The Prince and Princess of Wales did not attend the state opening of Parliament on Tuesday. Prince William was hanging out with celebrities in Singapore, and Kate was… seething in Adelaide Cottage, one would assume. The official cover story was, of course, that Kate was “supporting” Prince George as he prepared to take an important exam. I find it interesting that People Magazine pointed out William and Kate’s absence, even if the mag just repeated the cover story.
Kate Middleton and Prince William weren’t by King Charles’ side for a first of his royal reign. On Tuesday, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the State Opening of Parliament for the first time since his accession. The King wore the Imperial State Crown for the first time since his coronation and read the King’s Speech, which was written by the government and contained an outline of its proposed legislation for the new parliamentary session.
Aside from the King and Queen, Princess Anne took part in the event in her role as Gold Stick in Waiting.
However, the Prince and Princess of Wales didn’t attend the historic event.
It’s not required for the heir to the throne to attend the State Opening of Parliament, but King Charles accompanied his mother, Queen Elizabeth, several times throughout her reign. He attended for the first time in 1970.
But Prince William had a significant event of his own on Tuesday: the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Singapore. The Prince of Wales, 41, hit the green carpet alongside Cate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K. Brown as they honored the next wave of environmentalists coming up with answers to the planet’s most pressing problems.
Although Princess Kate, 41, joined her husband at the inaugural awards ceremony for the environmental prize in London in October 2021 and for the second cycle in Boston in December 2022, she did not make the trip to Singapore. She stayed in the U.K. to support their son Prince George as he tackles school exams.
“It’s not required for the heir to the throne to attend the State Opening of Parliament” yeah but it feels notable that for the king’s first-ever Parliament opening, his son and heir wasn’t there? I think it was a confluence of shady sh-t too – while the official date for the state opening was announced after Earthshot was scheduled, surely William should have been aware of the general timing well before? It’s also weird that father and son were like ships passing in the night – Charles returning from Kenya just as William left for Singapore, and Charles made sure to brief everyone that his Kenya trip went better than Kate and William’s Caribbean tour.
I also wanted to point out that the “Kate is helping George with his exams” excuse effectively suffocated any plans Kate might have made to pull focus from her husband or father-in-law. When William went to New York in September, Kate made a point of doing several events back in the UK in retaliation for being left behind. She couldn’t do that this time because the whole point of the cover story is that Kate can’t work or travel when George has his exams! That was also why Kate couldn’t represent her husband at the opening of Parliament. Looks like George is about to become the most fictitiously tested child in England – William stumbled into the perfect excuse for why Kate can’t do anything.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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- The Princess of Wales, known as the Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, meets farmers at Brodieshill Farm, Moray, Scotland, to learn about efforts being made to better support the mental health and wellbeing of young people, in Moray, Scotland.,Image: 819149516, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jane Barlow / Avalon
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- Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales speaks to crew members during a visit to the RNLI lifeboat station at St Davids, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, west Wales. Featuring: Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: Haverfordwest, United Kingdom When: 08 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Princess of Wales during her visit to Streets of Growth, a not-for-profit youth intervention charity in east London which is working to transform the lives of young people at risk of becoming trapped in a cycle of isolation, exploitation, violence and criminality. Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: London, United Kingdom When: 19 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Princess of Wales visits AW Hainsworth in Leeds, a family-owned heritage textile mill which was established in 1783 and manufactures British woollen cloth, high-performing technical textiles, and iconic fabrics. Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: Leeds, United Kingdom When: 26 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to the Grange Pavilion in Cardiff to meet with members from the Windrush Cymru Elders, Black History Cymru 365, and the Ethnic Minority Youth Forum for Wales, and hear about the contribution the Windrush generation has had on the Welsh community and learn about how young minority ethnic individuals are creating positive change. Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: Cardiff, United Kingdom When: 02 Oct 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Princess of Wales, known as the Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, visits Outfit Moray, an award-winning charity delivering life-changing outdoor learning and adventure activity programmes to young people in Moray, Scotland. Featuring: Catherine, Princess Of Wales Where: Moray, United Kingdom When: 02 Nov 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, visit Outfit Moray, an award-winning charity delivering life-changing outdoor learning and adventure activity programmes to young people in Moray, Scotland. Featuring: Prince William, Catherine, Princess Of Wales Where: Moray, United Kingdom When: 02 Nov 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Princess of Wales, known as the Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, visits Outfit Moray, an award-winning charity delivering life-changing outdoor learning and adventure activity programmes to young people in Moray, Scotland. Featuring: Catherine, Princess Of Wales Where: Moray, United Kingdom When: 02 Nov 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Thinking Earthshot was an intentional cover for her esp not being welcome at the opening or anything too official. Looks too sus if he’s there alone. And so … Earthshot. They’re slow-playing the separation.
I don’t think either Wales were welcome. Chuck is still big mad they were late for his coronation. Chuck will call family members dear and darling while stabbing them in the back.
I’m sorry – but “Gold Stick in Waiting” is an actual job??? WHAT?!? Not something that I would put on a resume, but hey, to each their own.
To me, Will and Kate attending Parliament would give off “take your kid to work day” vibes so I don’t see it as necessary. Chuck probably didn’t want Kate to steal headlines from Camilla about whatever button-clad boring coat dress she was wearing so that is probably the real reason they didn’t attend.
And I think the reason that Earthshot was scheduled right around the opening of Parliament is because KP and BP staff don’t talk or coordinate anything together, and no one at KP is good enough at their jobs to think that Parliament may open around that time and pencil it into the calendar.
“Gold Stick” is just the Tudor-era title for “The Kings’ Personal Bodyguard”. It has been mainly ceremonial since approximately Queen Victorias’ reign.
The Gold Stick and their assistant the Gold Stick in Waiting are both responsible for the personal safety of the Sovereign. There is also the Silver Stick, who is the deputy of the Gold Stick and is officially the Commander of the Household Cavalry, and is in charge of all the ceremonial military personnel for the Sovereign. Then there is the Silver Stick in Waiting who is the deputy of the Gold Stick in Waiting, but the Silver Sticks’ deputy/personal aide is called the Silver Stick Adjutant.
AND, there’s a WHOLE SEPARATE set JUST for Scotland, too.
ETA: It also appears the people holding these positions also carry a ceremonial cane with appropriately colored metal bits during ceremonial duties, presumably for whacking peasants that get too close to the Monarch.
It’s the war of the Windsors. Peg didn’t want to attend the opening of parliament so scheduled earthflop for that week. Peg didn’t want Can’t upstaging either so she had to stay home and help George. Chuckles is weak and didn’t put his foot down about Peg not being at opening of parliament. I’m sure Chuckles evil nag will come up with something to embarrass both Peg and Can’t but we will have to wait and see what that is.
Honestly, I think Chucky & Bride of Chucky didn’t want to be outshone at his 1st opening of Parliament by his son- I mean, she wore the coronation gown again – basically telegraphing their insecurities. There’s something bizarrely “bridezilla” about Camilla’s behaviour to the Windsors since Queen Elizabeth 2’s death, with every major set piece event of the royal calendar.
I don’t think Workshy gives a whit about supporting his father, but he DOES care very much about being seen as powerful or at least in proximity to power. He would have wanted to go, I think – and I’d bet you a Cadbury bar that C&C through their staff basically told them ahead of time they were surplus to requirements here. That left Workshy plotting against Chucky, ignoring the “must coordinate schedules so as not to overlap each other’s news cycle” rule, and throwing down for his trip to Singapore.
The last link in the chain of insecurity is Keen, who also does care very much about being seen in proximity to power…cut out entirely by both father & son. She’s on her way out and if she didn’t see it before I’ll be she’s starting to see it now.
Something weird is going on behind the scenes. William pledged his allegiance to Charles at the coronation but, since then, has done nothing but go on and on about how he’s a global statesman, a social leader and that he wants to change all the old ways of the monarchy. And now, it’s “Sorry dad, can’t attend your first fusty, dusty opening of Parliament, I’m too busy being a leader on the other side of the planet.” He doesn’t want to be seen with Kate and he doesn’t want to be seen with Charles…hmm…
It is weird, isn’t it. I understand that PW would want to skip Parliament given those Republic protests, but it’s odd that he chose to stomp on his father’s news cycle to do it. And not wanting to be seen with K is a choice, because it would have been easier to stomp on KC’s news cycle with her along. I’m genuinely surprised that the fact that PW and K are rarely together isn’t sparking more commentary by the RR. PW and KC are clearly in a power struggle—that’s not really being hidden anymore.
Agreed. When Chuckie traveled without Diana is always made headlines and in retrospect, the BM must have known what was going on behind the scenes (not hard since he brought Camilla to dinner parties). Maybe they are trying to avoid a replay of that time but it seems pretty obvious Bill doesn’t like Kathy.
I will admit that I’m confused because wasn’t there an opening of Parliament last year? why was this Charles’ first one?
anyway, I don’t know if Charles wanted William there or not. He definitely did not want Kate there – would she have gotten to wear a tiara like the other ladies were? Or no bc shes not a lady in waiting? I dont know all the rules here lol.
It feels notable that ES was scheduled for the exact same day as the Parliament opening. Like talk about competing news cycles (as these things go for the royals.)
I agree that KC didn’t want his beloved DIL there. Kate may be a wife instead of a power player, but like it or not, she gets the most media coverage (even if it’s about what she wears).
If I recall, last year’s parliament was opened by Charles AND William. Remember, William looked noticably bored and barely participated, like a petulant teen?
They pretended this was a show of “unity” by the heirs, although I think it showed the opposite. But it was done “on behalf of” the monarch instead of Charles being the actual king, so he wears the even more special hat this year.
This is Charles’s first state opening of Parliament as King. Last year he was acting as Regent to the Queen.
oh it was before she passed? I thought it was always late October/early November-ish, apparently not lol.
ETA oh I just checked it was May 2022. So apparently I am way off hahaha.
Clearly I have never paid that much attention to this, I had no idea the date varied. Was last year when we got the pic of Charles looking longingly at the crown?
Liz and Phil weren’t worried about being “overshadowed” by Dumbo Ears. HOWEVER… the insecure, newly crowned King Cauliflower had his wife wear a repeat dress so as not to be *too* talked about. He could’ve pulled “rank” and demanded Willy be there; as you said, the Opening of Parliament is pretty much known well in advance, and Earthsh!t could’ve been pushed forward or back by a week or so.
Also, KC is so immensely insecure and jealous (as we all know) that he wouldn’t want *one*iota*of*attention* taken off him and the codpiece, uhm…”side piece”. W&K there would pull ALL attention off them with people looking at their body language and her wig/clothes.
That would *never* do! Tsk tsk!
I don’t think it’s required for the heir to attend the opening of Parliament. I don’t think Charles/ Charles and Diana attended regularly. I imagine that with Charles’s first opening, he would want all the attention on himself. I don’t think Kate could attend alone to represent William. It Wouldn’t it have to be George who is too young still. Anyhoo, things seem to be a bit of a mess over there. It strikes me that Charles wants to have everything his mother had, since he waited so long, so he is incapable of scaling back. To appear more modern, why can’t he just wear a suit and tie? He still gets to sit on the throne chair to read his speech.
Charles wouldn’t have wanted William and Kate there anyway. There’s a reason he wore the cape and crown on Tuesday and was so that all the attention was on him.
The Telegraph got the date wrong. Charles first attended a state opening of Parliament in 1967 when he was a few days away from his 19th birthday. Princess Anne also attended. They both travelled in the state coach with the Queen and Prince Philip. Also, on that occasion there was a full turnout of royals including Princess Margaret and her husband. I don’t know if this was a particularly noteworthy state opening or if it was usual to have them all there. It was before the first House of Lords Reform Act which removed the automatic right of some hereditary Peers to sit in the House of Lords. Those barred included the dukes of Gloucester and Kent.
It has been very obvious that the royal family and the media have spent decades lying to the public about what they do and how they work together to influence politics and line their pockets. One obvious lie they have told us is that William as the heir has been in training from the Queen mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles and the courtiers. It is obvious because if he had actually done the work they claim an heir is trained and prepared to do his brother the spare wouldn’t surpass him in everything he does. He would also be sufficient in speaking Wales, giving speeches and would have actual accomplishments. As the heir it is inexcusable that he doesn’t attend Commonwealth Services, doesn’t do more royal tours or engagements and doesn’t attend the opening of parliament. I can always tell those who are blind royals it’s by their proclamations that he will be a great monarch even though he has done absolutely nothing that shows he even is capable of just being a pampered prince.
I bet he has worn the crown in-between. He’s waited his whole life for this, of course he’s wearing it round the house. Palace. Palaces.
I haven’t seen one clip or news report on his vanity project. There have been a few rota promotional tweets but that’s it. This “overshadowing” narrative is so petty and vile it makes them all seem dirty. Maybe it’s time they actually do something that warrants coverage instead of demanding it because right now no one is interested in these people and it shows.