Here are some photos of the British royal family’s Christmas outing yesterday. The whole clan – with a few notable absentee royals – made their way to church on Christmas morning. Kate and William were there, and so were Kate’s parents and siblings. But Prince George was not invited, because… he’s loud. Super-loud. Prince Charles were there but not Camilla, because she apparently threw out her back. Poor Cammy.
For Christmas day, Kate chose shades of brown instead of black (she’s been wearing a lot of black lately, right?). What Kate Wore says the coat is probably by Moloh, perhaps the Turpin style, only Kate had the coat made longer (and presumably more buttony). The hat is a repeat Lock & Company piece. She’s worn that several times. We’ve seen the earrings before too – they are Catherine Zoraida Double Leaf earrings. Apparently, when Kate was speaking to some of the well-wishers waiting outside the church, she confessed to feeling very “big.” Well, you’re preggo, girl! It’s okay to feel big.
As for how Kate and Will split their time between the Middletons and the royals, from what I gather (from the Daily Mail) is that Will and Kate did Christmas morning with the royals, then church with everybody, then Will had a very Middleton-heavy family dinner at Anmer Hall. The Middletons were not invited to Sandringham with the Queen at any point, although the Mail does say that the Queen “personally invited” the Middletons to church on Christmas and the Middletons “tactfully” drove themselves to church and arrived ahead of the royal family. As for Will and Kate’s decision to spend Christmas dinner away from the royals, a source said: “The Queen understands that they have other family commitments.” You can read more here.
Oh, and the Queen wore Angela Kelly – the coat and hat are both by Kelly.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.
I noticed on the daily mail photos that Pippa was wearing a wiglet/fall. All of a sudden her thin, limp hair was full and thick. Also missing was boyfriend/fiancée Nico.
I noticed that Kate’s hair seemed to have been freshly blown out. I hope she didn’t make her regular stylist or a local one work on Christmas morning.
I’m betting that almost no royal staff had yesterday off. It’s a pretty big day for the royal households.
My expat friends invited me over for Boxing Day shenanigans today. When I asked what Boxing Day was in regards to they had no idea. So, we looked it up! Turns out Boxing Day is for the servants essentially… It is the day when all the servants receive Christmas Boxes and their Christmas Celebration as they most likely worked the days leading up to and on Christmas Day.
So! @Lady D, you are most likely correct in that probably Royal Staff was all working on Christmas Day and enjoy Boxing Day off. My British friends were dumbfounded as they had no idea. Learn something new everyday. 🙂
@Ripley–servants’ day off? Nothing like holding to tradition, is there? Not that it’s any different here in the States among our elite, though. If anyone has seen Lee Daniels’ “The Butler”, I’m sure you’ll agree.
MF Hmmm
HMs DoE PC P Anne, Sophie – all smashing and look stressfree (no bill *waity middletons). Lovely group to Sunday service. HM is fabulous – as is PAnne colour and boots. Sophie hat is interesting.
Only missing P Harry, DoCorrnwall, Zara and the Yorks.
I know everyone talks about Kate’s looks but William looks so drained of energy and life , IMO He looks like he’s forty already from some angles.
Looks nice! I’m not a fan of wearing brown myself, but I like this coat on her.
Agreed. It’s a lovely coat. But, without it, what do we have? A brown dress, brown hose, brown shoes, brown clutch, brown hat. Blerghhh!!!! And all autumnal colors for a Christmas Day service? I love HM’s color choices instead. And Sophie looks lovely.
I suppose the coat is nice – for an eighty year old.
I do like that hat. And for once her suede shoes look as if they are either new or brushed.
Daily Mail did a nice job of photoshopping Kate’s face.
And yet the Queen looks vibrant and young. Love that color on her.
Hate the hat – mainly because of the bow. Hate bows on principle.
AH, I hope you weren’t a royal watcher during the early Fergie days. Her style was all about bows for a long time. Do you make an exception for Queen Victoria’s diamond bow brooches?
Nope, I was too young for royal watching during the Fergie days, thank God. And no, I don’t make execptions for any bow, even those with diamonds. My father’s aunt had this giant diamond ring shaped like a bow. It covered several of her fingers. The diamonds were lovely but it is still one of the ugliest rings I have ever had the misfortune to lay my eyes on. The only time I’ve made an exception for a bow, and a big one at that, was Maxima’s navy number with the huge shoulder bow – and that is purely down to her exuberant personality.
Understood. No bow tiaras in your upcoming book. Max’s personality makes up for a lot of her fashion choices.
I could see that. AH, you obviously don’t care for Kate Spade designs, she uses a lot of stylized bows. I usually wouldn’t be into bows either, but for some strange reason this hat doesn’t get me. The coat, on the other hand, reminds me of something from Downton Abbey.
There are other issues with this performance today that suggest all is not well in the House of Windsor.
Are my eyes going? I don’t see a bow on the Queen’s hat. Looks like two feathers to me. What’s wrong with my eyes that I cannot see a bow? ( I feel about hearts as you do about bows. No heart jewelry for me.)
I love hats and wish they would come to America, but alas, I don’t think they’ll ever take over here.
Besides wondering why the Queen is never without a purse I always wonder where her hat storage room is and just how many there are. I’d so love a peek. Can you imagine that rainbow of color?
The bow is on Kate’s hat. I am not as averse to feathers as I am to bows. However, feathers need to be used sparingly on hats. The bird-crash-that-has-crash-landed-on-your-head is not a good look on any lady.
As I understand it, the Queen uses her purse for signaling during events. I suspect there is a manual on the Queens purse code hidden in a butler’s pantry somewhere so new staff can learn the code.
Someone published an article about the handbag code during the Jubilee, so they may have changed the code now.
AH
You are hilarious! I love bows on children’s dresses. That’s my 1 exception. And I love thin silver celtic style knotted jewelry that sort of looks like bows, but that’s where it ends. After that I share your distaste.
Nota
The handbag code is so interesting. So many public figures had subtle gestures that you wouldn’t think twice about, but was a signal. I could read book after book on that. Better yet I love knowing current codes to look for them myself. The Queen’s handbag movements and How Prince Charles gestures, stands, and speaks are so simple, but not without meaning. I read years ago Charles when with reporters will make a joke, get the reporters laughing, and that’s the signal for his seurity to usher him away while everyone is still laughing.
I also make an exception for Princess Estelle’s little hair bows because she is so darn cute!
Her red bows are a fund raiser for the Childhood charity, so that is a nice family tie-in.
•ArtHistorian•
I actually don’t mind this bow. If a bow is understated or doesn’t make something too girly I’m okay with it. And the bow works for me here — which is rare as I usually dislike Kate’s hats.
Overall (and I appear to be in the minority here) I actually like how she looked. All the pieces actually work nicely together and aren’t competing for attention.
Seems odd that QE would invite the Midd clan to Christmas service but not Sophie’s widowed father. If I was Kate’s sibling or parent, I would not have attended Christmas church with the Windsors bc it just looks so very very hanger–on-y.
Sophie’s Dad is a nice, unpretentious man. The Midds have worked collectively to get Kate the Ring of Doom and no one is going to keep them from showing everyone that they have made it. Who cares if people snicker at them and call them pathetic with their signet rings and airs! They are family to the future Queen Consort & future King George, dammit!
Sophie doesn’t even take both of her kids to these events – I didn’t see any photos of Viscout Seven at the church and at 7 you would think he would be old enough.
I think Sophie’s father gets invited up for New Year’s. James tends to get into trouble when they bring him out, so they must still feel he’s not ready.
@Pip, I just think Kate didn’t want anyone to steal her thunder. She has to know everyone likes George way more than her (including me!), and he and the nanny would likely be the center of attention on the walk.
Sophie’s father gets invited for New Year’s, and it’s sort of a special case for him as HM doesn’t do that for anyone else. She didn’t invite the Middletons, Will and Kate did because they’re staying at Anmer Hall. I don’t think Kate is comfortable spending time with the royals, apparently they didn’t do Christmas Eve at Sandringham which is the most important part for HM.
Are we sure they were invited by HM? Or is it a public service? If they are there “by invitation” it would be William who invited them, I doubt HM would. Edit: Just saw AM addressed this below. Anyone can attend with prior notification.
Interested to see if they’re invited to the Boxing Day shoot.
@MinnFinn
Especially when the Midds are not known to be church goers.
Another new coat? Is this a tax write off for Charles? Why does she need a new coat?
She must have a separate closet just for her coast. Lol.
hmmm – That’s the thing – they aren’t church goers. To this American, they appear so out of place and it seems like such an intrusion on the Windsor Christmas Day dog and pony show.
I expected Kate to wear a new coat but seeing it made me a little sad tbh. What’s sad is the juxtaposition of the retail price of Kate’s appearance today (at-home blowout £200? + coat £685 + hat £249 + £400 shoes +£140 earrings) compared to the very kind supporters who spent money on flowers for her that they probably could not afford.
Also sad that she has another new coat which brings the total of her coats to 70 or more but she’s only done about 60 appearance this year.
Minnfinn – why suggest her supporters can’t afford a few flowers? Is everyone so impoverished in England that they can’t afford three stems of carnations?
I find that an interesting attitude for someone who works in charity fund raising.
1 in 6 children in the UK live below the poverty line. Overall in 6 people in the UK live in poverty. 25% of the UK choose between food and heat.
Megan – The wealth disparity between the flower givers and recipients seems to be lost on you. I don’t know how to help you understand what I said other than suggest you consult a dictionary for the definition of juxtapose.
And of course W&K have supporters in the UK who can afford 3 stems of carnations and much more.
In photos of today’s crowd, the supporters appeared to be middle class. And since most of the middle class live pay check to pay check, I would rather see such a person give the Cambridges a handmade card and spend the flower money on themselves.
How condescending to presume you know someone’s economic status from a few photos. And how snobbish to think you know better than they how they should spend their money. As someone who does charity fundraising, I know the difference between good intentions and prejudice and judgement.
Adding information to the conversation is not prejudice and judgement. The UK is in serious economic trouble and the costs of the royals aren’t helping. Hence many of the discussions we have on here.
Bottom line here. There are a great number of citizens in the UK is suffering financially. And the royals still live and act as though that isn’t happening. The some citizens still want to buy flowers to give to them is their choice. i’d imagine no one is forcing them. It seems more like an image issue.
Though, the way Megan formed the argument makes no sense I think end result we might agree.
And OT, but.. Megan. You were very judgmental and condescending to me when I chimed in on Charity work potential. I gave little backround of my charity work and you assumed I phoned in a few hours of volunteer work. Is it fair to call out others when there’s no self admission for your own deeds?
FLORC- you don’t see anything condescending in presuming to tell Kate’s patrronages how they should deploy her to raise money?
Megan – I apologize for insulting your intelligence when I suggested you did not know the meaning of juxtapose.
Regarding your statement – “How condescending to presume you know someone’s economic status from a few photos.” Had I judged the crowd to be affluent or aristos, would that have been condescending?
Minnfinn – if you wanted to make a point about the largess of the Royal family you could have done so without making negative assumptions about people you assumed to be of a lower economic status.
Hmmm
Tag in on your extension –
Guests at Christmas day church I feel bring flowers to our beloved QEll (evem if they bought items for PG, proper protocol is HM is present to receive). HM looked at waity last year, walking ahead to collect her own instead of staying behind HM like Sophie and the blood princesses to help HM. It seem HM did not personally receive this year to avoid waity lack of respect.. Past sunday servive HM continuie to be diplomatic by not receiving as she did not Christmas day.
Royalist did comment on Waity lack of respect from last Christmas (lessons learn by becoming a real royal family member and representing).
Maybe he doesn’t believe in sky fairies & doesn’t wish to attend church services.
I think the Queen wants to show that she is making every reasonable effort to support William’s marriage as well as present a united front for the BRF. I read in the DM that the Middletons went shooting with William, and the hunting party was granted use (by the Queen) of Wood Farm for a luncheon. That, in an indirect way, and their attendance at Christmas service, is showing acceptance of the Middletons into the royal family. I don’t think for one minute she doesn’t see how grasping Carole is, or that the siblings are untalented but fame-hungry, or that they all have unimaginably thick skins and prefer to associate with people who quite possibly look down on them for being social climbers. I think she just wants to keep the peace with William, and avoid giving Kate any excuse to make his life miserable because she thinks her family is being shut out of a life of wealth and luxury that they all worked to help her secure.
Nailed it. That’s really lovely. I like the length.
It does look like the Middletons try to socially benefit from their daughter’s marriage to a future king. Be a little more low key and you’ll get that social climber tag off you.
They most certainly also try to benefit financially from their royal connection – Pippa and james would not get the media coverage for their various odd business ventures if it wasn’t for the fact that their sister married into royalty.
They are cashing in on the connection and it looks very tacky. Mother Middleton should also retreat.
It’s more obvious Given other married in royals families do not do this. They stay low profile and live with minimal intusion on Royal news and life. That the Middleton’s are no so well linked to the BRF it warrants a side eye.
They’ve won the main prize but don’t know how to back off and “win”‘ the next phase. It honestly has nothing to do with me BUT in trying to convert Will Windsor into Will Middleton (and to greedily secure all that hey can for themselves) they will win each battle only to lose the war. And the war is that of the public’s deference, tolerance and affection.
On a side note, though, William is no victim. He gets what he wants too. He gets to sock-it to those who dared not to openly love and support Mummy. In carrying her baggage forward, in a very reactive & petulant way, he shows that he won’t be cowed and controlled by Buckingham Palace & its various courtiers. I think instead of positioning himself as a force to be reckoned with, he is basically positioning himself for a slow take down if and when all sides (media & courtiers, etc) truly begin to collude. He will them see that he walks a delicate balance re: who owns who & why Mummy played the game.
I feel like every story about William is just a notch in the slow, inevitable decline of the royal family and one more step towards their eventual take-down (for lack of a better word). QE2 is such an amazing royal, but I feel once she is gone it’s going to be a slow decline and I can’t imagine them still being in the same limelight and power in 30 years.
Dena
+1000 – well said.
Our expectations are too high a standard for the likes of a classless, climbing bunch of common wannabes, who fail to show humility and respect to HM, the Monarchy.. With the con tactics with Wil and now P George.
As to P Willnot – he need a refresher ‘besppke’ History course of his ancestry ( G grand uncle Eddie). The powers that be, arstos fierce protection of GB UK CW monarchy history, traditions and granduer may be Willnot demise. Will be have a repeat – a King Henry!
Pippa
What is your native language?
I’d feel I could better understand your comments and how they’re constructed if you would answer this. All I can understand is you can’t say Will or Kate and you dislike them greatly. Though, i’d like to understand the substance of your comment to engage in conversation.
Dena, +100,000
Bravo, I’m applauding vigorously your post on William.
Your comment sums up everything I have been thinking about him concerning his actions and the Middleton’s, but could not verbalize.
I totally agree.
Why this obsession about the royals? Two posts today and both are for them. Do Americans care about Kate,william or Harry?I thought only the English were interested.
Are you kidding?! We Americans are very interested in the royals. 🙂 I think it’s interest in the whole fairytale/insanely rich scenario.
I think you Americans are more interested about the royal family than us Brits.
Don’t be so sure about that.
I’m just here to judge the coat. Meh.
So true – Fairytales – Queens, Princes-tiaras diamonds – whats not to love.
Most of us love following our QEll, the Monarchy. King Bertie QEl – RF traditions history respect (with all the fascinating warts- Wallis Eddy and all); savior in King Bertie. Another maybe needed to right the Traditions (King Harry and a royal wife), the respect lacking from P William (inspite all his parents instill as heir /his role), and enforce the continuity of the Monarchy to the people of UK GB CW.
Christmas day church (which seem very different odd for HM Traditions), Prince Harry was ignored by PWill in giving HM her respect while she was departing – p Harry was the only one at attention and bow to her leaving, while PW*Waity continue talking fake ‘togetherness’ for photogs on the front steps. DoE PC seem to have left with PA and PR.
ArtHistorian
Interesting facts of Sisi and her demise.
Actually Sara’s pretty spot on. I was dating this English guy and he didn’t even know their names. I said something about Princess B and he was like is that the one with weird eyes? Then we had a long discussion about how he’s never actually paid much attention to the Royal Family. He doesn’t care. It might just be a Northern thing but unless you read gossip mags and blogs you’re probably not paying much attention to them.
Most of us love our RF – and observing the contradiction the middletons have placed on P Will -ma carole middletons hangers on want celeb status at tax payers and the BRF Title wealth and expense of the Monarchy.
Most fear if P Will do not wake up soon we will have another crisis.
Ma pa carole middletons hangers on social status without P William now PG, is no where close to the original Kardashians – pa Robert Kardashian was a wealthy successful Attorney (before infamous OJ *), -ma Kris flew. Bruce Jenner is a multi Olympian record breaking/ setting gold medalists.
Its the current trashy reality TV, other ventures most associate the trash of the family. But they Work for their millions (above ma pa carole middletons PP); and unlike the middletons using P Will and the royals for their gains.
I believe it is because there aren’t that many celebrity stories the past couple days because it is the holidays and the gossip columns on are vacation. I don’t mind since I follow the royals and I love this site!
Many of us prefer royals from other countries, not the BRF, so we encourage Kaiser however we can. More stories about royals in general means more stories about royals outside of the Brits.
I’m an American and I’m usually read about the BRF but reading about the Swedish royals got my fairy tale jones going. CP Victoria and Prince Daniel look like a couple in love. Victoria is not shy about PDA, neither is Daniel. and Princess Estelle is adorable. They seem like a well adjusted couple. I think the BRF and Prince Albert II of Monaco’s clam get the coverage they get because they are the tabloids’ and gossip sites’ dream: adultery (pick one), drunkiness, baby mommas (that’s YOU Albert!!), outside kids (Stephanie Grimaldi), naked Vegas trips (can’t leave Harry out), infighting, (Charles vs. Andrew), catfighting (Camilla vs. Kate, Kate vs. Eugenie & Beatrice), social-climbing in-laws (the Middletons) you name it!! A smorgasbord of royal ratchet-ness. No wonder the American press tag the British royals as “celebrities” (a term I know bristles the queen) because they are no different than the Kardashians.
@Aquarius……….the Swedes do show a classy and yet real side to royalty.
The Swedish RF has had their share of scandals though (as well as tragedies).
Aquarius – Don’t forget my favorite Uncle Gary, Duke of the House of Bang-Bang.
While P Willnot (billy middleton) Waity doolittle ignore royal Traditions Duties to HM, and the Monarchy history, by changing the reigning monarch Diamond rule and holding his own court at AH (listening to ma carole strategy and the middletons) – this amounts to treason and could remove his Line ( nulified). There is some protocol rule governing the reigning Monarch.
King -Prince Harry 2d in Line to PC!
Aquarius64 @7:24
Reread and you are sooo festive and quite a racket! I can see you sipping that brandy Eggnog and typing.
The coat is dowdy, but what else to expect from Kate?
Pippa & Carole looked rough. You’d think they’d pull out all the stops since they got their wish.
Best dressed was Sophie.
Agree – Sophie looked great.
yes, Sophie did look great!
I think Sophie wore the same coat last year:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2529140/Four-generations-Royal-Family-gather-Sandringham.html
Agree, I don’t care for this blah, sorta dated-looking coat. It reminds me of ’70s maxi coats. Tall boots would have looked much better than those shoes, BTW. Pippa and Carole always rub me the wrong way and their presence on this occasion is no exception.
I actually like the coat and scarf but Kate is not chic enough of mature enough (in her own being or with her style since (beyond university) to pull of this type of look. Don’t know if that was well stated but there it is.😄
@Dena, I know what you mean. She often looks so overly primped, uptight and buttoned-up (literally and figuratively), that there’s no room for panache or chic.
@Olenna – u got it. Forgive the typos. Just reread my message. Used my phone to post.
Kate’s coat looks very drab, WWII to me.
The Queen however?!?! Gorgeous! On so many levels!
Kate’s coat does have that WWII look, combined with the gentile country mistress of the “pile” look. Downton Abbey!
On the Queen. OK, the color is good, the tailoring is fine, but the hat shape is one she favors and quite honestly it has vibrations of Dr. Seuss to me. Always has. I don’t consider the Queen a stylish woman these days, but in her defense she is tasteful and stodgy. That’s OK with me, she’s an old lady who cares about that stuff. You don’t see the crazy eyeliner or skirts flying up with the Queen, because………….the lady is a LADY. Unlike Kate who acts like a tart sometimes. (I know that is going to send people off on me and go for it. In the last few years, Kate has demonstrated how stupid she is.)
I must admit that I have a certain fondness for odd hats, like QMII’s teletubbies-spaceship hat or Maxima’s insect antenna fascinator. Yes they are ugly as hell, but they are is also fun and whimsical – and indicates a certain sense of humour on the part of the wearer.
Sophie looked the best. She looks great.
IMO She looks better than Kate even though she’s almost 20yrs older.
I still don’t really buy the “personally invited” bit about the middletons. I think they just figured out a way to weasel their way into the church service, I doubt the queen did anything but refuse to ban them from attending. Honestly I wish she would put her foot down when it comes to W&K&C, or atleast tell Will to grow a pair when dealing with the Inlaws……
You have to be invited to get through security and get in the church
The service isn’t invitation only – local members of the parish are welcome, provided they give advanced notice of their intention to attend.
I hadn’t realized that there is also a church at Anmer that they could have attended.
I get the feeling they probably weren’t officially invited, but I doubt security would have thrown them out (unfortunately!). That would have been some horrible PR for the royal family.
It’s all William pleasing the Middleton’s. What Carole and Kate want, he eventually finds a way to get them.
I think the trouble will come for The Middleton’s when Charles takes the reins.
I don’t believe for a second that the Midds pushing in, is going to fly with Charles no matter how much the press tries to convince everyone they are wanted.
Something happened this holiday at Sandringham during talks and the press basically ignored the information but a few reports have come out that from now onward Prince Charles has been put in charge of running Sandringham, by the Queen and Pr.Phillip.
happy day after everyone
I like the Queen’s coat/dress better.. she looks great in that HOT PINK.
Kate’s fashion just seems to consist of wearing coats. I don’t get why she is considered a fashion icon.
It seemed to me that there was some sort of coordination/agreement that the other Royals did not compete with the Queen – all of the main coats were in muted shades of browns, beiges and creams except for Princess Annes wearing a dark red
I don’t even think the English are interested. Except Sixer, she loves all things RF. Oh, and Morissey too, count him in.
*oops, this was meant to be in response to Greek Chic.
@mimif yes I agree, I don’t think the English care these days..
Apart from that, Κate has terrible style and is so boring, even fashion-wise has no interest, so I don’t get this obsession with her. This brown ensemble is really awful!
I don’t care about royals in general but Charlotte Casiraghi is more pretty,stylish and interesting that her.
Kate *is* boring, (Will is very immature), and everyone will finally catch on, in my opinion. It’s too bad – but it’s their own poor work ethic that drags them down. They should have captured hearts after they were married, as the whole world waited on bated breath (for Diana’s legacy). I also believe that it is very important to we understand that their royal positions entitle them, to all the vacations and downtime they may desire; yes, all of our dreams are being fulfilled behind closed doors.
I’m curious as to why William woman can say that Kate has nightmare hair; and the next day DM has an article about how her hairstyle has evolved as a princess… The connection between the royals and the press, might explain said, “obsession”.
There are some major problems in my post above, but please don’t make me fix it!
Warmest Holiday Hugs to all the Royaloonies.
wolfpup…..hugs to you.
Wolfpup,it’s what the DailyMail does, anytime something might be said that could be considered in a negative light about Kate, ..They turn it into a positive piece.
As when the NYC children were originally said to voice their disappointment that Kate wasn’t and didn’t dress like Elsa from Frozen, the papers in the UK changed the tone and said the children thought Kate was Elsa.
•mimif•
Actually not true. There are a number of royal blogs that are authored by Brits! Nationality is not a huge factor in the attraction of royals or royal history.
LS: Go check out PrincessDianaRemembered. There are 56,000 visitors that identify from the US, and 17.000 from Britain. Perhaps if one calculated the population differentials, one could find other numbers.
Now I get what you mean by hints, bluhare.
I’m betting the Queen approved of Kate’s longer hemline. In fact, I can’t help but wonder if Kate was basically ordered to wear longer hemlines for the remainder of her pregnancy?
In her first pregnancy, she often wore short skirts and short coats. Not a nice pregnancy look IMO for a wife of a future King.
Oooooh! Tweed, brown and suede-love it. So sumptuous, especially with the lovely scarf!
a looks to me like Kate has some sort of cold sore on her lower lip.
yeah I see it too
It does look like one, but it’s just speculation. Coverage products and medication have come so far. It doesn’t appear to just be a pimple on the line where lip meets skin. It’s too far into her lip for acne.
Pregnancy certainly can trigger an outbreak when normally it’s well under control.
Why can’t they spend xmas with Will’s family and the day after wirh Kate’s? Is there something less warm and beautiful about family time in the day after xmas?
Christmas service is a status symbol for the Midds. How else to explain its relevance to them. Especially when you remember Kate & George live with the Midds most of the time. So it’s not as if this is the first opportunity this side of the family gets to see them. It’s actually the opposite.
Sounds about right. All married people and most children of divorce have to make compromises at the holidays. I cringe at the future when their other children are married and their in-laws embrace the Middletons with holiday invites, who in turn snub the other in-laws/grandchildren in favor of being marginally tolerated by the royals.
Exactly Mia
This was all about pushing for The Middleton’s.
I think Kate actually shortened the hemline on that coat. The original Molo coat comes up to the ankle but here Kate shortened the length which is fine in this instance. I am never a huge fan of a full length coat.
I love the style of Kate’s coat but the brown is just meh.
I love the color of the Queen’s coat but whose godawful idea was it to put a red feather on a purple hat?
She’s actually wearing a red dress under the pink coat. The photo above has been ‘shopped to be all pink, but the dress was red. So I guess the red feather was because of the red dress underneath. 🙂
Why in the world would she wear a red dress under a pink coat? That’s a dreadful combo.
That I can’t answer, but she was wearing a red dress. I watched the video of them leaving the church.
The dress is half red, half pink. I guess it’s harlequin pattern?
It does look like some kind of colorblocked dress, doesn’t it, divided down the center? In another photo there is a big section that is red to match the feather on the cap. From one side the dress looks red, from the other it matches the coat. And the coat is either pink or purple depending on what site you look at.
This color photoshopping is out of control. In some of the photos of CP Victoria’s gorgeous Nobels dress, they had changed the color to fuchsia instead of red.
I don’t have any brown coats myself, but I like that. Her hair always looks good, it’s too bad those hats have to plopped down on the stylists work
THOSE SHOES!! THAT HAT!! NOnononono. Jesus, that hat looks like 30’s elevator uniform. And nothing against Payless Shoes, but she had to have gotten those there. I have no other explanation/justification. The Queen is boss as all hell, tho.
LOL. I love the energy of your comment.
Another $1000 coat?
Considering she’s got the wherewithal to spend much more than that on a coat if she chooses, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.
The person whose coat should be criticized is Beatrice. What the hell was she thinking?
bluhare, it isn’t her money. As someone pointed out upthread, she has over 70 coats or coatdresses already. She could have worn one of the many coats she wore last time she was expecting.
Sideways stripes are nobody’s friend. I think Eugenie made the same mistake with an (otherwise) cute purple dress a couple years ago. Any ID on Beatrice’s coat?
Just her coat? Her shoes, Bluhare, her shoes!!! One cause the heel is way too high for anything but clubbing but they have to be a whole size too big. Look at the back of her foot. I’m actually a little embarrassed for her.
She tries so hard and gets it so wrong. But honestly, none of the Windsor women are or were particularly dashing—maybe Margaret.
Whimsical, maybe? I’m thinking disaster.
I think Eugenie looks great, though. 1 win, 1 what-were-you-thinking from the Yorks.
I am no Kate apologist, nas, although I feel like one here sometimes! I can find many things to criticize about her, but this coat is not one of them. Matter of fact, her clothes aren’t something I criticize often mostly because if she looks appropriate, I don’t care. What I care about is what she does while she’s wearing them and in that I find her lacking. She gets a lot of attention on what she wears, unnecessary attention in my opinion, and so she does have to have some variety. And people do complain no matter what she does. New coat? Spendthrift. PreWorn Coat? Boring.
Personally, I think the outfit she wore when they got to New York City would have been lovely, although HM may have found it too short. But if she thought that was too short it was nothing compared to Beatrice.
SHE deserves some flack for that ridiculous outfit she wore. To church. On Christmas. Sideways stripes are the least of it. The length and the bouffant skirt do her no favors. And the shoes look like they have rocket thrusters in them. (SO agree with you Dena!) Totally awful from shoulders to feet. A person might think she was trying to draw attention to herself. She certainly succeeded in that.
Bluhare, that is kind of my point. She should stop shopping, wear what she already has, and get to work. I’d rather she be criticized because she wears the same coat (twice! shocking!) if it means she’s wearing the coat multiple times because she’s working more. If every time she’s seen she’s seen wearing some thing new, it will always be about the clothes and not the work.
I was hoping for an ID on Beatrice’s coat to see if it was brand name or new designer. Sometimes the Yorks wear new young designers to try to promote them, which is great, except the new young designers are wet behind the ears. The purple dress I mentioned before was from a new designer, interesting idea bad execution.
Bluhare😀😀😀
Notasugar – u of all people know that Kate & Will don’t give us much to comment on. We’ve been in agreement on that in the past. Old coat, new coat, side buttons? WTF. Your wish/desire that he/she/they do more is not coming. Surrender it😊😊. They are the Edward & Wallace of their generation.
For me, I rarely, rarely comment on Kate’s clothing (other than its appropriateness) because I refuse to help set & keep the bar that low for her. Fashion is fashion. Cool. I don’t have a problem with it but to constantly give her & him a get out of jail free card and to expect so little is a disservice and an insult to people who do so much more with their lives than those two walking ornaments.
Now to Beatrice, u mentioned young designers. I think if Beatrice dressed more for her body type & coloring & less trying to be trendy, she could truly be fashionable. Cause honey, those young designers (if that’s whose lead she follows) often have her out and about looking like a hot mess. But I give her props for trying although she is failing miserably. Poor thing. Bless her heart.☺️
Sad thing is, Beatrice can get it so right. The cream Roksanda Ilincic with the bright blue cuffs. The pale pink Elie Saab. She can get it right, she just doesn’t much of the time. An intervention from Lady Sarah Chatto may be in order.
OK, whatever. I really don’t care what the Yorks wear, they aren’t touted as fashion icons. The press has turned Kate into something she obviously is not. She seems to play along with it, and that’s why she receives negative commentary.
Bluhare
While I think you just dislike the York sisters I agree. What was Bea thinking. And it does say a lot when us jelli h8ers have become “kate apologist” of sorts here. Though the bar and standards are not what they should be. No flash counts as a win for her.
Vava
Fair point. The Yorks are known for poor fashion choices and bearing the sins of their parents. Kate is raised up as a fashion icon that she just isn’t. And by even pro Kate reports she’s let it go to her head.
nas, I thought your point was that $1000 is too much to spend for a coat. SHe’d be spending that on coats whether she was working or not. 🙂
Beatrice. I’d love to sit down and psychoanalyze her some time. I think there’s some serious passive aggressive stuff there.
PS FLORC, I actually don’t really care one way or another about the Yorks, but some people elevate them to sainthood and use that to slam Kate. And I don’t think they’ve done much noteworthy, but then neither have a lot of people. So my reaction about the Yorks has more to do with that then any real opinion of them.
bluhare, when she has 70 other coats or coatdresses, yes I side-eye spending another $1000 of the taxpayers money on another coat.
First of all, you don’t know that taxpayer money was spent on this particular coat. From what I understand this is a personal day not counted as work. Secondly, I think battles need to be picked. This is not one I care to wage, as I think it plays into the pretty doll persona I wish she would avoid.
Therefore, uncle. If you’d like to have the last word re taxpayer funding of Kate’s wardrobe, have at it, nas.
Kate looks nice but I really wish she wouldn’t wear such harsh eye makeup. It really ages her.
Agree.
Tthe Yorks are not heir or wife of – B*E getting in the festive spirit but seem to forgot Church – Bea should have kept her coat on until at grannie for lunch/dinner.
Someone at the Church Christmas said Waity was very sig and dint speak to the other royal ladies – the Yorks- Yorks need to stand firm, very likely theoir line could move up.
Bets are on Waity will be divorced soon – against tradition with ma carole and middletons hangers on Christmas Day when day after was just as. Why carole and the lot took root at AH weeks leading up-.
Reported The Firm in panic due Will lack of respect, tradition and duty to HM the monarc. Waity will not be consort and Will will give up Line to Prince Harry.
After baby will see – Ma carole middleton dreams or nightmare.
That coat is gorgeous and I want it. Very nitpicky and probably only bothers me, but I hate black gloves with a brown tweed coat.
Also, I don’t really follow the Royal family or the Middletons, so I could very easily be missing something, but I don’t get why the Middletons presence is such an issue. I spent last year’s Christmas with my brother’s in-laws (and besides me, their other daughter’s parents-in-law were also there). People want to spend the holidays with their families and loved ones. Why is that okay for every other family that celebrates Christmas, but when the Middletons do it there has to be a social climbing motivation behind it?
All other in-laws are excluded from the BRF Christmas. That is the tradition. Everyone else accepts it graciously. When/if W&K are in charge, they can run things their way. Until then, they should respect the traditions of the 88-year-old who keeps giving them millions in property/perks and they refuse to work in return.
As has been stated, the Middletons are not exactly regular church goers, so their presence doesn’t seem faith-motivated. Kate Middleton wasn’t confirmed until just before the wedding. The only other time I remember the Middletons being pictured going to church? The let’s-compete-with-HM pap stroll just after they announced W&K were expecting last time.
I will definitely side eye with you on this one, nas. Especially when I was told that there is a church right outside Anmer Hall they could have gone to if church on Christmas is important to them instead of being seen going to church on Christmas.
Any sign of Lady Sarah Chatto in any pictures? I’m not seeing her.
I’m trying to remember if Lady Sarah or Zara have ever missed being there before. Anyone?
None of Princess Margaret’s children or grandchildren were in attendance this year.
•notasugarhere•
Actually not all the Royal in-laws have accepted it gracefully. The Spencers were quite vocal about being cast aside, as have other Royal in-laws (but unlike the Spencers — most haven’t had the clout). That is why William has been determined to do it differently — and apparently QEII approves.
Some who think HM The Queen approves of how William behaves concerning the Middleton’s are dellusional. LOL
I think she simply not in the mood to argue with her Grandson over some things.
I don’t believe for a second the Queen likes the Middleton’s.
I think the Palace is playing it smart and laying in wait.
Also The Spencer’s were not novices in the traditions of who attends Church with the Queen, they NEVER made a stink or a spectacle about attending with the Queen.
The Middleton’s simply have no class and Carole is textbook pushy climbing stagemother, except she’s doing it Royally.
WhT the heck was Carole wearing her coat looked like she picked it up off a dusty floor full of lint, it was awful.
Lady Slippers et al.
I don’t have a dog in the fight in terms of who was where on Christmas. But LadySl mentioned perceptions & I think that’s the crux of it all. W/K & their handlers r doing a piss-poor job in managing perceptions. They will never satisfy everyone, of course, but I do think they need to do a better job managing perceptions because as we all know perceptions become reality.
Speaking of work, when is W doing the ambulance thing?
Also re: perceptions: I don’t think folks have a problem with people being upwardly mobile, but I don’t think the Midds will ever be able to shake the desperate (and grasping) social-climber rep that has attached itself to them—not in this generation anyway.
If spending Christmas with the Queen is such a sacred tradition, why were Zara and Mike in Australia picking up an appearance check at a yacht race?
Not making it up, it is a decades-long tradition. Zara and Mike not being there would have been with permission. Zara is involved with a charity connected to yachting, plus a set of meetings taking place soon in AU/NZ. Lady Sarah not being there makes me wonder. The more W&K show up, the less others choose to be there? Hmmm.
Zara and Mike are adults and not working royals. They do not need anyone’s permission to spend the holidays as they chose.
I think they would have asked permission of HM. It is the first time Zara’s missed this that I can recall, and she did it because she’s working.
Nota – so let’s see … You insist Kate and William have total control over their own schedule when you think they aren’t doing enough, demand they adhere to royal protocol when they aren’t doing what you want, and make excuses for other royals who don’t conform to the looney rules you set down for the Cambridge. You are quite the contortionist when it comes to the facts.
Sorry Megan, have to step in here. Surely you can see the difference between the Cambridges and the Tindalls. William/Kate are directly in line to the throne, they live off the largess of The Queen and Prince Charles. They give, frankly, not too much in return for their luxurious lifestyle, other than petulant attitude, especially from William. Zara/Mike on the other hand are “civilians” and as far as I can tell support themselves. I’m going to guess they probably get an assist from Princess Anne because they live on her estate.
These looney rules you are referring to are the rule established by The Queen. This is how she has in the past liked her year end holiday ordered. She’s the boss and she and Philip probably don’t have too much time left. Philip does not look well. Still not bad for a 93 year old man, though. When Bill/Kathy are the bosses, they can make the Middletons’ Knights of the Garter if they so choose.
Honestly, I’ve always felt it strange that people marrying in to the family have to give up their birth families on holidays. So I get what William is trying to do to a point. If the Cambridges were a little more hard working in response to their life of luxury, people might just view them a little differently.
BRF protocol is BRF protocol, Megan, not a set of looney rules made up by me. If W&K do not adhere to BRF protocol, yes they will be criticized. Others call them out on their protocol mistakes as well.
Members of the BRF have total control over their work schedules, that is well-established. Christmas Day with your grandmother is not work, it is a personal day she requests (requests not demands) of each member of her family. A personal day she requests is NOT a work day. Choosing to ignore the wishes of your 88-year-old grandmother who has given you so much? That is a personal choice on a personal day, not a work choice.
W&K have established a pattern of doing their best to take take take and not give back, and that includes their cavalier attitude to HM and her feelings. Ex. Commemoration service for HM’s mother and sister. The rest of the family was there (except Edward who was working). W&K were skiing and couldn’t be bothered to interrupt their holiday. The date of the service was set in advance, they could have scheduled around it — and they chose not to attend a personal family event that was important to HM.
Zara and Mike are not working royals. They have been at Christmas the other years for this personal family day. This year they are working (you may not like their work, but it is work). They would have asked and received permission from HM before agreeing to work and skip Christmas Day with the family.
JulieM – now I need to step in and note the hypocrisy of some commentors. It has been noted many times that the queen only asks her family to be present for Christmas. Some have even speculated that the queen gave William and Kate Anmer just to ensure they will be at Sandringham for Christmas. Where you fall in line for the throne should be irrelevant for attendance at Christmas. If it is mandatory for one, it is mandatory for all. The fact that Zara skipped Mia’s first Christmas at Sandringham to play rent-a-royal should not get a pass if you are cleaving to what you believe to be the royal rules.
Read Dickie Arbiter’s biography. He says most of these “rules” are BS invented by courtiers and the press.
Because Zara holds no royal or noble title neither she nor her husband have to attend the Queen’s holiday gathering. I believe she’s involved in some charity appearances right now. One would think, though, that the future King and his lazy wife would make room in their not very busy schedules to spend potentially one of the last Christmases with his very elderly grandparents. I agree with “JulieM” that William is trying to reduce the amount of pointless regulation and protocol with his position, but when you are provided with the very luxe and free lifestyle he and Kate have, one would expect them to work harder for it. Look at Harry for example, he has taken on a very active role with a variety of charitable organizations, and seems delighted to be involved. William…not so much. He faffs around with bespoke agricultural courses and a bare minimum of work between vacations and hunting. He’s living a lavish and indolent lifestyle on the taxpayer’s dime and should really ramp up his public duties as his and his wife’s reputations are tarnishing fast.
And I think everyone’s right. Megan’s partly right, and so is everyone else. Now, where that is, is the rub. 🙂
Mike & Zara probably did discuss missing Christmas with Gran. They seem considerate like that. I’m sure if they could have been there, they would have. With Mia in tow because they aren’t hiding their kid from the public.
The problem here isn’t who did or did not attend — it’s perception. And throwing in ‘protocol’ or financing to bolster arguments.
William made it very clear that unlike previous Royal in-laws, his were not going to be banished once marriage took place. Apparently QEII agreed and we have seen William (with HM’s approval on every decision) balance his family’s needs against his wife’s and is trying to be as fair as possible about it. Which, in my opinion, is quite commendable.
If HM didn’t agree, we would not see the Middleton’s half as prominent as they are. They would not have been in the carriage procession at Ascot nor would they have attended Christmas Day services (and their religiousness is irrelevant). HM is making an effort to include them after numerous complaints of ignored relations have been voiced over the decades. This likely means that Harry’s future in-laws will also be more included — which is a good thing.
Bottom line is — from everything I’ve read (including almost all this year’s Christmas coverage) HM is making an effort to include the Middleton’s and has approved of William’s plans, past and present. Anything else, including how we feel about any/all of the parties, ‘protocol’, or financing, is really not pertinent to the discussion. Sorry.
LadySlippers, you get to decide what’s pertinent to your input to the discussion, not the entire discussion, correct?
Personally I think the reasons why the queen capitulates are very much up for discussion. If we had to rely on dry hard facts, we’d have nothing to talk about.
•bluhare•
No. People are arguing who or who should be at Christmas celebrations and are throwing in items that are indeed irrelevant. You can argue this with things that are relevant, yet people aren’t. That’s my issue. Good arguments stick to relevant and pertinent topics.
I get that people aren’t nuts about either Cambridge or the Middletons and that colours perceptions and shouldn’t. And these threads often are tainted by that fact.
So we aren’t actually talking about whether HM capitulates or whether not she agrees with any of this. The thread is dominated by ‘protocol’, finances, and opinions on willingness to work. NOT on whether or not HM agrees to any of this.
LadySlipper’s you desperately sound as if you want everyone to believe that the Palace and Queen are Exhuberant that the Middleton’s have graced the Royals with their presence.
LOL.
I’m not buying it, sorry.
Irrelevant to you, LS. Apparently not to everyone else as the thread is long, and topics flip flop. 🙂
I actually agree more than disagree with you on this, and where I veer off is on whether the Queen “approves” or not. Tacit approval certainly. The Middletons are around. But really, truly approve? Not sure I’d go there.
Lady Slippers – well said on all points.
I see no evidence of HM welcoming the Middletons or approving of William’s behavior. I see the Middletons looking miserable attending a service that any member of the public was allowed to attend. I see HM being late (very uncharacteristic) to this service. Philip and William having harsh words. Harry and William having harsh words. HM leaving so abruptly Autumn Philips had to point it out to everyone. Nope, not seeing this as a “golly we’re so happy you could join us” situation.
There is video of Kate appearing to try to go talk to the Queen and the Queen looks like she can’t get away from the whole scene fast enough. IMO
Whereas watching old photos of interaction of the Queen with Sophie there appears to be a genuine warmth.
Just saying.
P.S. Bulhare sums it up correctly IMO.
It’s a begrudging approval by the Queen to allow them, to the public service,
….but IMO Only after being pushed on ,probably for several months or even the last few years by William.
Someone – Do you have a link to that video? I can only find one that starts with them standing on the steps after church after QE has already left.
I can’t find much online re- public reaction on Camilla’s absence and the story of a bad back. I wonder if it’s actually something else? It wouldn’t be the first time BP lied to the public.
POW DoC children and /inlaws are the ones to be present as daughter in law/senior monach. o HM NOT weak grandson Willy. Camilla away due to climber carole middletons. Royals smiles. fake sources afain claim , DoE P Royal HM kids, hate what Willnot doing to Traditions of RF.
Lady Di Spencer family had their own lives, did not use the royal connection for personal gains. Will see where the middletons all lead/ PWillnot and after the bump.
Oh I don’t think the Spencers are blame free here. They just didn’t have as far to climb.
Pippa
Your information is all so wrong. Where are you getting this stuff?
FLORC, I think your head’s going to get sore banging it against that wall. This person isn’t here to converse. She’s here to blather.
•bluhare•
Yes! Lol
•Florc•
As you probably know the Spencers (specifically the current Earl) have been quite happy to cash in on their Royal connections. Diana’s dress alone must have made quite a load of cash for the Earl.
LadySlipper’s the Earl Spencer is cashing in on her Heritage and his Illustrious Estate, all British Estates who need a influx of cash to continue generation after generation use their heritage and their estates to make money. Through writing books on their history, leasing their estates for film shoots, weddings, etc.
Althorp is a great Estate and it is the Earl’s duty to keep it running. He has not done anything wrong. We hardly ever see him now since his sister is gone. He is running his Estate as a business and all that goes with that.
Also the Spencer’s never complained about not attending church.
The Spencer’s are a 600 year old or Aristocratic British Family who know the drill concerning the Queen.
The statement says something like “put her back out” earlier this month. She had engagements 10th, 11th, 16th, 18th all in London. There are photos of her on the 11th helping children decorate the tree at Clarence House. I wonder if she’s already traveled to RayMill for Christmas with her kids and grandkids? Did she travel directly from London to RayMill and skip Sandringham completely?
Yes, I just have the feeling there’s more to the story with Camilla.
And as far as the Spencers; there was an interview with Diana’s father and step-mother just prior to the marriage of Charles and Diana. The step-mother stated they were glad everything was “resolved” though they didn’t explain. I think that was Diana wanting to back out of the wedding.
Many sources knew of Diana’s infatuation with Charles. Diana was too immature. So sad.
My guess is she hurt her back, didn’t follow her doctor’s advice and kept all of her engagements, and, now that she has some downtime, is dealing with the injury which has probably gotten worse. Not sure there is a conspiracy there so much as an aging woman who over did it.
That’s what I think too.
Not so sure about William’s ankle, though. 🙂
Megan and bluhare – Me too. I don’t see any indications of conspiracy. Also, in my experience, back injuries are fickle i.e. two steps forward and one step back.
Rumours are William’s ankle was bullcrap story.
UK press sources…….hearing things behind scenes, it was to put James in there…..more rumblings behind scenes which will probably only come out later in Sabastian Shakespeare’s column in the Mail. He seems to be the only one lately daring to tell any hard negatives he hears concerning Pr.William and Kate.
Season Greetings!
HM and Sofie Wessex was very chic and regal.
Waity again have the wrong lengthy and too much brown. Her hangers on middleton also look a mess especially Carole. Both ma Carole s-climber and hangers on padded bum sis, smirking that they got to attended (weak Willnot billy).
Willnot and Waity changing royal ttaditions in an awdul negative way. Only spell the end of the monachy if continues. If we must see common ma pa carole middletons and hangers on siblings who won’t get their own life – what’s the use of the monachy!
King Harry even seem remove from Willnot Doolittle, and was closer to the B*E Yorks, and. The Wessexs (thanks to Waity and the s-climbing middletons). Again, Zara and Mike didn’t bother to show, HM didn’t seem to receive her subjects flowers – LONG may she rein!.
My idea was that Ma Middleton wanted to do this thing aristos often do. Aristos sometimes underdress for certain occasions to show that they have such a high social standing that even dressing wrongly won’t harm it.
Pippa
The length is fine. Nothing wrong about it except it doesn’t meet your preference. It does fall into BRF protocol. The rest of what you type here is pure fantasy and conjecture.
Carole’s clothes looked awful. Her coat looked dirty in pictures like it was covered in lint.
Sorry she didn’t pull off the easy or slightly laid back mussed look some of the Aristos pull off.
Carole just looked unkempt and tired
I think Kate looks so dowdy here. The coat is pretty but not the way she styled it. The black tights with the brown shoes are throwing me off.
Actually she is wearing brown tights, not black. I think she looks wonderful myself. I love tweed.
The Queen looks so stylish !
I don’t mind Kate’s coat, it’s not my favorite, but not bad.
Were Beatrice & Eugenie put in the position of having to how to Kate? Haven’t seen any pics so just asking. Thanks.
•Dena•
My guess is the younger royals aren’t that into protocol so no one prob curtseys/bows to one another informally. However, protocol is observed for more formal events and if William is with Kate, that necessitates the York princesses curtseying to Kate. The reverse is true if William is not with Kate.
Thanks u 2. The reason I thought about it is because Kate & Will seem to be presenting such a self-conscious united front. I could be reading it wrong but the arm and arm looks more like a 😁type of death grip to me then a casual “I’m out and about with my love” kinda grip. Plus, the limited pics don’t show her too far from his side or in the company of lessor ranked royals than he. That’s why I was wondering.
•Dena•
They’ve held hands before on the walks to church (last year). William (in general) seems to be more affectionate in public when Kate is pregnant. Lol
The walk, however, isn’t ruled by precendence. Charles has walked behind his siblings — as have William and Harry walked behind cousins. Sometimes they actually walk as a normal family does. 😉
HM is the only one who receives bows during Christmas, makes it much easier on everyone. I believe other rules of precedence still apply though so I’m not sure why Kate walked ahead Charles and Philip out of the church. Then again I think Anne was ahead of everyone else on the walk to church with Harry in back?
I think the curtseying rules of the BRF are outdated and ridiculous! Most other RFs bow or curtsey to the monarch (as head of state) and that’s it. And internal pecking order in terms of bowing/curtseying is just snobbish.
•ArtHistorian•
A lot of what the BRF dors seems outdated. But QEII was born in the 1920’s and was raised in another era.
•Lisa Danielle•
Precendence doesn’t rule every aspect of their lives. During the walk to church, it’s very clear that they are walking as a family with no aspect of precedence being followed. Charles, William, and Harry have often been observed in the middle or at the back of the group.
LS.
I always get the feeling that the BRF is trapped in an odd little timepocket – and that QEII isn’t the most imaginative or adaptable monarchs. A lot of elderly people have troubles adapting to new times and new norms. However, the BRF is not just a social institution, it is also a family, and in terms of family dynamics, the insistence to an internal pecking order in terms of status is something that looks quite unhealthy to me because it can cause a lot of resentment and ill feeling, especially if it is used to put someone down and that is what the whole issue of curtseying and precedense between Camilla and Princess Anne looks like. And this is where Anne IMO doesn’t look good. Having a rule where the members of the BRF only curtsey/bow to the Queen (because she’s head of state) would sidestep such problems neatly.
I didn’t see any photos of E & B curtseying to K. But, I did see Daily Mail photos plus a short video earlier today that have caused me to believe there really is bad blood between them. Before today, I was a skeptic about that, but not so much any more.
I wonder what the York girls think about all the flowers Kate receives, or do they get bouquets also? I always see Kate, the Queen, and Camilla with flowers never the younger 2 girls. Is there a hierarchy in bouquet receiving?
IDK if there is a hierarchy for giving flowers. It does seem that younger BRF females are called on to help collect flowers for QE. I think I saw a photo of Bea with a bouquet on the walk after church.
Kate is side eyeing that lil blond cutie in the yellow coat…like she’s trying to figure out if that coat in that length comes in her size
The Queen rules in flashy fluorescent pink… love her, what a contrast
The Queen rules in flashy fluorescent pink… love her, what a contrast. A cute high heeled low boot would be more suited with a winter coat
I’m sorry, but I find her style very boring. Always so matchy matchy. She seems like a fine and lovely person, but I have not been impressed with very many of her style choices.
Kate is really trying hard to get the Royals and the aristo set to accept her family, isn’t she? I bet the deal was that either the Middletons were allowed to go to church with the RF OR Kate wouldn’t attend church with the RF. Kate had done that before.
Maybe Kate needed the enforcement of her family to feel safe in the presence of Eugenie and Beatrice?
Nope, don’t like Kate’s coat with that scarf. Coat is boring but at least long enough.
At least Beatrice wears something interesting. Sophie, Autumn and Eugenie looked lovely.
And yes, Pippa looks as if she wears some additional fake hair with her own. Seems like there is only one picture of Pippa. Apparently that is what Middleton hair looks like if you don’t spend astronomical sums on your spaghetti hair.
I watched a video of the Queen outside the church and she barely acknowledges Kate and Kate once again broke protocal of who walks out of chirch first, she followed the Queen and someone stopped her at the church door made her wait until Pr.Charles Pr.Phillip passed.
I wonder if Kate is just trying to be in the same camera shot as Elizabeth, and that’s why she doesn’t seem to care about protocol.
Most people casually clicking on royal gossip on the internet wouldn’t be paying attention to rules of protocol but they would look more closely at a picture of Kate with the Queen.
That would be hilarious if Kate bolted to the church door to get in the right shot -very Princess Michael of her
Sophie looks great as usual but I wish she’d ditch the white tights for Louise, who’s twelve!
Amen to that re: Loiuse. Modernize.
Given the horrifying way many 11-year-olds dress, I’m okay with Louise and her white tights.
I love Sophie
I wish she’d cut her hair short again tho
she doesn’t have hair that can be worn long – it looks unhealthy and frayed
Yes Sophie looks fabulous. She really had come into her own.
I think Louise looks good.
I actually like Kate’s style here, in particular the hat & scarf, yet at the same time, it reminds me of a stewardess’ uniform.
Kate needs to burn that hat. Between that, her jeggings and the wedges of doom, she could have a lovely bonfire on New Years Eve. I like the hat, but NOT on her. Her taste in toppers is horrendous, she doesn’t have an eye for millinery that flatters her face.
it’s so very telling – that comment…”I feel big”
she is such a narcissist- so self-obsessed. What a weird woman.
yeah.
Especially when she’s not big.
She carries strangely. Not much until month 7 then she delivered George weighing over 8 pounds. I remember reading comments such as “where did she hide it”?
She might be image obsessed, but that comment is normal. Lots of pregnant women that aren’t physically large do feel so. The extra weight changes how they carry themselves. The extra water throws the general feel of how you’ve always felt off. You literally feel big because you were never that large before in that way.
I thought Kate looked kinda chubby during her teens and early on at St. Andrews.
I think she developed an eating disorder shortly after meeting William and it worsened pre- wedding.
Kate was healthy in college. She starved herself down to “princess thin” and she’s done everything since to remain that size. Even pregnant, she hides her weight gain. Luckily for her, she doesn’t really pop until late, so she can strategically hide it until then.
the comment would be ” normal” if she were 9 months pregnant
but not at this point – she’s not even showing yet.
she made the same type of comment after PG
they were at a marathon function and she told someone, “i have to start walking so I can lose this weight” she was wearing skinny jeans – rail thin
There is something wrong with this vapid woman
sorry
Wow, I have to agree with you and the remark she made is consistent with her behaviour even before she got pregnant — i.e. starve herself down to extremely thin proportions and do whatever she has to do to maintain it. I think she’s narcissistic but for some reason I’m not convinced she has crossed the line into a full blown ED. When she is at her emaciated best, she wears it like a badge of honour with attire that emphasizes it — i.e jeggings. If she were anorexic, wouldn’t she want to “hide” it and conceal how thin she’s become? A little off topic, but it’s a slow gossip day, right?
Yes, I agree and should clarify what I meant by “kinda chubby”, I didn’t mean slightly obese. Kate did look healthy before it got serious with William. She looked athletic and strong.
Then the gaunt look and her wedding dress really emphasized how thin she became.
Pre wedding dieting was ma carole middletons hangers prep for the big wedding (PR article) for a day we all had goodwill and had hope Princess Di Wales son would become more serious for his duties as heir.
Similar coat (single buttons), the 80s – NYC shopping – 400.
Old news, I know, but does anyone know how much of a crowd turnout there was for W&K’s NYC visit? Are there any tweets or pictures of the crowd? How many people hang around for the royal appearances on an average basis?
I’m asking because the “news” shows here made a big deal out of it, but most everyone I know wasn’t really aware that the UK royals were visiting. The few pictures I saw on the news with W&K at WTC, it seemed like there was no one there but the officials and attendants. Was that really the case, or were people just being kept very far from the royals?
TV and gossip rags constantly cover these two, and the other UK royals to a lesser extent, which makes it seem like the monarchy is still really popular in the UK. Is that so? Or do most people not care and it’s just too much bother to kick them out?
As an aside, I loved how Lebron interacted with them – as if they were any of the million fans who come up to him for a picture. I also liked how CNN and such tried to make the royal visit overshadow the protests, but most people in NYC still cared more about the players wearing the protest t-shirts and other events surrounding those.
For my UK friends they see Kate and William as celebrities. The Midds are a higher social class of the Kardashians. And they really don’t care. It’s the press, older generations, and other countries that make them out to be this way.
My friend lives around on the Upper East Side, he didn’t even know they were there.
He took a taxi past the corner when he was going out and said there were no crowds, just a few ladies and girls but he said there was dozens of cameras and camera men, but he never saw any big public crowds at all for them gathering and he lives around the corner from the hotel they stayed at.
That’s what I heard as well. More press hype than actual interest.
Maybe the Queen should bet on horses and drink Pimm’s every day like her mum. She is definitely missing the sprightly demeanor that Mummy had.
Her ankles look so arthritic-almost like one is fused (drastic surgery). She seems to have aged a great deal since the Jubilee-only two years ago!
As for Missy-the tweed- meh. It almost seems too casual.
She is dressed like an eighty year old.
I absolutely love Beatrice’s outfit, save for the shoes. It would be perfect with a pair of properly fitting 3inch patten-veneer mary janes. Maybe still not occasion appropriate, but what’s the point of being a blood princess if you can’t bend the rules? Man I love saying “blood princess.”
It´s so funny when people (on DailyMail for example) repeat how bad Beatrice´s style is (even if she looks fabulous) and that she needs a stylist. They just talk so because they´re used to hate the parents. I think Beatrice has a good young, modern fashion sense, yes some of her outfits are bad but there are more really good styles. I´m always surprised that she never gets recognition from fashion blogs. She experiments and has highs and lows like people who have true interest in fashion.
And yes “BloodPrincesses” make the rules how Princesses “have” to dress, so the “true ones” can dress as they want. They don´t have to prove that they “belong” and “are better now”. They know who they are. They were raised this way.
Not the dress makes a Princess (or a Lady), the attitude does.
I remember a doku about the Danish Royals. There was an artist who made one of the official portraits of the current Queen Margrethe. He told her not to dress as a Queen for the painting because he wanted to see if she still looks like a Queen in the portrait if she is dressed down in a sweater and make-up and hair aren´t styled liek usually. And she does look like a Queen. You can see it in her face and posture. She knows who she is and what others think she is. It shines through.
The artist in question is Thomas Kluge – he is one of Margrethe’s favorite artists and he has portrayed her and the royal family several times.
I really like that portrait of her. He has also done a full figure portrait of her in regal robes so it is fun to juxtapose the two paintings.
http://www.trapholt.dk/media/6081/dronning_-_thomas_kluge.jpg
http://arslonga.dk/OP_ART__POP_ART/Thomas_Kluge.jpg
I love that Beatrice dresses with such fun and flair. I even liked the pretzel hat for the wedding. Lol I loved it.
I also find her very pretty, I love her red hair.
I find her pretty too, but if Kate would have worn that coat at church on Christmas the internet would be on fire. And not in a good way.
Stolemyname
+1
P Bea York was festive in her dress and interesting shoe. At church she should have kept on the coat until at grannie’s..
As to ‘senior’ Waity – married with child/ren – yes there would be an uproar if she did the same.
Another thread I mention the length of her coat.- seem pretty close to tangle – with those heels – when there is bump to protect.
See I could have given the coat a pass if she had done something different with the shoes or even with a longer styled nicely tailored/fitted kick-ass-hugging little black dress. Something. Anything. However, the coat with the short skirt & those ill-fitting booties was too much going wrong for one outfit.
Ps. If u r a blood princess, u do indeed need to be a b*tch with your sh*t. At least, I would be. 😜
As for Kate: Make up still caked on. Just the colours got lighter. At least. And a healthy generous dose of pink rouge which doesn’t go well with the other brown colours.
The scarf annoys me. Her coat has slight tinges of red. So why not use a RED scarf and non-pink rouge? And if you have a scarf then SHOW IT. Don’t pretend to wear and not wear a scarf at the same time. It is probably a Hermes scarf or something equally fu**ing expensive. So fly your colours!
This brown in brown on brown is just too boring. And the hat and that coat don’t fit. The coat is too light brown dotted something and the hat is just plain brown. It doesn’t work. And while everything else is somewhat brown her gloves are dark grey. Uggh.
Why not contrast such a coat with some cream white hat/gloves which would be very appropriate for winter? It would look RICH and interesting. But instead Dolittle did chose a coat that would have looked good if she got papped standing next to her mother who wore an equally woolly dotted coat in grey-blue something.
The style of Waity Dolittle:
Bland.
Boring.
Uninspiring.
No effort made.
Don’t dress as if you cared for your Royal duties or for the people involved.
How did she manage to graduate with a history of art degree? Isn’t history of art somewhat about art? Art as in “colours” and “structures” and “interesting” and “setting a sign” and …
The Royal Family is supposed to be a symbol of … Great Britain and inspire and and and …. and the Dolittles don’t do anything. I feel more inspired by the York princesses and Autumn Phillips and Lady Louise and her mother than by the Dolittles.
It seems that William-hands-in-his-pockets forgot his gloves. Doesn’t his wife care about such things?
She does not look pregnant in any form or fashion. A surrogate is being used.
I’ve already been scolded for saying that, but I think if she were faking it they’d put more padding there for plausibility.
That surrogate theory has been dead and buried. If facts play any role in it there’s no support.
Just a lot of people making up facts and stories that get declared as facts by 1 person telling another peron they saw someone hand a baby to Kate and such nonsense.
India
If there’s any actual evidence Kate had or is currently using a surrogate please post a link to it. Because size not being big enough is pure bs. Not all pregnant women show the same.
When did the quality of comments go so downhill?
RE: When did the quality of comments go so downhill?
Possibly at the same time as the rise in the judgemental, self-righteous, holier-than-thou comments.
She’s probably spent thousands of dollars on pregnancy spanx. Sometimes you see her bump. Sometimes you don’t. Though, I must admit there are times I’m side-eyeing her and wonder WTF is going on with her pregnancy.
If anything, I’d think she’d want to flaunt her pregnancy on public outings, as it more than establishes her entitlement to royal status. I don’t get it.
I think she hates being pregnant, and more importantly, LOOKING pregnant. I’ve never seen another woman hide her pregnancy the way Dolittle consistently does. And soon, she will withdraw completely so no one can see her looking “big”. Girl has body and image issues, for sure.
Well, she may have body issues but no-one will be beat Empress Elizabeth (Sissi) of Austria-Hungary on that score. After she passed a certain age (30 I think) she consistently hid her face behind veils and fans, and would allow portraits to be made of her. She also suffered from bulimia. That poor woman was a mess psychologically speaking. She was assassinated by an anarchist in Geneva.
if the last pregnancy is any indication, she will go into hiding well before the due date . God forbid she be seen with swollen ankles or carrying extra weight anywhere but the abdomen. Hopefully it’s a boy so she will be less inclined to pass on her body issues…
I get most of my royal news from this site, but after this thread I googled “Kate Middleton pregnancy hoax” and wow, what a read. There are some truly compelling theories out there about her faking pregnancies. I don’t buy it (for reason stated above) but I seriously recommend the conspiracy articles for an entertaining read for anyone who hasn’t already.
I rate the surrogacy theory with the theory that the moon landing being filmed in a studio. Pure BS.
Conspiracy theories can be entertaining but they can also be quite interesting to study in terms of why they arise, why they are perpetuated and what kind of needs they meet with the people that invest their feelings so strongly in them that facts and rational arguments are ignored. There are all sorts of different reasons, ideological, political, emotional and pathological.
It isn’t the first time a royal pregnancy/birth has been questioned. When James II’s queen Mary of Modena gave birth to a son, many argued that the baby was smuggled into the birthing chamber. The main reason for such a belief can most likely be explained by the deep unease the English people felt with having a Catholic monarch with a Catholic Consort giving birth to a Catholic heir. It was a cultural anxiety that was so strong because there was a fear for England being returned to the Catholic Church and a regime of religious persecution. The birth of James’s son was the direct cause for his dethronement and exile and effective ended the Stuart dynasty of English monarchs.
The surrogate theories regarding Kate’s pregnancies doesn’t relate to such larger cultural/political issues. It is isolated in various pockets of the internet and seems mostly driven by an intense, almost pathological dislike of her.
It speaks to how little people trust W&K. W&K have lied so much about so many things for so long. It is easy for some people to stretch that distrust of them to the idea that there are questionable things going on around the pregnancies.
The strongest physical evidence that a surrogacte was used when her shirt flew up during a volleyball game about 3 months after George was born. It exposed an exceptionally flat stomach with muscles and no linea negra. For those of you who have never had children, the linea negra is a brown vertical line or skin coloration that is caused by pregnancy hormones that can last up to 9 months after delivering. The fact that she didn’t have one is a strong argument supporting the fact that she never carried George. Regardless is a surrogate was used, we will never know due to the wealth and power and manipulation of the BRF.
I don’t understand her style. Half the time shes flashing panties then the other half she looks like someone’s Grandmother.
Yes she does dress rather matronly sometimes and inappropriately at other times. I hope in addition to a healthy royal baby, 2015 brings a good haircut ie no more hands fussing with hair moments during official occasions (she often still pushes her hair back behind her ears when worn down) and a brand new fashion direction for Kate.
FLORC all-
Season Greetings!
Missed your shout out upstream – feel free to skip my. Comments (‘blathers’) .
Enjoy the board!
You could have responded to it where everyone else did. And you don’t answer questions. FLORC’s tried to engage with you for months now and you ignore her. English is her second language and as your posts are a bit different in construction, I think she was offering a helping hand to you. And you’ve blown her off time after time.
In other words, you come here to state your piece and then you leave. And as your piece half the time is unintelligible you’ll have to forgive me for calling it blather.
English is FLORC’ s second language!!????!! She’s one of the most well spoken and articulate posters on this blog. Her posts are always clear and concise – puts me to shame and English is my native tongue.
tara, yes, FLORC’s native language is Greek I think. So not only a different language but different alphabet too. Every once in a while it slips through; context type stuff. I didn’t know until she said so either. I thought she was just stuffy. 😀
Blu
Thank you for your input, and your word was pretty funny.
With respect, each comment should be respected, and nowhere on this site states anyone must respond to another visitor /stranger – or for lessons. Quick read, comment, and sometimes delay editing from certain devices – not a big deal. .
Thank you for responding Pippa. I agree; the people who make the comments should be respected. And no one needs to respond to anyone. However, when you just make statements, and don’t respond to requests for clarification (numerous requests in your case), that’s not showing much respect either. Goes both ways.
And we all blather on in our own inimitable ways. Thank you for taking that well.
I’ve found that people who learn English as another language speak/write it better and more concisely than most native speakers. FLORC is a great example of this and I know there are other nationalities on this board as well who are adept in English. This might also be the case with learning other languages as well.
Was interested in the comment that Kate and Camilla do not get on. Sorry but I forget who made it. It was about half-way through. Is there any evidence to support this? Is it because William resents Camilla? Really curious!
comment
I always love the queens outfits – she loves the bright colours!