Just a few pieces of gossip before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s India-Bhutan royal tour begins Sunday/Monday. We’ll be bringing photos throughout next week, just depending on when we get those photos in. Allegedly, there will be at least fifteen photo-ops or costume changes, so I hope you guys like talking about Marilyn Moments, wiglets and eyeliner, because there will be a lot of stuff next week. We might have to rename the site Celebwiglet. Anyway, one of the Daily Mail’s columnists had this BREAKING HOSIERY NEWS.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge depart for their six-day tour of India on Sunday involving several changes of clothes daily for Kate. Around 24 outfits will be packed.
‘And for the majority of her appearances she’ll be bare-legged, something the Queen would never do,’ whispers my source. Kate will have heard of Monday’s predicted 33 degrees there.
That’s 33 degrees Celsius, which is about 91 degrees Fahrenheit, or “hot as balls” as we say in the South. I don’t blame Kate for going without pantyhose in India, nor do I shade her for going without hosiery in general, wherever she is. I think the royal rule about “one must always wear nude hosiery” is stupid for many events. Still, OMG PANTYHOSE SCANDAL.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail also had some coverage about something that could turn into a genuine scandal because it involves Will and Kate’s office possibly requesting that the British Foreign Office lean on Indian authorities to take down the scaffolding from the Taj Mahal. Because who cares about silly repairs when the Cambridges are trying to do a photo-op?
Foreign Office mandarins allegedly asked Indian authorities to take down scaffolding on the Taj Mahal so it does not ruin a photo opportunity when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit. Prince William, 33, is expected to follow in the footsteps of his mother Princess Diana when he visits the Indian landmark with wife Kate, 34, during their tour of the country which begins next week. But a furious row has erupted after the Foreign Office was forced to deny claims printed in an Indian newspaper that British officials had asked authorities to dismantle scaffolding around three of the historic building’s minarets.
The Times of India claimed members of the British High Commission’s advance team asked for the building work to be dismantled ahead of the royal visit so they did not spoil photographs taken at the event. The paper reported that the request could not be accepted as ‘months of hard work’ has gone into it and workers would have to start from scratch if the scaffolding was removed. A senior official, who did not wish to be named, told the newspaper the advanced team visited the monument several times and in one of the meetings the issue of removal of scaffolding was raised but was turned down by Indian officials.
The source told the paper: ‘Everyone wants to have a perfect picture at the Taj Mahal. A lot of inquiries are received at the office where tourists, especially foreigners, want to know when the scaffolding would be removed. They say they would plan their visit accordingly.’
However a Foreign Office spokeswoman told The Telegraph: ‘We can confirm that this story is not correct. We did not request that the Taj Mahal remove the scaffolding.’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will rub shoulders with Bollywood stars at a glittering reception and dinner being held in their honour in Mumbai on their upcoming visit to India and Bhutan. They will take in numerous locations over the course of the week, in what a spokesman described as their ‘most ambitious and colourful tour’ to date.
First, their “most ambitious and colourful tour” irritates the hell out of me. It’s SIX DAYS. It involves parties, receptions and photo-ops. It’s not ambitious, is my point. As for “colourful”… I really feel like that’s coded language, language that wasn’t used when Will & Kate were, say, visiting New Zealand and Australia. I wonder why they’re using it in this situation, hm?
As for the Taj Mahal’s scaffolding… it would not surprise me at all if there were some “official” requests made by someone, somewhere that the scaffolding be taken down for the Cambridges’ photo-ops. If the Foreign Office didn’t make the request, so be it. But I bet the request was made somewhere, by someone. Like Poor Jason.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News, Fame/Flynet.
I wouldn’t be surprised either, Kaiser. Anything to evoke Diana’s memory for PR purposes. It’s shameful considering they consistently show the antithesis of Diana’s work ethic.
Well said. It’s disgusting that they lean on Diana’s memory in everything but doing some work.
The audacity of asking to remove the scaffolding for a shameful photo op is more than I can stand. Would the Cambridges offer to pay for it to be removed, put back up, and any other costs associated with the delays? I think not!
@Melly
No, they’d expect the Indian government to pick up the tap. Or worse yet, the British taxpayer by tacking it on to the bill for “unforeseen expenses”.
@Lisa
Exactly! It’s shameful and self centered. The Indian government better not cave to these two
I wouldn’t put it past the queen to pay for it, using monies earmarked to repair BP.
Amazing, the audacity of these two. One would think with all the bad PR they’ve had, they would tread carefully. I really think they think they are immune to being removed from the line of succession. A$$hats.
I was reading comments on a site where the writers love Kate, and none of the commenters except one mentioned how uncomfortable she looked at the reception. If she clenched her hands any harder, they would have broken off. People were talking about how obviously attracted they are to each other, how much he loves her, etc., including the hosts. I just don’t see that anymore. Am I blinded because I don’t like them? I think they used to like each other, but I think he totally takes her for granted now, and thinks she’s a nonentity. How can he not? He was raised to think he is the most special snowflake in the world. I just don’t see this great love affair they all see.
Jib, if it’s the site I’m thinking of, the hosts have a financial incentive in the success of the couple and the marriage (through their book). I can’t speak for the commenters, although they mostly seem to be fully paid up members of the Minivan Majority.
It’s the 20th anniversary year. Expect more as summer approaches. My wild guess is a publicized visit to her private graveside (no photos, just a heart tugging PR story).
Great catch, Christin! Curiouser and curiouser.
Actually next year is the 20th anniversary, she died in August 1997. I expect major histrionics from William and a memorial event of some kind.
I predict Diana-and-granddaughter tackfest clothing line being highlighted with KM-taken portraits of Diana 2.0 in the clothing for her second birthday / first day of nursery school. Unless we’re getting those as a surprise for her first birthday next month.
I hope Harry secrets himself in Africa next August.
@nota – You are correct. For some reason, August 1996 was stuck in my head (possibly because of all the Diana references of late).
I still think they’re going to stretch this out and gain as much attention and sympathy as possible.
Chutney was out working, er, I mean, shopping again today, according to Twitter. No time to stop by SportsAid’s birthday celebration, but she, I mean, Rebecca, sent a few words to them so she could continue her prep “work” in earnest.
British raj ended decades ago, no more bullying Indians.
I’m interested to see if any protesters show up. Were Charles and Camilla welcomed on their trip in 2013?
“Colorful” is coded language for substance free photo ops. Can anyone picture Will or Kate deciding to spend a week mucking in with a charity. Of course not, it would destroy their children’s mental health.
I’m sitting here dying of laughter imagining Kate and Wills helping to build a house or even walk near a field with landmines. Think of the children!!!!!
It wouldn’t surprise me if its true. This tour is all about the Taj Mahal and invoking di’s memory. We can’t have big bulky scaffolding getting in the way of it.
Someone on the DM pointed out there is scaffolding in Jackie Kennedy’s picture at the Taj Mahal. Good enough for her, but we cannot ruin the recreating of the iconic mummy photo.
That’s the first thing I thought of, too. Jackie Kennedy didn’t care. She had more class than these two entitled losers.
I have a feeling this tour is going to be awful. I’m interested in seeing the clothing and all, but I’m more interested in seeing the demeanor of the Cambridges together. I hope there are lots of videos.
I’m hoping it’s really juicy, vava. The entertainment factor is priceless.
W&K should just have the scaffolding photo-shopped out of the pictures if they’re that concerned about them.
Yes! Their photographers are really good at Photoshop, so what’s the problem?
But….you are using good logic, you came up with a modern solution, and you are attempting to employ a caring respectful perspective and some humbleness. ???
Those photos won’t be ready for a week if the edits have to include scaffold removal PLUS the usual facelift.
Colourful = coded and colonialist. Tick!
Heritage preservation less important than Diana obsession = crass. Tick!
Tights as important talking point = superficial attitude towards foreign tour. Tick!
They haven’t even left yet and there are no wheels left on the bus. Bugger. Shouldn’t have used that analogy. I’ll be singing Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round all afternoon now!
Without tights= without knickers.
That’s what I was wondering too and could that be what is colorful?
Why didn’t they just use “ethnic” instead of colourful? Once again their spokespeople are out to lunch. And they have yet to actually say what the point of this tour would be. I don’t think there is a need for Bollywood to meet with a few work shy royals.
They probably thought “ethnic” would be offensive! We are reaching the Cumbersquatch levels of “coloured”, are we not? Oh dear. It is not funny but I’m still singing Wheels on the Bus and laughing. Ineptitude-R-Us.
ITA, Nic. Enough with the code words. This is a pointless tour for pointless, work shy royals. And, ‘Willie Meets Bollywood’? He couldn’t even be bothered to attend the BAFTA awards ceremony.
@Olenna
Not once but twice.
This whole trip reeks of colonialism to me too.
Because ethnic is so much more cringeworthy. Ick. I don’t know why but that word bugs me.
honestly, I’d find ‘ethnic’ far more offensive in this context.
These two are insensitive dolts but this much they did get right – India is indeed rather colourful, and I mean that literally. It’s a cliche but it’s based in truth.
@ Teacakes, I don’t care for the word “ethnic” either but I guess the point is: Did their PR team really need to go there with superfluous descriptors like “colorful” in the first place? IMO, no, but it’s just another example of how tone deaf the Cams and their staff are.
In this context, I agree ethnic would be more the offensive word. But um… if you were thinking of describing a tour as ethnic and thought “oops, can’t really say that”, you should probably delete the description entirely and find a new one, not just go for a coded synonym. Why not say “ambitious and exciting” instead?
You can always change the lyrics, Sixer:
The hands on the crotch go clutch clutch clutch
Or
The wiglet on the head goes flip flip flip
Or
The hem on the dress flies up up up
Oh, don’t! I have to go and do some work and I’ll never manage!
+1000!
that’s brilliant!!
Hahaha, also DARN IT because I will be singing this all day and coming up with my own lyrics!
Moar Moar!!
OMG! OMG, Holly!!!
Ha ha ha!!
I sing Wheels on the Bus to my toddler every day in the car and you just gave me some new verses. Thanks!
The wheels in the brain are stuck stuck stuck . . .
The tour’s a cluster . . . . . . can’t say the rest of that.
Thanks, bluhare. Now I’m picturing Jason wandering aimlessly around the KP office complex, head in hands, singing
“This tour is a cluster* , cluster* , cluster*
This tour is a cluster*, where’s my resume?”
Holly, that is so funny! Now that song is stuck in my brain, too.
Sixer, hang in there. We know these two dolts really aren’t representative of your people.
I have a verse:
“The scaffolding on the Taj Majhal stays up up up, up up up, up up up
The scaffolding on the Taj Majhal stays up up up, up up up, up up up
ALL TOUR LONG”
Lol Betti and Holly
Sixer – they’re not even here yet and I already want to tell them, please go back, you Brits are much better at dealing with them!
I can’t believe they’re asking for the scaffolding to be downed just for a bloody photo op. And then they make possibly THE most famous and luxurious hotel in the country (it had that rep even before the 2008 attacks) sound like some bombed-out war zone that they are so brave for visiting.
I’m still laughing from Liberty’s tea cake outfit for the Queen. Hope this latest scaffolding story provides us with another chapter…. Liberty where r up with our weekly dose?
Honestly, teacakes, I’m just retiring into the good old Britisher self-preservation technique of finding something to laugh at. If I stopped too long to think of how they are representing ME to the wider world, I would just sit and cry.
Between the endless giveaways of colonial attitudes and the equally endless narcissism of making a tour intended to improve diplomatic relations all about them… well, I just despair. They are representing ME and it’s deeply embarrassing.
Back to Wheels on the Bus!
@Cricket – oh goodness yes, we need more Liberty! Her comments always make me cackle, and I mean openly cackle.
@Sixer – well, the man who reps ME to the world is an ethnic-cleansing bigot who would ‘cleanse’ people like me right out of the country if he could, so compared to that, I think you may actually have a not-so-bad deal.
Dullness and laze are still preferable to very energetic pseudo-religious fanaticism.
The insinuations are incredible here. Very offensive and Victorian era of them. Cringing and I’m still cringing.
You have my sympathies, teacakes. Truly.
Well, William told someone at the reception that he is looking forward to the 35C heat because he was ‘fed up with the cold and couldn’t wait to get away’.
He didn’t follow it up with anything else, so for him it’s a chance for some winter sun, and recreating Diawi moments.
I saw that on the tail-end of the comments yesterday. It beggars belief.
Couldn’t wait to get away? Did he not *just* have four days at a luxury resort in Kenya? I wish I could see Poor Jason’s face when he comes out with these gaffes. I wish the press would report these (many, many) comments as the gaffes they are.
I guess the luxury skiing vacation in France was too wintery?
Can you imagine if Harry was like William, just taking off to various vacation places and forsaking work, and then when being forced to meet with the Invictus crowd, he said ‘I’m just hoping to enjoy the Florida weather and Disneyland.’
William is such an ass.
@anne-Disneyland is in California and Disneyworld is in Florida. If Harry said that it would be even worse. Lol.
Workshy can’t help himself. He’s got hoof in mouth disease.
@ Magnoliarose
Oh that’s right. LOL. I’m used to thinking of it as Disneyland, because I’m in CA. LOL.
May is when it starts to get hot and especially humid in Florida anyway. It’s not as bad as August, but looking forward to the climate here in May still wouldn’t make a lot of sense. “Yay, I get to swim in sweat!”
If she goes without pantyhose in 90 degree weather, fine. I just hope it’s not windy.
I can’t wait to see her get off the plane. That’s one prime photo op for her.
You just know she won’t be wearing a pencil skirt.
@Tiffany 🙂
“It sounds so odd to me, the need for a sheer covering for a body part that is just a limb.”
You live in California. There is a cultural difference. Try living in the Great White North and then get back to me.
@hmmh – sorry but a female lawyer getting frowned at for wearing a PANTSUIT in court? Is backwards and sexist, no matter what way you try to slice it.
We’re not talking Ally McBeal miniskirts or crazy club clothing here, we’re talking an item of clothing that has been an accepted part of professional attire for most women – including a prospective American president – for the last 40 years.
It is just so weird to announce in advance that she won’t be wearing pantyhose. I think most would understand the heat would be a factor.
@teacakes,
Well it looks like the thread is out of whack so I’m not sure which comment you’re responding to. Not being able to wear a pantsuit in court, frankly, doesn’t really stir my sexism meter.
@hmmm – I was responding to the earlier one you made about ‘American’ professional dress codes.
I don’t see why women working in the legal field in the US/North America should be censured or pressured not to wear trousers – which have been been perfectly acceptable professional wear for at least two generations now – just because some old fart judge thinks qualified legal professionals should only wear skirts in the courtroom, if they happen to be female. No one is fighting for the right to wear super-low tops or pink hair, but they make all this fuss over women in trousers? In 2016?
And if you can’t see how utterly backwards and, yes, sexist that is, I have nothing more to say.
As a lawyer myself I do agree that it is sexist if judges have a problem with women wearing pantsuits. I would have thought that issue went away in the 70s and 80s. I can say that in Ontario there is no issue with women wearing pantsuits in court and that it has never been an issue in my well over 13 years of practice. It helps that we have a significant number of women on the bench and that there is a mandatory retirement age of judges of 75 on the Supreme Court and in the Superior Court judges over 65 become supernumerary. Also when we appear in Superior Court and above, we have to wear robes, which actually makes it a lot easier because you only need to decide if you will wear black pants, or a black or grey stripped skirt. Pantyhose is expected though if you wear a skirt in court. The courts are generally are air conditioned, so there is no reason not to wear it.
I cannot make up my mind about this. I live in Houston. I have had to wear pantyhose and suits in 90+ degree heat with 90+% humidity to boot (and I do not have a team of people catering to my every whim to make the days pass by more quickly!). It is not fun, but it is expected professional attire for women.
She is the future queen. We all have to do things in life that are uncomfortable or annoying. Suck it up, Katie.
I feel your pain, Bearcat.
Here’s an amazing thought: why doesn’t Kate just wear linen pants or long skirts? Like women all over the Middle East and Asia.
It is a dress requirement for the job, she can suck it up for 6 days. Or wear flowing trouser suits as Camilla does in hot environments.
The thing is, she doesn’t even have to. Like others have pointed out, she could wear all kinds of different clothes. Flowing dresses are not the only option. It’s different for other women in professional environments. Sometimes a skirt with pantyhose is more or less your only option. Not for her though.
I think you make a great point. And I am green with envy that you can eat at Ninfa’s whenever you want.
You’re absolutely right. It’s the dress code.
Kate went bare legged at times in OZ, but it was at the beach so that didn’t seem out of place. But, I agree with you guys, why doesn’t this chick consider trousers or long skirts. Kate and her handlers really seem so dim at times, it’s mind-boggling.
I’m jealous BCL can have Black Walnut Blue Bell Ice Cream whenever she wants. It is one of those BB flavors not available in my region.
@GNAT – Ninfa’s is a shell of its former self since the family sold it off to some corporate conglomerate. Her kids have opened up their own chain here, El TIempo Cantina, but it is not quite the same. The tortillas are still excellent though.
@notasugarhere – Blue Bell ice cream does make the hot and humid weather (which we have had for the past six weeks already) more bearable! My friends who live in colder climates often find it hilarious that I eat ice cream year round and always have a half gallon of Blue Bell something in the freezer at all times. My current favourite is Southern Hospitality – fruit, nuts, and sweet cream. Yum.
And I think littlemissnaughty hit on exactly why I have mixed feelings about the pre-trip pronouncement that Kate will go bare-legged on this tour: she has other options. Most professional women do not have the same freedom. I know for a fact some federal judges would *hugely* side eye a female attorney wearing a pantsuit in court, with or without hosiery. Many Indian women would not dare show their bare legs in public for fear of being assaulted. So not only does she seem oblivious to cultural and societal norms once again, but she also shows how little she understands what is appropriate attire for a business trip.
You are right there are plenty of options available and when it is thought about in that light, the announcement sounds ridiculous.
Watch out–if you suggest she wear trousers, we’ll just see her in those damn dark skinny jeans EVERY DAY. I don’t think she knows that other trousers exist.
In LA, it isn’t expected that women will wear pantyhose even in professional settings. It sounds so odd to me, the need for a sheer covering for a body part that is just a limb. I understand having limits on skirt length, but requirements for pantyhose seems odd to me.
@Bearcat – I’ve never been able to understand this weird, Puritan mindset some Americans have about what female lawyers can wear in court (seriously, no pantsuits?! wtf, someone give those judges a calendar and tell them they’re in a first world country in 2016!) .
I remember reading an interview on a major beauty blog where they featured a young woman who happened to be a lawyer from Hong Kong with a few pictures of her, and virtually all the comments on the article were all pearl-clutching ‘does your boss know you wear short shorts and drink wine in your free time? HOW UNPROFESSIONAL! Think of the clients!’ because apparently having any evidence that you aren’t chained to your desk 24/7, means you must be a bad lawyer or something.
and I’ve lived in India for the last 18 years and done my share of bare-legged traipsing around – it’s quite acceptable as leisurewear for young women in the major cities, and knee-length is quite an acceptable length considering most girls’ school uniforms consist of knee-length skirts. We don’t all get killed or groped for showing our knees, just saying.
But of course, standards are always relative. We once had a visit from a Pakistani debate team who told us they thought India was shockingly liberal because they saw so many girls walking around in sleeveless tops – apparently that was not common where they came from.
Blue Bell, El Tiempo…I didn’t think a thread about the BRF would make me feel grateful to be in Houston!
@teacakes,
“I’ve never been able to understand this weird, Puritan mindset some Americans have about what female lawyers can wear in court ”
I don’t see what this has to do with Puritanism. Professional men wear suits and that’s gotta take its toll in summer. I don’t understand the need to label an “American” professional dress code as Puritanical. WTH?
BTW, I’m Canadian. I just don’t get confounding morality with the rules and regulations of contemporary business, of *any* country, not just America.
Aw geez. I meant ‘conflating’ not ‘confounding’. Darn concept check was missing in my head for a moment.
Oh, Bearcat, that makes me so sad.
You must work somewhere with antiquated business attire standards. Pantyhose is not expected business attire in most places these days and I work in an extremely dressy, corporate job meeting presidents, prime ministers, ministers, business leaders, etc. I wear pantyhose in winter, I don’t know a single person who wears it in summer – except when working in some middle eastern/Muslim countries and in that case we usually just wear pants (I travel the world for work).
I do not wear pantyhose every day, but federal courts in Texas are much more conservative when it comes to dress. Some female attorneys wear pantsuits to federal court (with hosiery), but it really depends on the judge and the events on the docket. I honestly cannot remember seeing a female attorney in pants during a jury trial, but it is a bit more common for pretrial hearings or routine docket calls. State courts and administrative law courts, like the immigration courts where I also practice, are much more lax about attire. I rarely wear pantyhose and often wear pantsuits to immigration court since I cannot do that in the federal district court.
Female members of the BRF have long been expected to wear pantyhose at official events, no matter what the weather. In my mind it is not just a tradition, it is emblematic of British manners and stoicism. As in, “It is dreadfully hot, but out of respect for you I will dress up and endure the discomfort.” Or maybe I am simply old-fashioned!
Hi Bearcat,
If there is any question about proper attire, it’s always best to defer to the more conservative option. That is something Kate needs to be mindful of, in my opinion. Particularly given her past indiscretions.
Lawyers in New York City wear hoisery to court. On. hot. and. humid. days. It’s a dress code with firms, and quite frankly, given the casualization of society these days, I think it’s GOOD.
But back to Kate. She’s representing the Monarchy and until the rules are changes she needs to comply – because quite honestly on her other overseas junkets she’s been an absolute embarrassment.
I’m sorry but that is ridiculous. The women of the royal family always used to wear corsets and full length skirts too. Are they still wearing them today? No. Why? Because whilst tradition is great in some cases, in others modernisation and being in tune with the times is more important. Should she be wearing respectful, appropriate attire? Yes. Does pantyhose have to be part of that? Of course not. There is nothing wrong with a bare female calf. In fact the idea that there is something wrong with a bare female leg is disturbing to me.
I think your courtroom attire requirements are outdated, sexist and ridiculous. Not something to be proud of. Most of the business world around the world is fine with women with a bare legs and women in pants.
I respect that you like it yourself – and that’s your right and choice; but others should not be held to this standard.
@SKF,
What makes pantyhose standards antiquated? On your say-so and your narrow little bit of the world? The strictness to me is amazing and telling. Like somehow wearing pantyhose in summer makes you persona non grata or a douche. Sounds like a topic that absorbs the Duchess.
This thread makes me think of this cartoon: https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/files/2008/12/1.png
Ha ha ha! @Hmmmm
If you’d read my first post you would know that I travel the world for work, that I work in an extremely dressy and corporate line of work, and that I meet leaders of the public and private sectors in my job including Prime Ministers and Presidents. As previously stated, the women I work with and have encountered generally only wear stockings/pantyhose in winter or if in some Muslim countries (where we normally just wear pants).
My small narrow corner of the world has meant working in Spain, Albania, Turkey, the Philippines, Australia, Oman, UAE, and Argentina in the last six months alone. I go to live and work in a new country every 2-6 months, with brief visits to other countries for meetings etc. So I think I have a pretty good idea of what’s normal around the word and my “narrow corner” isn’t so narrow after all.
My last sentence was that if people want to wear them and feel comfortable in them, that is their choice and prerogative – and full respect to them. But it is and should be a CHOICE. Women should not be forced to or expected to wear skirts and pantyhose. That is some old-fashioned sexist controlling bullsh*t right there. And I find it disturbing.
If she’s not going to wear pantyhose, then I hope she at least wears underwear that covers her buttocks.
If she’s that worried about the hot weather, then I have a feeling that this means she’s going to be wearing light, flimsy fabrics with or without high slits, without weights in the hems, probably dresses/skirts with lengths higher than her knees, and tops with low cuts showing cleavage. Just to keep cool as possible…. right?
Is her itinerary taking place mostly outside? Or inside in air-conditioned rooms? Does she know that they have air-conditioning in India?
She could re-wear items from their Malaysia tour, suited to the climate. You know, be “thrifty”.
Nota, would that be an insult to the host country to show up in clothes already worn for another occasion? Do they have to be new clothing, and does William get all new suits for his tours?
It is not a requirement to wear all-new clothing, the other royal ladies don’t. William hasn’t had a new suit in years. See pictures of him in the suit from the reception the other night. Clearly a size or two too small.
Oh, Lawd, I can just see the flashing pictures already!! I’m betting that if she goes, and after how stressed she looked just being at that Meet and Greet the other night, she will have many awkward, flashing moments. She just can’t help it!
Let’s never forget that Willy just came back from Jecca’s wedding, leaving his wife and children behind on Easter. Is this not humiliating? So, being stressed, especially with Willy, memories of Easter weekend, and his royal expectations in attendance is a given, IMO. Unless she’s not human, there is no way that she can abide the fact that he humiliated her. I don’t the rest bothers her as much.
Some of us might considering it humiliating. She might consider it part-and-parcel of the deal she signed up for.
I think part of her nervousness is the after effects of their meeting with HM. I am sure it wasn’t just HM but others as well. I’m sure it was not a pleasant meeting either. I think it is sinking in slightly that she is in trouble. Workshy will always be family even if they exile him to a country gentleman’s life but she is entirely disposable. Aping Workshy’s ways were not to her benefit.
I’m anticipating many hair malfunctions if it’s 33 and the Duchess of Hairpieces insists on wearing her hair down. I can just picture a bevy of hairdressers chasing after her waving extensions, straightening irons, hot curlers and blow dryers.
Will’s likes her hair down – and we all know she loves showing him her legs – even Harry has commented on how great they are. The Duchess believes that she has a great little bod, and uses it for attention, especially for Will – the tour is completely secondary to her (skinny jeans, which are merely thick tights, on a Queen-to be, while on duty?). She wore almost nothing underneath her clothing on the other tours – mile-high club seem obvious to me. I know it seems “improper” to mention sex, but mattress appeal won him over, after all.
I agree, wolfpup. He certainly wasn’t attracted to Kate because of her brain. Not that she ever shows that she has one. But given her position and all the backlash these two have been getting, she needs to think twice and tread lightly as I too get the feeling the wolves are at the door and her position is in very tenable IMO. It’s a fine line though – I think she risks facing the wrath of William when she does what she’s supposed to if he’s feeling particularly bullheaded and contrary on any particular day.
Lots of awkward PR upfront of this tour. Nothing indicating it’ll be anything more than photo ops:
1) Kate’s team took pics so she would POP against the backdrop (I’m guessing this is the same strategy as the hot pink at the 9/11 memorial…ignorance is bliss)
2) The Taj Hotel made sure their gilded hotel room had a spa with treatments w accents from various parts of India as they requested to be “immersed” in the culture.
3) No tights! (Very important release of information)
4) It’s going to be colorful! As if anything out of their beige palace isn’t.
5) Sliding in the question about if scaffolding will be down in time for pics. Again who cares about the history of the Taj Mahal, Diana photo recreation IS the only important history here.
Everything on this tour is about THEIR APPEARANCE nothing about the counties visited, hosts, issues, commerce, culture. All their group cares about is how photos of Will/Kate are going to look in the UK/US press.
If the request is, indeed, real, (I believe it) then it also floridly exposes their sense of importance and entitlement, at Sun King levels. That Willy is a real megalomaniac.
I almost hoping for an international incident at this point. These two are so clueless I bet they offend someone during those 6 days.
Of course it’s about them.
The Palace sent out a statement on their behalf which thanked the public for continuing to visit the Taj Mahal because in doing so the public were keeping the memory of Diana alive!!!! 😮
Nevermind that the Taj Mahal has been around for centuries and will continue to be around for centuries more, without Diana or these two numpties.
Oh, LAK. I just died a little bit inside. Please make it stop.
I still cannot believe they put that in the official press release, or rather People Magazine-aimed tourism essay they released.
“They will then board a flight to Agra, India, the home of the Taj Mahal. The Taj, one of the wonders of the world and completed in 1648, will be a fitting location for The Duke and Duchess to say thank you for the generosity and warmth that will have been extended to them on the tour. The Taj Mahal is one of the symbols of India and Their Royal Highnesses cannot wait to see it with their own eyes. The Duke of Cambridge is of course aware of the huge esteem his mother, the late Princess of Wales is held in India and he appreciates the iconic status of the images that exist of The Princess at the Taj. He feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there. 24 years on from her visit to the Taj, The Duke and The Duchess are looking forward to seeing this beautiful place for themselves and creating some new memories as they say thank you to the people of India at the conclusion of this tour.
As you can see this is going to be a hugely exciting and rewarding tour. Their Royal Highnesses are very much looking forward to it.”
That’s pathetic. I’m getting more and more apathetic about these two (thinking back to yesterday’s post about the future of the monarchy).
That’s so unbelievably obnoxious.
@ LAK
Thanks for the heads up on that.
@ notasugarhere
Thanks for the quote: ‘He feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there.’
Yeah, cuz that’s what other people are good for. To hold up the esteem of those W&K are related to, to honor them, pay homage, and do pilgrimage in their names. Cuz they’re akin to the king-gods of long ago.
Never mind that the Taj Mahal has a different purpose for existing and why it was created in the first place.
WOW what a ridiculously self-important and tone-deaf statement. I can’t believe it’s real. Do they have some sort of quota of Diana mentions they have to hit with every engagement?
These two are pathetic. As if the only reason people visit the Taj Mahal is because of Diana. if they really were so KEEN to honour her memory, they’d get off their butts and do some real, rolled-up sleeves, WORK.
“As you can see this is going to be a hugely exciting and rewarding tour. Their Royal Highnesses are very much looking forward to it.”
“Rewarding” for whom???? How stupid and self-absorbed can you get.
I think a 12 year old student could write a better press release on their tour. Who writes that stuff?? How totally tone deaf are they?? Sheesh.
I am not altogether sure what their PR team is trying to accomplish. It’s like they think this is still 2012 and no one has caught on to these grifters. We know and see them now. Too late.
@ Magnoliarose
+1
It seems kind of fitting that the scaffolding should be up and appear in THEIR Diana Moment Photo. Kind of like “under construction”, which, unbeknownst to them, they truly are …
Under construction. Crumbling to ruins. Always being worked on, never working.
OR being built from scratch, revamped, or improved.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Unfortunately, I don’t see any improvement at all with this couple. If anything, they are deteriorating!
I know, vava. I keep hoping though.
😀
Honest to pete – their level of “arrogance” never ceases to amaze me. Why don’t they just ask ALL of India to rearrange it’s self just for them? I hope one of those monkeys jumps on them – maybe one will pull out a wiglet while it is at it. Oh, that’s right – they’ll probably have all the monkeys “relocated” while they’re there.
They also requested that they be immersed in the culture at the hotel: so they’re being provided with an in suite spa.
what the…
is this true?
how out of touch can you be?
a few days? a week? ago i read about their plan to stay at the Taj Hotel. at first they sold it like its a poky place. “the Duke and Duchess are going to stay a night in the bombed out hotel”, it was released not long after news about Harry staying the night in a refugee camp.
they really went to great lenghts to say how brave the Duke and Duchess are to stay in a bombed out hotel, as if it was still in shambles with gouges on the floor, no walls, bare cables, and no water.
turns out its an uber luxury hotel.
Yes because goodness knows, after a long 30 minute appearance, they need a massage.
…because they can’t find Indian culture in Britain!!!!
Now I want hot jalebi!
LAK and Sixer, guess they hadn’t heard of the Big Curry Lunch / Soldiers’ Charity event Harry attended the other day…
I was surprised to learn Charles is a big curry fan. And LAK, that’s a great point.
Chuck likes Indian food so much he even stepped out to the restaurant frequented by little old me! http://www.brilliantrestaurant.com/prince-charles-in-southall/
Were you the one following him in? I didn’t notice any, , , um, accoutrements . . so probably not. 😉
Our local Indian restaurant even has goat curry. Not the most popular item here in the Pacific NW!!
Haha. Not on the same day. I always went to the Brilliant for my birthday back in my Londoner days and the first house I ever rented after leaving home was in Southall. I’m dreaming of masala lamb chops now. And dribbling!
These two crazy kids won’t stop. One of the best things about going to London is the curry. There’s a few places in the US I like but London has more choices. I think I just changed my dinner plans. Hmmmm.
The Hindustan Times (April 7, 2016) said that at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, they’re going to get exotic herbs and spices from the hills of India included in their spa wrap. Specially requested arrangements at the hotel are being made so as to immerse themselves in the Indian culture as much as possible.
……
Because Harry did it wrong by actually going to the hills of Nepal to immerse himself in the culture and interact with the people. He should have just stayed in a multi-star hotel and gotten a spa treatment instead.
I am curious as to William’s point of posing in front of the Taj Mahal. To quote Ken Burns book, “Diana: Closely Guarded Secret”,
“For the Prince and Princess, (Charles and Diana), the first important public event of the year was their joint tour of India, planned for months and due to start in February. Diana knew that they would come under the microscope during the visit, but she no longer cared who knew – press or public – the depths to which her marriage had sunk. Even before the trip began, the press fired the first salvo when the Sun published an exclusive piece revealing that she would be visiting the Taj Mahal, the great marble mausoleum, near Agra, built in the seventeenth centruy by Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, and perhaps the world’s greatest monument to love, alone. Gleeful, the accompanying article quoted Prince Charles who, in accordance with the tradition that surrounds the Taj Mahal, had said during a previous visit in 1980 that he would return to the monument with the women he loved. Could there ever be a more significant statement about the state of the royal marriage? Instead his refusal to accompany her made it clear that he did not care about her, and that he did not care what people thought about his marriage.”
Why is William opening the can of worms concerning his mother’s marital pain? He seems to wish to punish his father. Does he truly believe that he is the better man? I believe his hostility is way out of hand.
Yes but remember Diana said visiting the Taj was a healing experience.
I don’t believe there’s any hostility directed at Charles in this regard.
Whereas I think there is always hostility being directed at Charles by W&K, either singly (the breakup was “his daddy’s fault”) or jointly.
What Nota said.
Nota I think you are right. I remember reading that she relied on W too much and he witnessed her breakdowns. She was manipulative and indiscriminate at times, as is he, but not he’s not nearly as deft at it. Plus we live in adifferent social climate now and neither of them seem to get this.
(It’s Ken Wharfe. Burns does the 1252352352-part documentaries for PBS. 🙂 )
Is Wharfe the one who wrote the long-winded book on Diana? Because I know someone from her staff wrote a book and I couldn’t even finish it.
That being said, there’s no way that posing in front of the Taj Mahal won’t send some sort of message.
The only message it sends is more confirmation of the fact W&K are so incredibly useless and dull, they can’t create an authentic brand for themselves. They can’t create their own memories, their own moments ie blaze their own trail in this world.
That was Patrick Jephson, her private secretary. Resigned after Diana organised Panorama interview behind his back.
Thank you, LAK!
I think it’s odd they are trying to recreate the image in front of the Taj Mahal. I don’t fault them for visiting it, but making such a big deal about posing in front of it just seems so off to me. William could use a psychiatrist. Better late than never.
‘Look at me Dad! You screwed over mom here at the Taj Mahal by making her come here all by her lonesome and here I am with my obsessively loyal wife who’ll never leave me and I have a better marriage than you do! I’m going to take a better photo here than you’ve ever done! Because I’m a better husband and family man and a better person over all!’
He’s just immature enough to say that…..and then demand money to keep up his hidden, ridiculously luxurious, “normal” lifestyle. If I were Charles, I’d cut them both off and make sure the Queen does too. Let William try to go the press.
Anne! I feel like you just gave us an insight into the (delusional) reality that is Willnot’s little pea brain.
Cry me a river, Willy. The worst part is that he is manipulating the situation for his own pathological gratification. Deliberately.
I say he’s a megalomaniac and I will keep saying it. Because his victimhood is totally in service to his desire to crush.
Yes I see this too. The sad part is that Diana was young when she was thrust into her position and died before we experienced what she may have grown into. It’s tasteless his they use her memory.
I felt bad for Diana while she was in India. Seems there was a real double standard against her. She was required to go to the Taj Mahal by herself, yet play the devoted wife to Charles by attending his polo match and giving out prizes. We saw the anger from Diana when she turned her face away from Charles when he tried to kiss her.
I still don’t believe the Taj photo op is hostility directed to Charles from William. William left his wife and family on Easter weekend. People have short memories.
William does what he wants when he wants. He’s a lot like his father.
Vava, may-be they are trying to put on a charade of see how happy we are, so they pose holding each other. The irony of the whole thing is if their marriage has sunk low,low, low, as Chuck and Di’s history will almost say ” WOW” what a coincidence!!
Yes, let’s put a major kink in what is likely a multi-million dollar restoration project for a photo op. Makes perfect sense!
Yeah, but the Indians should honor W&K for the latter even bothering to come all the way to India just to give it a global PR boost and for gracing India with their British Royal presence.
After all, W&K’s PR quote (in an above thread by notasugarhere) basically stated that the Taj Mahal was made famous and significant to tourists by William’s mother. So the Indians should pay William back by swallowing the cost and time lost by taking down the scaffolding and putting it back up again just to make this one little photo shoot for W&K as perfect as possible for them. It’s what W&K want and thus should be done. After all, he’s going to be King of Great Britain one day and this is a small price India should pay for any grace William may favor them with.
[/sarcasm]
Very well put. He thinks the sun never sets on the British Empire. It’s 2016 and it does.
If I were in charge of the Indian government I’d put more scaffolding up. Just anything I could to ruin their little photo op.
I like the way you think, Melly.
Well put, anne_000.
I find Willy’s ignorance and hubris scary, because so far, everyone submits to it.
The scaffolding request does NOT surprise me – its very typical of the Cambridge attitude and sense of entitlement.
The hosiery story if funny primarily as it just supports the view that her clothes and appearance is the ONLY thing that the media has to talk about her and buy ‘leaking’ stories like this to the press her PR is promoting the image that she’s nothing but an empty headed bad clothes horse.
The tour is going to be a cringeworthy disaster.
Betti, I don’t know why they just don’t photo-shoppe out the scaffolding, the way they photo-shoppe her face, I mean why not?
There is currently a large article in the Daily Mail by Sarah Vine, calling Kate the “Duchess of Drab” It’s rather amusing.
These two don’t deserve this trip or the attention that comes with it. I really hate them both.
They’ll receive a lot of attention on this tour.
Of course, they did. They are all about the visuals. Screw the locals who have to actually work for their living. It’s all about making them look good. Tone deaf and entitled. Shame on the Foreign Office for entertaining this request.
Hot as Balls. That got me thinking about the other expressions I heard in the South on how hot it was:
It’s hotter’n fried Hell!
I was so hot, I was sweatin’ like a whore in church!
It’s hotter’n Georgia asphalt!
It’s hotter’n a cat on a hot tin roof!
It’s hotter’n hell’s waiting room!
It’s hotter than a hoot’n poot!
It’s hotter’n a June bride in a feather bed!
It’s hotter than love in August!
It’s STUPID hot.
That’s all my one-cup coffee brain can remember. But y’all know, it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!
In Britain we have: “It’s pissing down out there.” SIGH.
I suppose it would be more about rain in your neck of the woods…
All my “it’s wetter than…” expressions have nothing to do with the weather!!
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
It’s coming down cats and dogs.
It’s coming down in stair rods.
Skies have opened.
Not too bad, just wet air, not actual rain.
It’s spitting in the breeze. Take an umbrella.
Actually, I do remember one Southern expression:
“It’s lookin’ like its gonna clabber up and squirt.”
For some reason that just sounds dirty to me.
Raining cats and dogs is what I grew up saying. Here in Colorado we do talk about spitting snow in the high desert areas where they don’t get much.
Clabber up and squirt is perfection! I am filing for use. We are always in need of new ways to describe the rain.
Here in the rainy Pacific NW only weenies use umbrellas unless it is a torrential downfall, which usually don’t last long. Except for this winter when they went on for days. Us hardy (in my case almost) natives walk around bareheaded or wear a hat.
Sixer, I picked that up from the “Sh*t Southern Women Say” YouTube series. If you haven’t seen it you really ought to watch it for sh*ts and giggles. All four women are from different States of the South so you get a good cross-section of Southern expressions.
Bluhare, I was just up there visiting family near Seattle a couple of weeks ago and the weather was quite lovely. Whatever clouds were there didn’t drop any rain and I saw quite a bit of blue sky. I came prepared with the rain jacket (I don’t own an umbrella/brolly) but really didn’t need it.
Nutballs: I kinda want to collect them and bestow them on my fellow Britishers, but only if I get proficient enough at the accent!
bluhare: I go for coats with hoods. I am rubbish at umbrellas. I fail as a good Britisher.
Definitely hoods, Sixer. We do lots of hoods. Mostly because we poke each others eyes out with umbrellas.
Nutballs, we have had a couple of stretches of nice weather in between the torrents. We’re having one now. Too bad you aren’t here. It’s probably going to get close to 80 today; warmest it’s been all year.
I don’t see the point of umbrella when a good waterproof hooded jacket does the trick. I have two since I like playing in the mountains, as do many in the PacNW.
Bluehare, my brother’s FB feed has been full of gorgeous coastal shots since I left. I can’t complain… it’s been sunny and 60-70 most every day of the past month here in Colorado. But we don’t get the deep, rich colors that you do, due to our lack of rain.
To your standard Britisher, using an umbrella despite poking everyone’s eyes out, is the same as continuing to dunk your digestive so many times that it falls into your tea and ruins it. A national obligation!
LOL at digestive dunking, Sixer. I have determined that it’s a less than 2 second dunk to avoid losing your biscuit in the tea. 😀
Bluhare, where are you? I’m in Eugene. I guess I’m a weenie because I always use an umbrella! 😀
Yesterday it was in the 80s here, lovin’ that!
I laugh here in the Pacific NW when they talk about “sun breaks”.
You’re in Eugene, vava. We always make allowances for Eugeners. 😀 Mr. bluhare lived in Eugene for a short while and half his family graduated from UofO.
I’m south of Seattle. We hit 80 out here too, although I don’t think it was official. It’s really lovely right now.
@ Bluhare………….LOL! Yes, Eugene is a bit different, that’s for sure! I love the Seattle area, my best friend lives on Capitol Hill. Happy Springtime! Looking forward to your comments on the upcoming royal tour. 🙂
Dunking digestives in tea? Y’all are disgusting. The only thing I dunk besides biscotti is a Tim Tam. In coffee or hot chocolate. Never in tea. Blech.
You dunk Tim Tams? Sacrilege!!! I will occasionally dunk a custard cream in tea, though.
hahaha. This is funny.
Imma card carrying Tim Tam Slammer alright! Tho, I have to admit, it’s something akin to a quickie… big explosion of HAPPY FEELS but over in seconds!
Pfft Nutballs. You must learn dunking etiquette or we’ll never make a part-time Britisher of you.
You don’t dunk in coffee. You don’t dunk in chocolate. You only dunk in tea. I dunk Rich Tea, digestives, Hob Nobs and chocolate chip cookies. I harbour an ambition to be so good at dunking I can also dunk Nice biscuits. But they fall into your tea after 1.6 nanoseconds of dunk and I am just not quick enough to dunk them successfully.
Dunkers of my stripe distrust dunkers like bluhare, who dunk biscuits with fillings such as custard creams. This is quite exotic.
(Dunking is like making tea. Everyone has a particular way. Everyone’s way of dunking is the only correct one.)
PS: I also make Rich Tea sandwiches. With butter. I concede this to be disgusting.
Occasionally dunk a custard cream, Sixer!!! That means hardly ever!
*She* dunks TIM TAMS!!!! And I am seriously side eying you for dunking Hob Nobs. Hob Nobs are meant to be eaten in their pure form.
I got a little excited about that.
I did say you were exotic!
I do not know what Tim Tams are! Splain them to me, then I will judge Nutballs. She won’t mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tam
I can’t believe they have their own wiki page. .
Whaaat? You don’t know what Tim Tams are??? I’m positively SHOCKED, Sixer. I’m judging you for your ignorance. Tim Tams are the National Cookie of OZ. That’s why they have
a wiki. I assumed they were sold in the UK too. The Tim Tam Slam (not dunk!) is something you’ll find all over YouTube. They are divine. As are Hob Nobs, of which our local British import store keeps in stock. Gimme the ones with dark chocolate and no one will get hurt.
Rich Tea with butter sounds rather good. The dunking doesn’t. I like my tea pure and unadulterated, save milk. No crumbs, thank you.
ETA: Bluhare, Pepperidge Farm had the license to sell Tim Tams here between Oct – March (under their own label), but I haven’t seen them for a couple of years now.
Tim Tams are Penguins! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_(biscuit)
I would NEVER dunk a Tim Tam. And I only dunk plain Hob Nobs. No chocolate dunking (although the chips in chocolate chip cookies don’t count).
You should never dunk them in tea, silly Sixer. Chocolate is meant to be dunked in coffee, liquid chocolate or liquor. Besides, the point of the TTS is to make it into a straw by biting opposing corners and taking a quick drink to melt the inside layers before rudely shoving the whole thing in your mouth!
I bet the Sixlets would enjoy making a drinking game out of it. No napkins allowed and the game’s not over until someone ralphs! Fun for the whole family.
We get them as Tim Tams here (at least that’s what I’ve seen). The only time I see Penguins is if one of the British shops gets them.
You know what I miss? The ones with a biscuit bottom and marshmallow, all covered in chocolate in a dome shape. I want to say they are wrapped in foil with red pictures. What are they called? I used to love those.
Although now I’m quite fascinated with the Sixlet Tim Tam Slam!
I forgot to mention that milk is an acceptable beverage for dunking chocolate.
(OK so, my voice recognition program retyped “dunking” as “Dunkin'” as in Donuts! I guess my country of residence is obvious there!)
Perhaps Sixer can be peer pressured into posting a video of the family drinking game for us. She usually can be bribed with cake.
It’s Friday night. The Sixlets have control of the tellybox. They have, so far, subjected me to The 100, The Aliens (actually like this cos have girl crush on Michaela Coel), Gogglebox and Sky Sports News. This is sufficient good mothering for one night. Chocolate would be a step too far.
The only beverage for dunking is tea. Chocolate dunking pollutes tea. Everyone knows this and you two are just winding me up. Pfft.
There, there Sixer dear. Have some lemon drizzle cake and a Fizzy Hiddles. I made it specially for you.
Time for my Friday night to start… just started Thicker Than Water and it’s calling to me on my laptop!
@bluhare, I think you mean Tunnock’s teacakes? Delicious.
I love that even your teacakes are overlaid in politics…
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/06/tunnocks-teacake-scottish-british-nationalists-boycott
Nutballs, give me milk and Oreo’s and I am good to go!!!
bluhare, you can get them at Amazon! Don’t they have a warehouse up there that you can shop at, like a mega-sized Costco?
http://www.amazon.com/TUNNOCKS-Tea-Cakes-Real-Chocolate/dp/B00472SRPM
msthang, you don’t want to be friends with me. I’m a total culture snob. I suffer my children’s consumption of Oreos, while I break out the foreign treats to go with my UK tea, Belgium beer and watch Scandi dramas on my quasi-Britisher TV setup. I’m a total fake and should be kicked out of America, for my lack of nationalism.
I’m with you on milk though. Whole, straight from the farm. *fist bump*
The Dowager bluhare is now wanting to try the Tim Tam Slam. She asked me if she needed to spike her coffee. I wish I had a facepalm emoji.
I love all sayings Brit but I can never get used to calling what we in the US call a cookie, a biscuit. When you mention dunking biscuits I think of the big floury thing we slather with butter and/or honey and call a biscuit. Not to be dipped in anything unless you want paste!
NW folks I never use an umbrella when there. No one else does and it looks weird if someone does.
Southern terms:it’s hotter than asphalt in July.
Hotter’n the hinges of Hades!
Nutballs, now,now, I confess, when I discovered Mcvidies Digestives, milk chocolate of coarse, I thought I had died and gone to heaven, I must have been really hungry, but I still have a huge soft spot for Oreo’s with chocolate cream !! See what you have done, I’ll have to head to World Market within the hour!!
Dude, I just passed by World Market & picked up some Digestives. Snagged a 6 pack of Tunnocks and must try Penguins now that Sixer mentioned it. It’s gonna be a good night!
I recently moved from Vancouver, BC. You’re a weenie if you don’t tote an umbrella. We’re practical rather than fashion forward or rugged individualists.
In Portland I never saw umbrellas during the rainy season. I saw rain jackets and hats. But in New York it is umbrella country. In LA it is meltdown emergency if it rains. I love BC by the way. It’s beautiful.
@Magnoliarose
Who knew there was such a cultural divide? LOL I lived in LA as well, and, yeah, you nailed it.
You are right. BC is stunning. No lie. I miss the ferries, of all things.
Oh, I forgot to mention. I’ve visited Portland. My idea of heaven.
@Magnoliarose
It might be meltdown emergency in LA when it rains, but in Phoenix, they basically declare a state of emergency when it so much as drizzles (and I’m not exaggerating). Being from the PNW myself, I didn’t own an umbrella before I moved to the desert and I don’t own one now.
@ OrangeCrush
Snow in Vancouver sends drivers into a panic. A bad one. Might as well be a state of emergency.
LOL……………..
Having grown up in Minnesota, the fear of snow out here in the PNW cracks me up. I never used an umbrella in Minnesota, but it’s always in my bag out here in Oregon. When I go to Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, the ‘bumbershoot’ is there ready for action. I like to do a lot of walking though. A hat wouldn’t work for me.
Lol. It is so funny when you move from one climate to another or visit one often. Phoenix heat in the summer is a personal state of emergency for me. I complained and whined until my friend started to try to convince me with the old “but it’s a dry heat argument”. It didn’t work. I have never been that weather related miserable in my life.
vaca- My mother used to have to travel to Minnesota for business and it was usually mixed in with Chicago and then Texas. She always wanted Texas last because she said she could thaw out but there were always weather delays in the winter. Chicago wind tunnels are no joke but Minnesota cold is its own special category. Worse than Vermont.
bluhare, I lived on the wet coast of Canada, outside Vancouver for 30 years. Proud to say I have never owned an umbrella.
If you walk a lot, I can’t imagine being without an umbrella in super rainy environs.
I’ve got a couple, Lady D. . . my favorite is from Gin O’Clock and it’s red and says “Reigning”. Had to have it although it’s never been opened!
@LadyD I come from the same area! I’ve never owned an umbrella either. Just a good MEC gortex jacket 😉
Hotter’n the hinges of Hades!
Oops, double post.
Man, her outfit changes and photo-ops are all she has to provide, huh?
I would be humiliated if after 5 years of work, my colleagues saw my clothes as my greatest contribution.
Exactly. Kate has done nothing to take the discussion away from her wardrobe. That’s really all she has to offer, unfortunately.
btw, let us commend the Duke and Duchess’s staff for crafty padding of royal engagement for the callendar!
they stay at the hotel where they will:
honor the bomb victims,
immerse in culture by spa,
have bollywood fundraising,
meet with charity maybe…
they squeezed like 4-5 different agenda items without having to step foot outside of the hotel!
its down to this basically. you can’t get Will and Kate to work more than half an hour unless you bring work to them at home!
and even then, no guarantee they will show up!
obviously the excuse being offered is that of security risk and costs. if they stay in one place and not go out, there will be less cost because you don’t have to secure multiple locations. its easier to vet people coming in and out too.
i swear, they make it sound like they have more threats on their person than the POTUS.
i know the Queen hosts investitures and stuff at Buckingham Palace but she also does many things outside of the palace gates….
urgh i don’t know what anymore.
How about the pope? He thinks little of getting down and dirty with everyone while these two losers want everyone to bend to their will. Why? They’ve accomplished nothing but show the world how cynical, lazy and entitled they are. Shame on the Doolittles. They are such an embarrassment. SMH
They’re also *bussing in slum children* so they can ‘play’ with them- cricket, I believe.
wow. these two are trying to single handedly revive old-school colonialism?
yes single handedly, because between the two of them, they probably only have one functioning hand as evidenced in the photo op yesterday. William one hand shaking one hand in pocket/firmly by his side, Kate’s two hands firmly clutched on crotch.
and their attitude is sending all the wrong signals?
let the slum kids come to me. let the bollywood stars come and kowtow to me. let the unwashed masses cheer me as i stand from my balcony.
the other day, in the thread about Kate sad separated from her children, they make it sound like the children needs to be protected from filthy tenth ring of Hell India. i guess this is why Will and Kate doesn’t want to leave and visit the slums just in case they bring home cholera?
Yes, lowercase-deb,
Let’s talk MASSIVE exploitation of India, this time for PR purposes. Let’s talk massive exploitation of the poverty stricken, of India’s icons and India’s wounds. You are right- colonialism in all its glory.
They are doing a couple of non-fluffy things. Having lunch with the prime minister, and intervening on behalf of British steel jobs in Mumbai. Not sure what “intervening” means, but that was the word used.
There will likely be a token mental health event with the “vulnerable youth” too.
Oh God bluhare, are you serious? The British steel jobs thing is a big deal. Tata Steel, a major Indian company, has announced that it will sell its UK steel operation, which is a major employer in Port Talbot. This is a highly diplomatically sensitive matter and W&K shouldn’t be let anywhere near it.
Serious, Tina.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/658829/William-Kate-India-tour-raise-plight-Tata-UK-steel-workers-economy-Duke-Duchess-Cambridge
Please, please, please say this ain’t so. Even Sajid Javid would be better and, let’s face it, he is not exactly covered in glory just now.
I’m sorry Sixer. Will it help if they just are keen to raise awareness? *puts concerned face on*
i am quite interested now to see this part of the tour!
i wonder what these steel-botherers will say or do. let’s hope they say all the right words and nod at all the right places.
Steel, you say? Those Satanic mills? Filthy. And smelly. Even the fragrant, holy presence of the Dolittles can’t make that right. Not even their fragrant, head tilting concern and words.
Hopefully it will be ok. After frantically googling, I think Sanjeev Gupta is in the UK for the relevant period. Don’t panic, Tina!
@Sixer, oh thank God for that. Even Andrew would be a better choice.
@ lower-case deb
Very good points. Thanks. 🙂
These ‘grown adults…’ Smh… Events arranged to be held at KP, and maybe they’ll show up, but don’t’ count on it. If you want them to do things in India, then bring the events and the guests to the hotel and hopefully W&K will show up. If you want them to meet with children from the Mumbai slum in whatever connection to mental health, then bus them out to the nicer-looking place of the Iron Maiden Cricket grounds. Plenty of green grass and far enough away from the slums. I wonder if the cricket grounds is just minutes from their hotel…
After all, they’re there to immerse themselves in Indian culture and the people right. What better way than to do it comfortably ensconced in a multi-star hotel or right near it?
They “may show up” is the operative phrase here. I’m anticipating an announcement that Kate is wilting in the heat or that seeing the poor street children makes her miss her own children miserably and so she can’t possibly leave her bed, only to rally in time for the Taj Mahal shoot.
Great point paddyjr,
I can see Kate having the vapours.
I got the impression from One newspaper they were more concerned with going to an area that was massively a big security risk. I wouldn’t be surprised we hear the tour is scaled down.
The only thing interesting about this tour is that we will have dozens of designer outfits to critique and comment on. The most exciting event that I will be interested in seeing photos of will be the Bollywood reception and dinner because I have watched Bollywood films and at least can recognize the biggest stars in that industry. Other than that this is going to be another wasteful and useless tour. And I’m willing to bet that the Taj Mahal photo-op will come off as forceful, awkward, and fake.
Sadly, that is the only event in their itinerary that i’m eager to see, for same reasons as you.
Though, i’ll probably have a prurient interest in their WEAREDIANA moment at the Taj. They asked for it.
I doubt W&K are fans of Bollywood. Any involvement from them with Bollywood is shallow (cheap photo op) at best. Glitter over substance would appeal to those who secretly worship Kate.
She just doesn’t get it: the more she tries to be like Diana, the more inferior she looks. Diana was a complex, fully-formed human with strengths and flaws which combined to give her that “IT” factor. Chief among these was her ability to empathize with people and treat “the custodian like a CEO.” She engaged people and there was no halfway with her. When Diana smiled, it was a full-face, genuine smile (whether secretly practiced or not); when she wanted to show compassion, it was a full-body effort. Harry has it; W&K do not.
That there would be comparisons between Kate and Diana was inevitable, but W&K are doing themselves no favors by invoking her name at every turn. If you truly want to honor your mother and keep her memory alive, how about doing some work?
I can imagine Kate practicing the same pose Diana made at the TM and shopping for the same color scheme and clothing as Diana had on. Also, she’ll probably make sure the Big Blue ring hand is always on top and showing prominently, like she usually does.
Makes her sound like a sugar. 🙂
These two have some cheek!
I didn’t care when they were being lazy and insipid in their home country, and the ASI is far from perfect but they have the nerve to come to MY country and try to fuck with the attempted preservation of our most iconic monument…..just so Prince WillNot and Duchess Chutney can have a photo op?
Sorry but historical monuments don’t maintain themselves. And the Taj needs the work even if the scaffolding spoils a few pictures.
I agree and I hope the request is denied with major eyerolls and a terse refusal. How can they be so thoughless and disrespectful of a country/ monument they are seeing as VISITORS? All they care about is themselves and their fake cynical PR. India doesn’t owe them anything!!!
Such crybabies. Like a photographer worth their salt can’t angle the photos to be scaffold free or remove scaffolding via photoshop. My guess is that they want to position themselves *exactly* in Diana’s spot and that means nooo scaffolding. Drats, foiled again!
I will raise your cheek, and throw out nerve. And incredible self absorbed selfishness.
here, let’s have some gall to go with it! 😉
*clinks glass*
You wonder how much more they can push the envelope before this duo really overstep their bounds. Class and respect are sorely missing with these two.
The nerve and self-absorption is what got to me too bh. And I do believe their camp made the request because the alternative is that someone fabricated the story which is ridiculous.
Willy is missing a good PR opportunity with the Taj under renovation during his visit. He should be saying he supports heritage preservation just like he supports saving endangered species and he is looking forward to seeing and hearing about the work in progress.
@ MinnFinn
Very good point in your second paragraph. That’s what he should be saying. I have a feeling that even if #PoorJason told him to say that, William would have refused, hoping that his continuing to show his disdain would pressure the Indian officials to give him what he wants.
But now, whether true or not, we have this other story. He’s a PR nightmare.
All in all, I still think #poorJason is a willy. He should join Waity on the spineless bench. Because he hasn’t quit.
The Indian government should put up MORE scaffolding to further mess up their pathetic photo op
They should put scaffolding around the Diana bench to stop these two idiots from sitting on it.
You know what can help around that pesky rule about pantyhose…. pants. Not jeggings. Pants. Linen would be on point for this trip.
I love linen, too; but the problem with linen is that it only looks great when you first put it on lol. After sitting, even for a few minutes (or on a car drive somewhere), it wrinkles and looks awful.
Ha! I’m a linen afficionada. The wrinkles are the status symbol.
The use of “colourful” made me cringe.
Mostly want to say though- I saw the Taj a few years ago and it is indeed stunning. Takes your breath away. Pictures don’t do it justice. I know some big tourist stops don’t live up to the hype (I’m looking at you, Mona Lisa), but, for me at least, the Taj Mahal was as good as advertised. So for anyone going to India and tempted to avoid the tourist trap of Agra (like I was)– don’t!
As much as I was thrilled to go to Stonehenge I left thinking, “It’s just a bunch of bloody rocks by a highway!”.
Stonehenge, I think, is a cultural thing. I’m of slight Gaelic ancestry and my dad kept pushing like crazy for us to go and once we got there, he had some kind of emotional experience because “this is where our ancestors were, this is a monument to our people” type of stuff. Nevermind that Dad has like 1 Scottish ancestor and the rest is Native American. He got really, really into it. But if you don’t have some kind of connection to the Gaels or something like that, you might not get much out of it. But a lot of my friends who have that background do get something out of it.
Actually, I do! Most of the family is Celtic. And I wanted to feel it. I think had I been alone without tour buses around, and the chain link fence, I probably would have really enjoyed it as the weather was awesome. Clear but very windy and cold. My inner Druid priestess was very disappointed. 🙂
I’m with bluhare. Stonehenge is a bit of a let down. Even when you drive past it at least once a month like I do! Avebury is only a few miles away and is a much better experience for visiting a stone circle.
Haha I remember that feeling. I was prepared to be in the midst of an important ancient moment and waited and waited, repositioned myself and waited. I thought I was defective.
The only thing I really took from it was that it does have an air of mystery about it – but mostly because I can appreciate that we still don’t entirely know how an ancient race managed to build it without the benefits of machinery. That impressed me – the scale of which these people were capable without the benefits of technology. But I didn’t get any spiritual or emotional reaction to it. But there’s people that do. Maybe because I’m not a pagan, but still. I was hoping for a bit more.
Been there. I love the history and mystery (not to mention the engineering) of Stonehenge. I love the history and mystery of the stones of Callanish as well, been there as well. For me it’s the history and mystery. When I visited Stonehenge, there were no barriers. I think it takes imagination.
If you are interested in standing stones and Neolithic sites, Orkney is the place to go. It’s a complete bugger to get to, but the atmosphere is amazing. And the whiskey is very good too.
I watched a TV program about the sites on Orkney, Tina. I would love to go there, and when Sixer sets up Sixland on an uninhabited island off the coast of Scotland we’ll have to build our own sites for future generations to see! 🙂
Yes KK2!! I was going to skip it too until a cousin told me to not miss it and she was so right!
The monument was screened from view by shrubs and landscaping as I entered the site and then suddenly you emerge and there it is! I teared up because it is jaw-dropping. Having that experience of breathtaking beauty is so fabulous and rare.
Tina, was it the whiskey or the Orkney, what did it?
@msthang, I went in winter, so my sightseeing was before it got dark (at worst around 3pm) and my drinking after that. But if you go in the summer time, it doesn’t get dark until 11pm at midsummer, so you can mix drinking and communing if you so wish.
NOTHING could have prepared me for seeing the Taj Mahal. Nothing. To this day it remains one of the few monuments that lived up to the hype and more. We happened to go there right before a full moon too, so seeing it glowing from within at night due to the moonlight was unbelievable. Photographs simply do not do it justice.
I hope to see it one day. It sounds extraordinary and I’ve been disappointed in some monuments. My mother went to Egypt and was letdown by the pyramids. She said it was nice to see them but they were smaller than she imagined.
@Magnoliarose, I hope you get to see it one day. It is much bigger than photos make it look. The craftsmanship is amazing, and the gardens around it are lovely. I hope I get to go back again someday too.
It says a lot about the current image that this story is out there. Not just in the Indian media. Foreign office forced to deny it. Yadayadayada. Bad optics all round because other more important people have visited in the past when the Taj had scaffolding eg Jackie O, and these sorts of stories were floated.
This brings to mind what that Chinese journalist said. The frankness of foreign media regarding these 2 can be very interesting(and a complete 180 from People-type drivel)!
@COSquared, what did the Chinese journalist say?
Do tell. I have no idea about their take.
I want to see chutney next to Aishwarya rai!
Now I’m wondering if the timing of her mentioning chutney in the QE2’s 90th b-day documentary was connected with promoting the upcoming India/Bhutan trip.
wow.. they are really something, arent they? how can the future king and queen consort act like this.
they already made bad opinion on india’s media before they arrive .. bravo
Okay, I’m usually pretty good at spotting the coded language, but maybe that’s just from American right-wingers, because I thought “colourful” meant touristy. But I think everyone’s probably right: “colourful” = “brown people in brightly coloured clothing.”
(Oh my god. I can’t believe I just typed that.) Is that really where they are at? It is the freaking Empire all over again with these two.
And Kate, you stupid, stupid woman, put on a long skirt or some damn pants already and shut up about the hosiery! Leaving off the hose does not make you a model modern royal.
I’m afraid that this is exactly where they are at. Like I said above, “colourful” is probably because they were trying not say “ethnic”. It actually *is* that bad.
Damn. I can’t believe they have an actual PR person who actually let someone use those words. Either Jason is an idiot or William has taken editorial control and this is what he thinks is appropriate. I’m sure if they get any negative feedback about the wording, they’ll say “colourful” was just describing Kate’s clothing for the tour, since that’s all she’s contributing anyway.
It’s such a waste. They have so many resources and are lucky enough to get to travel and experience other cultures and broaden the scope of anyone who’s paying attention to them. I would love to be able to do that! And they want to get away to a sunny place and wear pretty clothes. They’re contemptible.
I find it so hard to believe this. From someone who cannot abide them. If this is true, I say tar and feather them and drive them out of the country. It’s sick.
I can’t wait to see the hairdo disasters because I have no doubt she will insist on wearing her hair down and flying all round her face despite the intense heat and humidity. I can visualize a team of hairdressers behind her wherever she goes armed with spare wiglets/extensions, hot irons, curling irons, blow dryers, super strength hairspray, etc. etc. just to wrangle her stupid hair into place.
whoops.. I mistakenly thought ‘colorful’ was code for entertaining.. and nothing literal. my above comment about her not wearing knickers as colorful part of the trip.. entertaining.. will she/won’t she show the biscuit.
Jeez. 3, 2, 1 to a US trip and a request to take down scaffolding on the Capitol.🙄 I’ve only been on this site for a year, but I love the posts and commentary on these two. Thanks, all!
!! All the judgement in advance of the facts.
I’m no Cambridge fan but seriously whoa and take a step back because the criticism is starting to look really nasty.
And I say this as a London-dwelling, pitchfork-wielding republican.
Guesto, I think some of the criticism about Katy Cambridge’s hair and clothing choices is overblown.
but going to a foreign country (mine btw) and asking to temporarily dismantle essential preservation work on one of its most iconic structures just so they can take prettier pictures, does deserve to be raked over the coals. It’s tone-deaf at best, outright insensitive and self-centred at worst.
kind of like asking to move the tennis court a little to the right so their view isn’t blocked.. what? it’s just a little tennis court, who cares how much it costs to move or if it’s located on someone else’s property 😉
I take your point, Guesto. The British Foreign Office is saying they didn’t ask. Which is basically calling the Indian officials liars. Not sure that’s great either!
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/08/duke-and-duchess-cambridge-taj-mahal-scaffolding
However, as everything I’ve read about them makes it all about the photo ops and not much substance about the issues or cause, I tend to believe they did ask. Especially given the statements their own office has released about the breathlessly awaited photo(s).
@ bluhare
Good point on why the statement by the Indian officials is probably true.
What else has W&K been promoting for this trip? The mental health issue to help those in the Mumbai slums? The great cultures of India and Bhutan? The organizations that help those in need in both countries? The um… I don’t know what… I can’t even be bothered to remember much of what I’ve read of their itinerary.
From what I’ve seen, it’s the eagerness to do the Taj Mahal photo-shoot by bringing up Diana’s photo and the statements related to Kate’s attire. Not much else.
What it may indicate is that *someone* (read Jason or the advance team) did ask, and the Foreign Office is denying that they (FO) did it.
Did the advance trip to match-clothes-to-setting alert the team that the scaffolding is up? Brought home a bunch of photos and Jason (W&K) decided the scaffolding had to go?
@ notasugahere
Yes, that could be it. It could be not from the Foreign Office technically, but from William’s camp.
The article deals with their pre-tour PR statements, which is a mess and deserves criticism.
Commenters are also bringing up other faux pas made by W&K & their PR relevant to this trip, as well as patterns created by W&K themselves regarding what they think and wear and whatever else.
So it’s not exactly ‘in advance of the facts.’ It’s on facts W&K have already put out.
You *are* totally a Cambridge fan. It’s rather obvious.
You say that like it’s a bad thing.
Read into it what you wish.
The only thing they have consistently given the public is her fashion. They have pushed the narrative about her fashion and style and we have decided we don’t like it. She hasn’t given the public anything else and a lot of people are highly annoyed about it. Her Laze Quitting ways have made her spending and vacuous nature a hyper focus.
Shockingly bad comments, really no one tried to edit those statements? Rarely do i find myself offended multiple times at a press release about these two but this one takes the cake. I don’t even read People magazine anymore. It used to have some good pieces but it has really taken a turn for the worse.
I honestly was shocked at some of the comments Chopper made during the Easter documentary.. Was very telling, if this thing was done professionally and edited, that was the best clips they could provide by him to include?? astounding! the ‘been there got the t-shirt one’ still floors me.
Speaking of wardrobe.. anyone else see the DM about Queen’s dresses on display this summer in Scotland? Really wish I could visit and see it, the photos on the DM are beautiful! Such works of art and beautiful. I can’t imagine in 30 years we will ever see a similar exhibit of Chutney’s collection of ill fitted coats and dresses.
The dress the Queen wore when visiting Eisenhower is to die for .. wow!
I’m envious of anyone who gets to head to Holyrood and see those Norman Hartnell’s in person.
Someone help Jason out. Send him the link to this site. Jason, oodles of talent here! We’ve got some great suggestions…
I don’t think that will matter, as I think William insists on final input and editing on what goes out regardless of whatever professional advice he gets to the contrary. I think William thinks he makes better decisions than even the experts.
I think that bit about how the Taj Mahal owes its fame and significance to Diana might be his way of trying to encourage the Indian officials to take down the scaffolding, as if they owe some kind of gratitude to Diana and therefore to William.
As for the ‘colorful tour’ term, I don’t think a professional PR person with any real brains would have put that out there.
The whole press release was ridiculous. They should have issued the tour calendar/engagements and left it at that.
So right as usual. It is incredible and only amateurs would make this mess and I vote Workshy did this.
I visited the Taj Mahal in the middle of July, during the middle of the day (thanks to our driver being late). It was the HOTTEST place on earth I’ve ever been to. This is the reason it is suggested to be there just as the sun is rising (also a beautiful site to see I’ve heard). The best way to stay cool is to use an umbrella and keep your skin covered. People seem to think you stay cooler by wearing less clothing, but actually covering your skin from the sun will keep you cooler. You must take your shoes off, and the marble is scorching HOT.
Thanks, @ word. That is very useful information.
To be fair, I do a lot of official PR events for my job and it is exhausting. It’s not fun 99% of the time. Yes, there is free food and booze and you dress up; but you also have to be “on” the whole time and make small talk with a lot of people you’re not interested in, in a very careful manner. Honestly, until you’ve had to do a full week of PR events you have no idea how utterly draining it is, and I’ve never been the star attraction at one of those events, which must be even worse. I think this is genuinely hard work and I don’t envy them. Everything they do will be heavily scrutinised from every angle. I think these two are lazy in general and waste the excellent platform they have to do good; but I don’t envy them this and I give them credit where it’s due: this week will be tough.
The few GIFs I’ve seen of her, she’s talking about herself and her life; quotes from Willy suggest the same- all about them. It’s obvious that it’s the attendees that make the small talk, not the Dolittles. I have yet to see evidence that either of them make an attempt to make others feel at ease.
And even though a lot of meeting and greeting is brutally boring, why is this significant in the scheme of things? What makes the Dolittles so special that they are exempt from what most of us who live professional lives encounter?
Their tour, in essence, is a holiday. They should be mocked for that. Shaking some hands and small talk is not real work. When Willy hits the coal mines and Waity makes him lunch while wrangling the kiddies, then I will call it work.
I love my job, but I teach 100 teenagers a day, have to deal with kids in prison who need work sent to them, kids in rehab who need work, kids with anger and attitudes because their parents are getting divorced, kids whose parents are drug addicts and they are working full time and trying to pay the rent, kids who don’t want to be in school, kids who are transgender and we are fighting bullying, etc. etc.
And why don’t Harry or Maxima look bored and worn out when doing PR??? Answer: they like people. These two spoiled brats don’t.
Smiling and making small talk after staying in a luxury hotel, wearing a $3000 dress, having my hair done, getting driven in a limo and being greeted with cheers and flowers – I’ll take it. And it’s only boring talking to people you’re not interested in if you’re not interested in people – and I would say if someone isn’t interested in people, why the heck be in PR or marry a royal?? Makes no sense to me.
Bless you eternally for your hard work and way to put things in perspective. I could do their job gladly and easily. They have the choice to quit and retire to a comfortable lifestyle in the country. You help more people than they ever will and I’m fairly secure in thinking you don’t have their options. That is what makes them so ridiculous.
Good on you for the work you do. That is truly admirable. In no way am I putting what they are doing on the level with what most people do for work.
I’m not saying that their tour is the hardest job or the most challenging. Also, when I do PR events I do them after a full day at work and then I get a couple of hours of sleep and have to get up to do my job in the morning – they most likely get scheduled in sleep, unlike me!
However, I am simply pointing out that there is a mistaken idea on this blog that attending events like this is 100% wonderful and fun and in no way work. That is simply not true and anyone who has had to do a lot of them can tell you that. Yes dressing up is fun, there are perks for sure; but it is tiring and it is work, make no mistake. It is often not fun (although it can be at times). It is a different kind of exhaustion to normal work exhaustion in my experience. It is not like being at a normal party and making small talk – it is a work event and there is a protocol in who you talk to, for how long, etc etc. Many of those conversations are far from interesting regardless of your interest in the other person. You often get stuck in the same small talk over and over again. It is work.
Also, I haven’t seen these two looking bored at any events? They usually look engaged and get good reports back. They don’t spend as long as they should at a lot of events, they certainly don’t do nearly as many events as they should; but I’ve not seen or heard of them acting bored.
I 100% think Harry is better at this. I think, as I said above, that they are wasting an incredible platform to do good. If I had their platform I’d be spending most of my time working with victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, war crimes, etc. because I’m passionate about those things. I thinkWilliam is an arse and Kate has no spunk and she’s follows along in his mostly useless wake.
However, once again, in this instance, make no mistake, what they are doing is genuine work and I don’t think they should be mocked for that.
*Of course* it’s work, SKF. No one on critical blogs has ever said otherwise. Of course a meet and greet can be deadly. So, what is your point? That it should be different? It’s life.
And they do look bored, often, if you follow their exploits in a timely manner. Which is decidedly unprofessional. Suck it up and look interested or actually get interested so you can converse intelligently. Like, actually, care.
They look bored when they barely do any ‘work’ , the latter being the actual issue- they barely do any work.
From personal experience- if you are passionate, empathetic, caring about something, it is totally energising, not debilitating (this coming from an introvert). Why do they get points for doing what most of us do every day? Oh, the hardship.
“Smiling and making small talk after staying in a luxury hotel”
Seriously. I’ve done it, and on a far more regular basis than these two nitwits. I didn’t, of course, have near the resources Will and Kate do. But the teeny little corner room in a luxury hotel made it all way more than worth it. As jobs go, theirs is extraordinarily easy, and I say that as someone who hates small talk with strangers. I was able to smile and make civil small talk with politicians I hated on a regular basis, including when I was a teenager, and I didn’t have the perks or even any pay much of the time.
Even I have had to do SO much worse, and I’m talking “job interviews and dealing with customers,” not the kind of extraordinarily tough and valuable work you do. I wish we could send you to some luxury hotels, Jib; you deserve it.
SKF- The mocking is directed as these two and never at HM or the other family as far as work. They do it and are older. Harry does it and he’s not even the heir. Award season for example, is hard work for the entertainment industry and it isn’t glamorous. Campaigning and schmoozing is done for a reason. The ones who don’t get this usually don’t get very far. But they have a choice. They can do something else.
These two have a choice too.
They do a few hours total a month and they manage to still look bored and mess it up often. Plenty of reports that they try to bury about how disinterested or near rude they can be.
People say “but Workshy lost his mother”, this is tragic and there is no denying it, but it is not an excuse to be lazy. Or “but people born into royalty are different”. That doesn’t stop others from working. Kate didn’t grow up in it or was she born into it so ?
They deserve no breaks and no pity and large doses of mocking and derision.
I reserve my respect for those who earn it and not those who demand it for no good reason.
This is not a slam on you at all. I bet you would do a better job for the right reasons and use your platform for good causes, but Workshy and Dolittle don’t.
I’ve done lots of PR events in the past, and I am not a people person. But I got through them, and I’ve done FAR harder things. Dealing with nasty customers as a store clerk is harder (and more dangerous.) PR events aren’t that tough comparatively, especially when you just have to shake hands and smile.
Strong introvert here who is required to be an extrovert for her job. You do what you have to do, don’t let it show, and go home and collapse.
SFK, as an extreme introvert, I completely agree that small talk events can be exhausting, and being “on” all the time is difficult. But even as an introvert, I’d happily take on their job if I got the perks of wealth, travel, and the ability to make a difference that came with it. What opportunities they have, and what a waste they make of them!
Who makes this stuff up? Maybe this would have happened during the Empress’ day, but certainly not now.
I just read the DM articles about Chutney’s clothes.. she is ‘style kryptonite’ Chopper got a new wardrobe for this trip – including new luggage.. and the one about did they / didn’t they ask to have the scaffolding removed.. the comments are just too much.. I’m laughing out loud reading them.. so many talented and funny writers! Harriet is on a role as is Me Here.
I love Harriet! I wish someone would comment and tell her to write here!
I cant blame Kate for wanting to go bare legged in warm weather. I seem to remember Diana doing the same. However she didn’t feel the need to announce it publicly. Im looking forward to the tour and especially reading all the wonderful comments on this site. Thanks to those who came up with the Wheels on the Bus alternative lyrics – very amusing 🙂
According to the DM (and the Middleton PR) Carole is taking care of the babes. Because, you know, Charles and Camilla aren’t their grandparents. and have no interest.
Cue unfettered access to the children by Aussie magazines or whoever is the highest bidder for Carol(e)’s photos.
Woman’s Day Australia waiting in eager anticipation, as they’ve been the highest bidder twice. Let’s see how quickly William gets any new pictures of their daughter pulled from online. He got the other two sets from WD removed too.
Of course she is – she’s part of the ‘normal young middle class family who rely on their grandparents help’ narrative that these 2 have been pushing for years. Poor Maria she’s been relegated to au pair/babysitter. Carole, Wueen MIL in Waiting, practically lives at Amner. If she’s not there W&K, or Chutney and the kids are at Middleton Manor. How much time to they actually spend at Amner?
As she should. She is their grandmother. I don’t think much of Carole Middleton, but they’re her only grandchildren and she by all accounts is a doting grandmother. Perhaps Maria would also like some time off during the week.
You put commercials in your blog?!ugh