There were some exclusive ($$) photos of Pippa Middleton and Carole Middleton just after Christmas. It appeared as though Carole – and Michael too, maybe? – spent Christmas in St. Barts with Pippa and Pippa’s terribly moderately wealthy husband James Matthews. The Matthews family owns the Eden Rock in St. Barts, and so that’s where Pippa spent Christmas. I was surprised to see Carole there too – for so many years, it felt like Carole and Michael’s Christmas plans revolved around Prince William and Kate, either at Anmer Hall or Bucklebury. After the Christmas holiday, usually there were Middleton family vacations too, and Kate and William were always invited. But it appears as if Carole wasn’t in the mood for an English Christmas this year, or perhaps she wanted to spend more time with her youngest grandchild, baby Arthur. Perhaps that’s why Kate looked so tired on Christmas Day – Carole and Michael weren’t at Anmer Hall as her back-up and she had to organize everything on her own (with the help of a dozen household and office staffers, but you know, ALONE!).
Does anyone else think that Carole’s Christmas location was very interesting? I do. I also find it interesting that the Daily Mail is writing glowing articles about Carole’s “svelte” bikini body. Just something to keep your eye on. Anyway, now that we solved the mystery of why Kate looked so tired, we now get to play the annual game of Where Will the Cambridges Go On Their Post-Christmas Vacation? Despite the hype around all of the big Christmas announcements they would make this year, it seems like all they really had was an extra photo of the kids and some old photos of Kate doing some event several months ago. Big announcement! Keen! The reality is that William and Kate probably already slipped away on vacation. Before Christmas, the rumor was that they would go on a ski holiday. But now the rumor is Mustique?
With Christmas behind them and a new year on the horizon, Prince William is already planning a luxe vacation to celebrate wife Kate Middleton’s Jan. 9 birthday. Life & Style reports the Duke of Cambridge, 37, is planning a mini-getaway for Middleton’s 38th birthday, with plans to bring along kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
“Now, William wants to whisk their family away from it all on a no-expenses-spared trip to Mustique as a surprise for Kate. A big surprise!” The source continued, “They’ll stay in a $15 million, seven-bedroom mansion with an infinity pool, private chef, screening room, gym and tennis court. William wants to ensure they get quality alone time as a couple, so he’s organizing spa treatments, a diving trip and surfing lessons for two.”
Apparently, there’s plenty for the children to do as well.
“George and Charlotte love Mustique — building sandcastles, swimming in the ocean, snorkeling and going on nature tours are just a few of their favorite activities,” the source shared. “And now that Louis is a bit older, he can get involved, too.”
The original source for this was Life & Style, so it’s probably not true, although it feels more true than the ski holiday story. Generally – and this isn’t the rule – the royals go on ski holidays in the spring, and post-Christmas is their “beach vacation.” It would not surprise me at all if they were planning to go to Mustique at some point in the next month, or perhaps they’re already there. Also: I doubt William cares enough to make some huge, exciting travel plans.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Avalon Red.
I doubt they’ll go to Mustique any time soon. They stopped doing those winter vacations when George started school. They’ll probably stay at Amner like they always do and then go skiing when the kids are on Spring break.
That makes sense. Does school in the UK start again next Monday? Maybe someone from the UK can chime in…
It does and spring break is third week of February.
That first picture really doesn’t sit comfortably with me. Granted it’s probably an add shot, but they both seem so tense and uncomfortable as if forced together and like a couple who have both had enough of each other but are just sticking it out for the kids/ duty.
It shows pigeon love.
LOL!
Isn’t that photo from the festival of remembrance? It’s fitting there’s some more serious shots in with the fun ones, given the topic.
Idk. I love and respect my husband to bits but he also annoys me (more my problem than his) a lot of the time. And the poppies mean it was a already a solemn occasion. It would be weird if they were smiling or looking happy.
I feel it was Scoobie who overhyped the ‘big announcement’ thing as he tends to do. He says he went for a press conference at KP and out of the RRs who were present he was the only one who talked about the big announcement and all other media were quoting him. I found it strange that no legit british RR with palace contacts talked about any announcement except Scoobie. I had my doubts and I felt he was exaggerating. Most often he usually overhypes and exaggerates things. When people asked him about the big announcement, he started walking it back.
He was the one who said the Sussexes will spend Thanksgiving in US with Doria. It turned out to be false.
He said the Sussexes Xmas card will ‘break tradition’ by including Doria and will be impactful, it turned out to be false. I take whatever he says with a pinch of salt.
I heard two royal tours and three organization updates but I can’t find them corroborated anywhere else. Does anyone else have any details on the big Cambridge announcements?
I judge legit royal stories and exaggerated ones based on who is reporting it. Different media reported what Scoobie said but the bylines werent that of known RRs. That’s why I was sceptical. Surely he was not the only RR to attend but he was the only one who made the announcement so I felt it was another of his fake stories. The major tours were announced by People Mag and DM and that was long before Scoobie said anything.
We know hes close to the Sussexes but of late he has gotten two recent stories about them wrong. He said they were in US witg Doria for Thanksgiving, they weren’t. He said their Xmas card will include Doria, it didn’t. So I don’t take everything he says seriously anymore.
Lumpy Dee- Interesting that Scoobie turned out wrong on two big stories. Maybe plans changed? Or maybe he’s been cut off.
You don’t know where they did Thanksgiving though. You only know they are based in Canada.
Omid posted on twitter summit about how he was misquoted again, but I don’t know what it was about. I think the ‘big announcement’ thing may have been taken out of context, it just may have been something really boring like a new project that’s never gonna happen. I have a feeling that the British press and other royal reporters have it out for Omid and Victoria arbiter because they don’t trash the Sussex like the others. I know Victoria was also misquoted making her sound anti-sussex. Because they are generally supportive of the Sussex’s, there maybe a need to discredit them so people question their credibility. They may also have more access to the Sussex’s than the rest of them, which could create a lot of jealousy.
If he got it wrong, he got it wrong. I don’t understand why people go after him so much, it’s not like he trashed the Cambridges. However, it is true that there was a press meeting at KP and after that there was that piece in the mail by English.
Who do you consider legit royal reporters?
Stupid question.. who is Scoobi?
He’s Omid Scoobie, he’s the one royal reporter that doesn’t trash the Sussex’s.
Omid Scobie is the correct name.
I’ve noticed that trolls who think Omid Scobie is Sussexes PR (even though I think he doesn’t know that much more than the others), Scoobie. Which does make me chuckle a bit.
Anyway he may not be wrong as KP just teased on twitter about a big announcement for 2020 with a picture of a globe. My bet is linked to the meetings with the Clintons or Bill Gates.
Regardless of whether or not they actually go, it makes me want to scream at how this is reported compared to the story about the Sussexes vacation. It’s so hypocritical and gross and I know we’re used to it but that doesn’t make it any less outrageous.
Yep! Also, no one is speculating that the location is near a rehab facility, a counselor, etc. It’s all “Look at how wonderful they are!”
It’s qwhite interesting.
lol!
I doubt this story is true since the kids are in school. The tabs are making up double standard stories to bully Meghan.
Interesting how that $15 million house gets tossed out there like WOW, HOW EXCITING!! when a $14 million dollar home that the Sussexes stay in is calls for hand wringing.
L8 You know they mentioned that $15m to show oneupmanship of William over Harry. Showing that if Harry can treat Meghan to a relaxing vacation in a $14 m mansion well William can do better. It’s more of who is better than who with the aim of making William the biggest cock in the roost.
This exactly! I laughed out loud when I saw that *15* million.
You know things are bad with Ma and Pa Middleton give up a walk to the church with Liz. Yeah, Andrew really did screw up their plans this year.
Even Carole knows that pedo Andy is poison. No one ever said she was dumb.
No, Carole is not dumb. They have enough issues with Pippa’s FIL. No need to add another rapist to the list.
Who ever is saying royalty will gain popularity in the coming years is only trying to convince themselves cause it ain’t happening. Whow has time for people awarded posiitons as leaders not by merit, hardwork and public likability, but by birth. Especially the most lazy self entiletd indulgent unwoke white people who need to be dragged into future kicking and screaming. I mean people VOLUNTEER to raise money for charity as a sense of responsibilty for the fellow man, they don’t expect to go on vacation at three month intervals as payback on public purse!! how does that help anybody. And with Con Party in power the greedy RF are only entwining themselves further with power making it impossible for public to get rid of all the red tape and them. This is so ridiculous I can’t wrap my head around it.
YINGYANG 👏👏👏 Looks like we are going to have to put up with this lot a bit longer, until the bloody conservatives are voted out. Lord only knows when that will be, we have been under the cloud of austerity and elitism for almost 10 years now! 😔
Most families go on vacations 4 or 5 or 6 times a year when their kids are off school for their breaks. Stop sounding so bitter because you can’t have what other families have all around the world.
I find all of this ‘Down with the monarchy,’ very tedious too, and I despise the Conservatives (not saying that you don’t as well). Probably because these threads never drew that kind of commentary before, but also because it does get repetitive. I wish we could have a separate post for people who want to vent about the royals’ existence and how undeserving they all are, and another for the rest of us to discuss character, personality, laziness, clothing, etc. but it’s (probably literally) impractical.
Dear GUEST, several billion people do not go on holiday with their children 4 or 5 or six times a year. Which planet are you on? It must be very far away indeed.
Looks like big bucks trumps Christmas with the royals in the Middleton household. Pippa’s husband must be REALLY rich to peel Carole away from the royal family. Or perhaps she’s trying to avoid the shitshow that’s happening. And the one that pending? Shrug-gate?
Carole has some networking to do in St Barts!
Also, there are just so many of them now: spouses, children, Arthur’s nanny etc. It would be a tight fit.
No one wants to spend Christmas with Pedo Andy.
What’s not being mentioned is what is going on with the rape charges for Pippa’s father in law. I believe it was relating to an underage girl as well.
Holy shyte! I had not even heard about this and immediately googled. He’s also been accused of a second assualt! Yikes.
I think the French are still investigating the one assault. The other one up in Yorkshire has been dropped, I think. So it’s not over for the Middletons either.
I’m coming off the longest stretch of days off in a row that I’ve had since taking maternity leave. We didn’t travel for the holidays (for the first time in my adult life) and I’m feeling more relaxed and at ease than I can remember in a very very long time.
Can y’all even imagine how easy life would be if you could take a vacation basically every other month, or more? I get that there are some pretty awful tradeoffs. But still… Vacations all the damn time would be amazing. I have no idea the next time in my life I’ll have 10 business days in a row off. They basically have to show up to maybe 10 events and then can check out for several weeks at a time…
Wandering Willy definitely doesn’t care enough to make romantic plans. Go back and read/watch their engagement interview, he’s quite sarcastic about how (un)romantic he is.
Also not to hijack but can we talk about the number of royal engagements this year and how Megan kicked everyone’s arse despite being on maternity leave for half the year?
IDK, it’s east to plan a romantic vacation when all you need to do is tell your staff to plan.
With two of their children at school they can’t just take them on holiday whenever they want. Maybe they are skiing now, maybe they’ll go on vacation during spring break.
Someone once mentioned that George and Charlotte are the hardest workers in that family and they may not be wrong. They certainly have to attend school more consistently than their parents do with work.
This isn’t a great time of year to ski because the days are so short. I think they will go during the kids’ spring break.
I think that’s normal and not that William doesn’t put effort. There’s 2 types of vacation goers. The ones that return year after year and the ones that need new places every time. The Cambridge’s/ Middletons are definitely team 1.
Like you Kaiser, I was shocked that Carole and Mike didn’t spend Christmas at Anmer Hall. Family dynamics seem to be changing all over the place and it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.
It’s adding more fuel to my suspicion that things are not good between W&K. Maybe they didn’t want Kate’s family members around to witness the tension between them.
Chillywilly, you are probably right. Even if rumors are untrue(a big if), being around your in-laws would probably be stressful. Yes, even for a so called “future king.”
Maybe it was just Pippa’s turn to have the parents fir the holidays and sunning in St. Barts with billionaires and mega yachts is way more fun than the grumpy petulant Royals. I’d rather hang out on the beach in my swimsuit than changing clothes 5 times a day and having to show deference to that crew.
Especially as she has a newish baby, the grandparents may which to have some time with.
Its an interesting change as Carole has always been the one who ‘smoothed’ things over between them during the Waity years – I think her influence over William is waning. William is making more effort with his father than previously and thats because of the closeness between Chuck and the Sussex’s esp Harry.
I have always thought that this marriage would go the same way his parents did – he is making the same mistakes his father did.
Okay, but more importantly, girlfriend got a brow lift, non?
Oh definitely. And not a great one or maybe it hasn’t settled. I guess the Botox wasn’t doing it anymore…
I said on the Christmas Day church pics she had one eye bigger than the other, I thought maybe due to an infection of something. Some people got mad. But one eye was more swollen than the other.
That would be a nice gesture for William to make. You know, if he’s not busy doing anything else at the time, why not spend your wife’s birthday with her?
@CHILLYWILLY
“It’s adding more fuel to my suspicion that things are not good between W&K. Maybe they didn’t want Kate’s family members around to witness the tension between them.”
I wholeheartedly agree! That and us only seeing Carol visit for “babysitting” since last year is odd. We used to see them attend the first Christmas service with the Queen.I suspect the family dynamics are changing and the Middletons prefer to hang out at st bars to cosy up with rich visitors(Bezos was also there with Sanchez)!
Maybe the Middletons are realizing the power is really with Pippa and rich gods like Bezos than crumbling titles and infighting.
What power does Pippa have exactly?
Perhaps the reason they Middleton are abroad with Pippa is because a. it is her turn, and b. they have another new grandchild they want to spend some time with.
I think ma Middleton is building her contacts and networking amongst new money multi-millionaire types now. She’s now at a dead end with the aristocracy and they never accepted them anyway. Didn’t all the aristo mothers ban their sons from going near Pippa because of the Middletons thirsty reputation? Anyway it definitely suggests that William and Kate’s marriage is hanging by a thread and ma Middleton is coming up with plan B in order to stay relevant and keep living the lifestyle she’s accustomed to.
Plan B also includes cosying up to the mega rich to ‘buy’ Party Pieces. That business has not been doing well for years, they are struggling to sell even old stock – the press stories from earlier in the year from former employee’s is very telling.
Personally, I think the Mids are not in great shape financially and need mega rich ‘friends’ to buy their cheap tat business before it goes bust. The royal gravy train hasn’t paid off so now its time to jump on the Matthews family connections gravy train.
@digital unicorn I just had a look on similar web and the website visitors for party pieces has dropped from 150k hits per month to just 50k hits per month in the space of a few months. I have an online business myself and that kind of drop so quickly will have drastic consequences on sales. There is no way that their business can fund their lifestyle, especially if they are selling cheap low value items.
The magic 8 ball says: most absolutely YES!
What’s the deal with the article on Carole’s bikini bod? Seems like standard tabloid fare…and hey good for her? But I guess if she’s behind the story it is a weird shift from social climbing to celeb beach bod.
Inviting the paps to take pics of her on holiday and then the daily mail posting comments mostly complimenting her beach body definitely suggests she’s behind it. I don’t think they have gotten anywhere trying to be apart of the aristocracy, so are probably going down the celebrity route.
This isn’t new, Carole like her children are desperate for celebrity status.
I suspect Meghan is already pregnant and they were hoping to hide it for a bit before all the craziness starts again.