As predicted, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their last public outing on Wednesday ahead of their India-Bhutan royal tour, which starts this weekend. Originally, this Wednesday event wasn’t on the schedule, but it magically appeared after the Queen ordered William, Kate and the children to Windsor Castle following William’s extended trip to Kenya to see Jecca Craig’s wedding. I believe this event was thrown together at the last minute, is what I’m saying.
At least William and Kate didn’t have to go very far. I mean, I guess they were in Norfolk earlier this week, but who even knows at this point? They were both in London on Wednesday to attend this dinner/reception held at Kensington Palace, their home. William hasn’t even deigned to attend the pre-BAFTA dinners at Kensington Palace for two years running, and he’s BAFTA president! But yes, they finally acted like host and hostess and mingled with some Indian, Bhutani and British people.
Kate wore this £498 Saloni dress which… no. It’s not good or great. Saloni is an Indian designer, so at least she got that right? It’s called the Mary Illusion dress and it was sold out before she even wore it, although I have no idea why because it’s not cute at all. To be fair, I like the idea behind this dress – I like the idea of Kate going for a covered-up, conservative look. I like the idea of Kate in something with sleeves and a high neck. But the sheerness, the polka dots and the neck ruffle have conspired together to make me hate this on her. It’s been mentioned before, but it’s worth repeating: she’s addicted to Downton Abbey and this is a very “Lady Mary” look, I think. I honestly believe Kate is actively cosplaying Lady Mary styles.
Meanwhile, William snuck in another event earlier on Wednesday when he attended a lunch in his honor, to mark his 10 years as president of the Football Association. He apparently told people that Charlotte is already “a very good footballer…You hold her hand and she kicks it. Very sweet.” The child is 11 months old!! She’s not playing soccer, right?
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Eh. The dress is a snooze.
My God, it’s beyond that- this dress is horrible and her, maybe because of body type and styling. I was laughing last night reading through the Daily Mail comments about this dress!!
“Why is she dressing more and more like Karen Carpenter??”
“Hey, Waity, where’s Tweety Bird?”
Looks like the dresses that David Williams wears for his I’m a lady sketches.”
“Reminds me of the stunning green gown she wore for the Irish Guards… Oh, wait…”
“Human beige.”
As long as they are working, I don’t care what they wear.
Totally agree, Sarah. Whenever they START working, for more than 1 hour receptions, their clothing choices won’t be the most interesting thing to talk about.
I think so too. Although if I were voting, I’d be voting fug.
Yes and is she not wearing a bra – her boobs r so low hanging
Silly Billy is in a super tight and short suit
I think she probably is wearing one, but the dress is designed to have a more sheer front panel. This cost more than $600 because it is customized to have a solid backing that appears sheer. Pretending to wear sheer to the waist? Not a good royal look.
Absolutely ghastly dress and the sheer look panel is not classy or royal. The whole thing looks cheap.
Good for them ‘working’ though…….
Ditto on the modified sheer look panel being a FAIL here. Either embrace the sheer to the waist vibe of the dress or wear something else.
I find it refreshing when women let their body’s natural shape show, boobs included. So many women only ever show contoured versions of themselves (colored hair, push-up bras, Spanx, etc.).
that picture of William and Kate walking… she’s not slouching! hey ho!
and she toned down her shellacked eyeliner! progress!
this tour might not be a disaster afterall.
on the topic of dress: eh. whatever. i can see it on a Duggar or something.
on the topic of the party: obviously not even an anecdote about what the Duke and Duchess learned about the country they are visiting.
instead we get an anecdote about Kate’s sold out dress and how William managed to squeeze a party between a party, and their kids.
i’m not sure what to think about this development.
Man if there is anyone with worse eyeliner problems than Laze Quitter Kate, it’s the Duggar girls. What’s the justification for that anyway if they are supposed to be modest and not focusing on their appearance?
@INeedANap, I believe I saw a show in which one of the Duggar females explained that they use their hair and makeup to draw male attention to their faces and therefore away from naughty parts south. God wants them to wear lots of eyeliner.
Right, and why does she walk with her hands always in front, how awkward. But I agree, as long as they’re working who cares what she’s wearing. Where jeggings 6 days a week if that’s what gets you to work!
#wherestheclutch ….. ?!?!?!?
re- the walking with hands always in front, it must be hereditary- watch the video of Ma and Pa Middleton where they meet the press soon after the engagement announcement. Carole walked the same way then stood there with her hands clasped over groin area.
Go to the Daily Fail and watch the video of these two. Just before this crotch-clutching photo was taken, they were very awkward with the lineup. Throughout the video, Kate is clutching that crotch of hers like there is no tomorrow and she looks so unprofessional, it’s unbelievable. I don’t know if it’s this awful dress, but from the side she looks so thin and it’s worrisome. Something is amiss. I’m not a fan of Kate at all, but she isn’t doing well.
Yes vava. She is so out of her depth it’s ridiculous. After 5 years she should be a pro at this. It’s just a meet-and-greet for heaven’s sake. Why is she not getting some advice on how to relax and interact with people? Maybe a little drink would loosen her up a little but seriously, this is her job and anyone else acting like this would have been fired long ago. SMH I also noticed the body language between these two. They barely look like acquaintances. What a farce these two are.
The body language between them has never been ‘comfortable’, they’ve always looked awkward together. She used to be very touchy, feely with him (very early on) but given that they kept breaking up due to her clinglyness she had to learn to back off and give him some space.
He basically married his on/off ‘booty call’ girl.
The secrecy obsession played into this too. There weren’t a lot of PDAs through the years, unless a distraction from Uncle Gary’s activities was needed. William does show physical affection to other members of the BRF.
Maybe she should try some Rescue Remedy.. it’s done wonders for our anxiety ridden pup…
@cricket. What is this Rescue Remedy you speak of? I have a 6 year old shepherd rescue who is terrified of everything.
Rescue Remedy is an herbal remedy for anxiety. Our vet prescribed it for one of our dogs, although in her case it did not help.
Blu .. that’s too bad it didn’t help with your pup. we have an almost 3 yr old rescue girl (rottie, dob, shepherd) and she has terrible anxiety. We tried the RR and even though it said only 4 drops she is such a big girl, we tried 6 and it calmed her down so much.. and no rebound craze like some calm cookies we tried before. maybe the dosage wasn’t enough to be effective? I read the ‘human’ version contains a pretty high % of alcohol but the canine version does not.. we got it at Whole Foods but they sell it on Amazon too.. I think it was actually created in England.
If she does suffer from anxiety, I have every sympathy for her. It is much more than a matter of having a drink and learning to loosen up. If only it were that simple.
I agree with vava that she looks terribly thin. I wonder if William going to Jecca’s wedding was upsetting for her. I know I used to lose weight during relationship trauma.
@notasugarhere.
It’s like William trained Kate to not expect public displays of affection, probably for some deep reason that really amounts to William didn’t want to do it, and Kate wholeheartedly embraced it, and now when he changes the rules on her, you can see her surprise and discomfort -most noticeably with the Olympics.
I watched the video, and I think I’ve figured it out. She’s determined that never again will the world be treated to a shot of the Royal Biscuit. She’s outside, and there’s a chance of wind, so she’s covering it up just in case. “No biscuit for you!” she’s thinking. “Never again!”
Anyway, the ugly dress is not quite as ugly in the video as it is in still shots. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still ugly.
The dress was just kind of whatever to me…
But after looking at the pictures, that is an AGGRESSIVE crotch clutch. Like… that’s the exact OPPOSITE of relaxed and open body language. And after a while, all I could focus on… her hands. She needs to find a new hand position… or something!
you may be right, GNAT. I’ve wondered if she does this thing with her hands because she has, in the past, been a ‘hand talker’. William is, too. They are both trying to control their hands, but this closed-off clutching of the groin is so unattractive and awful looking.
I agree GNAT. She’s overly protective of the Biscuit. Do you suppose she’s been made to feel so ashamed of her erstwhile crotch-flashing antics that she’s become nerve-wracked to the point of not eating properly, not sleeping properly, never able to relax properly for fear of upsetting William, the Queen, and countless scuttling men in grey? The crotch-clutching has become a physical tic.
She’s pretty rubbish at most of these events, let’s face it, but maybe that’s because of the fear she might have of screwing up, pissing William off, and putting her foot in her mouth as she has done on a few occasions. Must be awful to live under a false construct. Never feeling quite able to let rip and be real, true and authentic . Not quite sure that she read the small print finely enough when she signed up for this gig.
The crotch-shielding is done by all the Middleton women, even before the flashing began. You’ll see Carole and Pippa doing it too, but sometimes Pippa forgets and puts her hands in a normal position.
So I don’t think it’s related to the flashing issue. I think it’s because the Middleton women think it’s what the upper class/royalty do, even though the latter doesn’t do this usually, especially in the stringent and uncomfortable way that the Middletons do it.
It’s horribly self-conscious though, as if she’s so focused on not making a total arse of herself that she forgets how to be real and how to engage and to have normal conversations with the people she meets. Very uncomfortable to watch.
I just KNEW they were going to be awkward at this reception. When the news of it first hit, I thought, “I bet anything these two will be stilted arses at this cocktail sip.” But, ultimately decided I was being unfair and tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. But low ad behold……awkward! I watched another video of them interacting with guests, and the insincerity is REAL with these two. I mean, come ON. It’s so obvious when they put on their “concerned faces” and “jovial faces”.
I didn’t like how William put his hand on her back in what seemed to be an attempt at comforting her. It may seem lovely to some, but to me it looked weird.
Why would she need comforting in that situation? It looked more like a patronizing gesture.
The body language between these two is giving me deja vu. Now I’m kind of wondering if Kate is even going to go on this trip.
Both William and Kate seemed very stiff at this reception with those people.
If you listen carefully as those two are retreating, you can hear someone (William?) saying, “Let’s get you in out of the cold.” Or was I hearing things? Was it a trick of the KP acoustics?
Vava, I’m still voting No! She’s going to bail on India. Sickness from someone.
LadyoftheLoch, I went back and cranked the volume up on the video and someone is saying “…..out of the cold”. I couldn’t really make out the entire sentence, who said it, or who it was directed to. They were only in that courtyard for less than a minute, how could anyone feel a chill that soon!
Mostly though, I thought it was very rude of Kate not to shake their hands before gathering for a photo like that. AWKWARD and RUDE.
Jib, I don’t think Kate is doing well at the moment, so anything might transpire.
Yes, extremely rude of her not to shake hands or show any gesture of interest. Wonder if she’s germaphobic, heavily medicated, or just simply clueless. Really made her look like a snob, as if she was over it already and these people were beneath her somehow. Not a good look on anyone.
I am not going to snark on this womans clothes. I agree, something is really wrong.
In that video, starting at 1:15, Willy bows to 4 people waiting to have their photograph taken with them then he does the two-hands shake with everyone. But Kate doesn’t shake anyone’s hands. She looks confused and awkward. Then when WK leave the photo op Willy again bows but Kate does not. I guess Kate hasn’t had her Asian etiquette training yet? Anyone have guesses about what’s going on?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3526288/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-open-home-youngsters-India-Bhutan.html
What’s going on is Kate is being her idiotic self. Makes me ragey. Who the heck does she think she is. She thinks she doesn’t count because she is still “new to the job”. She thinks she can get away with it because she is a self-professed newbie, your average 20 year old ingenue. She always does stuff like this – not tasting peanut butter when she was offered at the UN engagement in Denmark, not accepting the stuffed Kangaroo when the New Zealand Olympic team offered it to her (Harry took it instead) and now this.
She will forever be the sheltered pretty flower pot, perking when William looks at her and wilting at all other times.
It seems as though Kate was only aware of William – and as they posed with the girls, he remarked, “so let’s take a photo of the dress”. The girls walked away afterward, nearly rolling their eyes, because their photo was about Kate’s dress.
I always feel these two still think it’s 2003 or something and act accordingly. She especially can’t keep acting like she just fell from the sky and into this role.
I hope we aren’t watching her implode. I would feel really badly if she has something really wrong going on.
@ MinnFinn
I too noticed that Kate wouldn’t shake the Bhutanese people’s hands as they waited in the line-up for the photo-shoot.
Instead, she stood back and kept talking to William as if the Bhutanese weren’t there. I thought that maybe she was waiting to shake their hands by letting William shake each person’s hands first, but as William kept on one-by-one, Kate still stood back, as if she didn’t feel it necessary to shake their hands.
Even if she had shook their hands during the indoors reception, she still should have done it again outside, as William was doing and especially when there’s cameras around for the sake of diplomacy and civility.
I noticed she did the same thing in the past when there were people she didn’t want to shake hands with. I’m thinking that the other people were in their native garb too just as these Bhutanese were. Maybe they were too ‘peasanty’ for Kate?
Well, Kate, there’s going to be a whole country full of Bhutanese on your trip, and many of them will be wearing their traditional clothes, including the King and Queen of Bhutan. And you will be expected to shake their hands no matter how many times you have to shake the same people’s hands, or new people’s hands, or how they look, even if you think they have the Cooties because they look like peasants to your uncultured, unsophisticated eyes.
And then William having to soothe her as if she went through an unpleasant experience? Oh my god. Really?
bluhare I think what we are witnessing is the revelation of someone who is not very sophisticated either in manner or intelligence. She has managed to keep it under wraps by not opening her mouth much and whenever she has something pretty disappointing has come out of it (Can you test the smell by smelling it). She is almost 35 years old. She is not young, she is not experienced, she is not depressed – she is just plain empty-headed.
I know that it’s a popular opinion around various parts that she is under pressure and her relationship with William is strained and she is sad etc. and that is why she fails to deliver, but IMO, on the contrary, I believe that she is a simple, not very smart girl with dreams of a simple life with William whom she is madly in love with. And I do believe that William loves her back.
I honestly don’t know a single 35 year old woman in my circle of friends, or acquaintances who would act in such a gauche and awkward manner as she does. The whole sequence with the Bhutanese ladies made my blood boil. God. She is simply an outlier. She is not even an average 35 year old. Any average 35 year old would have rallied, done the customary greetings, made a joke or two, complimented the women, maybe felt the fabric, asked about the weaving technique, and taken a warm picture. I’m thinking CP Mary, who by all measures was quite average yet manages to be a knockout princess. It doesn’t take an IQ of more than 100 to impress people when you are a princess.
Instead we have Kate speaking to William with her hands while the women stand around as props. Did you see the disgusted looks on their faces at the end of the photo op? They knew they were being used !!
And anne – yes the whole “soothing” by William at the end just shows how coddled she is. William is the guide, she follows. She is all vulnerable and incompetent and William is the patronizer, the protector. It’s 2016 and we are still seeing a bloody soap opera being acted out. It’s gotten me ragey today.
Kate’s oversight seems so egregious that I wondered if she had shaken their hands but that bit had been edited out to keep the video short for the DM website. But I don’t see evidence of that. I also thought well maybe she was sick but her explanation to the photo op group for not shaking hands was edited out of the video.
@ Maia, I completely agree with you. Kate’s behavior is so inappropriate. She had better get it together, and soon.
@ MinnFinn
In the video, Kate is seen shaking hands with the first two people she meets after she came into the room, so it’s not about being incapable of shaking hands at this event.
Yes, the photo above shows Kate in front of the Bhutanese, so she might have (or not) shaken hands with them while inside.
But even so, at the outside event, when William is showing civility, diplomacy, and respect by shaking the Bhutanese’ hands, whether it was his first time with them or not, Kate should have done so too instead of standing back and busying herself talking to William and ignoring the Bhutanese as if creating an excuse not to interact with them, but that they’re just there as props for her photo op.
She should have followed his protocol by doing the same. It was a matter of common sense and decency. That she didn’t do so speaks to her low level of social intelligence. lack of respect, and her being uncomfortable with people not of her status level.
Anyhoo, in her ‘job,’ for the sake of diplomacy, she’s going to have to shake the hands of people she’s already shaken hands with or those she hasn’t as yet. It should be a matter of course that she do so rather than not doing so because she didn’t feel like it.
To my ears, I believe William says he felt “under-dressed” instead of “take a picture of the dress”. He’s always attempting lame dad type jokes.
Kate really was quite awkward not shaking hands, but I seriously doubt she knew she was being offensive. She was shaking hands indoors so it wasn’t like she thought she was above shaking the hands of the guests. I think she’s just quite awkward and a little dumb. (Or a lot dumb). I honestly feel a little sorry for her – she certainly doesn’t look well.
Thanks, Maia. I do see your point, believe me. And you could well be right. I’m just having a hard time with the dichotomy of who she theoretically is in private (prickly, grand and more authoritative?) and what we see in public. I’m not convinced she doesn’t have a huge fear/anxiety issue with meeting people she doesn’t know. Someone said she has trouble being interested in people she’s just met, but that could also be a sign of someone who is absolutely tongue tied, and the silly comments could be because of that as well.
I’m probably projecting too much but I was very much that way when I was younger. I had a tough adolescence and was terrified of people as a result. I know people have debunked the bullying stories here, but if she did have issues with that in school and has led a relatively sheltered life, I can see that it’s all coming to roost now. I went through the same thing. And if she reads pieces about her I imagine that just compounds the issues.
All that being said, if she has any self awareness at all, she should have seen that marrying William and the life that entails certainly isn’t the best avenue for someone with huge social fears who isn’t willing to work past them. Because you can; I did it. But it takes time and effort. And I don’t know that’s the issue here, but what I do see is someone who looks more uncomfortable now than she used to.
Bluhare I guess that I hadn’t thought of it like that. I do agree with you that she does look more uncomfortable than she used to. I assumed it was the result of the palace giving her feedback and her reacting to it. For instance if I am correct she did not have the crotch clutch on the US-Canada tour or her earliest engagements. I assumed it was William and his cronies telling her to walk like that.
But you could very well be on to something.
If it is social anxiety do you think it is getting worse now ? Why do you think ?Because the reports of her grandeur and prickliness have started to emerge recently. Her manner is also much worse than before.
I really have no clue, Maia. Every once in a while I try to be charitable, and this is something I have dealt with. I guess I’m still willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Not sure for how much longer though. But I’ve also had the same thoughts you said about palace feedback and criticism making her hyper sensitive to failure.
That being said, if she knew she couldn’t deal with this side of her life, she made a very poor choice in marrying William. My guess is she didn’t realize the reality until she was in it.
To your point Maia “She is all vulnerable and incompetent and William is the patronizer, the protector.”
That is what I have believed for a long time! Willy is attracted to Kate because he enjoys his role as her protector and royal mentor plus he feels righteous in that he’s righting the wrong done to Diana. Kate feigns feeling vulnerable and talks about those fake feelings A LOT because it’s the main thing that keeps him bonded to her. For Kate it’s become a self-fulfilling prophecy. She didn’t start out her royal life acting and talking publicly about needing William’s reassuring presence while carrying out her public duties. But that dynamic between them kept getting reinforced to the point that after 4+ years of it she may not be faking any more but genuinely npw feels that emotion.
I always find it awkward when my group is meeting another group and everyone is trying to shake each other’s hands. I kind of get why she stood back, they would have been tripping over each other. I do find it rude that she didn’t bow, though.
We might need to cut her some slack over the non-hand-shaking. It seems that
Bhutanese women do not typically shake hands among themselves and do not even offer their hands when introduced to men. So she might have actually done some research and was doing the right thing. I suppose there’s a first time for everything! 😀
Regarding the shaking hands thing, it’s easier to assess if you watch the video first.
William shook each of their hands.
Kate stood back, saying something to William and watched him shake their hands. She never made a move to come forward to shake anybody’s hands.
Whether or not she shook their hands prior during the reception, if William is shaking their hands, then she should have followed his protocol.
As for the excuses for her not to do so:
1) She’s less than smart: Then follow William’s example.
2) There was a crowd: There were only two of them with the 5 Bhutanese. It wasn’t going to be a case of people bumping into each other. W&K have shaken hands with lines of people before without bumping into each other. So why is this a case of fear of being bumped around?
3) William was shaking hands with both the Bhutanese men and women. The women weren’t mortified by shaking hands with William. Remember that the invited guests are those currently living in the UK and involved either in schooling, business, or community-related organizations (charities and whatnot, iirc). So it’s not like they’re not used to the concept of shaking hands. Also, if there was some protocol of not shaking hands at the event, then that would have been foretold to W&K ahead of time. And I seriously doubt that the reason Kate didn’t want to shake hands with them was due to some imagined excuse about them being women. If that were actually factual, then why not shake the hands of the men?
Roslyn, point taken 🙂 but if she had done the research she would not have brought it up with William ! She would have moved straight along. Anyway. It doesn’t matter. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully she will be the confident woman today’s young girls need to see.
MinnFinn, I totally agree with you that that is their dynamic. It is an old-fashioned one and would be common in my grandparents’ generation. I really can’t get on board with it. Totally the antithesis of what I like and am like.
Bluhare – wait and watch, eh. She definitely underestimated the depth and breadth of scrutiny she would face. I think it took her a year or two to get it. I have a hunch that the Queen or her people may have something to do with pointing out her difficulties. If you remember, the Queen never seemed that thrilled with her initially. It’s only of late that she cracks a smile and reciprocates with the cheek kisses.
Anyway. I hope she wears some dashing outfits in India.
It wasn’t some stranger who said KM struggles to find other people interesting, it was her cousin. I don’t see that as having social anxiety, I see it as having no interest in things beyond being a WAG for 15 years.
She had this scrutiny for a decade and has been coddled beyond belief for five years. Unless she’s like Fergie and Diana, she won’t be reading things about herself but she will listen to staff. Oh but remember, she admitted she only cares about what William thinks.
Self-fulfilling prophecy or game plan? Learned helplessness, play into William’s need to protect someone even when you don’t need protecting.
Her cousin talking about her meeting strangers, nas. The rest is conjecture.
I don’t see things quite as mercenary as you do, but that’s OK. Sometimes I think you’ve got good points. This is not one of them.
Someone in the comments section asked why Kate is starting to dress like Karen Carpenter. I couldn’t put my finger on it at first but Karen Carpenter is exactly whom I am reminded of when I see Kate in this dress looking so frail. The similarities are eerie and distressing.
yes.
Would look much better with an updo
Yeah, I don’t know why she refuses to wear her hair up EVER. It can elevate an outfit. I think if the dress didn’t have the ruffle collar, and the polka dots were only on the sheer parts, it would look nice. I really like the color.
The dress is a major snooze but it would help if she did something with that mop on her head. Good grief. And yes while I am happy she’s working I guess her wardrobe will
Always be a major thumbs down.
And why does she always hold her hands in front of her crotch. (Side eye)
Getting her HAIR done would take time away from her CHILDREN….oh wait…
The up-do hairstyle was how the model had it. But I’ve noticed that Kate won’t copy how the models of her various designer clothes do it. And even when they claim it’s ‘bespoke,’ it seems to me as if there are model photos of the clothes already shot beforehand, so it might be ‘bespoke’ in that Kate altered it slightly.
Yes, it would look better with an up-do. But Kate wants to show her sexy sexy hair with the load of wiglets. In some of the photos of her profile in this outfit, all one notices is the clothes hanging straight down with big hair on top, and nothing of Kate’s face.
She probably runs around with her hair in a ponytail all day long, and this is wearing it “down” for William. Everything she does is for William and her fantasy of her life.
I think this in the top five ugliest things she’s ever worn. And I know the bodice is fully lined but is it supposed to create the illusion that you might see side boob? Like prim and Victorian but not?
Speaking of Victorian, I really hope her clothes for the Indian tour don’t refer back to the British Raj. Someone would have taken her aside and told her that’s a terrible idea, right?
That’s what I hate about it. I’m sure that sheer part has something under it, but from a distance it looks like it’s sheer to the waist. So inappropriate. Not mention ugly.
As for your second thought, uh-oh.
Although it is made by an Indian designer, this ugly dress also struck me as totally inappropriate. India and Bhutan are quite conservative when it comes to clothes. The bodice is basically screaming, “Look at my tits but you can’t really see them, can you?” Combined with her apparent inability to bow and shake hands with their guests properly (all of whom would have likely been comfortable with either gesture as a form of greeting), she clearly is not getting adequate protocol and etiquette training. Or, worse still (and equally probable), she cannot be bothered to Google these topics. Perhaps if she were more curious about the world and devoted to her job, she would not feel and act nearly as awkwardly.
BearCat, it is inappropriate but she’s done that before (Malaysia tour). Who has time for etiquette and cultural training? She’s busy making sure her outfit colors will look good in the places she’ll be photographed…
Oh I think she’s getting training alright. The people who brief William are the same who brief her. She just cannot be arsed enough to take the training. Because she is so pretty.
Such a pity that she can’t be bothered to learn what duty and service are worth to the position she has aspired to. She’s basically an Airhead in Distress who seems to have no notion of her obligation to the role. And none whatsoever to her future roles as Princess of Wales and later Queen Consort (should the marriage even last). She clearly hasn’t given any of it any depth of thought.
Oh yeah, and the dress is ghastly. Way too fussy and matronly. That bodice with its faux panel of sheer bad taste reeks of hideousness.
Why does it also appear that Kate has to be the tallest woman in every room? I’m sure there are lovely Jimmy Choo and Stuart Weitzman shoes that aren’t a minimum of 4 inch heels. Thus alleviating her awkward bend over pose she does – especially with kids so he looks like she is making an effort to be more relatable at their level. Kate is a great height to work flats, why or why doesn’t she ever wear them?
I thought for a hot minute when I saw the photos of them walking that she was wearing a jumpsuit and I was very taken aback by this supposed leap in fashion.
The more I thought about it, the more this dress bothered me. The dress is subversively prim and this was not the occasion for something like that. It feels disrespectful. Maybe she thinks she’s being cheeky but it feels like a sign she didn’t want to be there.
The front panel is also sheer on the original dress; this looks like she added in some fabric to make it more modest.
Thanks @alice, I saw a picture somewhere of the original dress and I thought it was a lot more sheer than the version Kate wore. The panel she has under looks a lot more white-ish.
But while adding “modesty” I think her additional fabric backfired, because it is still giving off the side boob vibe. I think one should either wear this dress with its risky sheer-ness or pick a different style without that hint of boob-peekiness.
It is also poorly made which isn’t good for the designer. The seams are puckering all over (down the skirt, sides, under arms) and the polka dots are crooked. Who sews a belt onto a dress and doesn’t straighten the chiffon overlay first?
Yes, once you see the bad tailoring, you can’t unsee it.
Hey notasugarhere, that’s the bespoke part. She buys something wholly unsuitable for her and has it butchered to what she thinks looks good on her.
@ Natalie
I hope not too. But considering how she wore the wrong type of style to this business/cocktail reception, I can see why there was recent PR in which the blame for who decided what she’s going to wear on this trip was all her own. She should have worn that plum lace cocktail dress she wore on her outing with the Chinese President and his wife who herself wore something more business-like. Kate seems to have no sense of what is appropriate for what occasion.
In the other photos and video of this reception, just about every woman there was wearing a knee-length dress/skirt and some with short sleeves, in other words, the usual Western-style clothing you’d see in other business/cocktail receptions in the West.
But she came to this as if she thought she’s not supposed to show any leg or arm skin. She does not seem to have a clue what is appropriate for each situation. Has she never met any Indian or Bhutanese people in the UK before in either a casual or business setting? It’s not like she’s going to a mosque or temple in which there’s a strict dress code, even though she did go to one with her dress at knee-length thus showing some leg, and she met up with the higher officials in a Muslim country in a low cut, cleavage-showing dress.
Again, she seems to have no clue and maybe that’s why it seemed like nobody else wanted to take the blame for whatever she’s going to wear on this upcoming trip.
The DM reported yesterday that she’s going to go bare leg and not wear hosiery like other Royals have, because she thinks there’s going to be issues with hot weather.
Sorry about the super late reply!
It’s pretty amazing that we keep signs from the palace that they have nothing to do with what’s happening, that it’s all Kate and William.
I think Kate was being cheeky about any modesty requirements by wearing something prim but subversive. I don’t think she wanted to be at this reception and this was her way of rolling her eyes at the whole thing.
Jackie O visited India in the early 1960s in sleeveless, knee-length dresses and we know Kate has looked to Jackie for inspiration. I really hope Kate goes a little more contemporary than E.M. Forster novels.
I like it. It’s appropriate. And well put. She’s not at a movie premier. She’s at a dinner.
It wasn’t a dinner – just a reception with some tea and cookies, or whatever. William and Kate stayed a little less than an hour.
Wow, is that true? Less than an hour? Well, at least they’re consistent with regard to “expectations.” I’m not sure how they’ll be able to keep up the 30 min appearances while on tour, but they’ll probably try.
this party is supposed to unofficially mark the beginning of the tour, but we’re still not learning anything other than Kate’s sold out dress.
and knowing that it’s only less than an hour they’re there, i’m not sure what they’ve managed to learn? there’s a lot of people there, no way they could have an indepth conversation with any one of the attendees past pleasantries.
considering that i actually learned more of various topics from an Adele concert (breastfeeding, pregnancy hormones, world water day, and even sarcoma cancer and cancer research), i’m not sure what to think about this development.
I like it too, beautiful color.
I like it too. Nice color. Different looking.
When I first saw the dress, the colour and the high frilly collar reminded me a bit of the dress Diana wore to deliver her first speech in Wales.
Other than that, the dress is vastly different.
Diana didn’t give up on delivering speeches as it appears with Kate.
Diana loved polka dots – I supposed this is another nod to Kate’s mother-in-law. I thought it a bit strange to see all the other women from Bhutan in horizontal strips – yet the contrast made Kate stand out, which was perhaps the point. This seems very different than the way Diana tried to compliment others from different country – Diana never worked from a compare and contrast posture.
I hope Kate doesn’t wear polka dots while (if) photographed on the “Diana bench” at the Taj Mahal.
I think Kate is fond of all kinds of patterns- remember off duty she likes the casual striped tops.
Someone mentioned Kate appears to have reduced her eyeliner application during this reception appearance. I think it could be true. Also, I thought her hair looked good. It seems Kate is managing the grown out gringe (a longer gringe) better, though I agree an up-do would’ve looked better with such a conservative formal look.
Red, white, and purple color block nod to her MIL at the Taj Mahal instead?
Nota, I’m really hoping she does try to pull off Diana’s red, purple, white combo. It’s going to be an ear-to-ear grin disaster.
If Kate mixes colours (like Diana did), perhaps she’ll wear the colours of the India flag?
Whatever she chooses, it’s likely to be bright colours.
Remember when she wore the yellow dress (William called her a banana) when she was photographed at the Sydney Opera House.
Ok. I do not understand fashion. But this is a signpost for the outfitting we can expect on the IMISSMYBABIESPITYMENOW tour, right? This is her first attempt at Indian/Western/Royal respectful fusion? Is it successful? Can we expect fashion success during IMISSMYBABIESPITYMENOW? Or mucho hilarity as she gets it all wrong? Help me out, fashionistas.
If we are to base it on this dress alone then we are in for a fashion disaster parade of outfits that are likely culturally and event inappropriate. She almost never gets it right even with a ‘stylist’.
As someone else up thread hints – this dress has shades of victorian colonialism about it.
Gear up for Sixer, cause if this is any indication, this tour will be a fashion mess. I am pre-cringing for the ethnic gone wrong attire that is surely on the agenda.
Thanks, Betti, Magnolia – I will probably need educating on this topic.
I don’t think that dress was successful because the bodice is clingy and she’s not wearing a bra. I did think that dress was appropriately modest at first glance. But then looking more closely at the modesty lining added to the front bodice, I realized that the girls are not perched up as high and that was because no bra.
I predict a lot of hair issues – she’ll be in a very hot, humid climate but will insist on wearing her hair down, complete with extensions and wiglets, and will have to be followed around by a battery of hair wranglers because she refuses to pull it back or up.
I like the dress but not on Kate – she as usual makes it look drab. The sheer panels don’t make it the most appropriate dress to wear to a reception – she’s flashing us again. Its the kind of dress that should be worn to an EVENING reception or film premiere. Plus the style screams for an up do or something other than the mop being loose.
Me thinks she’s learning how to be a Duchess from Downtown Abbey, she’s certainly got the Duchess attitude (don’t do much but be arm candy and boss the hired help around) from 100 years ago down pat.
As usual they’re both gurning for the camera and she’s grabbing at the royal biscuit. Why does she do that?
She seems to do this when she wears more conservative style clothing. She has something ‘sexy’ about it. I saw this dress in three different bodices by the same designer. Two of them had more coverage up top, not this sheer, up and down paneling. One had the bold fabric crossed over with a v-neck. The other had the panels closer together but with more fabric in between to make it more modest than the one she’s wearing.
I noticed that when she came out to a child’s mental health event in a knee-length dress, she had the dress’s slit go higher up by either removing a button or positioning it higher up and thus when she walked, there was thigh showing. There are other examples in she does something to a conservative-style outfit that’s been altered to show off some skin or even illusion of skin.
It’s so weird that she came to this event with such a contradiction: no leg or arm skin as if going to an Amish party, but illusion panels to give the look of showing off most of her front torso with the darker vertical panels strategically placed to add in some kind of sex appeal.
I love it. I saw a video of it and it looked amazing in motion. It has everything I love – long sleeves, high neck, dark colour. And her hair was perfect. Unpopular opinion, but she looks much better wih her hair down.
An up do gives the person a certain air of elegance IMO, regardless of whether they have a pretty face or not. It’s just more regal.
However, in Kate’s case, you are probably right. She would not be comfortable with her hair up and she already has such rigid moves, so it’s better to keep her with something familiar.
Whatever style one has, I think the most important thing is the attitude that comes with it. Usually, people with style look very relaxed regardless of what they actually wear, they have an ease about them.
No style in this world can make this woman look natural and relaxed. She has to work by herself to acquire these qualities.
I love it too but I do have a thing for polka dots. It does look much better in the video as well. I do think it would have been nice to have her hair up partially because the collar is very pretty
Without the Polka dots or neck ruffle, that dress would be gorgeous on her. Beautiful color.
If it had a different neckline, shorter skirt to below the knees and maybe with her hair tried back then it would have looked soo much better on her and have been more event appropriate.
Hair up – shorter dress, with maybe shorter sleeves – she would have looked lovely, young, casual, but appropriate. Her hair down plus the high neck just created so much weight and ages her.
I agree, a shorter dress with the high ruffle, elimination of the front panel and hair up would have looked beautiful and more appropriate for the event. And a complementary shade in shoes would have been a great shot of color.
The only thing I like about this dress is the color.
When anyone (pretty much) who is not American says “football” they mean soccer. And if they’re talking about the type of football played in America, they will say “American football”.
Yeah, Kaiser gets that, she just means that no 11-month-old has the physical ability to play the game yet. Like, an 11-month-old can barely walk, so she probably doesn’t have the motor skills to kick a soccer ball.
I think that varies from child to child, a friend’s kid is 11-months old and he does the same thing , if you hold his hand he will kick a football. Of course they can’t play the game of football, but just kicking a ball is not impossible. Most parents would probably see their 11-month old kicking a football and say – “Aw he/she is playing football, how cute!”, you know?
(when I say football, I mean soccer)
@D
What an amazing coincidence! And the same age, too!
@hmmm Seriously? There is big world out there, many people have kids….and many of those kids are…11-months old.
Her forehead looks very smooth.
Botox. All the Botox. Ever.
I love that dress. It looks great on her. Finally something flattering.
I guess I’m alone because I actually like this look on her. LOL the color is beautiful and j love the lines of the dress.
Not keen on the style of the dress but the shape is lovely and that shade of blue really suits her.
That hair! Even a half up, half down compromise would be better. It is so undignified to have your hair constantly flouncing around in your face. I get that it’s her security blanket, but seriously!
I love the color of the dress, but I thought the same thing about the sheer parts: you know it has to be lined, but I still squinted at it.
I just can’t with him.
Wondering how long they managed to stay at this event! Did they sneak out early?
Someone stated above that they were there for less than an hour. Pretty sad since there was probably a formal introduction to begin with and the reception was held at Kensington Palace. SMH I guess they didn’t want to miss TOWIE.
Thanks, Janice!
That dress is so dated. So very, very dated. Of course, she chose it. Instead of showcasing those earrings, she wears her hair down and covers them. She ain’t getting any good baubles for this trip.
It’s very Abigail’s Party.
After watching that video all I can think of is jesus christ…THAT counts as a work engagement? Small talk with some (probably) interesting people for a couple of minutes each and a photo?
If this is the kind of “work” that these two dimwits can’t even handle they’d probably fall down dead from exhaustion after just one 9-5!
Hate it.
Beyond fug. Burn it.
She needs to stop with those boring pump shoes of hers, she has them in every color. Nude pumps, navy pumps, black pumps, gray pumps…. How about something a bit more exciting. Can the monarchy not wear a shoe with an open toe or what?!
The dress and her silhouette is very reminiscent of of the late and very great Karen Carpenter circa the 1970’s.
Too bad Kate is not as charismatic or talented as Karen was. Unfortunately, Kate comes across as a dim and lazy empty shell of a woman. And the dress and crotch clutch makes her look like a sister-wife with an itch.
Karen Carpenter also wore these types of dresses because she was suffering from anorexia and hiding her extremely skinny limbs. She ultimately died as a result of the damage to her heart.
Maybe the DM comments were alluding to this, but it really should not be the image Kate wants to project.
With the high collar I don’t understand why she didn’t wear her hair up.
Also reminiscent of one of Diana’s favorite early styles, high-neck filly blouses and necklines.
I actually think the dress really works. I think on a shorter woman it would be a straight up mess, but her height makes it work. I like it…surprisingly. I love the color. The polka dots aren’t great, but somehow it works.
She always courteously smiles on picture, but the expression of her eyes is always so spiritless and void of emotions.
She seems to…not really be there.
I do love her dress. Very elegant and she has a fantastic figure.
Shame she is so disengaged from her role as a public servant.
Her hair looks nice and I don’t hate the dress. They are still so lazy though.
The dress is not that bad if you look only at the bottom but wow it’s hideous on the top. The two colored faux transparency looks very cheap and make her chest look saggy.
I think overall she has nostalgia for la Belle Époque where the upper classes and the bourgeoisie where merely spending their time in fancy gatherings and hence her love to throwback this time with her looks
I loved your comment and you are so right.
When I first saw the photos of William at the Daily Mail, I thought his face has even more (if possible) of the perma-smug/cat that ate the canary look to it. IMO, you can really see it here in the second photo from the top.
I also note William has been wearing contrasting ties (different shades) from Kate’s outfit.
As far as Kate putting her hair up while in India, I would be surprised if she didn’t do so for two main reasons:
– hot humid weather makes her hair big and frizzy
– The majority of Indian woman typically keep their hair pulled back. “When in Rome…..
We’ll see.
What we can’t see from this angle is that William’s suit is a size or two too small.
notasugarhere, yes but the DM had more photos and the tightness of his pants reminded me of disco scenes from bad 70’s films. Why does he insist on tight and too short pants? It was really noticeable when he walked to church during Charlotte’s christening. I was surprised his pants didn’t split when he bent down to carry George.
They clearly both use the same terrible tailor.
Dress is not good. Hair is OK. Can you imagine having a world stage like she does and showing up like THIS??!!? Why did history pick her?
Hideous dress. Looks as if it belongs at a 70s dinner party. As always the hair is a mess. Do the people she meets really want to have her hair all over them? Very unhygienic.
God, I would love it if Charlotte ended up being an amazing soccer player and epic tomboy. You do you, Charlie!
I know its just a dress… and that it ultimately is silly… but… COCKTAIL ATTIRE IS NOT DIFFICULT. It’s like shes trying to remake the wheel here. STOP FUCKING UP COCKTAIL ATTIRE. IT’S EASY AND ITS FUN AND YOU MAKE IT HARD FOR NO GODDAMN REASON.
Rant concluded.
The dress is beautiful. And her hair and makeup is looking more controlled and stylish. If she is so nervous she must clutch her hands like there’s no tomorrow, then why don’t they prescribe her some freaking xanax?
Yes, I noticed her hands in the still photos and video. She is clenching her one hand with the other hand like crazy. She is immensely uncomfortable in these situations. This is a woman totally out of place in her role.
Was he comforting her at the end because she was worried about her first public appearance since not showing up at the St Patricks ceremony and the negativity that came out of that. I wonder!
Or he may have been comforting her for having to be put through an hour hobnobbing with the common folk.
Heinous and Fug.
She looks great! They are such a nice family. I look forward to William taking the crown!
Sarcasm….right? :/
While I don’t like her public game, I’m genuinely starting to feel a little sorry for her.
We know she struggles wth events like this but the criticism seems so coldly based on preconceptions about her, rather than the reality of her at this event which I’m really failing to find fault with.
And yet neither of them seem to want or are in fact able to negate these preconceptions – they in fact seem to go out of their way to support/promote them.
And yes I guess I am one of the people that thinks there is more going on with Kate other than being lazy, disinterested, infantilised (by her parents and Willy), haughty and a bit thick. I have seen her in person, just after the wedding as she is very thin, borderline eating disorder thin.
She is featured on pro Ana sites as a role model – the one’s that promote anorexia to teens. I’ve gone to some of those sites to check for myself if this was true.
It’s all about how to starve oneself, without being hungry…
Exactly. She looks fine, if not fabulous, and at least they are doing their jobs.
Charles and Anne have said that it takes practice. Just doing the work over and over again.
So if she ‘struggles with events like this,’ then she needs to do more of them. She needs to get used to being out and about with the common folk, not just stick around for 10-20 minutes of introductions and then 10 to 20 minutes of no-talking photo ops. And not just being comfortable and eager to be with only rich folk or celebrities at fancy galas and movie premieres.
As for ‘preconceptions,’ if the comments are based on what she herself has presented to the public, then that’s on her as a grown adult making and doing her own decisions and actions. It’s not like people will forget what she’s done in the past just because the clock struck midnight and it’s a new day.
And if she wants her image improved, then she needs to go out, do more work, get over her uncomfortable feelings interacting with ‘regular folk.’
Anyhoo, I based my observations on this event on the video I saw and what she did at this event with my knowledge of what she’s done previously and why.
I watched the video too, and that’s my point, and the basis for my earlier post. I just didn’t see anything particularly bad about it and think some of the above very picky criticism is really unwarranted. There has to be a point where she’s judged on what she does rather than what she’s done in the past and/or preconceptions of her.
I really don’t like these two but not to the degree that I can’t be objective about them, and I’m starting to find the ‘wilfully useless’ narrative on here a little unfair (for eg, countless posts deciding in advance that she’s going to make a total lazy mess of the Indian tour before she’s even arrived there.)
I’d rather reserve judgement and wait and see.
She couldn’t figure out whether or not to shake people’s hands. That is how little she prepared for this event. A glitzy movie premiere and there’s never a shyness around cameras. mmAn event with Ainslie and there’s never a sign of the “social anxiety”.
I don’t thInk anyone wants her to fail but she has had so much goodwill and given so much time before and after the marriage that people just can’t with her anymore. She has been a consistent disappointment so now people expect it now. It’s her pattern.
I do think something is going on with her though.
Amazingly unflattering.
She needs to dress in clean good cuts, i.e. Diana after the divorce. What is wrong with a business suit, skirt and jacket, instead of all of the coats; colors that suit her complexion, some sophistication? She could dress so well if she would just get some good advice. I do not dislike them, but I believe they need to evolve and quickly.
‘Mumbai is about 35 degrees – it will be a belter. I’ve had enough of winter time, I want to get away.’ – Prince William
I am more surprised that no one has picked up on this comment yet. Just wow.
First time poster, long time reader and i have to add that her dress and more importantly the styling is…not great. I get she’s trying to create a trademark persona through her clothes but the hair needs to be up to show off the interesting neckline, stud earrings for balance and certainly no illusion bodice (just because no – she is not an ice skater) . I think she really does like fashion and sometimes she does dress well (not chic but in offensively nice) but she needs help and so does her husband. Imagine what they could do for the actual British fashion and manufacturing industry – him wearing incredible suiting from saville row or people like Neil Barrett and she in interesting designers like simone rocha or even heritage brands like Pringle or other young designers.
I noticed that comment as well. Let’s add it to the idiotic things William has said in 2016 that are unintentionally revealing about his views of his job.
And we are still only April.
Says the man who just returned from a high-profile skiing trip where I assume it was winter?
He is so inept at small talk but he thinks he’s brilliant. Baby genitalia with Obama. Whether or not a visiting dignitary could see into the bedrooms as KP.
Jason, get them both classes in small talk immediately.
Interestingly enough Indian media is not reporting anything about this tour, which is surprising to me because they usually gush about these things. Nice change for once.
That is a small mercy.
What bothers me the most about the tours, is all the PR fiction that obscures the reality of these folks.
I hope everyone is ready for all the royalists from KP and BP, who will join the discussion during the next week. It never fails…
They are not that popular in my country. We don’t celebrate royals ,We celebrate merit. These undeserving and arrogant welfare couples whose whole claim to fame is being born and getting married.
The kind of reverence they get is vomit inducing. I admire British people for their work culture and their passionate nature, from science to arts, they offered their best to the world. They don’t deserve these people to represent them.
My uncle and his family live in UK, according to them, British people just ignore these royals.
I would not be surprised if the next narrative Carole pulls out is an eating disorder or depression due to ‘lack of support from the BRF’, again to parallel D.
Anyway, the dress is not spectacular but hmmm it’s OK I guess? But part of me is really beginning to think if she’s an exhibitionist? For the hair, it should be up. I’d say that regardless of any long-haired royal. As for staying less than an hour, oy.
The dress would be fine without the faux-sheer panel. I’m sick of women being expected to show skin all the time. It’s a lot more work than putting on a suit — or a long-sleeved long-length dress.
I think there’s something wrong with her, seriously physically wrong. People are talking about William’s “get you out of the cold” comment like it’s a sexist thing, but it could very easily be because she’s ill and truly does need to be taken care of. If she does have an eating disorder, that’s a serious mental illness she can’t just decide to get over.
She does “so much work” for mental health advocates – I doubt she is without that kind of professional guidance, if needed, since she is so fond of the issue.
Oh, so another trip to Mustique or the Maldives before she collapses from overwork?
People insisting it isn’t laziness and lack of caring, but rather a mental disorder and an abusive husband? What next? During the topless scandal some fans were insisting doctors ordered KM to sunbathe nude. She needed more vitamin D to get pregnant, guys, don’t you haters understand?!. Huh. Most people just get an intensive Vitamin D prescription.
She didn’t work for a decade. She really hasn’t worked for the last five years (what was the total, LAK, her engagements equal nine weeks of work in five years?).
I understand the idea of work is a foreign concept to her. It is exhausting to drag herself away from exercise, shopping, and the hairdresser to pay attention to someone else for an hour a month.
“Royal work” isn’t like real work. They have a ridiculously-light schedule, get to choose all of their own work, and would only have to work 10 hours per week to satisfy many critics. She faced this scrutiny as a girlfriend for a decade and has assured all of us that she only cares what William thinks.
If she and William are so precious they cannot handle the work that goes with their privileges, step aside now and take the kids with them.
I don’t hate the dress but I will say I was surprised Kate was wearing something floor length, and the dress seemed weird for this type of reception. When William put his arm around her as they went inside, I thought it was just because she was cold. I didn’t have the sound up so I didn’t hear him say anything to her but that is what it looked like. Once again I will say, she needs a new stylist! I could do a better job and I’m just a yutz living in middle America.
I immediately noticed the awkward hands clutched in front which she has been doing a lot lately and it is very obvious so she needs to stop it. In the video I saw William talking and gesturing with his hands. Is that a bad thing? As long as you don’t smack someone standing nearby, I think it is ok.
Maybe William and Kate need to just loosen up, let themselves be minded a bit by the palace PR folks and know that is ok. No one is expecting them to do it all themselves. Where did they get the notion that everyone will love them more if they act like the next-door neighbor? They just seem miserable trying to keep it all afloat. I remember what it was like when I was their age and had two little children. My hubby and I both worked full time in stressful jobs and had family obligations and so on. I stressed myself out trying to be the perfect everything to everyone. I didn’t have handlers, nannies, cooks, PR reps etc. I really was doing it all myself, and it was stressful. Now I am passed all that and I am in the DGAF phase and life is way more fun. I should have listened to people telling me to chill when I was 35 but we have to all figure this out for ourselves I guess.
If I had all that help I would have used it, gladly! At the end of the day no one is going to give props to Will and Kate for managing everything without help. All people notice is that they are stressed out and awkward.
Speaking of looking stressed out, it is just this dress or is Kate looking really super thin again? Please don’t jump all over me. I am not skinny shaming or picking at her looks or anything, I just think she looks really thin and one wants her to be healthy. That’s all!
Blue all over. High necked frill. Curls. Ugh. Too much in every way.