It’s very weird and funny to see how effective the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in shutting down the speculation around the whole Marchioness of Cholmondeley drama. We still don’t know for sure what the issue was between the Marchioness (Rose Hanbury) and Kate. I feel certain that there was an attempt by Kate to “phase out” Rose. Was it because Rose was sleeping with William and, not only that, Rose was being indiscreet about it? Or was the marchioness beef about something else entirely? We still don’t know, and maybe we never will. The Cambridges shut down the speculation on this faster than all of the Jecca Craig stuff. The coverup is what makes me think that there’s something really juicy and shady there.
Anyway, as we discussed on Sunday, there are some quiet theories floating around about the Cholmondeley-Cambridge beef and whether that’s at the heart of the Cambridges’ seeming-beef with the Sussexes too. I was wrong when I said that no British paper said anything about this scandal over the weekend though – in a paywalled piece in the Times, it was suggested that Kate is something of a “vaporiser in chief.” Huh. From a secondary source:
For the past eight years, the Duchess of Cambridge has walked around with that honking huge diamond and sapphire engagement ring on her left hand, a ceaseless, priceless, hefty reminder of her tragic mother-in-law. Now, sadly, she has been lumped with another unfortunate link Diana: Experiencing just how brutally the press can change its tune. Goodbye cheerful fashion updates, hello to a veritable orgy of negative press.
Over the weekend, a story appeared in London’s The Times which dubbed Kate the “Vaporiser-In-Chief” and focused on her alleged falling out with her Norfolk neighbour, Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. “No one wins against Kate,” we are told and that “Meghan, of course, is the next person Kate will eliminate.”
Yowser. This depiction of Kate is one of a woman who is crafty and who cruelly amputates friends when she decides they are persona non grata. That image is galaxies apart from the carefully honed construct of bland perfection we have been fed for years. We will likely never know if there is any truth in The Times piece but what is apparent is just how dramatically the narrative about the future Queen has changed in less than a year.
The Aussie outlet suggests at the end of the piece that Kate will feel the need to have a fourth kid just to change the narrative, which… I mean, I’ve been saying that for months. I think Kate will announce a pregnancy this fall. As for Kate’s “changing image” from boring enigma to Mean Girl… those of us who have followed royal gossip for years knew a lot of this.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and WENN.
If I’m being honest, this makes her seem interesting…
I don’t really care if she vaporizes people out of her life if they’re truly annoying. The lady who is rumoured to be sleeping with William DOES seem annoying. She definitely looks it.
I agree that it makes her seem more interesting. It gives her a personality, even if what we are hearing about it is a negative trait.
I agree that it gives her some layers. And I remember that this was said about Diana. She was known for dropping people cold when they upset her.
In my late 30’s I moved a few toxic people out of our lives. My husband and I had finally reached the point where we decided life was too short for negativity and pettiness.
What makes Rose Hanbury “definitely look [annoying]”? I haven’t followed her or this story super closely, but she and Kate seem like near carbon copies of each other from photos and quick bios. The physical similarities are obvious, but they both also have poor posture, dress alike, and spend their time with their children and doing charity work. I was just wondering what sets Rose apart as annoying.
The only resemblance I see is in the brunette hair.
But facially I don’t think they look anything alike.
I think Kate and Meghan look more alike than Kate and Rose do.
When I saw the picture of Rose, I was actually kind of shocked that that was the woman William might be having an affair with. I think there’s something about her facial features that I find off-putting (maybe it’s her nose and mouth? — I don’t know. I guess she kind of reminds me of one of those gossipy-looking people we might see in a Jane Austen movie. Has she ever tired central casting for one?). Mind you, I have no idea what her personality is like. Charles’s fondness for Camilla, despite being less pretty than Diana, is actually less shocking to me since Camilla looks like she could have some game on her. Camilla looks like she knows how to nurture a guy into being seduced by her whereas this one….I don’t get it.
Interesting, thanks for answering. I guess I see mostly that Rose and Kate are both tall, waifishly thin, brunettes. I wasn’t really paying attention to facial features. Though I think both women are uncommonly beautiful.
@perplexed, I know what you mean. Emma Thompson wrote a wonderful diary about the making of Sense and Sensibility with lots of tidbits about the people involved (nothing scandalous, just frothy fun). At one point they’re casting for Fanny Dashwood, and Ang Lee turns to Emma and says, “England is a nation of Fannys.” (Now, this is funny on many levels, but it’s also true just as he meant it.)
Change Vaporizer with “Insecure.”
I think she used several of women in William’s circle on her way up and dumped them once she got what she wanted.
I would exchange the word vaporizer for User and insecure.
Kate should remember What goes around comes around. What you do to others will one day be done to you.
P.S. She can’t eliminate Rose completely, I read that because of Rose’s title, position through her husband she gets invited to Royal State Banquet . That won’t change as long as Rose holds that title.
This says to me, She is very insecure.
@90sgirl I agree 100% + 1. It’s the same behavior that began in college/ university.
Prediction: Summer pregnancy announcement (she & Carole will not allow Polo Baby Sussex to grab the headlines/ the attention too longer)
**The only real problem with Rose is the lack of chin
Completely agree. Dormant Volcano Empress Kate.
she’ll also keep popping out babies, to keep moving harry down the line of succession so there’s no threat to them in the lineup to the throne……
Yes, I just thought I’d like a good TV series of this! Cold evil Vaporizer Princess, a bit like the Killing Eve-killer.
“If I’m being honest, this makes her seem interesting…”
MTE, but I read the headline as if she was on her vape pen all the time. 😉
Just read this on Twitter.. Just a fun fact.
The Throne that Kate will use , when she becomes Queen, The Consort Throne resides at Houghton Hall, Rose Cholmondeley’s home.
It is sent to Westminster when needed.
LOL! So I’m not the only one!
Couldn’t fault her for it, haha.
“Meghan, of course, is the next person Kate will eliminate.” Well that was a bit extreme!!!!!!
@Abby, I found that statement very unsettling too. I think it would be rather difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of your sister-in-law. I could see never inviting her over to your house but eliminating Meghan totally out of the picture seems impossible to me.
Ruining Meghan’s marriage would be a great way to achieve her “elimination”. And that seems to be the ultimate aim in all of this.
It’s kind of impossible to eliminate someone you see on the regular for holidays and official duties. Plus, I don’t see William or Harry cutting off access to their kids cousins.
I find that statement kind of funny because it was so extreme. Kate went fast from the perfect English rose to someone plotting the downfall of her SIL, didn’t she?
Makes Meghan look like a (future) victim?
The way I see it she hardly has to lift a finger to eliminate Meghan as the racist press is more than willing to take care of that.
If Meghan keep up her spending habits she will manage to bring on her downfall on her own.
How is spending on clothing such a great character failing? Give me a break 🙄
@Gina, maybe HM can sell that gold piano to pay for some of Meghan’s clothes. How bout that? Meghan should just continue working and having meetings with results. She’ll be fine.
@Mia It would be illegal for the Queen to sell the gold piano since it belongs to the state.
As long as the Queen or Charles are alive, there is no way Kate can eliminate Meghan.
I think she’s still really insecure about her relationship with william and her ‘place’ in the royal family. From previous stories I get the feeling most people think she manoeuvred her way into will’s life without ever trying to make peace with his extended family (Zara, the York princesses) and if she doesn’t feel like she really belongs, then maybe she’s jealous of people like Meghan and Rose who seem more comfortable in their orbits. I’m not explaining this well, but she acts like someone who thinks she’s going to get knocked off the top at any moment and must protect her place. It seems exhausting.
I get what you’re saying and it’s an interesting angle. I can actually see this being true.
This is an interesting assessment and makes sense to me. I was thinking that the description of Kate as Royal Mean Girl also sounds like the behavior of someone who doesn’t have much sense of direction or passion about her work in the world and that is also in keeping with her lackadaisical approach to public aspects of her job over the last several years.
Kate sounds very insecure.
Kate is not insecure, she knows her place is earned after years of pretty perfect performance. She’s never put a foot wrong. The worst people can come up with is she was “work shy” which was nonsense anyway because they are all work shy. None of them know what a day’s work actually is. Plus Kate has had 3 kids and had pretty grim pregnancies.
Those “grim” pregnancies never stopped her from taking longhaul flights to vacations on remote islands without hospitals. Not something a true HG sufferer could endure.
Other royals, less senior than William and Kate, regularly do three times the work these two do. All other royal women worked more while pregnant and while their kids were little, Kate is the exception. The silly “never put a foot wrong” is blatantly untrue, but a popular theme among her stans. She is inept, unprofessional, lifelong work shy, and has flashed over two dozen times on the job. That’s just for starters.
This whole saga has really shown the Cambridge’s in a different light to me. Everything we’ve seen in the last few months points to them being behind the Meghan Character Assassination Project. The only question I have in my mind is whether Kate herself is the Project Director, or if it actually falls to Ma Middleton to “handle” enemies to the camp (at least from a PR perspective). It’s either one of them or most likely a coordinated effort. (My instinct screams Ma Middleton).
I mean, this is a family who were so worried about Meghan upstaging Pippa at her wedding that she was spirited in and out of the venue, so quietly that most people still don’t know for sure if she even attended the wedding.
As for William, every time I try to imagine what his role in this might be, I fall asleep almost straight away, so I’ve given up.
Her foot isn’t the body part she has controlling. It’s her bare ass she can’t control.
And for the record, destroying a tradition held by senior royal ladies for 115 years because she didn’t want them to expect her ‘every year’ is a definitely putting a foot wrong. It was also a disgusting thing for her to say.
@Latoya, Kate has made many mistakes along the way. There is no such thing as her never putting a foot wrong. She used to flash the world on the regular because of continual wardrobe mishaps that happened for years just to name a few. I think Kate’s great, and she’s much more relaxed at events now that she’s got some years under her belt, but she’s had some lessons to learn along the way and will continue to as ALL royal ladies have had to do.
Claiming Kate faked her HG is a new low. And quite disgusting.
Her lack of true HG symptoms have been discussed since the first pregnancy. The things she did throughout all pregnancies, from her frequent flights to her ability to drive herself all over to go shopping and her standard, healthy weight gain? They don’t add up to an HG sufferer. Also her dead silence each year on HG Awareness Day speaks volumes.
Waving to all the new posters from RD.
Charming as ever
NOTA, totally agree with all you stated. Kate is lazy and only recently has been able to keep her skirts down.
Kate has put both feet wrong on many occasions – upskirt shots, flimsy dresses flying up to reveal a bare wisp of a thong, having sex with William on an open balcony in broad daylight, twirling her hair and looking bored at a Remembrance Day ceremony, slacking off from duties which she should have performed, etc. etc. Only lately has she been upping her game professionally and we have Meghan to thank for that. On the surface Kate seems insecure and vapid but underneath that facade beats a cunning, Machiavellian heart for sure.
Hmm guess you don’t know about the engagement she cancelled at the last min, citing morning sickness and was then (on the same day as the event) was caught by eagle eye twitter users getting a on private flight in an airport in Scotland flying out to join William on a sunny vacation. The photo’s were all over twitter.
She must be new around here. We’ve all known the HG claim was questionable at best.
Also, I knew all I needed to know by seeing her and William giggle, whisper, and roll eyes at minister Michael Curry during his sermon at H&M’s wedding. Rude.
…
Kate has struggled in public. The DM readers constantly referred to Kate’s “gurning” in photos prior to Meghan on the scene. As an American, I had to look up what it meant, so many there did not buy her big grins and facial expressions while on public duty. She also failed miserably giving any kind of speech.
@Bella DuPont I’ve a hard time seeing “Ma Middleton” concocting stories about tiaras,air fresheners,breaking protocol with the queen, marijuana wedding bags, making up staff about an assistant with has actually a name..
It shouldn’t be very difficult to predict that if a narrative gains traction,it becomes click bait. It’s not so difficult to understand.
It’s funny how some people think that people who know exactly what riles up those who read them,need William,Kate abd “Ma Middleton” telling them what to write.
Carole has two DM editors, Niraj Tanna, and now the editor of Tattler in her back pocket. Anti-Meghan stories originating from Bucklebury? The idea takes no stretch of imagination.
@jaded “having sex on a open balcony..” Really? That was a gross violation of their privacy in a private property,whther they were having sex or not,which is speculation on your part.
Also,for those Meghan’s fans who like to mock Kate’s skirts,it’s not like Meghan has not had her wardrobe problems.. see through skirts,splits,amd other questionable choices.
I think some malfunctions are easily avoidable,others may happen whatever they wear. Like,in some occasions Kate should have just worn trousers.. lol.
@ V
“I’ve a hard time seeing “Ma Middleton” concocting stories about tiaras,air fresheners,breaking….”
A little imagination here may help. 😉
Lady D, what tradition did she destroy? Darn, missed something big.
@VintageS: she skipped St. Patrick’s Day with the troops, a tradition started at the beginning of the 20th century and continued every year until, well, she decided she wanted to go home and spend time with her kids. Which seems very reasonable, until you ask yourself what does she do all day? What does any royal woman besides the Queen (who is not a consort) do all day? Would passing out shamrocks to troops who are away from their own families have really been that big a sacrifice? That was the reasoning then, the headlines were all “Kate snubs the troops” etc. Now she’s perfect because they have a shiny new punching bag, Meghan.
Okay. Thanks.
That’s clearly not true. She made many, many serious protocol breaches in the early years of her marriage. Perfect Kate is a recent invention and a massive retcon.
Except Kate and Zara get along quite well.
I agree that Kate is insecure (the eating disorder, nervous way of speaking) and she seems even more so whenever William is around. Diana was hugely popular and Charles managed to divorce her and move on. I do not doubt that Kate was/is reminded of that every time she looks at that cursed engagement ring, which is a reminder of a loveless marriage that didn’t last despite two kids.
Kate is not and never will be in control of her life, William is. And it’s not Kate who is icing people out of their circle, it is William (like the way Pippa was marginalized and barely seen with Kate after behaving poorly in public). Whatever Kate does is because William wants it. Kate is the perfect doormat, because she has to be, and she knows it. And is happy with it. She knew the trade-off and it was worth it to her. But I will never believe Kate is in charge of her own destiny, let alone anyone else’s.
Harry and Meghan are competition for William and Kate. The more popular Harry and Meghan will be the more money will they get. And that means less for William and Kate as Prince Charles isn’t allowed to spend everything from the Duchy of Cornwall’s money pot.
Those couples will fight each other behind the scenes.
Harry and Meghan are moving to SG funding for their Household. It will soon follow, before or right after HM passes, they’ll be moved fully to the Sovereign Grant for funding.
What happens when George, Charlotte and Louis realize their father doesn’t respect their mother?
The same thing that happens in many, many families throughout the land. The boys will replicate the pattern, and Charlotte has the life of Princess Margaret or Charlotte of Monaco to look forward to, poor girl.
@Gina There is no competition. William is the heir and Harry is not. Popularity has nothing to do with it.
Huh. Whether there is any truth to the idea of Kate as a “vaporizing mean girl” or whatever- the interesting thing to me is how fast the narrative changed around her like the article says. Even just that article discussing the Times article is pretty snarky. I disagree with the take though that the stories about the feud between Kate and Meghan paint Kate in a negative light. they almost 100% all paint Kate as the victim, so I don’t buy the theory that Kate has been experiencing negative press since Meghan arrived. If anything Kate has gotten some of the most positive press of her marriage over the past year or so.
This whole thing proves to me that no one did anything to protect Meghan, a member of their own family. The Cambridges stopped these Rose rumors fast and might have been able to do the same thing over the Kate/Meghan drama but obviously didn’t. William looks awful, in my opinion.
So does Kate.
Totally agree.
Protecting Meghan is not Kate or William’s job. That is Harry’s job & he’s been pretty useless at it. I keep hearing people blaming the Cambridges for everything that has gone wrong with Harry & Meghan which is just a cop out. Harry & Meghan from the very start chose to do things their own way & that is on them.
Have people also forgotten that there are two other people ahead of William but how come no one asks what Charles & the Queen have done?
Except that the stories were about Meghan AND Kate not getting along. The Cambridges could have tried to put a stop to it just like they put a stop to the Rose rumors. There has been a smear campaign happening ever since the New Zealand trip and it doesn’t appear anyone did anything to stop it. Some weird rumors about a supposed former friend? Immediately quashed. Don’t you find that strange? Why wasn’t the same thing done for a pregnant member of their own family?
I rarely comment on Royal stories and while I like Meghan, I’m not a huge fan or anything. I’ve read these stories for months and find it interesting how quickly the Cambridges tried to put a stop to certain rumors but are perfectly fine letting their new SIL take a beating in the press, especially when those rumors painted Kate as the victim.
@Coco The alleged feud with Kate is a little part of a series of rumors that have gained traction and basically taken on a life of their own. As sororitylance says,Harry hasn’t done anything either. Also,multiple times there’ve been articles claiming that “sources close to” were denying this “feud”,which is exactly what has happened with Rose Hanbury too,with the difference that Rose and her husband are private citizens. It’s understandable if William and Kate didn’t want them being thrown in the middle of their own usual “royal press”.
I don’t know why someone expected a KP statement ,when they have never acted in that way,except for Meghan before the engagement announcement.
It’s also funny how their fans say that the queen and Charles have run to save them from the terrible Cambridges,but nobody expects their biggest supporter Charles to do something,when he threats with legal action for his beach pics..
But there have been stories about Kate not getting a long with the York Princesses for years. No one moved to squash those stories either. How is this different?
That’s fine, we all see stories a different way. In-laws don’t have to be best friends. I don’t expect Meghan and Kate to be close but there have been pretty vicious rumors about Meghan bullying Kate, making her cry (who knows, maybe she did?) I find that pretty different from Kate and the York princesses being cool towards each other. As I said in my original statement, “no one did anything to protect Meghan” including the rest of her family. I find the Cambridges behavior odd that they (seemingly) made big moves about a nothingburger rumor. To me, it makes William look bad. I have zero clue what is actually happening behind the scenes but these past six months have made me feel rather poorly towards the Royals and how they’ve handled everything. All of them.
What Harry has done is get himself and his wife out from his petulant brother’s control when it comes to PR. Protecting her against the spin coming from #PoorJason, KP, and the Middletons by putting her under the protection of Buckingham Palace. First step – their own SussexRoyal Instagram account announced today.
Kylie, that’s what makes the Cambridges’ move to forcefully put down these feud rumors so suspect. They didn’t care to address the York girls feud stories (some persisted after marriage and they could’ve shut it down at that point), looked the other way with all the Meghan feud stories, and yet THIS is what they’re so upset about? A vague, bare-bones story about Kate arguing with a posh housewife? It’s odd at best.
The whole ‘Turnip Toffgate” is one of the weirdest Royal stories in years.
@Kylie that is exactly the point. How is this story different? Kate doesn’t get along with the York princesses, Kate and Meghan are feuding, etc – those stories don’t get shot down as fast and as hard as this story about Kate “freezing out” a “rural rival” did. That is what makes many of us realize the royals could shoot down the stories about Meghan if they wanted to, but don’t for whatever reason. Maybe they just think its easier to ride it out, maybe someone likes the negative focus on Meghan because it makes their lives easier (that could be Kate, Charles, Andrew, William, etc or some combination thereof), whatever, the point is these stories have persisted for months now.
TWO stories are published that indicate Kate mayyyyyybe doesn’t get along with a local marchioness and someone (Carole, William, etc) comes out SWINGING via Richard Kay in an attempt to shut down the story. That is what is making so many of us scratch our heads and go, “huh? why on earth spend any energy on that one?”
@Sororitylance, what you said would be true, except until quite recently, William and Harry shared a press office in Kensington Palace. Their staff has been the source of quite a few distasteful leaks that openly threw Meghan under the bus and portrayed her as a shrew and a harpy who was being mean to poor old Kate and making her cry, and making her staff miserable. The “what Meghan wants Meghan gets” story came from them. They have had a clear agenda against Meghan for a while now, and these are staff members who work for William. William has no obligation to protect Meghan from bad press–but the idea that he has no obligation to protect Meghan from bad press coming from people he has employed is ridiculous.
If Harry didn’t manage he could always turn to Charles or the Queen or some of Charles’ or the Queen’s senior pr officials. Surely they would be willing to lend a hand and make a few phone calls. They don’t like too many negative press about the Royal Family.
@Beach Dreams, or the Cambridges weren’t the ones who shut it down. It could have been the Marquess.
@Kylie, David Rocksausage doesn’t have the power to shut this kind of thing down. You need the ultimate backing of the Queen to do that.
@Kylie, someone from KP definitely had to be behind the Kay story. Even if the Chumleys had the pull to get such a story written (I don’t think they do, but who knows), it wouldn’t have been full of gushing praise for Kate. Going on about how she’s “never put a foot wrong,” etc. That makes no sense.
Harry did something when he tried to stop Meghan from attacks related to her family and her ethnicity. It seemed to backfire. The other couple is more senior, and were printed as victims, of course it would’ve looked disingenuous for the “victimizer” to say “I did not do anything”. The ball was at the cambridge’s side.
Some of the people over at Royal Dish love Kate now when a few years ago they were always going on about her. But she isn’t Meghan so that makes her better in their minds, even if Kate hasn’t really stepped up her work load or anything.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Kate has a history of mean girlling but ‘vaporising’ – nah she never had that much influence over his circle even since they married. This positive press for her is one the main reason they are not shutting it down, it’s being used to try and changed the lazy narrative around her.
I totally agree with this. I think Kate doesn’t have as much agency as we’d like to think. She goes along with William, as petulant as he is. She had to fit into his social circle, not the other way around, and she’s not going to jeopardize her place by being disagreeable. I don’t think SHE sees Meghan as a threat; I think HE does.
Kate is thick skinned and the simply endures.
She might pull a little intrigue here or there but it can’t be much as there are Royal protocols for everything even for the order of stepping onto the balcony.
@Gina, “She might pull a little intrigue here or there” The vast majority of royal history would tell you that things like protocol has never stopped any of them from intriguing in big ways.
I think the Kate vs. Meghan stories are an intentional distraction from the meltdown of William’s marriage. If the Cambridges can work through their marital difficulties, I think the vitriol against Meghan will lessen. We’ll see.
Mrs K – I don’t know what gossip you’re reading, but William and Kate look happier and more relaxed than they ever have. In my experience, that usually isn’t a sign that a marriage is breaking down.
Well if he is cheating things aren’t going well. The “happy and relaxed” pics could just be an act for the paps. They care deeply about their image for sure.
We must be looking at different pictures because William generally looks bored and/or irritated any time I see him. He barely smiles, and never at Kate.
As a lurker on this site I think Kate should be given an award by this site as the most fascinating celebrity. There are several stories about her every week for the last five years and her stories elicit the most comments with very strong reactions. For someone so bland, she sure stays on the minds of many commenters.
Linda, I totally agree! And the hatred she evokes is on Kardashian level.
Ditto Angelina.
One could say the same about Meghan…on literally every other site.
But congrats on finding the one site on the internet that is even mildly critical of kate.
A lot can change in two years, clearly.
I think both Cathy Cambridge and Megs Sussex have made many many mistakes. I think they both will continue to make many many mistakes because the so-called “palace advisors” seem to be some of the stupidest people in the PR profession.
Yes, Kate has been painted as the victim in these tales and has gotten some of her best press ever lately. All those Kate critics on RD did a 180. And now lots of new people who only started watching royals to hate Meghan and try to prop up Kate. Obvious if you’re paying attention.
Ah yes, the “new posters.”
Nota’s not wrong. New people are great, but those of us who have been here for a while do notice the changing perspective. People like LAK and Sixer, who knew a lot, have gone, and others who have less knowledge but more passionate feeling, have arrived.
I really miss Sixer and LAK. I wish they’d come back.
Does anyone know what happened to Sixer and LAK? It’s odd how they both disappeared at pretty much the same time and both of them without a word. Both were Brits, both were knowledgeable about TRF. What happened? I miss both of them, but Sixer most of all.
@notasugarhere , What is “RD”?
I hate that it’s the women getting all the crap when it’s William who is seemingly at the center of this mess.
+10000
Exactly. What even. Can we throw the heat and criticism on the man, please?
Exactly. If William did have an affair, why would Kate want to be near the other woman? And it’s more likely that the alienation between the royal households is due to the brothers, not the sisters-in-law who hardly know each other.
There is no proof William had an affair. It’s possible they threatened to sue over this because William is making it clear his kids will not grow up reading false accusations of affairs about their parents. Also, Kate has a history of mean girling so I would not be surprised if Rose ruffled Kate’s feathers over something truly small and petty and Kate cut her off.
There were no accusations of an affair in the press. UK or US. None at all.
@Megan the threat of legal action came BEFORE the affair rumors really took off, which is why everyone is so interested to know WTF is going on.
YES Lorelei, exactly! Threatening legal action to quash an actual story about an affair would make sense – whether or not the affair was true – but the initial story was vaguely interesting but not really. The Richard kay piece really kicked the affair theory into overdrive because it was so bizarrely over the top, as we keep saying.
Thank you for this.
I still scratch my head , when I see the engagement interview and realize William took Kate, to Jecca’s family estate to propose .
I felt that in itself deserved a Freudian analyzation.
90girl, it is doubtful he did that. He copied his friend’s proposal story nearly word-for-word.
Or it’s possible the simplest explanation is the truth, William and Jecca were never more than friends.
Meghan – I think if she reciprocated they would be together but she was one of many who didn’t want William or the life.
If William did cheat on Kate and it was with Rose or Rose facilitated or is spreading it, then yes it’s understandable why she would cut her out. But if it’s not for an affair, then Kate is being a mean girl and should be criticized. Grown adults don’t need to cut people out for minor disagreements.
And if the affair is true, then William should be blamed, but since many are trying to pretend it’s just haters getting carried away with a story, if there truly is nothing as serious as an affair, Kate is acting very immature.
This makes no sense. You clearly don’t know the real reason behind the rift but you’ve set up only two possibilities to explain it.
And here I was trying to be nice. She’s a bitch if she’s cutting off people for no justifiable reason. An affair with her husband is a justifiable reason. Very little else would be. Sorry you don’t understand complex sentences.
Nic919 always makes plenty of sense. She’s often too logical for the new posters on here.
There is a WHOLE LOT MORE about “Turnip Toffgate” that we will never know about; There has to be. This has got to be one very complex story or it is just plain weird, thereby showing all the Royals for the nutters that they are.
@Baytampabay – agreed. I am really dying to know the whole story but in all likelihood we never will.
@Becks1, Hopefully, five years down the road, Lady Colin Campbell will write a great book on the subject! LOL! LOL!
@BayTampaBay and @Becks, I am right there with you – dying to know what’s really going on!!
I think it will leak out eventually, but it might take a looooong time. We ended up learning all of the sordid details about Charles and Diana in countless books over the years, and that will likely happen here too. I just hope the truth comes out in my lifetime : )
No one wins against Kate? What absolute fanfiction. 😂
And if the only way you can “change the narrative” is to have another baby and trash your sister-in-law, you are NOT some kind of Machiavellian genius. You are terribly uninspired and common.
Or we can choose to believe that this is a non-story made up for clicks the same way we give Meghan the benefit of the doubt?
Come on. Obviously, it may not be true. I was responding to the stuff laid out in the article, and my comments were directed at whoever made up/leaked those ridiculous quotes. Don’t believe I stated that I 100% believed it or that I know for sure Kate was an awful person.
YESSSSSS…..I’m here with you @Erinn ~ I’m all for giving the benefit of the doubt. There may have been an affair, I doubt it was with Rose, but maybe Rose knows. A rose by any other name…..is still a rose 🙂 …… but I don’t believe Kate is mean-girling her way through Norfolk aristocracy.
Yeah, I don’t believe this either, I think it’s click bait.
@erinn, you didn’t seem to give Meghan the benefit of the doubt yesterday re; her spending. You had a big rant about it and then gave your own take about her sticking her two fingers up and saying a big eff you. You believed that story very quickly. So now saying that people should give Kate the benefit of the doubt as they do Meghan is so wrong. Meghan got properly trashed in yesterdays article whilst some tried to explain that her gifted jewellery was being added to the total so the total was probably wrong, nobody wanted to hear it. So no Meghan doesn’t always get the benefit of the doubt.
And I didn’t say that she shouldn’t be allowed to throw an eff you at them, did I Bohemian Angel? And quite frankly, I was not ranting. I was posting just the same as anyone else, but I presume since you didn’t like my personal opinion you’re delighting in taking it out on me today. I didn’t say anything stating that the numbers were 100% legit, nor did I say she shouldn’t want to pull a little ‘eff you’ in the form of wardrobe. I just think it’s ridiculous that we assume she’s SO aware of optics but then we will argue “well… maybe someone didn’t tell her x” when it comes to something that’s harder to write off.
Nobody got trashed for pointing out the jewelry cost. Just because the comments weren’t fawned over doesn’t mean that it wasn’t heard. I personally read them and thought -well, good, that’s a better number. But even if you take the cost of the jewelry away though – she spent a LOT. And by that logic – how many other women’s totals are off because the jewelry is being incorrectly applied to the totals?
“So no Meghan doesn’t always get the benefit of the doubt.”
And I never said she did – feel free to read my post again. I said that if we’re automatically going to write off all the stories about staff, tiaras, clothing, etc we should give Kate some of the same slack. There IS a huge difference on this site about how the two are treated, and whether you agree with my take or not – the VAST majority of posters love Meghan and will defend her to the end. There is also a LARGE group of posters that take anything negative about Kate and Will as gospel and continue to drag it through from post to post.
I like both women. I think we should be taking ALL stories about them with a grain of salt. It’s ridiculous to try to turn one woman into a villain to make up for the way that the other is treated by media other than this site.
@erinn, I’m sorry but I think YOU need to go back and read your comment, no you never stated it was 100% true but you also didn’t state that you didn’t believe it, by what you wrote, it came across like you did believe it. And yes you did say that you can understand her giving an eff you for all the crap she gets. I’m not picking on you so please don’t take it as a personal attack I was just pointing out that your post today was a bit hypocritical judging by your post yesterday.
Now I’m not sticking up for Meghan re her spending as I really don’t know the truth and at times I do think she is handing her critics a loaded gun to fire at her, I’m not a big Meghan stan, but try to stick up for her when she is ripped apart unfairly, and you have a right to your opinions, but I do think it was quite hypocritical.
“I like both women. I think we should be taking ALL stories about them with a grain of salt. It’s ridiculous to try to turn one woman into a villain to make up for the way that the other is treated by media other than this site.”
100% agreed, Erinn. I really, really like Meghan. I think she’s got a huge heart, a fantastic work ethic, and truly wants to effect change in the world. Her work with the Hubb cookbook is fantastic, and I love her passion for equality and women’s rights. I think she’s an asset to the BRF and she and Harry clearly adore each other.
That being said, she’s not perfect, and it’s okay to disagree with her or point out missteps. Yes, she’s dealing with a racist smear campaign and hideous family members, and I am so sorry that what should be a beautiful time in her life is being torn apart by the media. But the vitriol towards Kate is savage.
@ Erinn (re Kate stories being made up….)
(Tin foil hat on……)
OR, we may start to realize that we haven’t afforded Kate the respect she deserves for outlasting and outwitting the hundreds of women who may have had aspirations towards her future crown.
I’ve never bought the narrative that nobody else wanted to marry William……that just never rings true to me – there are far too many ambitious women/families out there who could gain a massive amount of influence, money, connections, etc by being connected to the royal family.
He married at 29, which is still relatively young, so surely, he could have waited some more……why didn’t he? He either married out of genuine love 💕 (Which very many people believe is not the case), or we witnessed (without realizing), the mother of all social climbing, lion hunts. Every competitor, over the years, carefully picked off and discarded until only one was left standing….
I think the puzzle that is Kate, is slowly starting to come together.
@Bella DuPont, “29 is relatively young” It really isn’t? It’s a fairly reasonable age to get married? William was quite open about waiting to settle down because he didn’t want to rush into a marriage at any point. There are a lot of aristocrats in his set who got married a lot younger than William (Rose Hanbury was 25 when she got married 2 years before William) so 29 is actually on the older end of the spectrum here.
I think a lot of ambitious women and their families would like to marry royalty, but the reality and the subsequent scrutiny is incredibly off putting and puts a damper on any of the real ambitions (aside from prestige and snobbery) they could have. When one of your family members marries royalty, that puts ALL of them under the lens. That really limits what you can do tbh, and if you have somewhat of a sketchy past (Rose Hanbury’s bikini pictures with Tony Blair, her family’s bohemian habits, the fact that her sister married a man twice her age under questionable circumstances) then that just gives you more reasons not to do it.
@ A
Men tend to settle down later than women, no?
I notice you’ve chosen to compare Will’s age to the Rose’s age at 25, rather than her husband who married at the very ripe age of 53; or even his brother, who settled down at 33.
Point is, he still had lots of time (for a man).
I agree with you that the royal life can be off-putting for many women, but on balance, I think far more women see the advantages of being so well connected and leaving an enduring legacy, than not.
Point is, the Middleton’s don’t f-ck around……they get sh-t done and (being the thicko that I am), I’m only just beginning to see the extent of it.
@Bella DuPont, I’d accept your comparison to David Rocksavage, except for the fact that his inability to settle down until he was in his fifties was an anomaly. People used to titter about it constantly, because he much preferred messing around with celebrities until he knocked up Rose Hanbury and had to rush down the altar.
The general observable rule with the aristocracy is this: get with someone long term when you’re young, perhaps while still in college, and settle down by your late 20s. Early 30s is pushing it, and there was plenty of hand wringing w/ Harry. These people, especially the men, have money, titles and property that they need to pass down, and this makes them incredibly old-fashioned and outdated in terms of their outlook about these things. They generally lock down their relationships quite early in life. Nearly all of William and Harry’s friends married when they were younger. Jake Warren, Sam Branson, Guy Pelly, Thomas Van Straubanzee–all of them settled down in their late 20s, a lot of them to women they’d been in long term relationships with. This is the case even in the wider aristocracy. Hugh Grosvenor is 27 and has been with the same girlfriend for years. George Spencer-Churchill is only 26 and already married. Lady Mary Charteris settled down at 25. William isn’t out of the norm in this group.
As for women who want to marry into royalty, I think that for someone who claims to firmly be in the (upper) middle-class like the Middletons, yes the possibility is tantalizing. But for women of the aristocracy who can lay claim to networks, legacies and money through blood and marriage, the prospect is a heck of a lot more dull. Diana once reportedly told Prince Philip that her title was older and more noble than even the royal family’s. Amanda Knatchbull famously turned down Prince Charles because she had access to all of the perks and none of the drawbacks. The Middletons have effectively created their own legacy in this regard, but no one else in the aristocracy really needs to.
I don’t reall care if Will is having an affair but I feel like that’s the easiest assumption. God forbid two women having differences over something else.
All I can say is that William sure has a type if it’s true that he’s cheating. Rose Hanbury and Jecca Craig do have a touch of that British aristo-class horseyness that commoner Kate doesn’t. She is definitely the most attractive of the three.
Is looking good all that makes a woman attractive? God help us all.
She seems so bland that I found all this difficult to believe but you never really know someone.
“but you never really know someone” well, yeah. None of us know these people at all lol, it’s all assumption and gossip
I hope it’s not another April birth. I vote for JUNE this time.
I’m sure they’ll take this into account.
Lol
In those pics with Meghan, Kate looks like a Disney villain LOL
I will never understand why anyone would want to marry into this family.
This.
i would say to her money and stability is one part of it. they will never have to work for money again even if they are not together cause for Meghan for example she was fast on her way to be a full time blogger soon if not for marry into the family, Plus she got the fame that she never had from being a actress so that a plus for her. so lots of reason to
Especially now, with the internet, the scrutiny is so, so much worse. It’s constant, with commenters from all over the world weighing in and analyzing high-res photos, etc. Diana had it bad for sure but it’s a vile new world now. I can definitely see how people would not want to sign up for that life regardless of the perks.
Posted in wrong space
If you read the actual article, one of the pieces of “evidence” is Guy Pelly- who the author even acknowledges is Prince Louis GODFATHER. Seems like you wouldn’t ask someone who you “vaporized” to be a guiding figure in your child’s life.
IIRC there has been stories over the years that she has tried to oust Pelly from Williams social circle as he enabled Williams bad and drunken behaviour. Pelly has been friends with William since school and he has been loyal toward William, both love a good party but he has a family as well so seems to have settled somewhat. It was at Pellys wedding where William got so drunk he fell over and chipped a tooth and I don’t Kate went to that one with him. Much was made of it in the press, esp as previously she would have killed to attend events like this with William.
FYI: It was also like two or three days before the Pelly-Wilson wedding, IIRC, that Cressy broke up with Harry
But it’s been long known that Kate’s never liked Guy Pelly. And he’s Will’s friend at the end of the day so if Will really wanted him as a godparent then I doubt Kate would be able to say otherwise.
I thought Guy Pelly was kind to Kate during the 2007 breakup and that softened Kate’s opinion of him.
For me she is a person who does not have much self-esteem, so that he feels quickly intimate by another person. I say this because a person who has self-esteem would never have agreed to be treated like shit t for 8 years by a William.
Absolutely true.
And have parents who would encourage you to break ties with such a person rather than use you to social climb.
One thing I always noticed about Kate was the lack of friends from her pre-William days (childhood, high school). And for the most part, her female friends are those she met through her association with William.
In any event, I was always taken aback by the initial spin of the story, which was, Kate is asserting that she is Queen Bee of the Turnip Toffs. I just assumed that was the case in the first place….I mean she is married to the future King of England, doesn’t get more alpha-girl than that. So I assumed there was more to it than that.
Yep, and the bulk of their turnip toff crew were/are *Will’s* friends first. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them still privately viewed Kate as an outsider to their clique.
Kate may be learning that her decades of climbing and mean girling didn’t earn her any friends. If the people of the neighborhood genuinely like Rose, they’ll side with Rose in any petty disputes.
From all that I have read on reliable and unreliable gossip sites, Rose is very well liked as is her husband.
@BayTampaBay – Rose seems to have a lot of high society/art/fashion friends as well, judging by her instagram friends
“I mean she is married to the future King of England, doesn’t get more alpha-girl than that” — except that the nobility doesn’t really view the royal family as “above” them, because many of them are bluer-blooded than the royals. Many felt Diana was actually too good for the Teutonic Charles. It doesn’t make sense to an American like me, but the snobbery among the nobles is incredible. Kate actually had a better chance at marrying William than marrying into an old peerage family.
@mrskrabapple – yeah, someone on here said a few months ago that George Percy NEVER could have married Pippa Middleton (no clue if they were ever even dating, but they were certainly friends) and that he would be expected to marry someone from an old aristocratic family.
@Mrs. Krabapple it sounds like Meghan picked up on that snobbery real quick and said “nope!” Lol! I wonder if after the baby is born if we will see her wearing those Downton Abbey dresses and hats at those aristo soirees again or if she will say “I’m over it”.
That’s right, so the Turnip Toff crowd could freeze out Will and Kate if they wanted to.
I think George Percy’s brother married some European Minor Royalty Aristo who has a lot of old, old, old, money. However, I could be getting people mixed up.
@Baytampabay – yes, that is right. (I only know that because I literally just googled to see if George Percy had gotten married and I had missed it, lol.)
To All: Feel free to call me Bay!
Think of it as the ultimate Brexiters: the older and more English the family, the better. By the standards of the Percys or the Spencers, the royals are German arrivistes. It would be ok for Princess Anne or Charlotte to marry a Percy, but not Pippa or Kate. It’s also ok to marry foreign aristos as long as they also come from old families with money. (Yes, it’s bonkers; no, no one outside these really weird families cares).
George Percy’s brother married a girl with a Princess title, an member of old European aristo set.
she looks rough.
Agreed. Kate looks very thin & exhausted.
Another stupid story. Just confirming the Cambridge cheating. And since Kate went to St Andrews to get an HRH to later get an HM there may not be much sympathy for her, kids or no kids.
I seriously hope this is true because if so it gives more depth and brain power to her. It not only makes her more human but gives her personality.
Oh, please…Kate has done plenty wrong over 7-8 years. Revisionist history is just that revising history to make serial flasher/work shy Kate into the perfect English rose, future Queen Consort. She’s an insecure woman, who will do anything to keep William, even put up with a mistress (as long as she’s discreet).
Kate’s strength comes from her mother’s ties to the tabloids. Carol can make William behave by exposing him in the tabloids and catering to his ego. Kate is just along for the ride. It’s a sad situation, but it’s one she has completely bought in to. I’m not sure what power the tabs think she has over Harry’s marriage. Vaporizing Meghan? In what world do they live in? Harry isn’t dumping Meghan or shuffling her to the background for Kate or any other member of that family. He loves his wife. He respects his wife. The man would take on Kate and anyone else over his wife. What a ridiculous statement.
There have been so many strange stories in the last few months. The Carole interview, the stories about PP cutting staff, James and the Nazi party supplies. Now we have another Middleton insider (and Kate friend) becoming editor of Tatler. I don’t see the crazy spin from the W&K camp ending anytime soon.
me neither @Notassugarhere. Also I believe Kate had dinner or lunch recently with the editor of Tatler’s mother. BTW, I enjoy your posts
ITA Carole is the PR savvy one in that family but is as usual over playing her hand – attacking Meghan isn’t going to work, all it will do is turn public opinion against her precious daughter.
There is def something very odd going on in the background, something that is driving all these stories about Kate, the Middletons and the Sussex’s. I still believe that Willy had an affair and Rose gossiped about it. Its also telling that Kate is surrounding herself with old school chums and forging media relationships of her own (outside of Mummy’s). I think Kate finally cut the apron strings and is asserting herself a bit more and could be why she has seemed more relaxed/happy. They all but tossed Carole out of KP with that story that she was stepping back from ‘supporting’ them to allow Charles more access – that was caused by the reports of how close Chuck and the Sussex’s had become and Willy was jealous. That story also confirmed what many of us on here have been saying for years – that Carole had moved in and was practically running the Cambridge household.
There is something that the Cambridges are trying too hard to hide. It could be an affair, maybe not but whatever it is has them very worried.
Question, to all posters: Are Bill & Cathy Cambridge so weak or stupid or both that Carole Middleton could just move into their home and take over the running of their household? D. Unicorn, I do not doubt anything you have said but I cannot believe that Bill * Cathy are THAT weak. Maybe they are…who knows?
@Bay – I think its more of a case of Carole is a helicopter mother, she even admits to that in one of her interviews (said she was very hands on with her family). Its well known Kate never did anything without mummy’s input and its often been said that Carole was really the draw for William – the hands on mother who made him cheese on toast all the time. She played a big part in the relationship; during one of their breakups there is a story that she (Carole) repeatedly called William to ensure he came to a party she was having where she then reportedly put them on the spot in front of the other guests to ‘kiss and make up’.
To me Carole was the mother type figure William fantasied about having, someone to cater to his every whim and was always there.
It’s not necessarily that they are “weak.” Saying that implies that they are opposed to that sort of situation, when in reality, both of them were only too happy to let Carole Middleton move in and take control as necessary. William is definitely very close to the Middletons and is only too happy to spend time with them. He has prioritized them and ceded to their wishes even above the objections of his own family, purely because he wants to. It’s really funny how KP is obsessed with Harry prioritizing Meghan when they had a fraction of the issues with William doing the same for the Middletons for years.
It starts and ends with Carole….Period
My theory is they are hoping that Meghan will decide to pack up her sht and get out of there. That’s the way they hope to “vaporize” her, lol!
Good lord, if Kate wants to ‘vaporize’ the woman who is sleeping with her husband, I say who the can blame her! Too bad she can’t do the same with her cheating scumbag husband.
That was my take too!
Lol…poor kate. No one wants your man. You’re still going to be queen consort. Put your claws away 😏
🙂
I don’t like ‘nastiness’ and Kate will never be regarded as the real deal by the aristos. It’s possible to be allowed in but one needs talent, wit, MONEY and in previous times land. Kate is a puppet or a sacrificial lamb. And she looks rough. As an aside she’s one of these people who thinks exaggerating symptoms gets her sympathy. It doesn’t. Most of us have nausea and vomiting with pregnancy (my poor DiL did all through but she had to go to work). HE is where the electrolyte imbalance is so severe that life is endangered.
@Chatty Cath I don’t think it’s fair to assume Kate was faking HG. She was hospitalized for it at least once. It seemed to me that she was one of the sufferers who had it badly in her first trimester and then her second and third were much easier. I just find it hard to believe she would lie about something like that.
That said, I’m disappointed that she didn’t take her experience and speak out about HG, bring more awareness to it given her position, etc.
I’m not much interested in this story except to say, you know, IF someone was sleeping with my husband (not saying this is what is happening here, who knows?) I would probably eliminate them as well. Honestly, I’ve eliminated people (from my life) for just being toxic in general.
Yup.
Yeah this is what Nic919 was saying above. If Rose was sleeping with William, then Kate cutting out Rose from their circle certainly makes sense. But if Rose wasn’t sleeping with William, and Kate just wants to be the queen bee and the head Turnip, then it makes Kate look pretty bad.
if rose is a heinous person and Kate just didn’t want to be friends with her for whatever reason, then that is also a different story. But my guess is that isn’t the case, because I think someone would have leaked that at this point to stop the affair rumors.
I don’t know if it was an affair. None of us do. But I do think something is rotten in the state of Norfolk, and its probably juicy.
I would eliminate the husband. Forthwith.
First she was Waity Katie, than an English Rose now a Steel Magnolia…. Who is she real!y? Empty barrel
Kate is not a Steel Magnolia by any stretch of the imagination.
Agreed, the point is….Who is she, really??
@Casey 20, I think if Cathy Cambridge could have anything she wants, she wants her sister’s life. Her sister is married to a man who seems to be a very decent person, seems to be very in love Pippa and is very rich. Pippa has all the advantages and none of the disadvantages.
I don’t think Kate is a “vaporiser-in-chief” (lmao) but I do think she can be ruthless in cutting people out of her life if necessary. She gives me the vibe of someone who could be chummy with you one day, then drops you entirely out of the blue the next, with nary a word about what happened and what went wrong and how you can fix it. She seems like the least confrontational person in the world, tbh, so the idea that she’s an uber-scheming villain is just really weird to me. I think she reacts more to the events in her life than she sets them in motion.
Realistically, all Kate’s position comes from her husband. She wasn’t raised an aristo and that is an insular group who have known each other since they were babies because their families are tight. I can see some people in that group who would think of Kate as an outsider still. Some may rally around her now because, Kate is a commoner but Meghan is a commoner AND Black. But when it comes to Kate VS Rose, Rose is the insider, the aristo by birth and connection, I can see Kate being thrown off her footing a bit, especially in that circle, certainly if her husband is cheating on her. Tho certainly now the couple will have to make nice to avoid giving credence to the rumor.
Rose comes from the same place, right? She was a model who married very very well. You’d think those two could be friendly over common ground but I guess not? Or maybe Rose is playing into the aristo vs common thread, I think she has an earl in her family? It may have not much to do with William or the Marquess and more to do with two women clashing. Kate has the upper hand given William’s position as future king, but I wouldn’t count out Rose, a marquess is not too shabby.
If two people feel they have to fight or whatnot, I’d rather they do it because of the two of them rather than over a man.
Rose’s grandmother was a daughter of an Earl and this grandmother was a bridesmaid at QEII’s wedding. Rose is very much an an aristo. With regards to Rose’s husband David, I think David did a Warren Beatty. David partied and lived life to the fullest with a group of very interesting people until his early 50’s. He then found a young, beautiful and intelligent woman to settle down with because he needed to begat an heir. David, Marquess of Cholmondeley, has no brothers only sisters. The estate needed a male heir.
I doubt Kate can “eliminate” Meghan. nothing against either of them. Meghan is far too intelligent to be eliminated, I think. Plus she’s been in the Hollywood circuit, I’m sure she is pretty thick skinned and has many tricks under her sleeve. No need to worry about her.
Hope you are right on this one. She certainly brings more savvy and experience than Diana and Sarah who were so young.
plus Meghan’s friends are known internationally, while B&K turf seems to be UK only. All one of Meghan’s popular friends have to do is give an interview and it’s picked up all over the world. Not the same for the Future King and his Consort.
Honestly I have no idea. Kate had to be tough and savvy enough to land a prince (not just by waiting) and I can see her being ruthless. But her posture and often displayed insecurity and happiness at being at home – nope, she’s not a typical queen bee.
If Rose was rude/had an affair with Kate I’d get her Kate’s behaviour. Despite being so high on the social ladder if they treat her as lesser than them they’re not worth the attention. It’s all very interesting because I sense dr Jekyl & Mr Hyde vibe with Kate. Anyone?
She waited 7 years…didn’t work did nothing just waited for William to call and tell her the next move. Watch their engagement video. He broke up with her and she said it upset her a great deal. Even the Queen was confused as to why she didn’t find a job! Key person missing from the recent Kate drAma is the puppet master, Carole Middleton!
Sure he could have found anyone…but as a future King he had very few he could select from…sorry Liriel if my comment doesn’t post in the correct place.
William broke up with Kate to pursue Cressida Bonas sister. She wouldn’t have him and married the heir to the Bronson fortune instead. Besides, William is a complete a-hole. Kate was the only one willing to give up her personality to please William.
“maybe not just aristos.” That’s the issue. Most of William’s love interests were aristocrats and it did seem like he would’ve preferred to marry one. They were understandably not interested because they had all the advantages (wealth and noble background) without the scrutiny that comes with being part of the royal family. The difference b/t Kate and any random “normal” girl is that he knew her long enough to determine how loyal she could be to him.
I agree and understand aristo girls. It’s a terrible deal for them but.. he had plenty of “normal” to choose from but he felt in love with Kate in his way and was sure she was reliable. During his uni days he chose her, didn’t have many flings with other uni students throwing themselves at him so it means something. Not a big love story at all but it’s not like I’d have a chance with William ;p
Just a random thought, actually a bunch of them:
I will say a few things that have bugged me since this story broke, and that give some credence (in my view) that SOMETHING is it was going on: that state dinner in 2017 Kate (and lots of senior royals) went to when the Spanish royals were visiting. I remember how she looked so very nervous and fidgety. Wasn’t that the first year Rose attended? Or am I mistaken? She came as Harry’s guest and sat next to him, while I can’t remember where Kate sat or who she sat with, though I know it wasn’t at the head of the table. Just thinking out loud.
Also, Kate and Will moved out to Norfolk in 2013/2014, or somewhere around that time? As a long time Kate follower, I will say, those were the days that Kate looked a lot less…happy. She’s been beaming as of late when she’s out at engagements. This wasn’t the case the last handful of years before they became more London based. But I feel like it all culminated around the time (in part) in 2016 when she didn’t do the Irish Guards, yet took an event the next day closer to home. She did get nailed in the press for that – and rightly so.
But I’m just saying…I feel as though there were several years she seemed highly anxious, and even less engaged in public than before. I feel like this was both after George’s birth and leading up to and after Charlotte’s. The years they were primarily based in Norfolk.
Then the next year we had ski gate, and she and William looking pretty miserable at the Irish Guards ceremony shortly thereafter. And I remember pictures of them in Poland looking less than thrilled in 2017, not staged photos, but pap photos of them at the state house? Getting into a car on their way somewhere.
But since they had Louis, it’s like she’s got the wind back in her sails, and they have had some marital rejuvenation. She threw herself more into her mental health work – I’m still not convinced she didn’t have post partum depression after having George or Lottie. But it could have even been in response to post-partum depression she felt. I agree that she could have been doing much more all this time, but I will give her credit for finally seeming engaged and connected to a cause that DOES suit her. And I think she has some experience with it, personally.
All this to say, perhaps something was going on after they moved more full-time to Norfolk. And her improvement in mood and work ethic, to me, has coincided with Louis’ birth AND their making London their full-time residence. She’s been more confident in her role and herself. I know it was a natural thing to come back to London as the kids were starting school. It was the next logical step. But I think she’s happier in London.
So perhaps something DID go down in Norfolk. Perhaps it just wasn’t as recent as we think. And her mood has improved since having a third baby after some dubious parts of her marriage, and moving back to London more full time. Perhaps she feels like her family is more…stable this way.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
You know, that’s an interesting theory and I don’t disagree. The only thing that gives me pause is when the Marchioness and her husband hosted that EACH fundraiser – 2016 I think? I think that was around the time of the Spanish state dinner as well (or maybe that was 2017?) and Kate and Rose seemed to get along well, Kate seemed happy and confident etc. maybe she didn’t know at that point?
But in general I think the idea that this affair happened in the past and maybe both couples have moved on could explain a lot. Kate has seemed happier in the past year or so. Many of us have speculated that having the third child has fulfilled her, but maybe it is also about spending more time in London, William working more as a royal, less time with the turnip Toffs, etc. maybe that’s why the Cambridge’s lashed out via Richard Kay – this was a problem but they worked through it years ago and they don’t want it brought up now.
OnlyAshes.. around that time William took several solo vacations as well. IMO, Kate’s change in mood has everything with Meghan coming on the scene. Meghan’s arrival has eliminated a lot of pressure off Kate. She’s also gained a lot of support from the public and the British media. She hasn’t changed her work ethic or shown any interest in her charities. Notice how every engagement for Kate is like the first time she is meeting members of that organization. For a Duchess on the job for years that relationship should be solid and familiar. Finally, Kate does nothing to advance her charities, it’s a photo op at best. Regardless, William is still an a—hole for cheating on Kate and frankly he’s never respected her
That actually wasn’t the first time Rose was at the state dinner- there are pictures of her at the 2015 state dinner too (in a long sleeved gown). You, Becks, and Casey bring up great points about Kate’s demeanor over the years as a duchess. I think the one issue I’m having re: the theory that the issue (whatever it is) happened long ago is why she and Rose supposedly fell out so recently. By the sound of the initial story, it happened sometime last year and greatly surprised the Norfolk set. You’d think that Kate would’ve cut her off earlier or that their turnip toff crew wouldn’t have reacted that way. I think whatever the problem is…it’s probably been an ongoing one that recently reached a breaking point for Kate.
The falling out could have happened recently if, as reported, Rose only recently started spilling the beans and being less than discreet about the affair. Maybe she figured that it was in the past and okay to discuss since it was over and done with, but it’s absolutely the lack of discretion on someone’s part that’s prompted all of the reactions. How else would you explain the fact that this is suddenly “common knowledge” at all the Turnip Toffs dinner tables?
Maybe she knew William was having an affair with someone, but didn’t know it was Rose until recently? That may be a bit of a stretch though. And we still don’t know if it was an affair, that’s just the only thing I can think of that the Cambridges would so desperately want to shut down.
Hahahaha the delusion is so strong on this site.
It is absurd, isn’t it?
I’m going to take the not fun, non-gossip route here.
Kate can cut out of her life whomever she wants for whatever reason.
Maybe Rose is just trashy. Maybe Rose is a leak. Maybe she did cheat with William. But honestly, Rose did something to Kate to piss her off enough that she felt the need to cut her out. Even if it seems trifle to us, Kate still had every right to do so and the only person she needs to explain her reasoning to is Rose.
I had a fallout with a friend like this. Rather than trash that person, I chose not to discuss my reasons with mutual friends except to say we had a falling out and I would not like anyone else to be involved. Turns out taking the classy route was the best. In the end, everyone else saw the behavior I saw. Saying nothing is sometimes best.
They did not “say nothing” though. That’s what makes so many of us convinced there is “something” going on. The Richard Kay article was a bad move (and I read it again yesterday, he makes it pretty clear that his source is either William or someone close to him). If Kate and Rose had just stopped being friends…..meh. Who really cares? People can be friends with whoever they want. and I think that was the initial reaction to the story. “ooh, rural rival, turnip toff tiff…” it was interesting for about half a day, and then I think everyone would have moved on. But instead, we got that really weird Richard Kay piece and THAT was what got everyone so interested in what happened and why.
I don’t know if William cheated on Kate or WTF is going on but there is def some f*ckery afoot. If he was getting busy with the neighbor lady and Kate has evidence she should blab about it to everyone, shine a bright light on Bill and make it very uncomfortable. Go have tea with the Bee and tell her all about it. Tell the nanny, the gardener, the driver, the kids teacher. If Kate is out there being the dutiful wife, Mom and Duchess while Bill is schtuping the neighbor three manors down why should Kate look the other way and pretend nothing is going on. Screw that.