Here’s the reason why Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge arrived separately to the Buckingham Palace Christmas luncheon: William and George needed to do a “four generation” photoshoot at the palace. The Queen, Prince Charles, William and George did a photoshoot where they made “Christmas puddings.” From KP’s Instagram:
Four generations of the Royal Family 🎄 together at Christmas. New photos of The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and Prince George have been released as part of the launch of the @RoyalBritishLegion’s ‘Together at Christmas’ initiative. The initiative is designed to provide extra support to the Armed Forces and veteran communities at annual festive ‘get togethers’ across the charity’s network of outreach centres.
The four generations of the Royal Family are pictured here preparing special Christmas puddings — with the four representing a cross-section of those supported by the Legion, from the children of service personnel, to Second World War veterans.
The puddings will become the centrepieces of 2020’s get togethers, and form part of 99 puddings distributed across the charity’s network in the UK and the Commonwealth – also marking The Royal British Legion’s 99th year.
So they did a Christmas pudding photoshoot for veterans’ groups and for this Together At Christmas initiative. Nice. Apparently, Kensington Palace did a press briefing last Friday, in which they announced that they would be making big announcements over the holidays, and I kind of wonder if this “heir photoshoot” was a big part of it:
Prince William and wife Kate Middleton have big news to share this holiday season, according to a briefing from Kensington Palace. Royal expert Omid Scobie — who attended the recent briefing at the royal home — shared on ABC’s Heirpod that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to make several big announcements over the Christmas holiday.
“Next year is going to be busy for the Cambridges,” Scobie said, according to Express. “Expect royal announcements over the holidays, which I think is a slight break away from tradition. There was a briefing at Kensington Palace just this week where they gave us a number of new announcements that will be coming out over the holiday period.” He continued, “It’s a smart decision, it’s a quiet time of the year. It is a great time to announce things.”
I wonder if we’re going to get the long-awaited announcement about the launch of Kate’s Early Years project. I bet you $50 that IF we get any information on Early Years, it will be “Kate is so keen to launch Early Years at some point in 2020.” And I bet the other announcements will be “Will and Kate are very keen to really get working this year.” That’s ALWAYS the announcement this time of year. It’s always “keen to really get going.” Keen to be keen.
Last thing: Kate and William will almost definitely bring out Charlotte and George for the Sandringham walk on Christmas Day. The royal reporters and commentators are already salivating at the fact that Will & Kate will have the spotlight to themselves. Camilla Tominey said last week: “The Sussexes aren’t going to be there, so this may be an opportunity for the Cambridges to project their children forward…Looking into 2020, we see the Cambridges as the star couple of the next decade.” LOL, sure.
Photos courtesy of Chris Jackson/Buckingham Palace, Instagram.
George is growing so quickly, and his hair is so cute 😭
I really like how happy Charles looks when he’s watching his grandchildren. He’s grown on me a ton in the last few years, between this, and the story about how he feeds squirrels haha.
I really like the four generations pictures, genius idea, PR or not, I dont care, I love it 🙂
little George is full of personality, and its nice to see Charles happy (and Wills too)
Cute photos, but also…weak sauce for all the handwringing around the cars. Still don’t understand the separate cars excuse when clearly none of them made anything. Maybe the Queen or CHARLES made a speech.
Why do we need a press release about announcements? The press release is to make your big announcement!
I know. They didn’t ‘make’ anything–both men are in suits, the queen’s got her handbag, nobody’s got an apron on–that is the most awkward, weird, photo they’ve ever released. I can’t help but contrast that with the cute video CP Victoria & Daniel released a few years back where they were making bread with their daughter at Christmas time.
Yeah, love the handbag. What the f*** do you need a handbag for in this scenario. Also, maybe the big announcement is baby number 4 for the Cambridge’s.
Yes, weird, not to mention the thrones and crowns on the Christmas tree are a bit much…
And corgis, too!
The press love the Cambridges because they will do quid pro quo with the media that includes offering up their kids for photo ops. The Christmas walk in Sandringham is still the Walk of Shame because of Andrew’s presence and trotting out the kids won’t change that. There was a report of a bomb sniffing dogs at the train station when the queen arrived so there may have been an uptick in threats. Have those kids stand down.
The quid pro quo also clearly involves offering up the Sussexes as well!!! Disgusting.
Its so blatant. I hope we discuss the stupid “annus mirabilis” article that English put out. It seems like such an obvious quid pro quo – “I write this article, you tell me where they are.”
That’s the worst part. Announce your own “work” if you want but don’t throw your brother’s privacy under the bus. That is such petty bs because William, has now made it easier for the paparazzi to try and figure out where they are.
@Becks1 I have only seen tidbits of the Annus miraculus article but was struck by detail of how many times that the Cambridges allegedly met Meghan before Harry proposed and suggestions on how the whole ‘Fab 4’ was forced on them. Was the Fab 4 thing a media creation then? I assumed it came from KP.
I read that article and it was so gross. Although I appreciated the mention of “Workshy Wills” and “Duchess DoLittle” in the beginning, LOL.
Apparently the Cambridges only met Meghan “four or five times” before Harry got engaged – considering these people barely even live in the same vicinity as each other and trips to Great-Grandma aren’t exactly usual let alone normal family time outside the stodgy Sandringham Christmas– four or five times seems plenty to me.
@Rogue I was struck by that point as well.
It was interesting that over 2 years after Meghan and Harry’s engagement, reference must be made to Kate and William being sore about it because they only met her “4 or 5 times” beforehand, and reference to Harry being “secretive” about it?
Four of five times meeting in-laws before getting engaged sounds pretty good for a long-distance couple one in London, the other in Toronto.
There was a definite sense in what English wrote (and I do believe she has deep sources in KP) that the Cambridges resent Meghan being ‘foisted’ on them and working on the foundation with them.
The article also brought up that the Cambridge kids have only met Archie a few times, with the implication that the Sussexes are hindering royal cousin bonding.
These are cute photos, but this whole thing seems weird to me.
First – they are making the puddings for use for next year? Is that normal? To make centerpieces a year ahead of time?
Second – why was this such a secret?
Three – this seems like such an obvious PR ploy that its hilarious. Pay no attention to Andrew! Look at George!! The royals are all totally baking! They’re just like the Swedish royals!
So like I said, cute pics and the project seems like a good one, but I kind of scratched my head at the whole thing.
And the announcement about the announcement is just typical KP PR.
The photo even looks awkward and weird.
Elizabeth with her purse and Charles and Willy in suits standing around looking on!
This picture got my side side eye.
And George in those stupid Peter Pan collar shirts, looking like a little time traveler frimnthe good ole boys’ good ole days. Is he wearing shorts again, too?
I loved that clip of the Swedish royals baking. It was so cute and cozy, and seemed like they actually know what their doing in a kitchen and so relaxed with each other. Their daughter is adorable.
Victoria is the only “future monarch” I have a positive opinion of. Too bad she can’t jump over the 200 or so people ahead of her for the British throne as well!
Christmas pudding gets made a year ahead to allow it to mature. So the ones we eat now have been made last year. Sometimes even longer. To a lot of people in the UK it’s still tradition to make next year’s pudding little before Christmas.
You’re talking fruit cake, right? Plus all desserts are referred to as pudding? To us, (CA) pudding is usually cooked, thickened cream and eggs and comes in flavours like chocolate, butterscotch, or vanilla.
The last Insta pic: The faces on Will and George are cracking me up. Seems like the Queen was having a bit of a chuckle, though.
So this is was an announcement for an announcement? I wish they would stop announcing they’ll be announcing something at some point in the future (and then actual work still months/years away!!). It’s just a way to get extra credit because I feel it gets into people’s minds that they are “working” with all these announcements. Just DO IT.
I also wasn’t very impressed with this awkward photo shoot of everyone pretending to make puddings in their fancy suits and holding her handbag. I wish the Cambs would take a page from Victoria and Daniel and the wonderful videos they do with their children. Those videos are the best!!!!
Great cause but the photo with George stirring was hilariously random with the Queen still holding her bag and them in suits. If they are going for that vibe they should look at the video the Swedish royal family released of baking goods. Much more natural.
Everyone in the British royal family leaning into cooking these days. Interesting
The media had so much to say when Meghan was actually cooking at the Hub, now everyone is in the kitchen baking or fake baking.
They can hate Meghan all they want, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Right, I remember when Meghan revisited the women’s bakery they even complained that she violated health and safety codes because she was not wearing a hairnet! Totally different rules for Meghan.
Cute.
Cambridges are now selling out their kids for positive stories.
Can’t wait for the Christmas walk.
George is adorable but he basically looks like he’s in uniform at this point with the shirt they keep putting him in for official events. I read somewhere Kate does it to make him less recognizable when he’s not with the family but sheesh. The style was cute when he was a toddler but he looks far too old for it now.
Yeah, my first thought was: “George can STILL FIT into that horrible shirt?? Poor kid!”
A (Christmas coloured) sweater with a plaid collar sticking out woukd’ve been more festive and appropriate IMO.
The rest of them might as well’ve been cardboard cutouts. NO warmth or connection.
It looks like George is wearing a kilt in the picture on the DM. You can see the belt and the top of it in one of the pictures.
Cute photo-shoot.
Yes I always love to make Christmas puddings in a dress suit in the parlor with my handbag! LOL
That’s the first thing I saw. The handbag!
Too bad the Queen didn’t whip a mixing spoon out of her handbag, that would’ve made the handbag more practical. And cooking in a formal room? Isn’t the kitchen good enough?
Pull out her mixing spoon and paddle some sense into William. Now that would make for good PR.
I imagine QE2 whipping out an electric hand mixer, plugged in magically INSIDE the handbag, which she then uses to mix up whatever mess that is they’re making.
Sometimes the absurd seems more normal than the “reality” they present to us.
Something tells me the Queen has never touched a mixing spoon in her life!
Well, considered that Queen Elizabeth was 12 or 13-years-old when World War II began and the Royal Family used ration coupons like everyone else in England. She turned 18 before the war’s end and committed to the war effort by becoming a mechanic and driver. I think she definitely got her hands on a spoon or two in her early life.
https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/was-queen-elizabeth-really-a-mechanic-during-world-war-ii-1.584439
@Yvette thank you for sharing, I clearly had no idea and I think that’s kinda awesome. Sadly doesnt makeup for her protection of pedo Andy in my eyes sighhhhhhh
It really does seem as though the Queen will abdicate and pass the baton soon.
On the one hand, Wills and Kate seem to be trying real hard to break away from Harry and Meghan and assert their position and power.
On the other hand, it was just announced that Clarence house will undergo an upgrade of over $110 million dollars.
Could this mean that Charles is ready to be King and will operate from Clarence House?
Ether way, something’s going on with Clarence House. We usually only ever see renovations cost $10 or so million, not $110 million. That price is fit for a King 😉
Perhaps Wills and Kate’s announcement is finally becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales.
He doesn’t want to live in BP anymore than the Queen did. He’d been trying to get parliament to agree to allow him to stay at CH and make BP a museum. By all accounts, he’s gotten nowhere with it and now wants to make Windsor his primary residence. We will see what happens, but I don’t think he’ll stay at CH. I think the crown estates are all being upgraded because they haven’t had proper maintenance in ages. They could also be converting them into offices or smaller apartments.
TQ will NEVER abdicate. Charles will continue to be a “shadow king”. At the VERY most, she may step back more, giving over more duties. W&K do not *automatically* become P&P of Wales; it is “conferred “on them by the reigning monarch, and the positions are currently filled by Chuck and Cam
Until a Charles is the actual monarch he cannot confer the prince of Wales title on William. Only the eldest male son of the monarch can be prince of Wales.
The only reason I want Charles to become King is bc I think he might actually take some serious action against pedo Andy unlike the Queen.
Unlikely given the photos of Charles walking to church with Andy on Christmas morning…
So fake.
You know QEII keeps that handbag on her arm in case she gets tired of listening to George brag about his mummy’s chutney. She’ll just switch the bag to her other arm and POOF, she’s put of there.
Hmm wonder what they are trying to distract from??
The photo should have been George, and George alone.
Oh good God. This looks so fake and staged, like Chuck and Liz popped in on their way to a board meeting. George is super cute but he’s clearly not into it and I can see why. Jesus, look how the Swedes do it, they know how to stage this stuff.
Cute little George surrounded by stuffed shirts. The BRF has always been hilariously awkward.
1. These photos looks very stiff. I can only image the rejects.
2. WHY does QEII keep her purse on her?? It bugs the crap out of me. Is there even anything in it? 😭
This is silly.. What 4yr old bakes pudding with adults standing around in suits and formal clothes? What have been better to do a garden walk or let kid light Xmas 🌲.. Totally ridiculous
George is six, not four.
And the poor child is dressed like he is two.
I love George’s clothes, they look comfortable, they’re timeless and appropriate. If he’s twelve and still wearing them, then I might reconsider, but there’s nothing wrong with dressing children like children.
This whole travesty of a set up photo op was a shyt show from start to finish. TQ would rather reluctantly fake cook with her handbag attached to her hands that give Andrew the public banishment he deserves.
I still believe the shit hasn’t truly hit the fan as afar as Andrew is concerned….. more to come I say…
Everything these people do is under the advice of PR professionals. From the timing of Andrew’s interview to him laying low ever since, to the promotion of the future of the monarchy, to Charles’ jolly king image, to the minimizing and absence of the Sussexes and now the teaser about more news to come. They are playing people like a piano and people are lapping it up. It’s all to one aim, the survival of the monarchy.
I love how no matter what QE will NOT put her bag down. Even while “making” Christmas pudding. LOL.
Same here.
There was still no point for them to ride in separate cars. Kate and the kids could have waiting in the hall. It’s not like BP is small. Plus, it was just a few photos. I bet it lasted 30 minutes, if that. Very odd.
Clearly you don’t have young kids
Lots of people who do have young kids have commented this as odd. And it is, honestly – why get one child ready a half hour before the others and drive separately?
Bc she has a young boy who is probably still taking naps and as every mother knows you dont wake a sleeping baby.
LOL. That’s what their multiple nannies are for.
I do. I have two and i still find this odd. Sorry lol
Lol ok Maria lol. I’m sure if they left Louis behind and had him arrive with a nanny you would still be criticizing them. Whatever floats your boat!
Jadedone – You’re the one criticizing Meghan left and right on these posts, so don’t be angry that I can tell what your angle is.
Keep salivating over Kate as the Mother of the Year.
Maria what are you talking about? I criticize the mulroneys, as every Canadian should, but please tell me specifically when I criticized Meg?? I’ll wait!
Don’t think your passive aggressive tone isn’t apparent. Policing people’s language trying to describe the difficulty they’re going through in an attempt to virtue signal, criticizing Meghan and the optics of who her friends are, and then going right back around and acting like everyone mentioning the Cambridges is just being mean and petty — please.
Thank you for proving my point. I havent said anything negative about Meghan or Harry and yet you accuse me if “criticizing Meghan left and right “. So where have I done that? When did I excuse the Cambridges? I suggested a reason why they arrived separately to an event. You can make false accusations with no evidence all day but our comments are on the internet so anyone can clearly see that you are stating untrue things about me. So next time you want to make an accusation about someone make sure you know what you are talking about.
Stop. You were going on about how we can’t excuse Meghan for the company she keeps — you go on about how every woman marrying in gets the same criticism and complain more about our opinions of Kate than the horrific things Meghan deals with – the constant harping about how Harry doesn’t work as much as William and is lazy – the criticism of people commenting on when things seem odd in the Cambridge household – and furthermore, you started criticizing my posts first in this thread, so don’t be surprised if it comes back.
I never said “we cant excuse Meg for the company she keeps”, I specifically said maybe Meg didnt know bc she is American but she needs to educate herself. Got any more false statements you would like to attribute to me? I have called out all the young Royals for not working nearly as hard as Anne and Charles, so I called them all lazy but specifically excluded Meg bc she was on mat leave. I rightfully criticized something you said and you keep
Coming back claiming I said a bunch of stuff I never did so you need to stop! You clearly said I “criticize meg left and right”. I’m still waiting for you to show me were I criticized Meg? You cant point to any negative comment I have made about Meg bc I havent. So once again stop spreading false information and get your facts straight before you post false information yet again.
It is odd and required staff to drive the second car back to KP. They could have entertained the two younger kids at BP for 30 minutes during this photo shoot.
The Queen is like Moominmamma with that handbag. She needs an apron to complete the picture.
Could it be Kate pregnant with baby #4?
That was my VERY first thought, too, upon hearing this.
Adorable baby making damage control to protect THE FIRM by his abuser uncle.
How nice.
Maybe the annoucement is that she is pregnant with triplets!
Pure PR that fools no one with intelligence. Fake baking indeed! At least be in a real kitchen, at least wear aprons instead of formal clothing, at least stop dressing George like some relic toddler from the distant past with that shirt, and at the very least put down your damn handbag!
I have such a soft spot for George. My oldest looks quite a bit like him, except his hair will never cooperate when I try to style it like George’s.
I love seeing Charles with his grandkids. The love he has for those kids really shows in the way his face lights up when they are around. I feel much more positive about Charles since he became a grandfather.
George is cute, but this is a ridiculous photoshoot. It’s all so stiff. The Swedish Crown Princess couple makes cute Christmas videos with Estelle and Oscar and those are delightful. You get a real sense of family and tradition from them. This looks ridiculous with the Queen and her handbag and the Wales’ men in suits. GMAB.
So George and Willy had this thing that occurred at a set time (lame though it is) and for whatever reason the rest of the herd wasn’t ready yet. Perhaps car-gate wasn’t all that earth shattering?
Note on the ugly blue shirt: I feel like it is akin to Willy’s ever present blue suit, it’s George’s “work uniform” so to speak.
You mean people made a big deal about something terribly minor? I, for one, am shocked (insert sarcastic tone)
Clearly a fake shoot arranged last minute to deflect because TMZ called. As evidenced by Granny’s purse 😂😂😂
Obvious PR attempt to distract from car-gate, Rose-gate , shake-off gate and horrible pedo-gate.
I really hope George grows up to be rebellious against his parent’s work shy ways.
George is really cute and the photo op is for a good cause . I’m not going to say anything else about this photo except the Queen’s handbag is the star. The Camilla Tominey article rubbed the Fail readership the wrong way, made them mad. Some blaming Meghan’s PR ( I kid you not) with planting it or saying she must be soooo jealous ( ha ha- whatever). I guess it was too thirsty and obvious and sounds a bit like they are going the show pony route with the kids, whose privacy they used to fiercely guard. Why do these heirs to the British throne seem so desperate for attention. Their attitude toward the Sussexes seem really unhealthy and is becoming obvious and really undignified. All this scrambling and desperate “ look at them, we love them more than anyone “ articles at this time of the year when they’re supposed to be reflective and embracing family looks like their house is on fire or that they will never be the bigger person and lean into the noblesse part that goes with all the titles and entitlement. Shrug 🤷♀️.
So phoney and shallow. Had no idea how little substance and character there is in the RF.
Poor George still cosplaying 18 century kid🤦♀️
This was another awkward PR fail and even tabloids were stating how unsual it was for Queen to have her purse and poor George was doing all the work!!
The cambridges are probably working on another shoot after that post card picture was published in the newspapers. The INSECURE cambridges are delaying the inevitable..
God save THE GEORGE. I 100% would never want to be born into this family. I would pick a middle income happy normal family any day over this. It honestly feels cruel, to know what’s ahead of him. It’s not normal. They need to end this madness. IMO it’s a form of child abuse. Can you imagine as a child, being told you have to be a king? Nooooo
Holy June Cleaver! Never mind the pearls, QEII didn’t even put down her purse. And I always put my 6-year-old in a white dress shirt to stir gingerbread dough….
This is a monumental fail because clearly none of the four people in that picture actually did any baking for charity. As several other posters noted, the BRF totally botched trying to copy the Swedish royal family — who look like they actually know their way around a kitchen.
These photos just look awkward. Similar types of photos/videos from other royal families (especially the Swedes) have looked far warmer and more natural.
Whoever is criticizing George’s shirt are complete and total jerks and evidently never dealt with a kid and their favorite shirt
If it’s George’s favorite shirt, more power to him. I, and I think pretty much everyone else on this thread, would never pick on a child for wearing their favorite piece of clothing.
But I’m pretty sure a white, button-down shirt with a Peter Pan color is not the favorite shirt of any 6-year-old child on the planet. (And I say this as the mother of a young boy who actually loves to dress sharp for the holidays in dress shirts, ties, and hats.)
This very much speaks of being appropriately dressed by his mom for the holiday lunch at Granny’s palace, not actual inter-generational cookie baking.
Right, that’s his favorite shirt alright! Lol
This site is so toxic
It is truly awful sometimes.
@Touramaline yeah it’s interesting- I would think that’s a decent number of times to have met given the long distance. Makes you wonder if there’s truth to reports that Harry felt family wasn’t welcoming enough to Meghan from the start. And from excerpts I saw did seem to suggest Meghan almost being forced on them which is why I questioned who came up with the Fab 4 thing.
What a natural and ‘normal’ picture. How is it possible for a six-year old to look fed-up already?
Ahaha between this and the selection of photos the Queen made for her annual speech she is leaning HARD into the whole continuation of the monarchy above all propaganda.
Nothing to see here, ignore anyone not in line to the throne! Protect the monarchy!!
Didn’t read it but just popped in to say that while it’s hard not to pay attention to them, royal kids are still kids can and you shouldn’t make posts about them because you shouldn’t make posts about kids, even if their parents do. I’ve felt this way for a long time and I understand that it’s easy but please avoid it.
I dont recall comments like this when Archie was the child in question, but considering he was compared to an ape at 3 days old, I’m not surprised.
Archie’s parents are actually trying to protect him though.
In the actual video of the event George was very naughty. The Queen walked away and grabbed Charles is the process as George madly stirred the pudding…. YIKES