I’m still thinking about the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge apparently took a family vacation to Jordan in the middle of the pandemic and no one said anything about until they released their Christmas card and it was a family photo from Jordan. Like, it’s crazy?? It’s bonkers PR and messaging, especially given the pandemic and especially given that the Cambridges made a big f–king deal about how they were truly the Future King and Future Queen because they would only take vacations within the UK. And we still don’t know when they took this trip!! Was it over the summer? Was it in October? Or was it in the spring? They disappear from public view so often, which is also a bad message to send to the public.
Anyway, Prince Charles actually read the room. He had a better sense of what the world was feeling after a long 2021. Charles and Camilla’s Christmas card is a photo from this year’s Royal Ascot, where Charles is wearing a mask and he’s reaching over to help Camilla with her mask. It’s a sweet image, honestly, and it shows more humor than I was expecting. Better messaging overall, especially with the UK facing more mask mandates and lockdowns in the Age of Omicron. Still, I bet the British media “appreciates” Will and Kate’s card more because they showed the kids, and because the media could reveal details about the Jordan trip whenever they want to yank on William’s leash.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Clarence House, KP, Avalon Red.
Will and Charles continuing to battle and play games to be consider the next King. William tends to be more favoured with the older crowd and honestly William is the worst for the two. At least Charles works.
Charles works. But they are so much alike and I don’t mean that in a good way.
Tessa you are so true. William IS Charles with less intellectual prowess. Harry inherited the good from his mother, William inherited the worst of boy he parents, but he especially embraced the worst of his dad.
William and Charles have each other’s “I’m so neglected” emotional ego story, even though their needs have been met many times and grossly prioritized over everyone else’s. They’re both entitled, needy nightmares.
Harry inherited Diana’s empathy and capacity to grow. Theirs is the story of neglected people who learned to thrive in adversity, and they are the emotional equivalents of each other.
Charles also smears people and is always involved in dubious schemes very much like William.
I obviously think that many photos were submitted for approval and of course, Charles or his team or a traitor on William/Kate’s team loyal to the next future king was happy to final approve or counsel stupid W&K for the Jordan photo with the kids LOL Hurray for the continuing drama in that mad house.
Charles works? Like he works? That is hilarious. None of them ‘work’.
I do like the photo of Charles and Camilla. Far more natural than the Cambridge photo.
I am surprised that Kate allows anyone else to be in the photo. But she’s dead center, so I guess she was placated by that.
If Kate had her way, she’d have the card in that gold gown with her grinning away.
Oh, Tessa, missed opportunity! I bet she’s kicking herself over that.
TESSA if Kate had her way their Christmas card would be of her mask wearing at Philps funeral, where she wore that too big necklace and made sure everyone got her glamour shots while she made the funeral her own little photoshoot.
It looks like he’s attaching her feed bag to her face, with everything being the same shades. It made me laugh at first 😄
Still…a MUCH better room-read than the stone-deaf Cambs.
I agree. it is stereotyping the “helpless” woman who can’t fix her own mask.
I liked it – acknowledged that we have masked & maybe still masking and I read it as a tender, loving gesture… not that she’s helpless that he is just helping. Kind of an old married couple thing. Far more relatable than the Arabian days Empire foto shoot.
I think it looks like Camilla is nauseated and Charles is handing her a satin bag (because Royal) to throw up in.
That is a surprisingly great photo!
Ya know what, I agree. It’s cute. Can’t think too hard about the assholes in the pic, but from a pr perspective it’s pretty good.
That was my thought. I can’t stand either of them, but the card is ok.
Yeah, it’s a great photo in itself and it’s cute for a card. I admit when I first saw it I thought, a card where we can’t even see their faces? But the more I look at it the more I like it. It shows a nice moment between the two of them and it shows how we need to help each other and be there for each other even in small ways to get through this.
Disappointingly he wasn’t there for Diana, or Harry, or Meghan, or Archie or Lilibeth. So, no sorry. I see absolutely nothing cute about this. 😑
Well that’s your choice. I can think Charles treated Harry et al like crap and still think this is a good choice for their holiday card 🤷♀️
The way they’re dressed gives you the glamour and tradition of royalty that people like to see from their royal family (as opposed to a fake “we’re just like you, I too wear prairie dresses, mine just cost a couple thousand dollars each”), and then the masks show that even though they’re wealthy royalty wearing top hats and custom made silk masks, they care about the same things we all do: keeping safe in a pandemic, and they don’t think they’re too good to follow covid protocols and precautions (as opposed to Mr. and Mrs. “look, we took an expensive, international vacation this year. The theme was colonizer-chic so we took a private jet and none of us wore masks while we were there!”)
@amy too yeah I think you really hit on another reason why I think the card works. Royal fans like traditional royals doing traditional royal crap. The context and dress is part of what makes this cheeky and not off-putting.
Quite adorable and a canny and thoughtful choice. Wish all their decisions were this good.
And if only Charles could have put more thought into being protective of Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lili. still do not like what he did. And Camilla’s smirks at the wedding put me off.
That tour of the media Camilla took, offended me than what she did at the wedding to be honest.
I think it’s a weird pic for a Christmas card, but it does show a nice intimacy on Charles’ part toward Camilla. It’s a good contrast to the forced, “Ewww, gross, I’m putting my hand on your knee” pose of the Cambridges’ card, and the constant averted gaze that the Burger King has displayed toward Kate all year.
Not weird, just a reminder to British that they need to mask up and their COVID rates are through the freaking roof. Not to mention, PC was open about COVID whereas William denied/ or didn’t real it until months later. Think PC actually has authority here and leadership and messaging is funny.
Camilla should have adjusted her own mask. It seems to portray the “helpless” woman rather than strong woman. I did not like the image of her having to be helped.
I doubt that anyone seriously thinks Camilla can’t put a mask on by herself.
That’s funny, because I read it the opposite: Charles is trying to be helpful but just getting in the way.
Charles usually would have his staff help him out, Stephen Barry one of Charles valets wrote he had to set down Charles daily wardrobe “just so” each morning. I can see someone helping Charles put on that mask.
I like the picture, it’s topical and shows a moment of sweet intimacy where he’s helping her rather than her messaging she’s helpless. She’s fumbling with her mask since she didn’t have a free hand and he helped her out. I would think any SO would do the same thing for their partner.
It doesn’t show her as “helpless” at all. You’re reading too much into this, and as I said above, Mr. Jaded has fixed my mask for me when it got entangled in my hair and earring — that’s what considerate spouses do.
Of course they’d be intimate, but his Helping Camilla do it, does not send a good message about women being able to take care of themselves without help. And it’s nothing to put on a mask.
Camilla is holding her handbag so it’s a bit awkward. I think it’s nice when marrieds care for each other in small ways. Of course, with Charles the caring seems to begin and end with Camilla. His second son and his family didn’t make the cut again this year.
She’s balancing a purse and appears to be having trouble with her mask. How do we know she didn’t ask for help? Too early in a.m. to be making mountains out of molehills. Jeez. Need coffee.
Eh. She’s holding her handbag and Charles decided to help his wife out. And how do we know that she didn’t ask for help? For all we know, she’s the one who said to Charles “can you help me with my mask?”
Not to mention the hat and those big earrings. I always have trouble getting my mask around my earrings unless I’m wearing the smallest of studs and then trying to maneuver around a hat that touches my ears without pushing the hat right off my head is also tricky. I usually have to take the hat off, use two hands and look in a mirror to figure out the earring bit, then put the hat back on, and then grab my bag and go.
Eh, I had a lot of stuff in my hands yesterday when trying to put on my mask–my walking stick, my grocery bags, my car keys, my latte cup. I kept thinking, I need a third hand. Then I also thought, should have put my mask on before getting out of the car. Camilla may have had the same thought, but Charles helped her out.
He’s sending the message of “here dear, let me help you get it on” while she’s got gloves and a clutch to hang onto. In no way is it intending to show she can’t take care of it herself.
@ Tessa, if a woman helped a man with his mask, would it send the message that he was incompetent? I hate to see that people view acts of kindness as condescension. It is even worse that they would judge those on the receiving end of those kind acts.
This is the type of card they issue most years. A moment caught at an event, often a sweet one like this. And no, this doesn’t make Camilla look helpless. It is a sweet and kind of awkward moment between a married couple. I like that they acknowledge the pandemic instead of pretending everything is fine.
I think the card is very much okay, too.
PC definitely read the room and given the mess with Boris throwing parties at #10 during Xmas last year with tapes of the lies his PR people would use to explain, this is a win for PC. The gov is voting on new COVID plans tomorrow. I can’t help but think these pics look like a page out of Trump and co playbook.
Charles was parading around Barbados maskless when everyone else had on masks. And he’s on record of being reluctant to wear them. I don’t think this card has anything to do with COVID or public awareness.
One of the few times Charles wore a mask, the BRF hardly wears mask.
Yes, it is rare that royals are seen with masks on.
every time I see that cambridge card, the worse Kate looks. no one else in the family has such an exaggerated expression like someone behind the camera said something funny, just Kate. She looks crazy.
the posing, with everyone dressed picnic casual, with the kids all around smiling placidly, and parents with hands on each other’s legs, called for a much more natural, intimate expression. She literally cannot do even the most basic thing right.
Uses blue so delineate heirs from spares!
And there are articles raving about the PDA and so much in LOVE stories. I don’t know what they were looking at, but they looked uncomfortable posing with PDA. And Wills wearing shorts was out of place.
They need the media to lie about their relationship because anyone with eyes can see something is really off. Just looking at the photos we see C and C demonstrate affection in a casual move like fixing a mask whereas Kate’s desperate clutch of William’s knee looks like she’s holding on for dear life.
H&M in that pose would have elicited all the “look how she has to clutch onto him” stories.
Yes, they’re posed in such a way that Kate is the center of the photo, so the first thing we see is her manic grin. She is touching the heir, who is set apart from the rest. The spares, I honestly think, are wearing blue to recall the lighter shades of the heir’s cammo shirt, while parents wear the darker shades, so that the heir can be seen as a combination child (like his siblings) and super-royal (like his parents, the ffk and ffqc).
Do you not think so much thought goes into these kinds of photos? Every detail is covered–though not necessarily successfully.
Real question. When did Kate start smiling like this? If she had always smiled like this, I’d just be like okay that’s a weird thing but it’s just something you’ve always done. But she doesn’t smile like that in older pics so at some point she made a decision to smile like this. It’s really jarring. I don’t have the patience to backtrack through old photos to see when this bizarre open-mouthed smile began, but is it safe to assume that it started when Meghan arrived? Does she think it makes her look more engaged? Happier? Younger? Idk. I never thought too much about it until they did that outdoors family video and you can see her purposely hold the smile for several awkward beats. Now I can’t unsee it.
Those poor kids! how one child is far more distinguished than the rest.. being specially selected to take pictures with grandparents and his father, going to events with his parents that sure messes with the other childrens’ head knowing they will never be as special as George..
There is video of kate posing for a smile during a Tour de France stop in London and she is doing a fake smile surprise look in the opposite direction of where the cyclists actually go because you see Harry and William along with the rest of the crowd actually look in the opposite direction to follow the race. This was in 2014, so the fake posed smiles have been going on at least as far as back then.
It has probably only started to be more noticeable when William stopped acting like he cared to be around her. But she’s been posing for the fake smile for a very long time now.
Thanks nic919! Ok so the weird smile thing has been going on since 2014. Wow, ok weird.
@Jais She started doing the Manic Laughsmile way before Meghan came around. I think it started off pretty spontaneously in response to wind and an actual social interaction, but it’s become a default, photographer-ready expression for sure. (There’s a series of photos from a pre-Meghan BP garden party with her, W, and H- and I noticed the braying even then.)
That smile happened before she got engaged. There was a photo of her at a race track and she grinned and mugged while the others watched the races. I think this was ca. 2006
“Look honey, we’ll sit next to each other and put our hands on each other’s knee. That way people can see how much in love we are, and that you have stopped tending Roses. Right darling? Right?” Crickets…..”okay” I
I think she decided at some point that the open mouth smile makes it look like she is always mid-laugh and is super engaged and always having a delightful time. But with social media, where we can now see so many of the actual videos of events (so we can tell no one else is laughing), like the video Nic919 mentioned, it’s so obvious that it’s a staged look and yet she still continues to do it.
The race track pose wasn’t a smile, it was meant to be shock and awe. A cyclist on the other side of the track had collided with the embankment, and she thrusts her hand down, mid-sausage-curl-twirl, to pose with her mouth hanging open in a state of “my *goodness*”.
She holds this pose, even as those around her start moving about, looking around for a medical team to signal. She remains frozen in place.
The open mouthed guffaw of late seem to have started with Meghan. They have a more interactive appeal to them, though the problem is that the other people in Kate’s pics give the game away; they look bored, are not reacting, or are not laughing.
In Meghan’s pics, other people besides Meghan are laughing, which is usually a sign that the laughter is genuine
I did not like C and C card. Nothing festive about being reminded about having to wear masks. ANd why did she need help putting on her own mask. A bit too quirky.
I guess they were trying to do something different. But i agree. Its not a pic i would use for a Christmas card. My guess is that, with the government currently being such a mess, CH and KP got the order to put out their Christmas card asap to divert attention. Neither of their cards are Christmassy and seem to be picked out very last minute.
I don’t think the tone is festive.. just a gentle PSA. Most likely, mask got caught in earrings etc. I stopped wearing hoops and depending how braids are styled, my mask loop gets tricky quickly
I have had mask mishaps with my earrings. Lost two pairs – so now I wear my “not so good earrings”.
As far as the card, they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. I agree they are reading the room more so than the Cant-bridges – as another commenter wrote. And I see nothing wrong with a husband helping his wife. I may be backward, but I still like having a door held open for me and my husband helping me when needed. Plus, when together for a while, some couples become “one”. To each their own.
The image shows casual affection between them in a way that we never see from the Cambridges. We can judge how they have acted outside of the photo, but the image itself sends a much pleasanter message than the awkwardness of the Cambridge card. And it’s in the UK not a holiday trip in Jordan.
They don’t do festive cards, that has never been their way. As written, it is a sweet moment between a married couple.
Most royal families don’t do ‘festive’ cards. They use a portrait or something from an engagement.
It’s a sweet gesture that shows a more human side of themselves, not a carefully posed and curated photo that is nothing more than a vacation snap.
C&C always manage to outdo W&K, even though W&K have the cute kid advantage. Charles usually manages to work in a cool car or a lovely garden or something interesting.
I did not like either of those cards. Surely there was a really nice royal card among that family but I guess won’t be seen. Charles and Diana did much better in cards with their children, even close to the separation–. William and Kate’s cards come off as super awkward.
Charles did read the mood much better and that photo shows far more affection and old married couple energy than the awkward knee grab the Cambridges are doing.
Nic919, I agree 100%.
Agreed
They should work more to tradition. Have a winter scene or holiday spirit photo with decorations in the background. Back to basics.
They never do a festive card, why should they start doing one now after 15 years?
@notasugarhere It is patently UNTRUE that they “never do a festive card.” A quick google search tells a diff story.
I think because it would help people be more positive that things will return to normal and the “good old days” of family gatherings and decorations.
Charm: I googled, nota is right, W&K don’t do festive Christmasy Christmas cards. It’s just random photos of them, or them & their kids.
W&K don’t do festive cards much, that’s true. I was actually referencing Charles and Camilla.
If you look through their 16 years of Christmas cards, C&C don’t release a festive card. Often they are not looking at the camera, because the shots are taken from random shots at an engagement.
Most members of the BRF don’t do festive theme cards iirc. It might be because they recognize many of their constituents do not celebrate Christmas.
The only overtly-Christmas theme royal cards I remember are from Monaco.
@Tessa – a Christmassy type card would not help people be more positive with the all-out mess England is in right now politically and health-wise, and the royal family must appeal to a broader range of customs and traditions, not just a christian one. Things will never “return to normal” or “the good old days”. Family gatherings and decorations are still a part of Christmas and other holidays at this time of year despite the gloomy present and future, we do what we can without needing the useless royals leading the way.
I agree! I like Christmas photo cards that feel a bit more Holiday cheerful. Unless you are a showing a photo montage of the year, which is also nice. But if it’s just one photo, I’d like there to be something seasonal in there. Shorts in Jordan is not cutting it for me (although it does reinforce a sense of colonial rule). Royal Ascot? Meh (although it does reinforce a sense of über wealth and elitism).
I agree for the most part. The Jordan vacation pic shows just emphasizehow the Cannots love to vacation without working hard towards earning a vacation, like the rest of us. (I wonder if the Kingdom of Jordan organized the Cambs’ trip and sent a private jet!) Especially during a pandemic. While the Wales’ photo shows us to whom Charles’ loyalty/ affection truly lies (and it’s not the Sussexes) and generally how elitist and out of the the entire BRF is with their OTT costumes and leisure activities, while many Brits and Commonwealth populations are really struggling during this time in history. Both are wildly out of touch for different reasons IMHO. Not Christmassy at all, just bragging about their “idle rich” lifestyles.
Cute card. Also a reminder that Charles helps one person all of the time. Too bad he didn’t do the same for Harry.
If Charles had not tossed Harry aside in favor of the heir. He could have had all his grandchildren posing with him on a card.
I agree. Like how they did the birthday pic he had with the family. Instead, you’d have George, Charlotte, and Louis sitting in front, with him holding Archie and Camilla holding Lilibet on the bench, while having the oldest with his wife on the left, and Harry and Meghan on the right, and the garden in the back. And it’d have a snow border. It would’ve been cute. But nope.
I know I’m going get slaughtered for this but I don’t find their kids particularly cute. They look very average to me.
Nothing earth shattering about their looks.
Not sorry.
What else can you expect with those parents?
I’ve said something similar many times. The kids are cute in the way all kids are cute, not standouts.
Especially Charlotte lol, I don’t understand why they compare her to Diana. Yes, Diana is her grandmother, but she does not look like her at all.
I see a lot of Carole’s looks in Charlotte.
I don’t see Diana in Charlotte at all!! Maybe that’s the narrative Mumbles McButtons has been pushing, which wouldn’t surprise me! Anything to seem more royal and aristo so that she and her family are to be accepted.
I see a lot of William in Charlotte, but not Diana’s specific facial traits. William has Diana’s eyes, but also the Windsor long face and sleeker nose. Charlotte definitely has a lot of William, but not necessarily the Spencers (so far).
They are spectacularly average like most kids. I tell my co worker that wherever she starts with the grandkid pics.
My thought when I see these photos is Monotone… just like the Wessexs with their children. I think the Cambridge children look like the Middletons parents especially the father who I do not think is an attractive man at all. (My personal taste and opinion). Truthfully I hope they are kind children who grow to be kind and empathetic adults, that is more important than how they look because none of us have control over the genetics we were born with.
With such parents and grandparents? Maybe, if Nanny Maria is raising them and is allowed to teach them compassion and kindness…
Your comment made me think about what makes a kid “cute.” We just don’t see enough of those kids to get their personalities. Harry and William were more overexposed, but it meant we saw moments like Harry crawling all over that fire truck. Now this really pulls at my heartstrings because I see the exact same from my boys. Harry was so curious and yet very sweet and gentle as a child.
And I agree the placement of Louis-the baby ffs— away from everyone gives me a very sad feeling.
that’s a really good point, I remember a clip of W&H riding a flume (water ride?) w their Mom, all laughing and having so much fun, that’s endearing, and prob shows Diana’s emotional intelligence about what would delight her sons as well as the media and public. W&K just don’t have that…
found it — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmIaQmY05io
It’s a cute photo – but, in a way, I prefer the Cambridges’. It’s bland and boring, but because the family is facing outward, it delivers a greeting from them to the recipient. C&C’s photo is more “look how cute we are.”
What on earth is William sat on, it looks like a golden ball? Does he have his entourage carry it around for him? Does he has piles?
Lol, Charlotte and George are sitting on camel saddles, so I imagine William’s seating is something similarly traditional. I can just see the photograper thinking “William’s the FFK; he should get the Golden Tuffet.”
Lol, the Golden Tuffet.
I saw one royalist blogger hate on CH card because they weren’t facing the camera. Whatever. I have no feelings either way about it. Their choice. However it’s been reported that William and Kate took their regular photographer, Matt Porteous on their trip to take the photo for their Christmas card. Not really the Normal Bill and Kate image they’re eager to project.
It must be exhausting to spend one’s days hating trivial things. My preference is to actually look at the person to whom I’m sending greetings, but this is a perfectly OK card, too. There will be other Christmases and other cards.
C&C card is actually cute and fun (in a weird pandemic way LOL)
I think it’s an appropriate choice considering the times we’re in. The Cambridges’ Christmas card wasn’t particularly festive either. I personally find it to be a nice moment between a husband and wife. Charles looks a bit awkward to me but maybe it’s his personality that’s colouring my perception but again, it’s a nice moment.
I hate the way George is in the same color as his parents and the other two are in a different color. The message is too obvious. A pic like this could have been taken anywhere. Why advertise they went abroad during a pandemic? They really are that stupid. Charles and Camilla are cute.
I too have first day of school pics and others with masks in hand on our faces. It is marking a historic event – globally no less. These cards will be seen throughout history and Charles and Cams have captured it. Well done.
C&C’s card is oddly sweet but head and shoulders above W&K’s.
At first glance it looked like Charles is putting on her feed bag. Yeah I despise them that much.
Diana is laughing from her grave about that comment.
I prefer WK photo but both are fine. They’re all
still horrible people, except the kids, so yeah these snakes aren’t showing Christian values at end of day.
[Edit] whoops, replied to wrong comment.
Just thinking about the fervor around exposing where H&M were when they took their break at the end of 2019. But the future of the BRF can go on an international, publicly funded vacation during a pandemic and no one asks a single question. Knowing the media though, they know where they go off to, they just don’t disclose it to maintain the special relationship.
Anyway, I hate that Charles’ fingers are literally inside Camilla’s mask. Cross-contamination is a thing!
Yeah, Charles’ disgusting fingers inside her mask is just icky. Why does she need his assistance anyway? It’s not trigonometry.
I’m in the minority here but I think this Christmas card is absolutely awful, lol.
I totallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy agree with you; it’s hideous. If I received this in the mail, it would probably go in the trash.
Heh, now Charles is copying the Sussexes’ casual affection, but much more effectively than Bill and Cathy.
I’m sorry to be this person but I don’t see how Charles’ disturbingly swollen fingers make for a good Christmas card photo. It’s all I can see.
That’s his worst feature, the swollen fingers. I was thinking the same thing. He called attention to them in the photo.
Lol, so gross. Don’t zoom in if you can resist it.
I think C&C’s photo is quite nice, but Charles having his finger inside Camilla’s mask makes it look like he is helping her take it off instead of helping her put it on by looping it behind her ear. I find the Cambridge picture very stiff and posed- the rugs and cute hobby horse stools and a silver ball are not natural to their surroundings and they obviously had a photographer in tow so it’s not a picture of a family vacation. I don’t see the thinking behind the Cambridges’ choice at all. The PDA between Kate and Will is awkward and doesn’t appear customary or natural. The kids look great, however, and Charlotte is becoming a very lovely little girl. She always comes across as her very own person, imo. Louis is a bit of a cracker too! Look forward to seeing him grow up and how he is going to cope as the spare spare.
The kids are sitting on camel saddles. It looks painful for the animal, but never having sat on one, I’m not sure.
I noticed the odd colour coordinating also. Especially when I considered Geo’s ‘cameo’ appears to have bits of blue in it, and the ‘other two’ are wearing blue. At first, I thought that was how they were ‘bringing the other two kids’ into the ‘circle’. Now I see it more as ‘othering’ the other two kids, and Geo in the same colours as parents more offensive.
The “affection” between Will and Kate is very forced. This is the more casual gesture couples get when there are no cameras on them. Spontaneous. The Cambridges are not spontaneous.
Agreed. It is so forced I often wonder how they produced those three kids.
It kind of looks like he is adjusting her feed bag. 😂😂😂
Or vomit bag
Why do I feel bad for a Charles? I know it’s crazy and he doesn’t deserve my sympathy but he’s in this really unique and bizarre scenario that really no one on earth or in history can relate to. Who else has ever waited so long for the throne that they’re now in a PR war with their own middle aged child and fellow heir?
Bettyrose, I agree with you. I am Anne’s age. When I grew up in the USA what little press there was made Prince Charles out to be less manly than his father: i.e. the infamous cherry brandy episode, his Monty Python geek-dom. I believe he had no true insight into what he was doing to Diana. I think he believed that his gift of a title was not quite “whatever love is”). I see Camilla as his very essential security blanket. His parents were absent from him much of the time, and seemed irritated with him the rest of the time. I see him as a real hot-house flower who persisted despite being treated like a weed.
Charles also had a doting Grandmother who made him feel like he was center of the Universe. No Middle ground for Charles as he grew up. I think Charles felt re: Diana, well he married her didn’t he and she should be happy he chose her. He wanted it his way or the highway. Charles did not learn from the way he told his biographer he was treated. He in effect chose the heir over the spare and did nothing to stop the spare from leaving.
Feeling sorry for Charles is like feeling sorry for Lindsey Graham because he’s a bachelor and friends with Donald Trump. He has made some bad choices because of his privilege, not despite it.
I do wonder if they would be so petty and jealous if the Royal family did not historically have long lives. Maybe they need a retirement date for a monarch it might avoid all the family palace infighting for attention by adults acting like children. Waiting 70+ years for a title that you have been told is your god given birthright.. just seems like the whole system needs reorganization. One Royal office for the crown and heirs and a retirement age to start.
PC is in this mess with his sons is of his own making! He grew a spine for Camilla but refuses to protect his youngest son? Camilla is his sole priority and anything outside of her, and his duties, is just background noise. PC can mend the rift, if he wanted to. PC could also knock a few pegs out from under his heir as well.
Camilla has her own children by her first marriage. She did not throw one of them under a bus like Charles did with his children–letting William drive Harry out. When Charles got married Diana he put himself first and he still does. He is not a protective parent and I don’t know how he could just stand back and watch the treatment of the media of his second son, his daughter in law and their little children.
Waiting for the Sussex Christmas card. These are so-so. Would it be wild that Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilies posed in Xmas pajamas?
That would be adorable..🥰🎄
It would be! I look forward to their annual Christmas card as they certainly know how to spark joy and togetherness!!
💕💕
I actually, in some ways, hope they don’t put one out. Let the RR keep waiting and waiting for it.
The reason they put the cards out there last year was certainly not for the RR benefit. It was for their supporters.
Why should the Sussexes release a Christmas card? Is Eugenie, Beatrice, Zara, and Peter releasing a Christmas card? Is Edward and Sophie?
Where is the Queen’s Christmas card?
Why release a Christmas card for every Tom. Dick and Harry to comment on.
I take it the Queen hasn’t released this year’s yet. The Wessexes and the Yorks do one each year, they just don’t get a lot of attention. H&M didn’t release one last year; they allowed one of their charities to publish the card for attention.
Ah yes, Christmas cards that have no bearing to Christmas or winter. For this reason I dislike.
I like Charles’ loving advances in aiding his mistress with her mask. The Cambridges look like wooden puppets.
Hoping the Sussexes come through with a cute seasonal picture. Loved their photos last year with the tree in the background and the other with the decorated toy house
Most royal holiday cards have nothing to do with Christmas, maybe because not everyone in their countries celebrate Christmas. The only ones I remember with a big Christmas theme are Monaco.
She’s his wife…has been for over 15 years. I think we can stop with the “mistress” reference.
Jaded you are free to not reference her as such.
Not to mention she was never his only mistress when she WAS a mistress, so it’s really only creating ambiguity and confusion.
Jaded really loves C&C. Just going through her responses up and down the comment section. So funny. LOL.
guess those of us who live places where it is not “winter” should just lump it …
There is no winter where I am either. But the Christmas cards all have sleighs, holly, santa, religious symbols, the words Joy and Peace etc. The origin of the holiday was either Christmas or celebrating the winter solstice, which is why I referenced it as such,
Anyone else notice Camilla copying Meghan’s multiple delicate bracelets on the same wrist? The Meghan effect strikes deep into the hearts (and horrible fashion sense) of this entire family.
Camilla has always worn multiple small bracelets on both wrists, just like Maxima has always stacked them up.
I’ve worn multiple delicate chains and bracelets for decades. It’s always been a nice fashion statement, not a “Meghan effect”.
No. That’s a reach.
I like the nod to masks, but this photograph seems so awkward as a choice. Like there wasn’t a friendlier pose and not one where he’s sticking his sausage fingers in her face?
I’ve sent Happy New Year card last year with some humorous play around masks in it.
These are things we all can connect to. A reminder that we are all together in it, in this pandemic (though I know I and RF are in very diferent positions, lol). C&C in masks is that common denominator that makes their card human.
Cambridge’s card is the opposite of it. Holidays? In Jordan? WTF? Not to mention KKKate’s annoying “smile”, Willy’s crotch (sorry, I just can’t) and kids looking uncomfortable.
Seriously, why he is posing like that? Sitting on something looking like silver egg? I can’t believe professional photographer took this picture.
Like it or not, Camilla and Charles have a genuine love and affection for one another that William and Kate never had. It shows through these cards.
Isn’t it the professional photographer’s job to manage the composition of the photos? Like many have pointed out above, the Cambs look so forced and wooden. And the different colors for Char and Lou, the awkward spacing between the family and the knee touching. It’s all so weird. Was this the really the best shot? If so, the other pics must be um…really bad.
These royal cards cards are just meh, whatever. Looks like they were pulled off the phone. All this analysis over some random, just ok pics. Just a general observation the Sussexes are no longer senior working royals yet all there people here and the Twitterverse expecting them to participate in the royal Christmas card drop. None of the other minor royals do this. Just because the 2 heirs can’t send a decently composed photograph out doesn’t have anything to do with the Sussexes. Some people are waiting on their Christmas card like it’s an album drop or a new IPhone reveal.
L4Frimaire, I agree that the public shouldn’t expect a Sussex Christmas card. I just think people would like to get a card with both kids, and I suspect that we still won’t be seeing their faces. If I were their parent, I wouldn’t put their images out into the universe for a variety of reasons, but the main one is to keep them safe.
I don’t care for the Kantbridges card. Were the kids spread out so far so that Wont’s shiny ball that he is sitting on shows up in the photo? Maybe they have personal space issues–even with family members? They need to stop trying so hard because it really shows in photos.
Now, C&C’s card is okay. I zeroed in on Charles’ fingers and Cam’s mask, but finally determined that he was holding the edge of the mask. I could be wrong. Since they live together, I’m not going to get too excited about it. I do think there’s a genuine connection between them in this pic, and the messaging is very timely. I think the card is good for those reasons.
L4FRIMAIRE I agree. I don’t have the expectation of a Christmas card from the Sussexes. It would be nice yes but it’s up to them.
“Taking off Camilla’s mask”.
Britain is looking forward to “Freedom Day” and they can’t wait to get rid of masks. hence this christmas photo.
Btw I don’t believe that Charles even pics his christmas pics himself.
C & C’s card was a good PR move for Charles, he truly loves Camilla, & it’s a good look for him. The Cambridge card seems to say “ here’s the ffk & his heir, so sorry, the monarchy is here to stay.”
Only William is after Charles in line.
I don’t like either card because both of them scream “we are part of the 1%, we attend the Royal Ascot, we vacation in places that regular people can only dream about.” IN A PANDEMIC. It’s great Charles is helping Camilla get her mask sorted but that suit always makes him look like the Monopoly Man. A symbol of wealth. A guy who needs to attend Royal Ascot. Millions have died in this pandemic, I’m so relieved these couples have not let that cramp their style.
Exactly. Both are cringeworthy and they all look out of touch with the optics given the pandemic and resulting economic situation worldwide.
Plums, I think Kate is copy-keening the full-on, wide American smile that she probably saw on Baywatch and, of course, arch-enemy/role model, Duchess Meghan.
“They disappear from public view so often, which is also a bad message to send to the public.” Honestly? No one cares! Why would it be such a bad message? They are truly not as ifluential as you make them to be and less of them we see, the less we are triggered. Disappear more Royal fam, please.
One of the links to the articles by Kaiser states, “While I hate to acknowledge this, it feels like a “damned if they do, damned if they don’t” situation for the Cambridges.” Indeed.
It’s possible to do better. Why Christmas Card from Jordan? Why not from some English pub with Christmas decorations if they want to be just “normal”, regular family?
BTW, Charles never pretended to be “just normal”, so the C&C photo is authentic for him and Camilla.
I am convinced that some of Cain’s team are plants by Charles to ruin William and his mannequin. And they really are doing a marvelous job, they look ridiculous trying to copy Meghan and Harry PDA. I work with clinicians in Jordan and the pandemic is raging there still, but then I guess it’s better than the UK where its completely out of control.
If it’s a Christmas card, there should be some symbol of Christmas. I believe they are not permitted to use Christmas symbols in public greetings. In Harry and Meghan’s first Christmas message, they used a wedding photo of them watching fireworks. In 2019 and 2020, there was a Christmas symbol. They are no longer under restrictions. When the Queen gives her annual speech, there are no symbols.
If there is a mask mandate, the mask should be in place when you step out of your house. Whatever Prince Charles does is staged, and he has used the same photographer for years. He knows W & K are viewed as frigid, so he and Camilla will be seen as loving and affectionate. The mudslinging between father and son is senseless, but that’s life in the British monarchy. The theatrics are getting tiresome. The period between antics is getting shorter and shorter. There’s a new allegation, coverup story, mystery photo from long ago, every week now. Perhaps if they just step back and stop talking, damage control can step forward, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot!
I’m not a RF fan at all.
That said, I’m writing from a region in the NL where the local hospital has been sending some of its patients home earlier than they would have normally been sent home to make room for emergency patients due to corona. One of my neighbors is in a hospital bed in her living room with a spinal infection recoving from sepsis.
So, to comment on this Christmas card: I really like that they chose a picture of Charles and Camilla with masks! Britain is tightening up due to Covid, and that makes this is a very good royal Christmas card.
A lot of C &C cards show informal and easy affection between the two of them. I suspect the Cambridges have to all be posed because there are no pictures of them showing informal affection to each other at all
Not a PC or CPB fan but the card is sweet and tends to show leadership i.e. It’s Christmas but COVID is still here.
It also tends to show intimacy between the two as PC makes his bid for Kingship. He care’s for her and she will be his Queen Consort.