When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Buckingham Palace Garden Party last week, they ended up being caught up in the same photo frame as the younger York princesses, Beatrice and Eugenie. You can see the photo above – it’s a rare occasion when Kate is in the same frame as the Yorks, and some in the British press made a big deal about how different the women look. The Daily Mail’s Sarah Vine wrote a piece about how she feels sorry for the Yorks, but that piece read as passive-aggressively bitchy to all of the ladies involved. Well, the Daily Mail did a follow-up on the Vine column, and this one is all about the history of bad (royal) blood between the Cambridges and the Yorks. If you’ve been following royal gossip for a while, this is not new information: there has been a long-simmering feud between the Middletons and the Yorks for the better part of a decade. But still, it’s interesting to read the newer quotes. It’s a lengthy piece, and you can read the full DM piece here. Some highlights:
Kate has the position now. An insider says: ‘Royalty is all about pecking order, often in a cruelly blunt sense, and it is Kate who has all the toys and the position. Despite being the only young “blood Princesses” (in other words, born royal), Beatrice and Eugenie have been reduced to walk-on parts in Royal Family life. It particularly hurt when Kate did solo engagements with the Queen during the Diamond Jubilee. They felt snubbed.’
The Yorks versus the Middletons. Apparently, there was an incident in 2008 at a London fashion show for Issa, a favourite brand of the Royals and the Middletons. Organisers asked an already seated Beatrice and Eugenie to shuffle up in the front row to make room for Pippa Middleton. It is said they refused. Depending on who you talk to, this was a case of the Princesses being regal and unfriendly or Pippa being unnecessarily pushy because she didn’t want to lose face by suffering the social death that is being made to sit in the second row. ‘Pathetic, maybe, but however you look at it, people remember these things. They deplete mutual goodwill, if there is any to begin with,’ said one society girl who was there.
Kate snubbed Beatrice in 2008. There was more trouble in 2008, when Kate organised a charity roller disco. It is said that, somehow, Beatrice wasn’t initially invited to the bash. Then, when an invitation was apparently extended to her — but not by Kate, according to sources — the Princess wasn’t made aware of the Eighties dress code and arrived in an ordinary dress, while everyone else was in neon outfits. Beatrice, it seems, blamed Kate. Some say there were tears.
The 2011 wedding of Will & Kate. The Yorks were mad that their mother wasn’t invited, and that Beatrice’s boyfriend Dave wasn’t invited either. A source says: ‘William has the Spencer paranoia gene. Dave is a gregarious, chatty American and William is so private it hurts. He would accuse his dog of being indiscreet if it barked at someone else too often.’
The tribal differences. A source says: ‘Beatrice and Eugenie have a very glitzy, international, party-girl streak — particularly Beatrice. They like the deck of a superyacht, a chalet pool, a New York dance floor or a hot new restaurant in LA. William and Kate are more at home among the red trouser brigade of north Norfolk or in East Anglian fields in their wellies, as Kate’s recent country-themed Vogue cover showed. They have no interest in befriending celebrities. You can’t imagine them ever having dinner with Hollywood actors such as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, as Beatrice and Dave do, or hanging out with the artist Tracey Emin, as Eugenie does. They want to be with their children or have dinner at home with friends they have grown up with.’
The Yorks are tight with royal ex-girlfriends. ‘Beatrice and Eugenie remain great friends with Harry’s ex, Chelsy Davy, who was never Kate’s soulmate. They are just such different people. Worse, Beatrice and Eugenie are extremely close to Cressida Bonas, another of Harry’s blonde exes, and her half-sister, Isabella Branson.’
The Yorks work. A source insists: ‘It isn’t fair. Beatrice works for Sandbridge Capital, a finance house, in New York, but has always been keen on charity work. Eugenie, meanwhile, works for Hauser & Wirth, a London art gallery. People criticise them for having lots of holidays, but who’d turn down all those opportunities? And what did Kate ever do when she was single? Take a few pictures for her parents’ party-planning website and spend a brief stint in the jewellery department at Jigsaw.’
The bad feelings have gotten worse over time. ‘Beatrice, in particular, has tried to build bridges but without much joy. William can be insufferably grand and it’s understandable if this has rubbed off on Kate. The Duchess of Cornwall has gone out of her way to be nice to them, as if making up for things.’ Another source says: ‘Charles, too, is fond of them. They are sweet, well-behaved girls. But it is challenging to start off feeling very royal and end up less so. And you can’t overestimate how hard it is being the child of Prince Andrew and Fergie. Yet look how well they cope.’
The princesses do have more work experience than Kate, although that’s setting the bar REALLY low. And Beatrice does vacation a lot. Like, a crazy amount. But I’m still not drinking the Kool-aid about Will and Kate just wanting to hang out in Norfolk with their rich country friends. Bulls—t. They love celebrities. Kate loves to hang out with famous people. Hell, they invited Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Kensington Palace! So, yeah, I don’t know what those quotes were about other than another attempt to slam the Yorks somehow. I do feel sorry for Eugenie and Beatrice because – let’s face it – it was always going to be this way. They were always going to be pushed aside in the media when Will and Harry found brides. The DM describes the Yorks’ relationship with the Cambridges’ as “chilly” several times but I think that’s putting it mildly.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News, KP Twitter.
All I can say is…what in the h*** are those two wearing??? I haven’t had enough coffee in the morning to tolerate those get-ups. At least Kat looks lovely and regal. There I said it. One snarky comment out of my system for the day.
Oh yeah. Sometimes they nail their look, but other times — oh no, honey. The York girls should invest in a good stylist.
Also, they’re delusional if they think their mother is ever going to be invited to *anything* by the royal family. The Duchess of York is a huge embarrassment to them. Happily, though, the girls don’t seem to bear the brunt of their mother’s disgrace.
They must have realized that William’s and Harry’s future wives would supplant them in the family hierarchy someday (though I, too, would draw the line at Pippa — I mean, please!); best they can do, since Uncle Charles won’t let them become full-time working royals, is to console themselves that they, at least, are Princesses of the Blood. Being a snob, I know it’d comfort me.
I’m trying to remember …for the royal wedding, which one had that horrendous loop-de-loop/bow hat that got panned? I think it was Beatrice? That woman just gives me the creeps with her lack of fashion sense.
Beatrice trusted the royal milliner to make her a hat to match her outfit. That’s what the professional came up with. It caused such a fuss, she auctioned it off and gave the proceeds to charity (over $100,000).
Nota: and unlike William, we know which charities received that money, UNICEF and Children in Crisis.
I really liked her for doing that. Think it showed real class, taking that level of criticism on the chin and making money for a charity out of it. I don’t know much about these two, other than having greedy and shady parents, but I admired Beatrice for her attitude over that Teletubby hat.
I have no time for of them, but as a non-expert in royalty I always got the impression that they treated Sarah Ferguson in a pretty shi@tty way. She is after all the mother of grandkids of the queen. Ferguson seems a Sloan-y idiot admittedly, but the endless unfavourable comparisons of her and allegedly demure Di were quite misoginistic.
was thinking the same. I ordinarily am not really into kate’s outfits, but she looks so much better
It looks better because she’s so thin. That cream ruffle dress would look horrible on a York because of the ruffles. It’s not a great dress at all, but she can pull it off because she’s long and lean. I hate writing that because this is (one of the) reasons she doesn’t seem to eat. That said, the York sisters could dress to flatter their figures much much better.
Birdix – respectfully disagree. While the cream ruffle dress wouldn’t suit anyone who wasn’t slim, the York princesses’ outfits are awful, period. Beatrice’s outfit looks like it was made for someone’s grandma, and Eugenie’s outfit – words fail me, it is so unflattering.
At least their outfits have some color & they at least tried. Kate looks like a stick of butter. So boring. I’d take Eugenie & Beatrice any day.
That’s what I think too. Sometimes their outfits aren’t as flattering as they could be, but they are definitely interesting.
They both have nice figures. Why are they hiding them under so much fabric?
Agreed. I see where they want to go with their outfits. They just fail at execution. They seem like fun.
I agree. I prefer them on any day or night than Kate. She is so magnolia
That picture says a lot. The princesses should find a trusted stylist to advise them. Their dresses were just a lot of “honey nos!”
Fergie is a pariah to the royal family. It’s not just her affairs but didn’t she mismanage money too? I vaguely remember bankruptcy.
Whichever of the sisters is wearing the heel with the ankle strap in the top pic, it’s unflattering with the length of the skirt, makes her legs look stumpy.
So you’re saying that they didn’t get to hang out with their own grandmother during the jubilee?? That is insanely crazy to me, that rank out ranks family. Wow. Those are some cold cold people
What’s interesting about this dynamic is not just the princesses/duchess, but the princes as well. Beatrice and Eugenie have always hung out with Harry and are still friends with Chelsy. They seem less close (although still loving) with William. I see the same dynamics echoed with Zara. Though, she seems more naturally fun like Harry so everyone is always smiling around her. William and Kate just seem to be more distant overall.
It’s obvious the Windsors aren’t a concern for Bill- he skipped his own cousin’s wedding to attend Jecca’s brother’s wedding in ’08. He and Kate also skipped a Pss Margaret and QETQM memorial in favour of SKIING with the Middletons.
What many people are missing is this is how any children Harry has will be treated eventually, and I’m sure he sees that. As will his wife, although it won’t be hard to outshine Kate in the work department.
Kate loves celebrities! Didn’t an actor from Downton Abbey make fun of her for how long she stayed on the set? And the Pitts? And in what world does the very insecure Barbie Dolittle ever outshine the brilliant and accomplished Michelle Obama? What a load of BS!!!
Finally, I would love a list of women who Kate does like and like her? I’m thinking it would have one name on it: Pippa.
Great point about Harry. Once Andy was kind of the Harry to Charles’s William. People used to find him rather sexy (relatively speaking and hard to believe now but yes) and he had a dashing military career, Falklands and all that. Andy had the big royal wedding and kids that were kind of equivalent to Charles’s kids in terms of all being cute little grandchildren of the Queen. Now Andy and his kids are shoved to the periphery (on the Buckingham balcony and elsewhere) and I’m sure it’s disconcerting for them.
I agree, Harry’s children will be “outcasts” too..
Kate is such a dimwit. How did it not occur to her while she was waitying that, if Will married her, she would be seeing the York several times a year *for the rest of her life*? So shortsighted.
No kidding! Did she think she wouldn’t have to see them again, ever? In her shoes, I would have tried to befriend them at the very least. They are close in age and could give good tips on what it means to be a royal.
+1000! Kate grew up in England and must have seen that every member of The Firm attends public events, such as garden parties, Ascot, church, etc. This is not a “see you once a year at Christmas” group. I think Kate believes, perhaps with Carole/Will’s encouragement, that she can do whatever she wants and is at the top of the pecking order, whether Will is there or not, second only to the Queen. I don’t think Kate is entirely to blame, though. I’m sure it is difficult for someone used to being in the spotlight and fawned over since birth to find herself basically regulated to the background. So, no clean hands. All three would benefit from emulating Sophie and the Princess Royal, who have managed to make the most of their roles as junior Royals through their hard work.
On another note, can we organize a styling seminar for the Yorks and Kate? Kind of a continuing education “How to Dress for Any Royal Occasion”?
Third only to the Queen. Camilla’s up ahead.
Technically, it is that she is behind Philip and Camilla.
Anne never took her demotion quietly. Between her and Alexandra, they forced the Queen to change the order of precedence to emphasise the status of blood Princes over the in-laws such that they wouldn’t have to curtsey to Camilla.
Their actions had a knock-on effect such that Beatrice and Eugenie were elevated as Blood Princes to whom Kate has to curtsey if William isn’t with her.
maybe she just didn’t care after being treated coldly by them for years? I know I wouldn’t have two sh*ts to give, right or wrong. I could see them being catty and repeatedly ‘putting her in her place”. You would need to have a very thick skin or be an aristocrat to survive marrying into that family as a female.
I like the fact that the York duo work sort of hard, but I’ve always thought they were brats and mean girls who think they’re better than everyone else simply because they were born to the two tackiest members of the royal family. They have appalling taste and show up looking like circus clowns demanding special treatment. I just don’t like them. Don’t especially like Kate, either, but I can see them being the mean ones more than the other way around.
You think they are mean, snobby girls based on what?
They have unfortunate parents, but is that reason to hate them too when there is no evidence at all of any misdeeds or evidence that they following in parents’ footsteps?
There is plenty of evidence that points to opposite of meangirling, that points to charitable endeavours, that points to work.
There is also plenty of evidence of media bullying that has created a situation where the public also bully and hate on these girls no matter what they do.
The media mostly doesn’t report on them in a positive light. Or writes outright lies about them, but because of hatred of their parents, the lies stick and the media/public bullying continues.
William and Kate have earned their negative image just as much as Harry has earned his positive one. In both cases, the public were willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but in the case of B & E, no such benefit has ever been given. They are starting from behind, and no one will let them progress or if they do, it’s forgotten as if it never happened.
I though the ridiculous outfits they wore to W+K’s wedding spoke volumes.
LAK
I totally agree with you how the media report on the York girls. They sell them as mean girls, ugly stepsisters etc.
I was pleasantly surprised how eloquently they expressed themselves at the Queen 90 program. They also seem engaging and interesting during engagements.
But Beatrice goes on a holiday a LOT, really lot. And then when she is in the news as someone who gives speeches how to … using her royal name and connections, well, I can’t really sympathize with her. Probably people won’t blame her for this, but I do. 🙂
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/07/princess-beatrice-set-to-cash-in-on-royal-status-by-touting-serv/
At least, she should teach Kate how to look and speak like a pro. LOL
Megan
But if somebody dresses herself different than your taste, does it make them a bad/mean/ugly/jealous person?
Anyway, I liked their outfit, which happens to me rarely but this time it was playful and fun. It was at least, not a plain colour picture perfect something like Kate’s.
Spoke what exactly?
B had on a perfectly nice coatdress in a neutral colour. The hat was ridiculous, but she didn’t turned the media/public shaming into a positive by auctioning the hat for a record $131,000 that was given to charity – children in crisis and Unicef.
E also had on a perfectly nice dress though it looked wrinkled, Hat was flamboyant, but not a mess.
Considering this wedding was going to be televised, I doubt the girls set out to make themselves into public/media laughing stocks as some sort of dig at Kate.
You might as well say that Pippa set out to steal Kate’s thunder by wearing a dress that DID steal Kate’s thunder!!
LAK, I think that’s unfair to some of us. As I’ve said a million times, my opinion of them is not based on their parents. If my opinion of Kate was based on hers I’d think she was a dynamo who wants to whip the BRF into shape and is being held back by her husband. But I don’t. Because I’ve seen what she’s done or, more to the point, hasn’t done.
I grant you the Yorks are in a tough spot. But I also don’t think they help their own cause any with their lifestyle. No one is stopping them from going to old folks’ homes on their days off and we don’t see any photos of that. Maybe no one cares if they go to old folks’ homes on their days off but it would be a nice counterpoint to the yachts and tropical holidays.
As for the meangirling, I suspect that cuts both ways although if I had to place a bet on who started it, it would be with Kate and Pippa. And if they did that they should be ashamed of themselves, not the least of which is being so stupid and immature.
However, the real question is why do they get such negative press? Seriously, I don’t quite understand it, and I don’t think you can lay all the blame on Andrew and Sarah. I don’t think they are examples of dedicated career women or humanitarians by a long shot, but I also don’t think they are horrible.
Anett, that’s a good point about the public speaking effort. Although I guess I don’t have a big issue with that — other than how she can call herself a businesswoman. And I agree about their interviews in the Queen at 90. I thought both of them came across quite well.
Joy Behar actually wondered out loud if they were dressed so ridicously to “stick it to” W+K for not inviting their mother. I remember it because I laughed so hard when she said it.
Bluhare
I think the most annoying thing was calling her/herself a businesswoman, it is as insulting as calling Kate hard working.
Pippa did steal the show, I agree.
Anet: fair point vis a vis the speaking position, but B clarified that within hours that she was merely in discussions and not a signed speaker and page was removed. A case of overzealous speakers’ company.
B: some fair points, but it’s still media fashioned. Here is why….
Long before they were of age, media started writing negative articles about them. Pap pics calling them fat, articles calling them ugly. The phrase ‘gruesome twosome’ started when they were in their teens. I remember that one specifically because I couldn’t believe a grown adult was writing such an article about teen girls simply to accompany an article they wished to write about the girls attending a premiere with their mother.
That phrase stuck and was repeated ad nauseum in many articles about them.
The turning point for me was the fat shaming of a teen Beatrice. Tabloids posted pictures of her in a bikini and called her fat and ugly. None of ‘neat pins’ or ‘curves’ wording that some tabloids like the DM like to use. FAT and UGLY in several national papers.
This prompted a press release from the Palace, yet no paper has ever apologised for that.
And you know what B did? She lost the weight and ran the London Marathon for charity.
The media has never been fair to them or even written positively about them because why would the media admit Fergie and Andrew actually did something right?
Further, articles about the girls are rarely standalone showing their deeds or misdeeds. They are frequently, insidiously tied to their parents. And the public hates the parents, so the girls must also be the same, right?!
And just like the way the Diana vs Fergie media set up, articles about these girls tend to be set ups and written in a way that invites haterade from the public eg the holidays. DM’s definition of B’s holidays seems to be every time she steps on foreign soil whether she’s there on genuine holiday or there for a wedding or simply visiting her *parents’ chalet for the weekend. As an example, Camilla is currently in Spain for a wedding. Pictures are all over the DM. No one is suggesting she’s on holiday. Yet if that had been B or E, it would have been reported as a holiday.
*Andrew and Fergie’s Swiss chalet is going to be the source of bad press for very predictable reasons for all of them. B spent 3 weekends there and each was written up as a holiday. *facepalm*.
That said, she has many friends abroad with mansions, yachts, private jets. I’m including her boyfriend in this lot. They are able to see each other across continents, and that is now being used against the girls because they should be turniff toffs rather than Jetsetting ones.
As for their charity work, there are pictures and the occasional article, but they don’t generate as much interest as a Kate article or they are written in a way that generates haterade. Their charity work is like Anne’s work ie it happens, but no one is interested. Eg after the flower show, Beatrice attended a prizegiving for an annual storytelling competition called Oscar’s Book prize which raises funds to give books to children’s hospitals. FYI: The winning story was called ‘the cow that climbed a tree’. The only paper to carry that engagement was the London Evening standard. Rest concentrated on the wonder of Kate at the Flower show and the not-secret-anymore nicknames WK call each other.
The girls attended 3 garden parties to WK’s one. Vilified as ugly for the joint appearance, vilified for simply existing for the next garden party which surprisingly made it into the other papers, but only because Andrew was with them and the papers needed an opportunity to bash Andrew and the girls. That particular party was for retired, wounded and disabled service personnel, yet all came away with was how ugly and ugly dressed the Yorkies because those were the accompanying articles. And no interest in the third one.
I’d suggest they hire the guy who turned Camilla’s image around because that is the only way they will be judged on their own merits.
Does it matter as much who started it when both sides have engaged in bad behavior?
Also fair points, LAK. Although I did see a lovely photo of Beatrice with one of the old vets from that garden party. She looked really engaged and lovely there.
I think they need to fight fire with fire. Get their own PR person if they can, and show Charles why casting them aside was a really stupid idea. Go out and get photographed more like Beatrice did — holding an old man’s arm and laughing with him — instead of standing around madly grinning like someone else we could name at another party, or getting photographed on yachts at St. Tropez. If they don’t get the media attention, they’ll get palace attention won’t they? If Charles is looking for people to fill the engagement timetable that the two insufferably grand people won’t do, then that might catch his attention. Or is *his* animosity toward his brother too great for that? If that’s true, then there really is no hope for the BRF.
I’m really starting to think that way, as much as it pains me to say so.
While I see what you are saying LAK, I do wonder what kind of values Fergie and Andrew could have given their children. Andrew is entitled to the extent that he does not see any conflict of interest ever. They are both very keen on leveraging any influence/position/network they have to further their personal wealth. The two girls are seen vacationing with many rich celebrities – they are not always the salubrious kind.
I do see what you are saying about them being targeted since they were young, but how far can the apple fall from the tree though? What do you think of that – you think they are different from their parents?
Maia, who would have anticipated that two hard-working, engaged royals like Charles and Diana would have ended up with such a dud of an heir? What values did they fail to instill in William but instilled in spades in Harry? The Yorks are assumed guilty by association, when maybe what they’ve learned best is how not to be like their parents.
As I said above, nas, I do not judge them on the actions of their parents and I really don’t appreciate reading that’s how they are judged. There is plenty of ammo with no help from anyone else.
Well, nas. Most kids want to emulate their parents. I would argue that William was left to raise himself after Diana died. If Charles were more involved, or caring he may have wanted to emulate his father more. What he saw was a bad marriage, a worse fallout and his father’s zealous efforts at mainstreaming his long-standing mistress. No wonder he rejects all about Charles.
B&E on the other hand seemed to be adored by both parents. They may very well idolize them on some level. Of course I may be completely wrong, but I don’t think it is far-fetched to imagine them having the same attitudes about using connections to get ahead. What they saw their parents do over and over again.
LAK
Thanks for clarifying that! Certainly I haven’t read anything like that in the headlines. The original idea of B as a businesswoman sounded more sensational than the truth.
Bluhare
You are right, the only thing they should do is work more, and get a stylist:-)
Both girls can engage with people more honestly than I have ever seen Kate. Unfortunately.
So Harry was left, two years younger, to raise himself in the face of their mother’s death, constant attacks by the press, and millions thinking he isn’t Charles’s son? Harry who has a publicly-affectionate relationship with their father, and they share many interests like gardening and painting. But somehow Harry raised himself (sans evil father) into a hard-worker while Poor William is busy emulating their mother’s most destructive temperamental behavior and being excused for it?
Loving your parents while recognizing you don’t want to be like them? I think the Yorks are capable of that.
Using connections? Like William leaning on the government to pay for the new EAAA helo so it fits co-pilot and RPOs? Getting an insider placed at EAAA to quiet complaints about how he never shows up to work?
@Maia -Both William and Harry adore their father. The public got a skewed view of the parental relationship due to a) how Diana used the media during/after the divorce; and, b) because of Diana’s passing there is a natural focus on her and her memory. But Charles was an involved parent. Like any parent, missteps were made, but in no way did William or Harry practically “raise themselves.”
Maia: Regarding the celebrities and Oligarchs and billionaires, B’s boyfriend’s work with Virgin required him to fundraise for the space galactic flight that virgin was putting together until the test flight crashed and killed that dream. He was a very ferocious and social networker and that flight was said to be sold out due to his efforts. His efforts were targeted at Billionaires, celebs and oligarchs, Leo Di Caprio and Ashton Kutcher were some of the celebs said to have bought seats.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/nov/01/sir-richard-branson-space-tourism-project-doubt
I’m saying all this to point out that most of the time when B was papped with celebs, billionaires, oligarchs, her boyfriend wasn’t too far or he went unidentified and usually B was there to support his efforts as opposed to making these people her friends. Through Dave, she got lots of plus one invites to many events and places. Dave’s operations have said to include wining and dining these people at exclusive events worldwide and receiving reciprocal invites to which he takes B.
That’s not to say that she wasn’t the draw for these celebs too. I’m sure her presence at his side was a draw for them too.
If you look at their true friends, most are people they grew up with. The current crop of socialites/models etc are people whose parents were besties with Fergie, who grew up with the Yorkies. Mind you, Fergie is very gregarious despite her faults which means she has an entire gaggle of friends whose children are now besties with her girls. And that’s why B + E seem to be everywhere.
And if you look at those social gatherings, it’s the same people repeatedly.
The celebs and oligarchs, i blame B’s boyfriend and his jobs.
He appears to have been hired to work his Virgin Galactic Magic on Uber, so we shall see more of the same.
As far as being different from their parents, there is lots of evidence that they aren’t entitled or irresponsible like their parents.
No teenage antics of falling out of clubs, no public bad behaviour or history of rude, obnoxious behavious.
The only time B strayed into a bad situation when she started dating someone with a criminal background, she dumped him as soon as she found out, cut all ties.
During that docu-series that Fergie did with Oprah after her latest humiliation, the girls said afew words on camera and it was quite clear they are humiliated by their parents’antics, but what can you do? Life goes on.
LAK–Kate’s always the common denominator with stuff like this. In a vacuum you could believe that she’s the victim. But it’s never the original tale, actions and behavior don’t support it, and negativity radiating from Kate has just been too consistent a story over 15 years. For example–In a vacuum, I could (and did) easily buy a scenario where the Windsors were not welcoming of Kate. (The Cambridges’ whole middle class, modern monarchy, anti-German Christmas shtick is built on us believing the BRF are always the bad guys.) But there’s nothing to support that. In fact the BRF made a huge show of being friendly towards her and putting her front and center immediately, (see the prime position she took at the Diamond Jubilee). From Camilla, to Sophie and Harry–They tried. But it doesn’t seem to have been reciprocated and/or they each gave up on Kate. So now there doesn’t appear to be any kind of real relationship between Kate and any member of the BRF. I COULD also believe that William’s friends are snobs who looked down on Kate. But that wasn’t the original story at all. The “doors to manuals” bits come in around the ’07 breakup and the whitewashing of Kate’s rep that followed. Prior to that it was accepted that Will’s friends just did not like pre-Waity Katie. They actually found her to be the snob, who was also very cold, dull, flaky and insipid, guarding William like a dog with a bone. (There’s also the issue of Pippa gaining entry into parts of that same circle.) So here we are just a few years later and Kate’s no longer even keeping up the appearance of being friendly and remotely interested in Will’s crew. Which brings us to Bea and Eugenie. Same thing. The original story was that Kate’s the mean girl while the Yorks have no such reputation. Why is it that all these people–and this includes Harry overlapping with everyone as well–have no issues with each other, but Kate’s the odd man out each time?
The outfits were not ridiculous. They were fun!
LAK thank you for that very interesting reply. Didn’t know a bunch of that stuff.
I can’t begin to respond to all of this, so I’ll just say I’m not judging them on their parents, but on the fact that they loll about on yachts all the time and take forty vacations a year and seem to take delight in pettiness like refusing to move over for Pippa at the fashion show. I don’t like Pippa, but really would it have killed them to move over? They objected to having to curtesy anyone not a “blood royal” and they just seem to me to be very snotty. Very thin evidence, I admit.
GNAT: B takes 2 yacht/beach holidays a year. One at christmas when she goes to St Barts with her boyfriend, and the other during the summer to St Tropez, usually 7- 10 days each time. How is that lolling on yacht holidays all the time?
The UK has 5.6 wks statutory holidays annually.
Are you saying she is a waste of space for spending 2-4wks of her statutory holiday entitlement on a yacht or beach?
All the royals take yachting/beach holidays. Infact, Anne has her own yacht. Charles usually goes around the mediteranean on his yacht holidays. When the Queen still had a yacht, everyone took long holidays on it.
Secondly, that blood princess thing was Anne’s doing. Anne and Alexandra didn’t want to curtsey to Camilla and got their way in HM acquiescing to their wishes. When Kate married in, the order was updated so they didn’t have to curtsey to Kate too. Yet, no snotty accusations of Anne and Alexandra, the actual architects of that particular piece of shuffling.
Finally that Issa fashion show was an organising screw up as they clearly didn’t have enough seats, but the ensuing mess didn’t show Pippa in the best light. She absolutely had to sit in the front because anywhere else was social siberia and in the process caused a scene big enough for many people to witness and report in tabloids.
And that was days after Kate had been so rude to B that she had reduced her to tears.
Btw, both these particular incidents happened when B was 20 to Kate and Pippa’s 26 and 23 respectively. So in your mind, it’s perfectly alright for 26 and 23yr olds to reduce a 20yr old to tears and if she retaliates she’s the snooty one!!!
GNAT – my thoughts exactly.
i think sort of hard is really generous
i dont like any of these 3 people if it makes them feel better
“work sort of hard”???
ah now i’m getting it. you made a joke.
How dramatic- very War of the Roses.* rolls eyes *
Yep, York vs Cambridge (Lancaster).. lol
I just woke up so perhaps I’m a little slow to get going here but what the absolute f*** is Will wearing? Is that a top hat? Is he holding a cane? He looks simultaneously like he’s going to fry me sone chicken and ask me to stand on the corner. I’m already done with these two for the day lol
That is the standard garden party get up. Morning suit, top hat, umbrella.
He’s wearing a top hat and carrying an umbrella. Top hats are standard BRF garden party attire.
First thought on seeing this pic…Cinderella and the two stepsisters
LOL, yes!!
My first thought on reading your comment, pitting women against women.
Not how I read Bobbie’s comment, but to each his/her own.
but man, cinderella is looking rough. sorry, just…well, she is….very slender figure though, she definitely puts in some effort when it comes to her diet/exercise.
No way. Cinderella had a work ethic.
And I’d prefer to be friends with young ladies who actually seem to have other friends and are gregarious than a self-involved twit who doesn’t seem to be able to keep a friend in the world.
It wouldn’t take much for the York girls to be viewed more positively than Kate. If they set up a charitable endeavour comparable to what Harry has done, then Kate and her 15 min attendances would look even worse. I bet even Charles would change his mind about streamlining them out if they created such goodwill in the public because Will and Kate are obviously lazy and they won’t make any real effort unless a major crisis happens.
As for Kate benefitting from hierarchy, that only applies to kate for having married Will. Pippa doesn’t get that benefit. And I believe that when she is in her own they still outrank her. The whole thing is nonsense anyway.
I agree on all points!
Charles is not going to change his mind about streamlining the monarchy because he believes it is the right thing do. The Yorks aren’t working royals and they have full time jobs. Any charity work they do is done during their free time, which makes an effort like Invitus unlikely.
Charles may have to change his mind after the Queen and Prince Phillip aren’t around to do the hundreds of appearances they do. Will and Kate aren’t showing signs of picking up the slack and he may need the York girls to help out.
The monarchy is an archaic institution and the public doesn’t generally object to it because the Queen and Phillip have devoted their lives to serving the public through charitable endeavours. Charles knows this, but Will and Kate don’t seem to understand that. The free helicopters rides and palaces are in exchange for helping out good causes. Unless there is a significant attitude shift, Charles will have to find others to help with the charities in order to keep the institution of monarchy justifiable. (I understand that many don’t view that as enough of a reason to keep it around)
I don’t see Charles changing his mind. Perhaps issuing an ultimatum to Will and Kate, but that is the most he will do. A sprawling BRF is too expensive to maintain.
In the story with Pippa, she comes across as pushy and entitled. Why in the world should they have moved spots to accommodate her??
Because Issa has benefitted enormously from Kate’s patronage and the company did not want to embarrass her sister by denying her the front row seat her invitation implied. Although this one is really on Issa, not the Yorks.
Why try to unseat the Yorks specifically ? Bloggers and random rich girls are a dime a dozen at fashion shows. Unseating a royal is much different from unseating a blogger from the front row.
They wanted to have Pippa sit next to the Yorks, and the Yorks refused. Kate snubbed them and hurt their feelings, so they returned the favor to Pippa.
This was Issa’s problem. They over packed their front row. It was rude to ask the Yorks to budge up and it was rude to invite Pippa and not reserve a seat for her.
Question–does Issa still exist? Kate wore Issa all the time while she dated William, and for her engagement announcement. And stories that Issa gave her free dresses for publicity. And then dropped Issa like it was hot right after the engagement. What happened there?
Issa was bought by Camilla al-Fayed in 2011. You’ll never see Kate in Issa again, but yes, it still exists.
I like that the York Princesses wear fun clothes. They never look boring.
I went out last weekend for the first time in YEARS and almost wore my top hat, but got talked out of it – didn’t want other people touching it and wanting to wear it – but now I am regretting that. Top hats for any occasion, please!
Agree with you – they are fun dressers!
I think that all three parties have been “insufferably grand” with each other, as the article says. The article says that B&E are sore about not having the status and visibility of Kate, and Kate does not consider them important enough to personally extend an invitation to an event she was hosting and all of London’s society was invited to – I believe that.
First, B&E probably grew up placing a premium on being blood princesses – Andrew is hung up on that and it is not a stretch to imagine that it rubbed off on them. They do think they are more special and deserve a prominent role in public life because of that. The fact that B actually struck up a meeting with William to talk about her role in the family – if they were indifferent to status and publicity she would not have done that. She would have gone on merrily her way like Zara. Also, the whole blood-princesses get curtsied to by non-blood one article that DM said Andrew wanted released – that’s pretty cold I think. So I do think that the snobbery that Andrew is well-known for may have have roots in B as well. As for Eugenie, she has given many mean looks to Kate over the years, and probably can’t stand her for whatever reason – I can believe that. Second, Kate, I think just follows William’s lead in not giving two hoots about these two girls. She may even believe them to be ridiculous which is how I think William sees them. They are just not important enough to Kate to be worth even being mean about. It is a reflection of Charles’ attitude towards Fergie – you are such a non-entity you will not exist to me. That is how I think WIlliam and Kate view B&E. And that hurts. Has to.
Kate and Pippa have been mean themselves to B and E. This is not a one sided affair and Kate is not above this kind of behaviour at all.
Kate needs to watch it because her laziness is being heavily criticized and since she receives ultimately taxpayer money (filtered through the Duchy) she will have to answer for it more and more. The press is already going there. Her kids will be off to school soon enough and her excuses will run out.
Beatrice and Eugenie can take all the vacations they want since they aren’t living a subsidized lifestyle in the same degree will and Kate are. Although it would be in their best interest to appear more productive, they aren’t the ones remodelling tennis courts and Kensington Palace at the taxpayers expense.
And who is to say that Kate remains married to Will? They already look pretty miserable together after five years and while she will probably cling hard, you can never rule out a divorce. Precedent was set with Charles and Diana and in that case Diana was far more beloved by the public than Kate is and probably ever will be.
Nic919 I do agree about KM’s work and tax etc. I was not critiquing B&E based on their lifestyles at all. I do maintain however that they may feel entitled to perks and benefits their father has exposed them to, and not bat an eyelid at taking advantage of their position. Just mere speculation on my part.
And FWIW I really disagree that they look pretty miserable together. I think Kate and William are a happy well-matched couple who will grow old happily together. Yes, William is a pill to live with, and Kate is happy to make many compromises some of us would not, but that is *her* choice and it seems to be a choice that makes her happy. Maybe you would not be happy in such a marriage but that doesn’t matter; Kate is. We all tend to project our own feelings on them.
Kate’s interactions with Ben Ainslie are far more positive than with Will in public . I agree that she is not going to leave Will. Her whole life has been dedicated to snaring him, but I wouldn’t be shocked that in about five years Will may want someone else, especially if Kate continues to be viewed as lazy and a liability by the public and if the Queen isn’t around anymore, the public wants serious changes to the monarchy. Kate is expendable and I can easily see him dumping her to safeguard the monarchy itself.
My point is that Kate has precedence through marriage now, but there may not always be a marriage, as we saw with Charles and Diana. And while Diana was beloved by the public, Kate is not. The public is what keeps the monarchy around, but Kate and Will are too dumb to realize that.
B&E are also 6 and 8 years younger, which means they were young teens when the meangirling from the Kate Middleton started.
The Order of Precedence is set by the monarch, not Andrew, and has been allegedly changed many times through the years. Without her husband, KM has no status in the family. When he isn’t there, she has to curtsy to people who have status on their own within the family. HM’s weird family rules but not some dastardly plot by Andrew.
Just the other day you said it was “hinted at” in the ROP.
Also, I don’t have to even stretch to get a mental picture of Andrew lobbying his mother on this. Not even a twitch.
Well DM did say that the rules were aired out because of Andrew. The press has been consistent in saying that these kinds of things matter ALOT to Andrew and that he is unhappy that B&E don’t get their fair share of visibility as ‘the only blood princesses’. This has been repeated for years and years.
And FWIW Andrew strikes me as a pompous blow-hard. His interview on the Queen’s 90th documentary – ugh. Who can possibly take him seriously. No wonder Charles won’t touch him with a barge pole. At least Charles is serious about doing some good in his position, eh.
bluhare, I say that because I don’t think it has ever been published. As far as I know it is an internal document of HM’s weird family rules. So we have hints and what has been guessed at in the press, but as far as I know it has never been published for public consumption.
It was alleged to be changed to have Diana and Fergie defer to Anne when Charles and Andrew weren’t around. Said to be because Anne was annoyed with Diana and Fergie. Ditto for Camilla deferring to Anne when Camilla is solo. Sophie deferring to Camilla and KM when none of their husbands are around, so HM’s rules will downgrade even her favorite Sophie. And now this round of KM deferring to the Yorks when William isn’t there.
When Kate married in, the Order of P was modified by TQ and essentially placed Kate at the bottom of it. When she is with William she takes his rank, outranking everyone except Charles, Camilla, Philip and TQ. When he is not present, the Yorks, Anne and Alexandra outrank her.
Not sure about Sophie and Camilla (the future QC). Even Charlotte outranks her.
I hate the hate the Yorks get just because their parents suck and due to their non Disney Princess looks. They work and make do with their limited privileges (limited in the context of the Royal Family).
Kate was still a Middleton and single when she treated the Yorks poorly, and such behaviour speaks volumes of her maturity and mentality. PipaTips is a non entity and lives in glass castles.
But HM did it BECAUSE the Yorkies were miffed they had to bow to Kate, as was Anne.
I see, Imqrious2, you were there in the room with HM when she was redrawing it? You were there as Andrew and the girls breathed down her neck about it?
I’m going with “alleged” and “rumored” because I’ve never seen a copy of this document.
Actually, Imqrious2, Anne did not want to curtsey to Camilla. Camilla by herself is outranked by Anne and Alexandra, but no one else. The Yorks would curtsey to her where she by herself.
When Kate married in, the Order was modified again to place her at the bottom. I expect the same will be done with Harry’s wife.
It seems TQ likes to establish a distinction between actual Princesses and spouses, as is her right to do so. Charles will be able to make his own modifications, as will William.
To me the most interesting quote is the one about William being insufferably grand. That certainly paints a completely different image than the “I’m just a normal bloke like you guys” that he peddles to the general public.
While I do take the quote with a grain of salt, neither do I buy William’s “normalcy” stick since it is highly improbable that his idea of what is “normal” even vaguely corresponds to ordinary middle class life in Britain.
I took due note of that, as well as the follow up that it has to have rubbed off on Kate.
But really. Aren’t they all a bunch of classist snobs trying to outsnob each other? I have really been wondering why I pay attention to this stuff lately, and that’s a big part of it.
You hit the nail on the head. They’re a bunch of snobs trying to out snob each other.
Didn’t William also insist that the staff now and call Kate “Ma’am” EVERY time they saw her? I read that somewhere.
Goes along with the stories of how poorly KM treats the staff, William ruining the staff holiday party, etc. They seem to consider themselves very grand indeed.
Absolutely. The story that William made his staff cancel some movie and go along with what he wanted to watch – that was the first sign that he is quite grand himself, for all the talk about normalcy etc. I think he is the kind who would not bat an eyelid at pulling rank when he wants.
That was such poor form on his part! It is so easy to gracious to the employees, especially if they do their job well. It is also a good way to ensure loyalty. But I guess that someone who has never had a real job has very little understanding of this.
I once read somewhere (in relation to a book release) that some of the royals are rather unpopular among their staff – based on how their treat their employees. Andrew was the most unpopular and Philip the most popular. That, however, was long before William and Kate.
W&K’s housekeeper and groundsman leaving after only 5 months is a hint.
@ArtHistorian – have also heard Chuck is not great to work for, while he likes to play staff off each other he does take an interest in how things are run. Camilla is supposedly very nice, her staff love her.
The only unpopular ones, based on loose tongues to the press, are the Duke of York and the Cambridges. The later not just being about W&K but the interference from her family (her brother and sister demanding Royal Protection for their ‘public’ events, Carole interfering with the way the household staff ran the house – hence why the previous housekeeper left after only 5 months). They are now on their 3rd Press Secretary in 5 yrs. They fact that they have a turnover says a lot, particularly when compared to other family members who have had the same staff for a very long time.
I wonder if the 10+ people on the disco ball organising committee will ever get credit for being involved. For years, it’s been touted as if she did all on her own.
“He would accuse his dog of being indiscreet if it barked at someone else too often.”
That gave me a really good laugh this morning.
Me too. Best line about William that I have read in a long time.
I am with those sticking up for B&E and rolling my eyes at Kate. The more I hear about Kate, the more I dislike her. She is a horrible role model to young women. She is lazy and vain (she has to be vain for being so incredibly conscious about her weight; look at pre-engagement photos, she was easily 20lbs heavier and more toned; she looked healthy). Will doesn’t come across as much better. Yes, the York sisters may take a lot of vacations, but not on taxpayer’s dollars. Yes, they do more for charity than Kate could envision doing. AND they are good friends with Harry, while I get the cool vibe from Harry with Kate.
But in essence it IS on taxpayers’ money as it comes from Andrew, who is paid very a very handsome stipend from the Queen. He’s still a boy on an allowance.
They’re pretty much all trust fund babies as well.
In addition to the millions he gets from his dodgy Kazakh deals. The Queen isn’t going to be around to protect Andrew forever. If I were B&E, I’d be taking steps to ensure I was financially independent of Andrew. When his chickens finally come home to roost, it isn’t going to be pretty and they do not want to be associated with it.
Agree Imqrious2 and Tina. Andrew is largely funded by the govt with the exception of his smallish Navy pension. The govt is funding his office and staff as they make dodgy deals on behalf of corrupt oligarchs and really God knows who else. It’s a bad scene. B and E have lived in Royal Lodge at Windsor and B at least once had a great apartment in St James Palace. That involves taxpayer money. But props to B and E for trying to establish careers.
Its was nice to hear the Yorks are friendly with Chelsy (I still hold out a little hope that Harry marries her, but realize its a long shot.)
Is Kate good friends with anyone, any confidants? Is there any royal that she has a good giggle with? At least Fergie & Diana would laugh together. What ever happened with Zara and William & Kate? She was named a godmother, do they ever hang out?
Whoever her friends are, she’s certainly not photographed hanging out with them. She’s even cut back on hanging with William’s friends as evidenced as skipping so many weddings (not just Jecca’s but local). Maybe she has a whole slew of friends, but you certainly don’t hear about them or see pics.
The rumor is she has zero friends. If this is the case, she is an extremely unhealthy individual.
No one knows if there’s a grain of truth to this but it’s not hard to believe considering the York sisters are a couple of frumps in the looks dept. Kate looks like a high fashion model compared to them. I don know why people insist Kate has an eating disorder. She looks perfectly fine to me. Tall,slim,athletic. Compare her to Angelina Jolie who looks like holy hell lately.
If you compare photos of Kate from her university days to anything post-wedding, it’s clear that she’s obsessively dieting and exercising to maintain a look which is not her natural physique. In her university days she was slim and sporty-looking, but definitely thicker around the thighs and with actual curves in her breasts/butt. She’s dieted and exercised down to the this point and has to work obsessively to maintain it.
And that’s from photos, when everyone knows the camera adds 10 pounds. I’ve never seen her in person but I imagine she would look quite gaunt compared to other people.
I go by my own weight and height which is similar to Kate’s. I don’t have an eating disorder nor do I exercise excessively to maintain my weight. Look at her parents. They are slim. I think she’s naturally slim and has lost some volume because she’s older than she was in university. It happens. I’ve also had two children. If she were at such an unhealthy weight her hair wouldn’t be so lustrous. I don’t mean to come off as argumentive but I don’t see an emancipated woman. She looks fine to me other than poor posture.
I know women like her who limit their caloric intake to 800-1000 calories a day to maintain a super thin figure. I don’t believe she lost it from university days. She no longer works out and clearly limits her food intake. She is not naturally slim, she is unhealthily slim. She looks better pregnant or post-pregnancy.
(whispers) Kate lives in fear of being emancipated.
Auto correct so makes me laugh.
@Joannie
I’m not quite sure why you’re pointing out that you’re super thin without dieting or exercising. Good for you? People like that do exist – my point is that Kate was always a fairly well-built, ruddy girl until she began dieting and exercising to the point of obsession.
Interesting that you point out Carole is also slim. She is a big advocate of the Dukan diet and seems to take a very regimented approach to her own appearance. I don’t think it is a huge leap of the imagination to wonder if Kate’s thinness, compared to her younger days, is evidence of an unhealthy attitude towards food and weight.
As for her hair, I think most of it is comprised of hairpieces and wiglets, enhanced with regular blow-outs by professional hairstylists. Her skin and complexion, on the other hand, speak to years of stress through smoking, tanning and poor nutrition.
I would not say that she has an eating disorder at all. But I do think she severely restricts her diet. Her cheeks are sunken and tired and her skin is dry; tell-tale signs of someone not eating enough protein/fat. I think she just eats less than she should for her level of activity and what she eats are salads and probably smoothies. I doubt she is a big meat-eater or eats a lot of dairy, all of which would help plump her face up and give some muscles where she needs them – like shoulders. She does look gaunt to me. She must be even more so in person because the camera does make you look wider. And while it is true that some women can get thinner with age it is extremely uncommon. Most women become wider and gain 5-10 lbs with each decade.
And Joannie – I don’t think that Mike or Carole are that slim at all. They seem like normal health-conscious people who eat enough good food and probably indulge in an occasional drink. It’s funny you call them slim and Kate “normal”. Oh and I think you meant “emaciated” not “emancipated” – autocorrect ? I think that most of us here would agree that she is far from “emancipated ” … lol
Emaciated. And Maia by your logic if mike and Carol are normal now they must have been slim when young. It is not extremely uncommon to become thinner with age. Get real! Most people become overweight due to bad eating habits and little or no excercise.
Joannie while it is true what you say about overweight people, it is a biological fact that even for very slim people your body can deposit fat differently based on hormonal levels as you get older. If your hormonal balance is different in your 30s than 20s the same nutrition/exercise will not keep you looking the same way. For the majority of humans hormones change in the direction which leads to more muscle atrophy and more fat deposit as they age. Which is why even slim people tend to gain weight as they get older. They can continue to look as thin and have the muscle/fat ratio if they 1. exercise a lot more 2. change their nutrition.
Kate was a healthy robust looking girl who looked strong because she had a muscular body. She also had some fat in nice places. To actually get rid of all the fat like she has now, she is probably doing both of the above. Are you saying that somehow magically the fat just melted off of her ? It is certainly possible but not statistically very probable. How can you back this up?
And no need to get rude or excited. Kate would not touch you with a barge pole if she needed to in real life. So don’t sacrifice your manners for her. LOL. “Get real” – not warranted.
Maia, people lose volume in their face as they age. Ever hear of fillers,Juvederm? HW women use it all of the time. Plus Gravity has an impact on a persons body as they age. Look at the Queen. Loss of bone mass and gravitational pull. As for Kate, eveyone has a bad day now and again. We don’t all wake up looking 100% every day.
“a couple of frumps in the looks department”
If you’re going to disagree about someone, pick on them about things they can change. Their looks cannot be changed. If you mean the way they dress, then “frumps in the clothes department” would have sounded much better. I think the two of them are nice looking women who could dress better. My beef with them revolves around their lifestyle.
I’m not disagreeing,I’m stating my opinion. You don’t like it? Fine by me but they look like frumps. Their mother dresses better than they do. What a hypocrite!
I think B&E’s street style is much better than their formal style.
I think I must have not posted a response to this; thought I did, but why am I a hypocrite? I disagreed with you calling them frumps in the LOOKS department. As I said, call them out for things they can change not what they can’t. And if that makes me a hypocrite, happy to wear the label.
I look at them and they ALL seem fine to me in different ways. I wouldn’t put on some of their clothes and i would wear the hell out of some. Also i like colors so the York girls have it covered for me in the color department.
As for the work thing let’s not forget that this girls really don’t have to work BUT they do when and how they wish to. If we are talking work let’s also don’t forget that Kate. Pippa and their brother haven’t work that much as far as stories goes.
Because they are rich they can travel, meet rich people and get invited to places where we mere mortals can’t go. Hell I’m not rich BUT I managed to travel twice (Turkey and Austria for just a few days) in two months. People who see my pictures on FB think I am living THE LIFE. Little do they know how or why I went there.
And last but not least these girls are always going to be criticized because of who their parents are so no escape for them.
Eh…since when did looks come into the discussion?
Personally, if we’re bringing looks into it, I prefer Beatrice and Eugenie’s natural prettiness to the pancake makeup, hair extension, plastic surgery, spray-tanned, image-obsessed Kate Middleton. Middleton is at best 2-3 inches taller than Beatrice, maybe the same height as Eugenie. Not exactly an overwhelming difference.
Beatrice looks just like a red-headed Queen Victoria which always makes me smile. Eugenie is just like a young Queen Mum, and when she shows up in Vivian Westwood she cannot be beat.
J, you say you are bored with the conversation about Middleton being about her looks, and here you are attacking other women for their looks. Making it all about Middleton’s false looks instead of praising the natural appearance of the York girls.
+1. For the intra family gossip about the BRF the least interesting part is who is tall and slim and who isn’t. And Joannie great to know you are tall and slim like Kate and not frumpy like the York princesses. Kudos!
Bravo, nas!
The camera always adds 10 lbs, so if you were to see her in real life, you would probably be shocked, not only does she look emaciated, but her skin looks horrid, I mean when she is not photo-shopped and in real life she looks terrible !!!
The press always has a tendency to put royals against each other PC&PA PH&PW, Sarah&lady Diana, Kate& whomever dated Harry etc. I doubt any of these girls are actually enemies. They seem to get around amicably I’ve seen Eug hug kate with a smile, I doubt she would hug someone who was vile to her sister. The feud or just rumors. As for the 2008 thing I doubt Bea would even talk to a journalist about her problems.
I don’t know how the people at the DM thought the York girls felt they were ugly or something next to kate, does the DM magically read their thoughts? They don’t even seem to be looking at kate in the video of the garden party, they Yorks were just talking to each other:
http://www.gettyimages.com/videos/-534789320excludenudity=false&page=1&phrase=%20534789320&sort=newest#license
Bea has vacationed a lot but so has PW and kate and basically any royal or socialite . Nothing different from what her own family members has done at one time in their lives. She most likely gets some freebies or gets discounts of sorts. Bea and Dave weren’t even working at the time. be a hasn’t weren’t on some ‘vacation’ this year. She seems to be focusing on her job and her duty towards family. Even if she were to go on vacations, she’s a private citizen, whom most likely gets freebies, especially from the Bransons
Well, Bea and Eug still make their contributions , even though it’d not done officially. I think it shows great character on their part as they do things such as chairities because they want to and are not obligated to even do so. Sarah and PA did something right with their daughters.They don’t even get that press attention during such events .
Like for instance.
The day after this Garden party with kate. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, attended a Garden Party hosted by the Duke Of York for ‘The Not Forgotten Association’ at Buckingham Palace on May 26, 2016. The Not Forgotten Association, provides leisure and recreation for wounded serving and ex-service men and women with disabilities.
After the Chelsea Flower Show, Princess Beatrice dashed off to announce the winner of Oscar’s book Prize. Which Princess Beatrice was also on the judging panel.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/oscar-s-book-prize-2016-beatrice-battles-it-out-for-book-prize-shortlist-a3235591.html
The book prize is set up in memory of Oscar Ashton, the son of Evening Standard columnist James Ashton. He died in 2012 at the age of three from an undetected heart condition.
http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/books/the-cow-who-climbed-a-tree-wins-oscars-book-prize-a3255326.html
Quite a few different pics on twitter of her giving some sort of speech at the book prize.
Another interesting note, Eugenie’s white dress from the Flower Show was made by Beulah London, the fabric was from the York’s key to freedom line.
Key to Freedom products are currently being sold in Topshop and on Royal Collection Trust Shop’s website. All Profit from these sales go directly to the women who produced this product, and the Women’s Interlink Foundation.
So they do contribute the press just rather ignore it.
And before someone says what about their jobs? I think whomever would hire a royal, they would much rather have them seen at some public events. So long as the York girl accomplish their jobs and bring good PR to their work environment.
*Bea hasn’t been seen on some ‘vacation’ this year.
Thank you!
You’re welcome. I just dislike it when misinformation is spread like wildfire, especially about the York Girls. *Sigh
Lak, can you clarify one of your comments you made. You said the York princesses attended three garden parties. I only know of two, one with kate and the one with The Not Forgotten Association. Which is the third one?
Just double checked. My bad. They went to 2. Andrew was at the ignored party on 10th May. This was the party that was rain-soaked. And the Queen was overheard telling a Police commander that the Chinese were rude. Not much else was reported about that one.
Rude to the ambassador, not rude in general. It was a bad enough faux pas as it was.
If the government hadn’t wanted it known that she said it, it wouldn’t have been made known that she did.
I wish our government had that kind of control. No one wants to upset the Chinese. If the government for some reason did want to upset the Chinese, they wouldn’t violate the Queen’s neutrality, carefully cultivated over 60+ years, to do it.
They were unhappy with the change in seating, the potential spies in the carriage (sounds like a novel but isn’t). She wouldn’t have uttered it publicly if no one was supposed to hear it.
It was supposed to be heard by the police commander and her mother, not the wider public. The footage, complete with background feed, was released to the media as it usually is. Normally it isn’t possible to pick up on the conversation in the feed, but this time it was. There is no way the British government had any intention of insulting the Chinese government by letting this information become public.
The whole “royal” family, top to bottom, is ridiculous. Keeping these people like spoiled pampered poodles–why?
I like how the York girls keep it interesting at royal functions fashion wise. It would be deadly dull if all of the royal ladies dressed as boring as Kate.
Beatrice and Eugenie do seem to be good girls as the article says. They could be a lot worse with their bats**t parents it must be said. They are the daughters of 2 ultra gauche corrupt influence peddlers that would sell their souls for a chalet– and probably did.
One wonders once the protective element of Her Majesty is out of the picture what will happen. Charles obviously is not close to Andrew. It’s nice to hear though that Charles and Camilla (and Harry too) are fond of the York princesses so maybe they won’t totally be cut out of Royal events in the next reign.
My hope is Charles throws Andrew out of all royal properties, removes him as a working royal, and exiles him to Switzerland.
It will not happen, because Andrew will never go quietly, but I can dream.
I don’t have a great deal of sympathy with either side. I’m sure they are all as mean as each other. However it must annoy B&E to see Waity getting all the perks of Royal life and doing nothing to earn it. That said, B&E don’t do much either but at least they have worked in the real world.
I’ve been largely indifferent to the ‘York princesses’ but I have a real fondness for them since watching ‘The Windsors’.
Really funny fiction is so much better than dreary fact when it come to the BRF.
The sentence in that article says it all “wills can be nsuffrably Grand and this has rubbed off on Kate. Poor Bea and Eugenie fasten your seat belts it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
I don’t love B&E, but they are light years better than William & Kate. They have jobs that appear to be real and they do charity work that interests them, even though they don’t have to. This squabbling over precedence makes them all look horrid, though. Zara has a much better public image than any of them, and it’s because she doesn’t care about any of it.
Re: the disco party – B & E are younger & not friends of Kate’s so why should she be compelled
to invite them? Showing up dressed inappropriately when crashing a party? Not Kate’s fault – she didn’t invite them. The person who took it upon herself to add to the guest list (v. rude) was responsible for the omission of info about dress, not the hostess.
It would have been smart for B & E to extend some hospitality or friendship to any of their cousin-the-heir’s g.f.s on the off chance that one of them might become the wife of the heir. That “we’re blood, so better” attitude hasn’t served them very well.
How do you know the York sisters have that “we’re better than you” attitude?
If you look at the family during formal gatherings, everyone seems to talk and chat and laugh together except Kate. They all walked to Church together on Easter Sunday, while Wills was away, and Kate had the kids. Where was she??? Hiding at Mummy’s house. Harry used to laugh with her, but now when it looks like she’s laughing with him, he’s usually looking past her.
So,why would they all be friendly except Kate? Logically, it’s because she either doesn’t try or she is just so I sufferable they gave up. Or both.
Several references above to that, hence the quotes.
Taxi, where did that one reference come from? Source please.
An interesting element is that Bea and Eugenie did grow up thinking they would be “working royals” (such as it is). There was a reason they have the title Princess, and Princess Anne’s kids and Prince Edward’s kids do not—because their parents wanted it that way and obviously Her Madge agreed at the time. Her Madge was crazy about Andy and Fergie once and gave them the titles that her own parents had–Duke and Duchess of York.
Andy and Fergie were right up there with Chuck and Di as a bona fide royal couple back in the late 80s/early 90s…its been 30 years since the Andy and Fergie royal wedding and it was a big.deal. then. Much bigger deal than Prince Edward’s wedding was 13 years later. It seems Beatrice in particular may want and be cut out for a life doing royal appearances and charity work–it seems Eugenie could take it or leave it.
But I think William especially is all for a “slimmed down” royal family that will do much less–but concentrate the wealth & perks in a few hands most notably the grasping hands of William and his wifey. When someone asks who will do all the hundreds of appearances that won’t be done any more once the Queen, Phillip, etc. aren’t doing them the answer is–they just won’t get done. And really I think William DGAF.
Actually it’s Charles who wants a slimmed down monarchy and as he is next in line the slimmed down it will be most probably but those left will be working very hard.
It is also Charles who is trying to get the Crown Estate named his personal property.
A handful of them racketing around the palaces and massive country homes, while only doing a few high-profile appearances? I think once all the local visits and small charities are removed from royal engagement calendars, it will quickly erode support for the institution. If HM isn’t the last monarch, Charles will be.
Andrew, as the second son of the monarch, was always destined to be Duke of York. That title is reserved for the second son of the monarch just as Prince of Wales is reserved for the eldest son and Princess Royal for the eldest daughter.
The Queen’s father was a second son as was her grandfather hence they were both given the Duke of York title in turn.
Giving Andrew that title had nothing to do with favouritism or the fact that her own father and grandfather had the title. Even if she hated Andrew, there is no other title for him befitting his rank as second son of the monarch. In that scenerio, the best she could have done was withhold it.
That said, i fully agree with your comment. Charles may have started it, but William will continue it and keep all the perks without an upswing in work.
I get the Duke of York second son thing but what if Charles is King and assuming Andy is still around– it’s not like Charies can take the title away from Andy and give it to Harry, right? Is it likely Harry will get made Duke of something else once Charles is King?
Harry will likely be Duke of Sussex and will be granted the title on his marriage. The other options (Clarence, Connaught, etc) are all problematic for various reasons. Andrew will be Duke of York until he dies, but then (assuming he doesn’t have a son, heaven forbid) the title will revert to the monarch to assign. At present, he only has daughters, who cannot inherit the dukedom.
Title holder keeps it until death. If Charles becomes King, Harry will simply be given a different title until Andrew dies.
If Harry has already been granted another dukedom eg Sussex, Charles can choose to keep the York Dukedom vacant or he can give it to Harry who would be known as the Duke of York and Sussex.
This type of double dukedom has happened before. Most recently with George V who was the second son and known as the Duke of York. When his brother, the Duke of Cornwall died, making him the new heir, George became known as the Duke of Cornwall and York for some years before he was granted the POW title that superseded the ducal one and he became known simply as The POW.
Tourmaline, until it is yanked out from underneath him !!!!!
In terms of fashion wise, the majority of the Royal Family has really bad taste, but as long as they do what they’re supposed to do, who cares?
The problem is that they don’t work (W & K)
The problem is that the Head of State is not democratically elected, and that succession is determined by birth. It’s not acceptable to be a subject rather than a citizen. Unfortunately I seem to be in a minority so the pantomime will continue. But there has never been a vote on it because that would be, you know, too democratic.
I live in a democratic republican country. We ended monarchy 106 years ago. I just state that royals should work, the same as presidents do.
While the Spanish Family only the King, Queen, and children can receive money from the State ( a total of 9 million euros per year total for everybody, which include representative expenses, etc), the British Family seems to be receiving money from the State (cousins , uncles, aunts, etc. )
Am I wrong?
I don’t get why Beatrice or her sister receive also money (do they)?
All the royal families around the world are pathetic. In 2016, we should not still be dealing with this bullshit. Now, quick question: what would happen if I refused to curtsy or bow to a royal? Are there any consequences other than pissing off the ass kissers? Ridiculous clowns!
http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/106/590x/kate-middleton-eugenie-545928.jpg
The photo above I think we’re taken in New York say four years ago, things obviously seem to have gone down hill since this was taken if the DM has snider gossip. Just to add that Wills is looking very dapper in his top hat, tails and cane n the garden party photos and today in the Telegraph there are caption shots of him doing his pre exercise regime before going out playing polo however he looks very fit and slender in a pair of what looks like white jeans.
Who would I rather hang out with? Not Kate and William…………nope.
Team Kate.
Oh good, another article pitting women against each other. I have a hard time buying the generosity angle of two young women raised by the most indulged prince in the kingdom, he of the pedophile and tyrannical dictator friendships. Nevertheless, I suppose its not as much fun for gossip columns to make headlines about Charles and Andrew’s lifetime bi**y pettiness towards each other.
I am feeling a bit sorry for the Yorkie sisters. They are victims of their parents’ fractured relationship and Uncle Charlie’s plan for a slimmed down monarchy. They are real princesses and turn up at a lot of events with a smile on their face, although slightly weirdly dressed – it has to be said! They look polite and get on well with some of their cousins. They could be a real support to the Queen and Charles and fly the flag for British interests everywhere. Why not give them a job? Who on earth is going to shoulder the enormous load of royally supported projects and charities when Her Maj and Prince Phil are no longer able to – along with the Queen’s older cousins who still do an amazing amount of public work?
That balcony appearance a few years ago with just those in line for the title – Liz, Phil, Chaz and Cam, Bill and Kat – was a disgrace. Allegedly Charles idea – it was totally out of line with what the public wanted to see – which was Her Maj surrounded by a loving smiling supportive family. He pissed off his siblings and I doubt they will ever forgive him. Interesting times ahead with Chaz at the helm methinks….
I admit, I do feel the tiniest bit bad for the York girls. Their parents are constantly in the media for being indiscreet and embarrassing. It also must be hard to be born into royalty only to have the rug yanked out from underneath you and told that Prince Charles has decided they won’t be a part of that. I feel worse for people who are born with nothing and work their asses off everyday, obviously.
Also, I do feel like their reduced role and William and Kate’s restructuring of the way they are handling charitable commitments is a missed opportunity. The York girls could probably take on some of the charities that Prince Philip and the Queen will be leaving behind and raise a lot of money.
The expression on the faces of the two princesses makes them look like they are plotting violence against the Cambridges.