During the Cambridges’ day-trip to Wales on Friday, they ended up doing something “fun,” because of course they did. They went to the Towers Residential Outdoor Education Centre in Capel Curig and they did the climbing wall together. Kate got to show off her sporty side and she seemed happier and more relaxed than she has in months. When they reached the summit of the climbing wall, Kate got to hold William’s rope as he attempted to rappel back down. So Kate naturally asked him, “William, how much do you love me?” She said it in a joking, teasing manner, of course. But there was no reply recorded by any outlet.
Duchess Kate repels
Anyway, a good time was had by all. Kate even reminisced about how much she misses living in Wales. She told one person: “I love it here. I really miss being here, being outside, and in the mountains.” Their Welsh “cottage” (it was actually a pretty large home) was their first home together as an engaged/married couple as William worked for the RAF. The thing is, Kate really didn’t spend that much time in Wales. She was away from the cottage a lot, if you remember. Those were the days when Kate would spend weeks at a time at her parents’ house.
What else… this is what Mountain Rescue Chairman Mike France told reporters: “It’s been a really fun day and the couple had a great time. William asked us if we could help some of their vulnerable children from WellChild, Child Bereavement, Place2Be and Centrepoint, which we were delighted to do.” Ah, so that was the point of this entirely fun outing. After Will and Kate had their fun, William vaguely requested that someone do something for some kids.
And when Kate was asked about their Christmas plans, she said: “I haven’t started yet, but George will be starting to talk about Christmas soon.” When asked how George and Charlotte were getting along, she said: “They are doing really well, thanks. Charlotte is getting bigger and getting on well with her noisy big brother.” George is still “noisy,” huh? He’s such a little hellraiser. Poor Charlotte. She’s never going to be able to get a word in edgewise with George around.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
She looks like a wind up doll in that photo with her mouth wide open. Honestly I do not get the big mouth thing she does, she looks like a real loon. But for once she doesn’t have 3 inch heels on….
She does have a very expressive face. Even though some of her pictures look a bit “crazed” at least it matches the event and atmosphere.
The science behind how we perceive genuine and deceptive characteristics is so interesting IMO. Without realizing we pick up on small things to calculate if we should trust them or not.
How smiles that are real can wrinkle parts of the face a false one will not. Body language like direction of feet. Body weight shifting from 1 side to the other. It’s amazing all the little factors.
Months back on a royal thread there was a link posted from the BBC. You have a few seconds to see a gif of someone smiling and have to pick if it’s real or fake. No pausing, not back clicking to enter the right answer. No cheating.
Kate’s smiles and laughs don’t always appear false. There are times though where she displays traits of forced emotions.
Yes – i have/seen other tests like that elsewhere on the net. If you look at the 2 sets of photo’s/video’s from Friday’s event you can see that her emotions from the Abseiling event were really compared to the one meeting and greeting the kids etc.. She looked noticeably more relaxed.
Meh. Who doesn’t display forced emotion from time to time when under pressure and being photographed? I’m totally guilty of that during family reunions.
@ Crumpet: Oh, agreed. 99.9% of my emotional responses at work, for example, are completely forced/fake. Also, too, in anything I ever do with my in-laws. I don’t really like Kate, but no one is genuine all the time (or even half of the time).
@ Diana
“@ Crumpet: Oh, agreed. 99.9% of my emotional responses at work, for example, are completely forced/fake.”
I am sorry to hear that your life is so miserable. My heart goes out to you. I wish you all the best and I hope things will improve for you.
If you watch the videos, you’ll see she was being a bit silly, about to do something that’s kinda scary & thrilling at the same time. Plus, she has an audience. Lots of folks standing around watching & photographing her, taking notes, video-ing her. It’s really nothing out of the ordinary.
There all sorts of weird mouth shots at the other events, too. I’m sick of looking at those huge teeth.
I thought Kate looked like one of those old fasioned Christmas nutcrackers with her mouth hanging open.
Haha! Too funny. Perfect analogy.
I like her. She seems funny. She’s beautiful and seems to be a lovely person and mom.
Forget to add that she also said:”Finally I’m in control.” amongst others. You could say it’s teasing… a matter of perspective…but…*a little side-eye*.
What was that quote? There is a grain of truth in every joke..?
It’s basic and mild. At least they’re doing something. Currently it’s a good pace that isn’t too busy. Appears sustainable.
I think they received a “get-up-and-work” kind of sit down. This amount of engagements (even for them in their annual End-of-Year Mad Dash for Numbers crusade) is very odd. Kate even did a near-proper speech, ffs.
With many engagements being short, minimal social interaction, and recreational activities she might do taken out of the count it’s very low. If she averaged 3 engagements a week and 1 speech every 2 weeks of a 52 week year it’s hardly back breaking. They are showing they can keep a pace and there’s nothing shackling them to seclusion. So, there would be no difficulty to sustain it.
And upcoming events/tours are built in vacations within built in vacations.
She can do it, she should do it, and she currently is doing it. Not seeing an issue here. She’s holding well now and if there’s a break you know the progress will be lost.
COSquared, totally! Their effort right now is very conspicuous. I bet the queen put her foot down, especially since Carl and Sofia started to do that many engagements in a short time. They made them look pretty bad and whoops, here are the Cambridges doing appearances like crazy.
@FLORC: And upcoming events/tours are built in vacations within built in vacations.
Ain’t that the truth!!!! 😉
Personally,I beg to differ when it comes to C-P & Sofia. They are just doing the bare minimum. They *appeared* to be busy when they’re not. Must be that post-royal-wedding praise syndrome:bride & groom are praised left, right and center while other royals are criticised compared to the new couple.
Oh come on, I’m not a big Kate and Will’s fan either, but not every joke has an ulterior motive nor every look is fake. This was a perfectly blah event. There has to be more concrete things to gossip about with them than that, they are royals for pete’s sake. Where’s the good stuff? Just think about it though if someone followed you around everyday and side chair analyzed every movement and word you said in public wouldn’t everyone seem a little fake, contrived, and just downright weird. Just saying, I think I prefer talking about her hair, makeup, and clothes.
I actually thought that was a pretty funny remark and liked that Kate felt relaxed enough to say it, but there’s also the saying “many a true thing is said with a smile.” Kate must have been grinning all the way!
I read that quote too, and thought it spoke to a truth in their relationship even though it was said jokingly.
I have never heard her laugh genuinely.
It would have been better if the actual kids did the abseiling and they(W&K) sort of helped out the kids. How does them abseiling benefit those kids?
Agreed, but there were some kids there suited up (you can see them in the first picture), so at least a few got to participate.
That was my first thought as well! Did the kids get to do anything fun with them, or was it all about the royals looking cool for the photogs?
If I were a male Royal I would never do engagements that involve my crotch being squeezed by any equipment. That’s just not a good occasion to have pictures taken.
LMAO, go on with your bad self!! HA!! 🙂
Crickets. ..
IKR. “Charming”, “adorable” woman-child jokes with boring, reticent man-child while “working”.
Olenna — so dry, so funny, so true!
So true!
The awkwardness of William ignoring her! And the other quote “finally I’m in control”? Cringe.
I don’t think she’s pretty in that electric famous person sort of way but she looks better when she gets to do sporty stuff… I guess? Idk — her face confuses mr.
I don’t think she expected an answer. She was just joking around.
Agreed. She jokingly said it and no answer was needed. Press made a big hoopla over nothing. Slow news day.
And I love how Kaiser caught on to his visit: please do something for the kids.
At least they are out there “working”.
Yeah, it was a joke. It was quite adorable actually.
I’m warming up to her, but then again, I think all royals are useless leeches, it’s not like she can actually do anything important.
I thought it was kind of cute. Seemed like something a normal person might say. 🙂
Yep. And you can barely hear her say it.
Right! What was he supposed to say? I love you as much as you love your little wiglet?
It’s like what lawyers say: In court, never ask a witness a question unless you already know the answer.
😉
Yeah. I totally believe George is a complete hell raiser. My son was like that as a toddler and I naively expected him to grow out of it. Notsomuch. Good luck to the Cambridges. And I REALLY mean that!
haha, mine were/are too! I love it though, just gotta roll with the sticky fingered little punches! 🙂
besides, i sometimes wonder if they get cherry picked on their comments about him. unless he is disgustingly spoiled and undisciplined (which with their 24/7 live in supernanny, he is surely NOT) he’s probably an active, sweet, normal little kid—for the time being at least.
I think she opted for the skinny jeans/jeggings because she wouldn’t have to change. You know they are skin tight if they could fit into the black suede boots earlier in the day……and of course, she always enjoys tight pants!
not sure why my comment is showing up here, it was in response to another person. Oh well.
Vava I noticed that too – very weird since it wasn’t the least bit offensive. But it’s not the first time I’ve seen that and it’s happened to me personally. On a side note I love your comments on royal dish and there seems to be more freedom of expression there too😏
She could have worn trousers like William, no need for the skin-tight jeggings.
vava, she really must, right? i don’t think i’ve ever seen a pic of her in any other style pant. personally never been able to wear jeggings. i look fine in them, according to my husband (of course, he’s trained to say that) but they are.just.too.tight. i bought skinnies a few years ago but most of the time still wear my holey AE bootcuts from high school, when they were “cool”…ah well, worser fates abound.
plus, what the heck with the dude skinnies? toddler/kid skinnies? is this trend actually just a cost saving issue with manufacturers to charge the same for less material?
That’s hilarious! See, sence of humor. And wills a wet blanket.
I have questions about tight and revealing non-sport related clothing. I just bought a bunch of skinny jeans, but you can see so much, I really wonder. I wear sweaters etc. that cover my butt, but to let everyone see every little swerve on my legs seems questionable, especially near my crotch. I feel a bit overexposed, yet they are so comfortable. Kate is not my stylist, but if she wears them they must be okay(?) I’ve thought them immodest on her at certain events, but if she shows off that bump, do I? Are these immodest, or is it just me and I need to get over it? I want to wear them, but I do not want to gross anyone out. Kate doesn’t care,, but I sometimes question her judgement.
Hi Wolfie,
I think it depends on the cut of the pant/jeggings/etc. My personal opinion is that stretch fabric is great as long as the crotch area isn’t revealing anything people shouldn’t be seeing. I wear skinny jeans a lot too, but I usually prefer to have my rear end covered, whereas Kate rarely styles them that way. I don’t like the sausage casing look she sometimes has going on, showcasing her derriere and thighs. I think she should reserve those for non-official activities. I know Kate is a young royal, but I think she would look better in a looser legged pant or jean when she is “working”.
Skinny jeans don’t seem appropriate for a royal “on duty”. They are clearly designed for those who are very lean, with no hips and even then, they aren’t necessarily flattering. In Kate’s case though, they seem a bad choice because they only serve to emphasize how emaciated she is!!
Hi Rhonda, Kate wants us to know how skinny she is.
vava – i’ve read that some people with eating disorders sometimes try to hide their noticeable weightloss by wearing extremely baggy clothes. surely kate can’t think that bones jutting out all over the place and lanugo on her arms, etc. aren’t things she would want to show off? Or is she in denial? Another telltale sign..
wolfie, skinny jeans can be tricky and the most important things for any type of clothing is the fit , and whether you feel comfortable in it. And, look out for camel toe! If the jeans are tight, this can be a problem, and I would go up a size to see if the “toe” is avoided. Kate’s skinny jeans are jeggings more than skinny jeans — I had to look really closely at the photos as I thought she was wearing leggings and not jeans; hers are super tight.
If you’re wearing tops that cover your butt, then they should be long enough to cover your crotch area too, if this is what makes you uncomfortable. It took me a while to warm up to skinny jeans, but now love them. I’m in the U.S. and The Gap makes a style called “curvy skinny” which I find fits me much better than regular skinny jeans (made for those of us with hips!). I wear them with everything, including to work (my office is casual — jeans, sweater, boots is my winter uniform). Good luck 🙂
Thanks vava and zinjojo. Thanksgiving is coming up and I have sons-in-laws. Thanks again.
I know bootcut jeans are officially back on trend now, but I rarely see someone wearing them and never anyone aged between 15 and 30.
Sure, you show the shape of your legs and butt in skinny jeans or jeggings, but if that is immodest, almost everyone in my town is immodest, except for a few grannies.
People still love that style.
I follow some fashion bloggers who are in their 20s and they wear ‘flares’ from time to time. So it does happen! The stretch fabrics these days do provide for a good fit, it’s just when they are too tight or the rise is wrong – that’s when the fit is less than classy.
Kate needs to take a closer look at this for her royal performances. Her skinnies are fine for private time, they are not good for official work representing the Queen of England.
@ Wolfie
It also very much depends what you wear above those skinny jeans. A longer big shirt, blouse or t-shirt or even certain dresses above those skinny jeans can look quite relaxed office attire and casual. Often those things go over your bum and savely cover the “delicate areas” anyway.
In my opinion skinny jeans aren’t appropriate for very formal places, let’s say, a high-end lawyer’s office. But in offices where people wear jeans anyway … why not.
As for Kate: Her skinnies are usually too tight around her crotch and that is inappropriate anywhere except perhaps in a gym.
Wow, thank you for asking that question in such an honest way – I’ve wondered the same things, myself. I like the look of skinny jeans, but I agree that they can look immodest. Like the other posters, I tend to wear mine with a long sweater that covers me in the right places. It makes me feel more comfortable. I also try to stick to black and darker blues – as it’s more flattering for me. Find a style that fits you in a way you like and style them in a way you are comfortable with. That’s my two cents.
Wolfie, I recommend this blog for some inspiration: http://fiftynotfrumpy.blogspot.com/2015/06/covered-perfect-vest-and-tunic.html
The author has an interesting background–she literally went from frumpy to chic, and she models her own outfits which are tasteful (yes, skinny jeans *and* leggings are included!) and affordable.
Leggings are my real conundrum. My daughters can wear them like the duchess, but quite honestly I feel like I’m wearing tights with no dress! I love coming to this site because the ladies here are so sensible and down to earth – thanks to all most kindly for your ideas and advice. Now I will feel confident – hugs!
Her faces, especially the one with her mouth open, is unfortunately reminding me of Kathie Lee Gifford.
I’m hoping 2016 is the year we see the Cambridges, especially Kate, really get to work and clearly demonstrate serious commitment to their chosen charities.
I’m assigning a deadline. If by the end of 2016 (I believe one year is more than fair) we’re still complaining about vacations, shopping, 50 or less public appearances, poor public speaking etc… then in my books, they’ll have proven themselves as total frauds.
I’ll be a wet blanket and say the timing of this fun event took away from the seriousness of their first visit. They should have separated them by a day, so the proper attention could be given to the mental health charity. Tell me…does anyone remember that was what the first visit was about? I didn’t. I actually had to go back and check in order to finish this comment.
As for this visit, she’s always happier when she does stuff that interest her. I do wish they’d find some other talking point about George than he’s a hellion. I’m sure there is more to him than that.
I wish we would hear a little more about him too, especially this time of year, what he maybe wants for Christmas or what toys he has been playing with, will they decorate some cookies together, or we heard at one point he liked swimming so they took him to the Buckingham Palace pool.
And, I am really, really, really hoping to see a family picture for Christmas. Charlotte must be so cute, she would be around 6 months?
That’s also on the list.
I can understand William wanting to protect his children especially given his traumatic experiences, however, long term he’s doing a real disservice to the public and his children.
I noted when William brought George to the hospital after Charlotte’s birth, George froze on the sidewalk. He refused to walk into the hospital. He was too scared because of the loud cheering and other noise which is understandable at that age, however:
The longer William hides his children away from the public and other children (playgroups etc), among other problems, it’ll be terribly difficult for them to live their lives in the limelight.
@ The Original Mia
I agree. If they were serious about pushing out the message for mental health for children, then they wouldn’t have included on the same day as their mental health event another event that was not only non-related, but would garner more press coverage.
But hey. Why put off something fun and self-indulging, right?
Fun and self-indulging should be their family crest.
Well, skiing is on her family’s crest…
NOTA, really??? LOL! I thought it was a bunch of acorns!
The chevrons apparently represent their love of skiing.
They should add palm trees as well to symbolize their love of tropical vacations.
If she weren’t making cute comments like “How much do you love me?” people would continue with the “She’s a silent moron” comments (which they will anyway). I find that kind of thing honest and charming. She prefers the outdoors, it’s obvious. What’s wrong with that? They were offered the opportunity to do this activity and they accepted. Good for them.
I wonder if royal-sounding names will be the next baby naming trend. George, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Katherine, William, James, Henry, Edward, etc.
In a particular strata of society, those are the only names used. You’ll never hear any other names. From that perspective, WK are following everyone else.
LAK, I’ve always thought Beatrice and Eugenie were great choices from the upper crust sphere of names. Appropriate, but a little outside of the standard names.
Charlotte, William and James are all very popular names in the U.S. so the trend has started 🙂
^Zinjojo – Beatrice and Eugenie were ancestors names, they were named after 2 of Queen Victoria’s daughters.
Zin:It was Sarah who was a Victoria-phile(names of her daughters) hence Beatrice & Eugenie. In fact, I’d say she was a royalloonie(like some of us). Also, royalloonie that I am, I can’t imagine naming my child a certain name coz royal baby X has that name.
Betti, that’s one of the reasons I like the names so much 🙂 they have historical/familial reference, and they’re a bit outside of the mainstream of current names.
Yes, it would be almost revolutionary for W&K to choose a modern name. I know it’s cynical of me, but I see sticking to tradition as the RF’s way of maintaining power. It keeps a sense of continuity with the past and it reinforces the value of old ways of doing things.
“Their Welsh “cottage” (it was actually a pretty large home) was their first home together”
Their domicile was a “cottage” in the English sense. It’s not a matter of size, rural placement or seasonal occupation, as in North America. Rather it means a pre-modern building of any size with architectual details from a previous era (typically pre-Victorian).
Actually a cottage in every sense, English or otherwise, is a small dwelling, usually in a rural dwelling though you can find cottages in town.
WK deliberately mis-led the public in allowing their PR to promote the idea of a ‘cottage’ in Wales when it was really a 5B5RM farmhouse complete with outbuildings and a private beach.
You can not mistake a cottage and a farmhouse.
Yes, photos shown of the posh interior later made the “she left with the baby because of rats” story look even more ridiculous.
I’m not sure there was ever an intent to mislead. Different groups often have terms which seem silly to observers. My in-laws (and all their neighbors) refer to their “camp” in the Adirondacks, although they are regular houses with TV’s etc., and we won’t even get started with the “Summer Cottages” of the uber wealthy in Newport, RI. I think certain groups just use certain terms.
Nikki: Diana’s childhood home and George V as Duke of York’s starter homes on Sandringham are and were often referred to as ‘cottages’. In the same manner as Newport ‘cottages’.
Somebody commenting on the uber wealthy’s ‘cottages’ once said these are the types of ‘cottages’ people with Palaces would have and generally refer to.
From that perspective, i don’t think WK meant to mislead. However, given their desire to be seen as ‘normal’, i don’t think it was an accident to let the public believe that their ‘cottage’ was a ‘normal’ cottage as opposed to an Uber wealthy person’s version of a ‘cottage’.
“Somebody commenting on the uber wealthy’s ‘cottages’ once said these are the types of ‘cottages’ people with Palaces would have and generally refer to.
From that perspective, i don’t think WK meant to mislead. However, given their desire to be seen as ‘normal’, i don’t think it was an accident to let the public believe that their ‘cottage’ was a ‘normal’ cottage as opposed to an Uber wealthy person’s version of a ‘cottage’.”
I doubt it even crossed their minds that most people picture a cottage as something entirely different than what the aristocratic set defines as a ‘cottage’.
They tried to conceal the four staff and private beach. And basically slapped a gag order on the community. It was firmly couched in the “we’re normal, living in a cottage in Wales, she’s a simple housewife” from what I recall.
I don’t know why she doesn’t specialise in sports-related charities. It tends to be the sporty appearances where she’s at her best.
That’s what I keep thinking too. To have a woman in her position push sports could be very telling and she would probably be very at home with.
I agree, it seems an obvious strength for her. I wonder if the older advisors have some objection to it?
Kate wants to show off her emaciated body and that is difficult in outdoor fun sports events clothes.
Btw. Mich_ael Go:::ve (currently mini_ster for jus__tice, before: min_ister for edu:::cation) abolished the obligation that schools had to provide sports lessons to their pupils. Now imagine what happened: many newly opened academies don’t offer sports at all. In a country already obese that is of course fatal. Because the paupers won’t get any other possibility to do sport than at school.
I guess Kate can’t and won’t promote sport that much because the currenty To___ry government did scrap many possibilities for doing sports.
A bit of a tangent, but related to Katie Bucket, I read that the BBC is bringing back Hyacinth Bucket in a new show about her teenage years and how she gained her affectations. Wonder what the inspiration is!
eeeee really?!? yay!
Expert climber.
Expert poser.
HA!
zinjojo,and they should have Patrica Routledge play her grandmother,it would have to be where she got that zany personality!!! She so cracks me up and what an amazing voice!
Oh, I agree. I hope she’s in it!
I liked that side of her – she obviously has a wicked sense of humor and not as dull/sterile as she appears in the media.
William should have played along btw. What a bore of a husband…
She knew she would go climbing.
She prepared that …
may23
maybe Wills didn’t play along because the real answer is; ” well, I guess I kind of love you since you laugh occasionally at my lame jokes and you gave birth to my children, but the secret shags with my true love Jecca arranged soon for the new year… cover story for the press: another hunting trip with the aristo buddies. and btw thanks so much hon for bringing the kids down to the Bucklebury compound while I continue my “do what I want when I want to do it” lifestyle
I’m surprised no one noticed (unless I missed it) that she’s climbing rocks while wearing Big Blue. Who climbs rocks wearing a priceless heirloom sapphire ring?
Although I really don’t like this duo, I think her “how much do you love me” comment was one of the more enjoyable comments she’s made in the past 4 years. It could have been rehearsed and Citresse is probably correct above, but I thought it was a decent effort on her part.
Personally, I don’t believe he loved her or has ever loved her as much as what she could give him in bed. In fact, I think he is incapable of truly only loving anyone other than the person in the mirror!
I think he loves her as much as any self-centered person can love someone else.
olenna, I don’t think he loves her at all, as much as he resents the hell out of her, to even smile at her in public must be like scratching nails on a blackboard. I wonder how many times Guy Pelley said to him you been had, “Sir”!!!!!
msthang, I can imagine more than one of his friends tried to warn him! 🙂 I think those on the outside looking in, as they say, could see that staying attached to a velcro girl was an unwise move on anyone’s part. Anyway, here’s an insightful article on self-centeredness. I think you’ll see it touches on some of W&K’s behavior that we’ve speculated about in other CB threads. http://www.lifescript.com/well-being/articles/c/common_traits_of_the_self-centered_person.aspx
Oleanna, good article!