me, like they have some kind of ingrained rich person/aristo sociopathy towards animals. Such strange timing with the African endangered animals efforts, c’mon William! Seriously.
She looks awful. The dress is boring, I already forgot what it looks like, the hair is ridiculous. Honestly even just ignoring the fact how inappropriate it is for the occasion, it looks stupid- like the hairstyle of a teenager for school picture day. Kate is fricking 30 something, and she needs to realize that.
The sad thing is she has the money and ability to wear whatever she wants. She could be wearing couture everyday, making a huge style statement, but instead she chooses to look like toast. Boring.
The necklace does not work with this dress. The necklace is too dainty while the coloring of the dress is really modern. It would have worked better if the dress was just navy or black and her hair absolutely should have been up! I honestly didn’t even notice that she was wearing a necklace until an article pointed it out.
The hair should have been pulled back or put up to highlight the jewels. I think the duchess leaves it down to show she is young. Sorry, ma’am – you’ve been married two years, you have a child and mostly – you’re a future queen. Times like this you have to look the part.
She looks okay, but as someone said above, she doesn’t have the presence or substance to turn heads when she enters a room the way a princess or future Queen should. First point, her hair is a mess. I don’t mind that she likes to wear her hair down most of the time, but when you’re wearing a million dollar necklace, show it off! This was an occasion when she should have had her hair up or tied back to make her look more sophisticated, and most importantly, show the world that necklace.
I don’t mind that she wears the same clothes numerous times, but for her first appearance of 2014 in which she should have known a lot of media would cover, she probably should have worn a new gown that isn’t so plain. I think it is probably better for her to wear a new gown to high profile evening galas and events then repeat them for private functions or daytime/less important events.
Her makeup isn’t good. Does she apply makeup herself? With the money she has she should hire a professional makeup artist. She looks older than her age while at the same time very immature and unsophisticated with her poor posture and long hair. This is not a good look for her at all. She needs to act more mature (not sure if that is possible for a woman who is in arrested development since college), maybe try a shorter hairstyle, and try to look more sophisticated (hair straight, tied back, or up), and younger by using less eye liner.
Lastly, her public speaking is still atrocious. I saw a video of her speech and she should hire a speech coach who can help her gain more confidence and the ability to give a speech without looking down at a sheet of paper every other word.
This woman has had over a decade to prepare for this role but clearly she is too lazy to improve her speech and appearance.
I like her long hair, but yes, it would’ve been more elegant and showed off the rocks if it was up here
Also, can anyone else see the parting of her hair extensions? It is literally so obvious to me it’s what I noticed right away. Pathetic.
I think her hair looked better when James Pryce was doing it…. As for the eyeliner, I hear is permanent makeup (a tattoo).
That aside, my biggest peeve is her posture, and the way she has her arms folded in front of her all the time. It looks uncomfortable and silly.
I normally don’t comment but I think that it is a real shame that her hair covers that gorgeous necklace. I have an interest in jewellery design so it really bugs me when a beautiful statement piece isn’t showcased properly, which goes doubly when she is wearing a historic piece from the Queen’s collection.
She really should wear her hair up more often. I have seen her do it a few times and she looks much more elegant and put together with an updo.
I haven’t heard her speak, but the speech was unbelivable generic, especially coming from someone who supposedly studied art history.
Interesting comments, especially with your handle.
I agree though — isn’t it a given in ANY art form that you highlight your focal point? I’m confused as to why anyone would want to compete with that necklace as it’s clearly the focal point. And not only did she study art history but her hobby is photography. So I’m doubly confused. The dress and the other accessories are a wonderful backdrop until you see her hair competing with the necklace.
This isn’t the first time either. Every time I see Kate out, she always seems to be nearly there with her looks. Almost, but not quite.
Her hobby is photography yes, but I think she showed mild interest and gave it up completely.
It was to keep help her look like she does something in the family business and has a passion outside of superficial likes. When was the last time she’s en seen with a camera or has been linked to photography since her engagement days?
ArtHistory
Please go on. You comment is intriguing.
And Kate’s speeches are likely not her own words or thoughts.
And she wears her hair up all the time. When she goes shopping after events. Her hair looks cleaned of product, she has a new/expensive outfit on, and her hair is in a bun or ponytail that looks professionally done.
@Florc: I’m kinda making fun of her ‘hobby’ because even her pictures published weren’t very good OR artistic. Maybe that’s why she gets so close to looking good but JUST missed it — she’s not actually artistic.
(Then she should recognise that and get some help)
Does she have a BA or an MA in Art History?
I just find it really odd that she appears to have so little interest in art when she studied art history. Why study a subject if it doesn’t interest you?
I am a trained art historian and I just don’t understand her apparent lack of interest in her field of study. The Royal Art Collection is amazing – a literal treasure house!! They even own one of my all-time favorite works of art: the Italian baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschis self-portrait. An amazing and original work by a female artist representing herself both as a working artist and as the incarnation of art, which she could do as a female artist since abstract concepts such as “art” always was portrayed in a female form.
I would give my eye-teeth to have access to the Royal Art Collection and its archives, especially since they own a lot of works by one of the artists I specialize in: the Danish artist Laurits Tuxen, who was the premier royal portrait painter i Europe during the late 19th century. He portrayed the royal families of Denmark, England, Russia and Greece.
There is an immense potential for interesting exhibition concepts based on the royal collections – and I bet that such exhibitions could attract a lot of people – and could give the RF some good PR, sharing their treasures with the public. The Danish RF has been successful in this regard – especially with Queen Margrethe II doing TV-programs showing and telling about the royal jewels. Last year there was a wonderful documentory about the royal jewels of Sweden and Denmark, where CP Mary of Denmark, Queen Margrethe and Queen Silvia talked about the jewelry and its history. Queen Silvia even gave comments about the practical aspects of wearing and travelling with the serious, and heavy, bling that the Swedish RF owns.
FLORC, your comment is making me think. You said she showed mild interest and then gave it up completely.
Prior to her SE Asia photos being made public, she was said to have a very keen interest in photography, and took her camera to Canada as well. Then the SE Asia photos were published on her website and they were slammed. I mean slammed. Now we don’t hear about photography. I’ve got a visual of her being very hurt by that, and wonder if that is one of the reasons she appears to be so unwilling to put herself out there. Because when she did she was made a laughingstock.
Do I need a good smack, or am I onto something?
@ArtHistorian: She has a Scottish degree that IS an undergrad degree but it’s called a masters. So it confuses people.
And AG’s self portrait is THERE?!???? I don’t have an art history degree but have an interest and I’m drooling… Oh I want to see that self portrait in person. I’d bet a lot of money reproductions don’t do it justice….
I think Kate could do for art what Diana did for dance. And Diana did not have any degree and she was still able to promote her passion for dance. So I’m just as stumped as you are. (Great examples from other Royal women)
@bluhare: No smacking. You might be on to something but I think any artist that puts their work ‘out there’ is going to get negative feedback. You have to be able to look at it and see if there is any truth to it, so you can improve, and chuck the rest.
LadySlippers
Sorry. I’m utterly terrible at picking up sarcasm or subtleties in text format.
Bluhare
I forgot about that. And to me (who did study photography briefly) her shots were amatuerish. She made me think she bought herself an excellent camera and learned how to use it on an auto or custom setting. There’s more than just going to beautiful locations with an expensive camera to make a good photograph.
She must have been surrounded by a kind of yes men or people that would only praise her. Like how your mom would hang drawings on the fridge and call them art, but if you showed anyone else this they’d be harsh. That is the art world though. Sink or swim.
So no wet wiglet lashes for you Bluhare. Enjoying the tea? It’s an infusion of Pinnapple, Mango, hibiscus blossom. Warming enough for the coolness of the season while still having hints of summer.
Blurehare,
I think you make a lot of sense. She’s human after all and it can be very hurtful to have one’s work publicly derided. Hell, I’ve met several established academics who take constructive academic criticism badly, even in professional settings.
I kinda feel sorry for her, but I think that her doing everything to seem as inoffensive as possible is working against her. She isn’t just a public figure, as a member of a royal family she (as well as the other members) have to function as national symbols and that means treading a fine line between decorum and accessibility. I image this is a very hard thing to do, and charisma and personality play a vital role in this.
Again, I’ll refer to Queen Margrethe II as someone who in many was has perfected the art of this. She learned a lot from her mother, the late Queen Ingrid of Denmark and Sweden, who can be credited with imbuing the Danish RF with a more modern look and openness when she married into it. She also mentored Sweden’s Queen Silvia before she married the young Swedish king.
And Margrethe, for all of her odd self-promotion, is an artist. Weaver, painter, costume / interior / stage set designer, etc. So if it is possible to be the monarch and still have time to create art, you’d think Kate Middleton could at least take time to show a little respect for / knowledge of the vast collection controlled by her in-laws. Reference to oft-repeated lack of knowledge about Faberge…
And in almost 13 years, has KM ever been papped coming out of a museum on personal time?
The Swedish Prince Eugene was also recognized as a serious artist in his own right – both in his lifetime and today. He is represneted in many Swedish art museums.
The answer is simple. Our darling Kate had little interest in art history. Nor did William in that or geography. They really didn’t care about their courses and degrees, didn’t get any jobs using their expensive educations that many would have done anything for that place.
Kate was hilarious when she didn’t know anything about a Fabergé egg and “Can you test the smell by smelling it?”
Victoria,
I have never understood people who take expensive university educations simply as a means to pass time, maybe because it has never been an option for me, but then I’m a bit of a geek and love studying. However, attending a university simply because it is what people do smacks of intellectual laziness.
I have read a lot of comments on art history as a frivolous discipline on gossip sites, mainly because Kate apparently studied it to get in with the right crowd around Prince William – and it absolutely infuriates me!
Like all university studies, art history is a rigourous intellectual field of study with a well-defined methodology and wide-ranging theoritical underpinnings. Of course, it is what you make of it. I have known plenty of elderly well-off women dallying with art historical studies after their children left home, but they usually gravitate toward the less theoretically demanding courses. However, I have never ever encountered people studying the field in order to find a wealthy spouse, but then I must have studied in the “wrong” places. LOL
She needs Queen Max to come over and give her a pep talk. Max is not daunted by anything – I bet she could at least get Kate to sit up straight and sell her self when wearing the big gun jewels.
(But god forbid Max give Kate hair pointers. Max has worse hair than Kate – one area Kate should turn to someone else for advice!)
I have soft spot for Queen Maxima. She’s smart, capable and she seems to have a sense of humour as well.
Pointers on hair could be given by the royal ladies of Sweden or Denmark. The princesses Victoria and Madeleine always look lovely at formal functions. The same goes for the princesses Mary and Marie in Denmark. Kate needs to be at least another decade older before looking to Queen Silvias intricate updos (when she wears her tiaras) – baby steps.
Hate the hair! It’s too long, too curly and obscures a lovely necklace. Well, I think it’s lovely. Can’t be sure with the slouching and the sausage curls obscuring it.
I also don’t quite understand how someone with the ridiculous clothing expenses she has, doesn’t have any wow! statement dresses. She’s so freaking blah and still can’t speak in public to save her life. WTF has she been doing that she couldn’t memorize a freaking greeting?
William & Jecca. How interesting!
Kate have no gravitas, no personality, no passions that I can think of and it comes across very clearly. She have absolutely no presence IMO, so queen can give her all the exquisite jewels and she’ll make them look like costume jewelry. She looks so old in these pictures and makes the necklace look so cheap.
Also princess lessons my ass, she still can’t speak even few lines properly or even stand straight, you would think they teached her that. This lessons story was bullshit but obviously nobody believes us jealous haters who called on it 3 years ago and it’s obvious from her behavior.
The dress is stunning, as well the necklace but the make up, hair, posture HORRIBLE. I”m reminded of the saying putting lipstick on a pig when I looked at her. Such a disappointment she is turning out to be even in the most shallow style department of her role. The only thing she has been successful in is giving birth which is so sad and pathetic for a 32 yr educated woman in 21st century IMO>
+1
Agree. She’s a terrible role model.
Case in point, have you seen this? Shows you the kind of role model KM is:
http://royal-confessions.tumblr.com/post/76362255464/post-by-adrielle-i-am-only-in-school-now-but
I have nothing new to add really, I agree with most everything said re: hair hiding the diamonds crime and BAD BAD panda eyeliner – although I do think the comments re: her “presence” are a bit harsh. How can anyone know what she does when she walks into a room unless they have seen her in person? Presence is so much more than how a person photographs. I agree her posture is stooped, but so was Diana’s in many cases and she never got told off for it.
I do wish someone would fire her makeup artist if she has one (I know she proudly takes credit for many of her bad eyeliner wielding looks), I mean she is a young woman, I just don’t get why her makeup is so 80’s. She could do a nice smoky eye without it looking so drawn on, but with that necklace I would have done hair up in a chignon maybe a few loose tendrils, maybe a liquid eyeliner flick and a pink lip, let the giant rocks do the talking!
That hair makes me stabby – Kate for the love of god put it up or at least tie it back in a half bun or something! You’re over 30, a mother and representing the royal family, at least make an effort to tone down the heavy make-up, fake tan and Rapunzel hair.
Wearing her hair down and in front is passive-aggressive behavior against the orders from above to change her look.
It looks like she has a small diamond band next to The Sapphire. Is this new?
DogMom
I think that’s just the band of the engagement ring reflecting all the flashing lights for added gleam and sparkle. I can only see that band and her wedding band.
Totally agreed about the long hair–especially for a fancy-dress event. It would be nice to see an updo of some sort for a change, and if you are wearing some of the British crown jewels, dang girl, show off those rocks! There’s no point in wearing them if nobody can see them!
Anyone remember Princess Diana? She tended to wear a lot of eyeliner, too. She had beautiful blue eyes and knew how to set them off, so maybe that’s where Kate is trying to go with the kohl. A good makeup artist could finesse it better, though.
Diana was of her time though, before people knew how to blend! Kate needs to use a little more color around her eyes imo and toss the black liner. She has a classically pretty face but her makeup hardens it.
Yes I imagine she would have brought the curtain down if her hair had been arranged back/up. I wonder if perhaps she does this to also avoid a comparison to Diana? Diana with the short and blond hair is the opposite of the look Kate is sporting. Those are impossible shoes to fill and I can see her doing this to avoid further comparisons.
Hair should have been in an updo but I understand now why it wasn’t. Her stylist did her hair last night getting her ready for today’s shopping.
THAT HAIR. Dear Lord. I don’t think I’ve seen her look worse in a while; and she pays (highly) through the nose for a “professional” hair stylist?! Maybe she did this limp, poorly-curled helmet-head catastrophe at home this time around. At least let’s hope so, for Amanda Cook Tucker’s reputation…
Am I the only one who thinks she’s not feminine at all? No disrespect to the future queen of England but she looks like a drag queen, a pretty one.
I’m probably the only one who doesn’t like the necklace. Royals jewels or not they do nothing for me and they do nothing for Kate. If anything they look really heavy on her and overwhelming. But then I don’t like flashy, gaudy jewels regardless of whether they are real diamonds or some knock off you can buy at Walmart. It just reminds me of clunky costume jewelry. But that’s just me I like discreet jewelry.
“I’m probably the only one who doesn’t like the necklace. ”
No, you are not. 🙂
I think it’s absolutely horrid. Heavy, clunky, old-fashioned… oh, and did I mention old-fashioned?
(Disclosure: I don’t wear jewelry – NONE – myself, I can’t stand it, even though I have some gorgeous pieces that were presents; however, I do love to admire the craftmansship and aesthetics of it, so I never miss any of Christie’s or Sotheby’s jewelry sales catalogues, and I am a regular on Tiffany’s website. Their Paloma Picasso “Olive Leaves” collection – now THAT’s fine modern jewelry.
I also admire antique jewelry, especially Art Nouveau, which is my favourite aesthetic period.
But this piece is absolutely horrid, in my opinion. Plus it really doesn’t go well with this particular dress.)
I just commented below you the same thing. It’s way too over the top. However I’m not a big jewelry person besides stud diamond earrings, my wedding set and a watch.
I think that these very over the top opulent jewels only really look good with perfect styling. The wearer has to really sell them. You have to be confident, you have to have sleek hair and the perfect gown. And you must be confident above all else – if you are *REALLY* confident you really don’t need any of the other things.
Think Princess Margaret in the bathtub sporting the Poltimore tiara.
Maybe I’m alone but I hate that necklace. Too huge, too gaudy. Doesn’t go with the dress at all. Way too formal for the event. Dress would have been better off without a necklace and maybe big earrings.
“Dress would have been better off without a necklace”
Exactly right, IMO!
Every time I read all the hate about Kate and her hair being down it makes me feel totally self-conscious. I know this is terribly dumb, but I have a round face and when I was a kid my mother always told me I looked like a turnip with my hair up and to this day I still hate wearing my hear up and feel ugly when I do. I deal at the gym, but I feel terrible any other time. I wonder if everyone is constantly judging me for not wearing my hair up at appropriate occasions.
Lana
The criticism Kate receives about how the hair falls on occasions is not the same as you. And you shouldn’t base your self esteem and opinion on how someone else looks.
Kate is representing the Monarchy, her nation, and goodwill towards a charity on top of many other items or protocol that do not fall on us because we are not royal.
She is also at an evening event and wearing a stunningly gorgeous necklace from the Queens collection. Her hair should be pinned up and back for the following reasons…
-Easier to read speech
-Shows off Necklace.
-Presents yourself in a more regal manner.
Just to name a few.
What your mother said doesn’t sound too kind and you should try not to dwell on it. You and Kate are not the same person and wearing your hair as you like should only matter to you.
Of course, Lana. If you do get a Diamond necklace from the Queen’s collection I certainly hope you wear your hair back;)
@Lana: I’m with Florc here.
There are variety of things Kate could do to be more appropriate for the occasion she’s participating in (and I mean above and beyond just this one as it’s a problem with her). An up-do is generally, but not always, a more formal way to wear your hair which would be appropriate for a black-tie event.
Also, there is an up-do that will flatter a different shaped face; so to group all hairstyles that are pulled back or an up-do unflattering to say, a round face, is incorrect. I challenge you to go to a good stylist (cosmetology schools would be good too) so that the two of you can find that up-do that makes you look like a knock out.
🙂
I forgot there are so many updos that can drape down to the neck and still cover parts of the face. It doesn’t have to be a tight ponytail.
Lana
If I could I’d throw your hair up and cover your face with makeup. Flattering of course!
Lana, sometimes parents say awful things to kids that affects them well into adulthood. My grandmother told Dad that his lips were too thick and he was to practice holding them in, which made him self conscious about his mouth all his life but in fact he was a very handsome man.
Try putting your hair up, I’m sure you would look absolutely beautiful.
Don’t feel bad, Lana. My mother would tell me all the time I looked like I’d been dragged through a farmyard backwards, and that my hair part looked like a dog’s hind leg.
Yes, it stuck with me.
No offense, Lana, but your mother is an a-hole. Only an a-hole would tell their young daughter they look like a turnip with their hair up.
Ignore her bullsh-t and be confident and rock your hair any way you want. If need be, ask a hairdresser to teach you a style that complements your face. But most of all, be confident in yourself and tell your mother to F off.
Hot mess, except for the bling. What’s wrong with a sleek ponytail? And GET RID OF THE FRUMPY EYELINER FFS. Her make-up and hair make her look older than she is, which is the exact opposite of what she’s trying for I’m guessing. If you are going to wear black eyeliner, it needs to be part of a look. This is what I look like after a full day of work. And, is that a wig line???? I won’t even comment on those awful hooves/shoes.
I don’t mind Catherine. No love, no hate – just a general affection based on what I see in photos and the odd video.
I do feel that there is possibly something off in Catherine’s life as she seems to lack the spark she had when she first appeared as a member of the royal family. Perhaps she is tired or just isn’t overly comfortable with her role. Maybe she simply lacks any interest in the events she attends. Perhaps her personal life isn’t the fairy tale so many think it is and she finds it difficult to put on a ‘show’ when out in public. Who knows, really.
I do hope that she is happy (as I hope for any and every one) and accept that since she is only human, she won’t always be able to look/act perfect, despite being royal.
I have to disagree with the general opinion of her physical appearance. I think she is a very pretty lady and chooses appropriate attire for her public events. I agree that it might have been nice for her to wear her hair up at this particular event, especially since she looks great with an up ‘do, but I still think she looked lovely with her hair down.
I’m afraid the spark was merely the initial giddiness at having bagged the prize.
I agree. She’s been dragging around dead-eyed for a while now. It’s a little scary.
This necklace looked gorgeous and regal on the Queen. There are photos of her wearing it and she looked stunning.
The same necklace looks like cheap jewelry on Kate. She’s got a nice tan and all, but the tan actually clashes with the brilliance of the diamonds and makes the necklace look too flashy.
And really, this woman just came back from a holiday at a luxury resort. She hasn’t done much work over the past few months. Her life is one big holiday and pampering. She has about 2/3 nannies helping her with her son. She has a full staff doing the chores. She’s living the life she and her mother pushed so hard for for 10 years.
But this is the best she could come up with? She spends so much money on her looks and yet she still looked like her makeup was done by a 14 year old and her hair was limp and clumping together. Her speech showed no progress over the past 3 years. She still sounds stilted and dull like she didn’t feel anything for the cause she is promoting.
It’s sad that there seems to be no growth with her. The only changes in her are her hairstylist and her son.
Yay!! Sachi’s back!
Hi, bluhare! It’s so great to see you here!
I’m back just in time for Valentine’s Day! Gotta put some vinegar in all the sweetness. 😀
Good summary.
Sachi is back – hang on royaloonies!
I’m starting to feel sorry for Kate. I think something is wrong or the reality of life as a royal is caving in on her.
Suze!
I forgot to invite you to the Wiglet Wagon! Apologies!
On her the necklace looks like a costume jewellery, like it was a Mango’s or Zara’s
I was think the same thing! I usually drool but here, on her, it looks like paste. Such a shame.
I think she’s a pretty woman, but she always seems like she doesn’t know what to do with her hands. Maybe, that’s what she was taught in etiquette class…either way, her hand placement always looks weird to me.
Diamonds, lovely lovely diamonds!!
Only Kate Middleton would skip out on royal duties for 60 days, take a 10 day vacation in the middle of her 60 days off! CLASSIC
Check out Duchess or Diva’s take on this appearance:
http://katemiddletonduchessordiva.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/diva-working-hard-at-hardly-working/
Lovely? No, not to me. She has 0 presence. She even makes the diamond necklace look like costume. How many times is she going to go to the same damn gallery and stare at the same portraits? Why not visit flood victims or the volunteers?
I noticed that. She’s been to that gallery how many times now???
Heck, one of her abandoned patronages had to throw a party in the gallery to get her to show up!!
The first think I noticed is the name of the jewel is “Nizam of Hyderabad”. I’m from the subcontinent so everytime I see British monarchy wearing a piece of jewellery which is obviously from the Indian subcontinent I think, who handed that over to them? Is it like the Kohinoor – a huge diamond that the British refuse to return. After all that thinking, I checked out her dresa and hair and yeah, it’s all good. She obviously pays a lot of money to dress and groom well, so she better look good!
That necklace was actually made by Cartier and was a wedding gift from the Nizam to the Queen. That necklace never belonged to anyone on the subcontinent. In fact, it was never owned and not even picked out by the Nizam. He told Cartier to let the Queen pick something out and she picked the necklace.
Her speech was absolutely PATHETIC.