Princess Kate won’t attend tonight’s white-tie diplomatic reception at the palace

There are several annual autumn/winter events on the Windsors’ calendar, but I forgot about this one. Tonight, King Charles will host the annual white-tie reception for diplomats. Last year’s diplomatic reception was attended by Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and the Princess of Wales. They made a point of posing together as “the new Fab Four.” Well, guess who isn’t coming to dinner tonight? That’s right, Kate has been benched. No more tiara events for Keen.

The King will tonight host a glittering white tie and tiara reception at Buckingham Palace for the country’s leading diplomats. Queen Camilla and The Prince of Wales will join other family members attending – but the Princess of Wales is not expected to join them, the Mail understands.

In September Catherine, 42, announced a slow and measured return to royal duties after the conclusion of her cancer treatment. She underwent major abdominal surgery in January after which doctors discovered cancer had been present and recommended a course of preventative chemotherapy.

It is believed Catherine is focusing on organising her annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey early next month.

Tonight’s reception is one of the highlights of the royal calendar. It will see the King and Queen welcome more than 500 members of the ‘Diplomatic Corps’ in all their finery to the State Rooms at the palace, highlighting the crucial role the monarch plays at the heart of British diplomacy. The event is normally held on the first Tuesday in December but has been brought forward as it would have clashed with a State Visit of the Amir of Qatar this year.

[From The Daily Mail]

This is both sad and funny: “It is believed Catherine is focusing on organising her annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey early next month.” Kensington Palace staff organize the concert, Kate just shows up for a handful of photo-ops. There’s nothing Kate has to do, especially not on the same night as one of the biggest events on the royal calendar. This is one of the clearest examples thus far that Charles, Camilla and William have decided to bench Kate. This is exactly the kind of event which Kate wants to attend – she would have gotten a new dress and they would have to let her borrow a tiara. It also looks like the Middletons couldn’t negotiate Kate’s appearance for anything beyond the biggest family events (Trooping, Remembrance). It’s all so odd.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

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170 Responses to “Princess Kate won’t attend tonight’s white-tie diplomatic reception at the palace”

  1. koko says:

    I’m having a pre- holiday cookie exchange party today, you’re welcome to come Katie, and yes, by all means, wear a tiara.

    • Jaded says:

      *SNORT*…that’s funny, almost spat my coffee!

    • Tess says:

      Well, somebody has to invite her where she is actually wanted.

    • Josephine says:

      I love a good cookie exchange. You should require tiaras, or provide them for photo-ops 🙂

    • StillDouchesOfCambridge says:

      To the contrary, I think she doesnt want to go because in this type of event she needs to talk and have some level of intellectual challenge, and I dont she feels comfortable in her role, I think she feels very inadequate and imposter. She wants the tiara and outfits, but just look-at-me events, no where with educated and capable people.
      They have no idea what shes doing when “it is believed” she is prepping her xmas concert…

      • Blujfly says:

        I agree with you. There’s hardly any photos from the event. There’s no celebrities. She’s expected to speak to diplomats herself and work the room. She doesn’t want to do any of those things. She looks to be taken care of, like Tom cruise escorting her at the mission impossible premiere, when she is hosting this one.

      • Jay says:

        That’s assuming that she has the self-awareness to be ashamed that she can’t hold her own in a roomful of professional diplomats! This woman has agreed to appear in panels with actual experts in, for example, early child development and education for which she had very little to offer, and that neither embarrassed her nor stopped her from attending.

        I think it’s more of a benching – Charles, Camilla, and TOB himself don’t want her on the guest list, because dull as she is, her clothes do get headlines, and any appearance these days is a rarity that the rota will jump all over. Camilla needs that photo of herself in a tiara being charming, ergo, Kate has to stay home.

      • Jais says:

        @jay, the self-awareness argument is somewhat funny. She invited Jill Biden to a round table discussion that lasted 15m so yeah. @blujfly, I get where you’re coming from but I just can’t see Kate avoiding even one tiara moment.

      • GTWiecz says:

        They are separated, folks. It’s obvious. There’s no more health excuse, since she appeared so vibrant at Wimbledon. She’s no longer his wife (maybe only in paper), and she really doesn’t want to be near him (and vice versa).

      • StillDouchesOfCambridge says:

        @jay there was an eta where she had to do sit downs and look like a pro, but that boat has sailed because we all saw how little that did for her because of the obvious incompetence, starting with the 5 big questions, jill biden roundtable, any event where meg spoke and she had absolute zero voice power. I dare you to find an event where she had to speak from a professionnal/experience standpoint.
        Nada

  2. Daffodil says:

    Don’t these fools know that they wouldn’t have to do any work for a solid week, maybe two, if they just let Kate attend? The articles about her dress, her hair, her jewelry, what the kids did while the sitter was there, the wee little birds and mice who dressed her—it would feed the press for days!

    • Barb Mill says:

      Yes. Isn’t this the exact glamor at the top that article from yesterday was talking about.

      • Smart&Messy says:

        Right?? Why would they want to bench her??? It says it all that she is the only one who garners attention and can be held up as somewhat glamorous, but here we are. And we know she looks perfectly presentable, aside from some undereye circles. So why?? Even if William hates her, KC and his team must know they need the celebrity type attention she gets. And I don’t think Camilla wants all the limelight on her. She knows that no headlines will be written about her style or graceful regal appearance (while Kate’s fans in the nursing home comment that everywhere)

    • Tess says:

      Willy has to want her there for her to be there. I guess Willy does not want to shell out a few hundred thousand pounds for Karen to attend. Kate said “pay per view, my darling husband,” just like Melania Trump.

    • sevenblue says:

      Wasn’t that the last state event where she attended while dressed like little red hooded girl, then exited the car weirdly? Maybe, that is why they don’t want her there.

      • Gabby says:

        I believe Kaiser called her Little Red Flashing Hood, which is still damn funny.
        I could see that getting her uninvited from future diplomatic events. Except we lose out on comedic opportunities as a result.

      • sevenblue says:

        @Gabby, 😭😭 OMG, I didn’t remember “Little Red Flashing Hood”. So fitting.

    • Interested Gawker says:

      After having her legs out for all to see in that red get up at the South Korean visit I don’t blame them.

    • ML says:

      Dadfodil, Yes to everything you wrote.
      So…1. K was benched because she’d overshadow someone; 2. K was benched due to how she’s behaved (at last year’s white tie event); 3. K is more or less on strike and someone doesn’t want the public to know; and/or 4. K is unable to attend.

    • Dilettante says:

      Kate was benched because she’s a liability at these events. Aside from the behavior when the Koreans visited, what on earth can she converse with anybody about?

      • Anna says:

        Exactly. She will attend only events where she can dress pretty and wave. I suspect she is aware she fu&s up every time some common sense and diplomacy is required and might not want to embarrass herself again.

      • Moneypenny424 says:

        @Dilettante c’mon, she has keenness for days!

    • Asantewaa says:

      This is not a good look. The marriage is over. They are just keeping up appearences. They are afraid the cat would be let out of the bag about her ‘illness’ notice she is allowed to go to functions that have little to no communication. Wimbledon, Trooping, Remembrance day Chit chatting to diplomats is a bridge too far, she may slip.

      • GTWiecz says:

        Exactly right. I can’t imagine why the British public thinks they’re still married after this.

      • Kingston says:

        This is it exactly! The marriage is ovah! Its been all pretense since at least 2022……..marked by the move to her separation house, Adelaide cottage.

        On Remembrance Day earlier this month, the wreath that Bully laid had only his singnature on it. Some smart internet sleuthsw were able to pull up last year’s and the year before (2023 & 2022) showing both their signatures. This year, it was only bully’s sig planted smack in the middle, showing that there was no intention to include her.

        The marriage is done! And she is indeed benched.

    • Jay says:

      @daffodil Yes, it would feed the press for days, and that’s the problem! Charles has proven since the Diana days that he hates to be overshadowed, and he particularly resented someone like Diana who outshine him with beauty, glamour, and charisma. He was always complaining about Diana’s looks overshadowing his more “important” work. Camilla never had this problem, interestingly – she never had the youthful appeal, the fashion sense, or the way with people, and she didn’t become Charles’ mistress in the first place by forgetting to tend to his ego. I don’t think he would have married someone who would steal his headlines!

      I’m not suggesting that Kate is nearly as glam or interesting as Diana, but her looks and more interesting than whatever the king and queen can do – and that’s a problem. It’s one thing to shove Kate out there as an answer to Meghan, who does have charisma and glamour. Keen can’t really compete, but she’s all they’ve got! But potentially having Kate “distract” from Charles big day? Not happening.

      • Milkshake says:

        Camilla doesn’t have a this problem for Charles because the only things that overshadow her looks are her slurring, her absolute disregard for anyone who she can’t manipulate, and her obvious hypocrisy.

    • Unblinkered says:

      Completely agree with you, @stilldouchesseofcambridge, KM will be terrified of those type of events and will be mightily relieved at not having to attend.

  3. Eurydice says:

    Holy cow. I thought it was Kate who didn’t want to leave the house and they’d have to tempt her with tiaras to get her out, but this is the total opposite. And the excuse is so ridiculous. What could Kate possibly be doing at night for a Christmas concert several weeks in the future? Will she be busy licking stamps and putting labels on invitations?

    Is this retaliation for her not wanting to work – like if she won’t do the bread and butter, she can’t have the tiara? Is she more sick than we know? Or is this William’s next step in her retirement?

    • Becks1 says:

      Yeah this is surprising to me. Well kind of surprising. I think this makes it clear who is calling the shots re: Kate. She’s been told which events she will attend and which events she won’t. I am not sure how much she actually enjoyed this event – too much small talk with people more qualified than her – but she definitely enjoyed dressing up and wearing a tiara and diamonds etc. So if she’s not there its because she was told not to attend.

      I know we’ve been all over the place since January on our theories here, but this definitely makes me swing back towards this is all about permanently retiring her from royal life. She probably agreed as long as she got to go to Wimbledon and that was that.

      • Anonymous says:

        Even Wimbledon will not be hers in the long run. She is being phased out.

      • Eurydice says:

        Lol, it’s surprising/not surprising because it’s the simplest explanation. So many wild and convoluted theories, when it just comes back to what’s been in front of our faces all along – that William’s sick of her and she’s outlived her usefulness.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Eurydice exactly. we’ve all been going around in circles and honestly its probably just as simple as William being sick of her and this is just another step in her phasing out.

      • Nic919 says:

        Yeah there is no way anyone believes Kate was too busy with the Carol concert to not wear a new dress and tiara for this event. One thing to look out for is whether or not Sophie and Anne are wearing the new family order. Camilla got her solo outing already and so I suspect Anne and Sophie will have theirs for all the engagements they have done this year.

        It really does look like there was some sort of negotiation relating to which events she would attend. And Carole and Mike attending the ascot was likely a part of it.

        I know many thought Kate “won” whatever happened because the Middletons made a public appearance but the crown always wins and William will be the crown.

      • BeanieBean says:

        I agree that maybe it’s the type of event. She has no game, no small-talk, no big-talk, no normal ‘I’m interested in what you’re saying’ face. Stand her on a balcony to smile & wave, or look dour, sure, that’s in her wheelhouse, but keep her away from people.

      • Smart&Messy says:

        Why does William think that it’s a better look to go stag?? My theory used to be that he wants to remove Kate from his public image because he is planning to marry someone else in the future. Now I’m so confused, I have no idea what this all means.

  4. That must not have been negotiated into her contract. Plus it keeps her away from the tiaras and expensive necklaces and such that she wore and didn’t return. No wonder it looked like she had been crying all night before the veterans remembrance. She will not be getting what she and her mother wanted.

    • PinkOrchid says:

      Wait – are you saying Kate stole some of the royal jewels? I had not heard this before. Tsk-tsk.

    • Tess says:

      I think Kate will go the way of Melania Trump – pay per attendance IF and WHEN her husband wants her seen with him in public. It can be lucrative for Kate IF she does not want a divorce and has got something on Peg to keep the status quo as it is.

    • MayP. It is missing period. I’m getting from you that you are a royalist bootlicker about these jewels that were not returned to the trust. They had been in the collection for quite awhile until Can’t got her hands on them and now they have vanished. No wonder the events with lots of jewel wearing is off limits to her now.

      • Becks1 says:

        The point though is that there is no “trust” to return them to. They are not part of the royal collection but were the personal property of QEII. So if the necklace is missing for whatever reason, as weird as it to say about a multimillion dollar necklace, that would be an issue for charles personally, not the RCT. Many of the jewels Kate and Camilla wear ARE part of the royal collection, but many belong to them personally.

      • BeanieBean says:

        Y’all, it does belong to the Royal Collection Trust. That was not a ‘personal’ gift; she was gifted that at the wedding because of who she was, because of her position as the next head of state. See my link to the RCT above in response to Mayp.

      • Mayp says:

        LOL, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever been accused of being a “royalist boot licker”! @becks1 is right. Any such “missing” jewelry is now the concern of Prince Charles.

      • Becks1 says:

        Ha, well if its part of the RCT then I walk back my statement re: this particular , but generally I do think its important to note that not all jewelry is part of the Trust.

        although I’m reading the link and its clear the necklace was used in an exhibition put on by the RCT, but that does not mean it is actually part of the RCT. the Queen could have loaned it for the exhibition, especially as it notes it was a wedding present and the exhibition refers to it as the “The Queen’s.” Hm, interesting.

        Regardless, can we stop with the name calling because someone has a different take on a situation? Its becoming more and more common on here.

      • Mayp says:

        @beaniebean, as I indicated above, you have linked to a page showing a past exhibition for the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen. The exhibition pairs photographs taken of royal Jewelry, photographs that ARE in the RCT, with the actual pieces of jewelry, at least some of which were, loaned to the exhibition.

        Yes the Queen received the necklace only because she was going to be a head of state and not Joanna q public. But that didn’t matter back then. She could and did grab and gather all the jewels she wanted. She was a greedy little magpie.

        It was only in the 90s that rules went into effect in relation to jewelry given to working royals. Those rules were not retroactive so the Queen was not divested of her personal jewelry that had been given to her previously.

      • @MayP apologies are in order. Please accept my apologies. I have been extremely grumpy since November 6th outcome and have in general been very bitchy to most things and comments. My husband has wisely told me to continue to be so broken and mean let’s the one who won be the one who broke me and that is unacceptable!! I humbly apologize.

      • Nic919 says:

        I think there is an issue with how it isn’t clear if this jewelry is part of the royal collection or if it belonged to the queen personally? This is more Royal shenanigans.

      • Mayp says:

        No problem @susan. My response was rather brusque, out of frustration, because I have explained the whole personal jewelry issue not a few times on this site. So I was asking for it!

        Personally, I would think it was funny if it was actually missing and someone like Kelly or Kate absconded with it and it shows up on a Middleton in the future! But it’s Charles’ problem now.

        @nic, they are now being very vague about what is and isn’t personal jewelry, unless it’s Meghan and her Earrings of Doom and Destruction! They aren’t even listing gifts by type now. And previously, for example, regarding Kate and William’s overseas trips in the beginning they were vague and would say simply three necklaces, 30 dresses, etc. So we do not know for sure what jewels are and are not Kate’s personal property. I, personally, have been wondering about the emerald and diamond set she received. Timing-wise, I think she started wearing that after her official visit to indonesia.

      • Jais says:

        A lot of my comments since the election have felt spiky. I love the discussions here about royal jewelry bc it’s such an intersection of politics and royal shenanigans and sparkles.

  5. Beverley says:

    I wonder when they’ll announce the divorce?

    • Pumpkin says:

      Can we retire that divorce comment already? Because after cancer, he will never divorce her , he cares about sticking to his father and family man image.

      • Beverley says:

        We’ll see.

      • Tess says:

        I would say divorce – not just yet. The Sussexes are too happy together for one, secondly, there is the thing Karen is dangling over Peg’s head that Peg can’t stomach to shell out 10s/100s of millions as settlement to keep her schtum, 3rdly, cancer will defo make look Peg like an A… hole – but I can’t see Peg settling and seeing her as queen. I would say, it’ll happen before Chuckles pass away – IF it has not happen already.

      • sunnyside up says:

        He probably could divorce her after a few years, or perhaps when the children are grown up.

    • I agree with you Beverley I to think he wants out and is waiting for the right time.

      • Anonymous says:

        Peg is definitely biding his time before he makes an official public announcement with good enough time before Chuckles leave this mortal coil and enough time that he does not look too much of an A….hole with the cancer thing.

      • Beverley says:

        Agreed, Susan Collins. Peg is waiting for the right time. Sure he can’t divorce a wife suffering from cancer…but cancer isn’t static. It either progresses or it goes into remission. I foretell that eventually the official story will be that Kate herself will ask for the divorce because she’s incapable of supporting the future king in the way he should be supported and she only wants what’s best for him.

        William WILL find a way to put her away. Kate will never be Queen.

      • Becks1 says:

        I dont think William ever wanted her cancer to be public knowledge and that’s why he wasn’t there for the bench video.

        Also, thinking of the “slip” about “precancerous cells” – if that came from William, it sort of makes more sense, right? He’s trying to downplay Kate’s cancer and walk it back to “precancerous cells.” He can’t divorce a wife with cancer but Kate told the whole world she was cancer free so……

      • Christine says:

        Yeah, it’s not even subtle anymore. She doesn’t even get visitation with Big Blue anymore. I’m really starting to think she said, “You want to divorce me? Well, I’ve got cancer!! Hey, World, I have CANCER!!!”

        It may take longer for him to extricate himself due to her and her mother’s shenanigans, but now it’s going to be extra cruel.

        She’s planning her Christmas carol event so she absolutely must skip her favorite of all events, one with a tiara? Remember when they slapped one associated with Kate on Sophie’s head, and didn’t even have time to change it from the brunette liner? This is telegraphing she’s never going to get to wear another one again.

        She’s going to be addressing invitations that night, this is hilariously brutal.

        They aren’t even pretending she’s nurturing the children, as is her preferred post- cancer excuse, to tug the heartstrings.

      • Jais says:

        Robert Jobsen just said that the whole RF is looking out for Kate and keeping her in a protective bubble. By keeping her away from the tiara events, they’re protecting her? Okaay… One of my theories has been that the RF has made a concerted effort to appear supportive of Kate, from Charles to Sophie, and that it’s bc in case something is ever made public, like a separation or divorce or MH issues, wider family members want it known that they’ve been supportive to her. They don’t want another case of looking unsupportive to a married-in, regardless of what the actual truth is behind the scenes.

      • ShazBot says:

        Considering it’s the daily mail, this article is the most measured about the cancer, saying Kate’s actual words “cancer had been present and doctors recommended a course of preventative chemotherapy”. THAT would mean the cancer was likely stage 0 or 1 and it was all gotten and they were just mitigating for any missed cells.

      • Yes I believe she is hiding behind this and using it to her advantage, which is really wicked of her to do, so that Peg doesn’t divorce her right this minute. Peg is slow waltzing her out the door for sure.

      • Nic919 says:

        Jobbo is trotting out a weak excuse. Charles is still doing treatment but he can attend and yet Kate who said she’s cancer free cannot?

      • Jais says:

        4sure it’s weak from Jobbo. But i tend to look at it as whatever BP wants us to think. They want us to think they adore love and support Kate. Not saying it’s believable😂 Maybe they do maybe they don’t but that’s what they want us to think at the moment despite her lack of tiara attendance.

      • @Jais. All I can hear in my head is Peg telling Can’t “NO TIARA FOR YOU” lol. Peg being a Tiara nazi. I know my sense of humor is off right now but come on at home doing invitations? 😂😂😂

      • Jais says:

        No tiaras for you! 😂 It’s funny but these people are really like that. Playing game of tiaras for kicks.

  6. HeatherC says:

    I’ve decided to wear a tiara while working from home today. It’s called multitasking Katie. I would have thought she would have fought tooth and nail for the tiara events!

  7. ArtHistorian says:

    It is a weird excuse for not attending ONE evening of festivities. That really should not derail the organization of the Christmas concert.

    I guess she has been benched.

    • lanne says:

      I agree–this kind of event is what Kate married into that family to do. She is supposed to be giving the RF its glamour–the pictures of her gowned up are worth millions, plus if there’s a glamourous alternative in the Sussexes, it’s even more important that they shove Kate out there as Princess Barbie as a countermeasure. She’s out.

    • Jais says:

      It’s a very weird excuse. The Christmas carol concert is not going to be planned on a random weeknight which is when this tiara thing is taking place. Honestly, this is such an unbelievable excuse that I wonder if they’ll stick with it or if we’ll get some different reasons given at some point.

      • Moondust says:

        Maybe they told her she could rewear that fake tiara of hers and she was not into it this time.

      • Jais says:

        The only way I can see Kate actively choosing not to attend is if she was not given what she considers an adequate tiara. Otherwise it’s a benching.

  8. somebody says:

    I’d bet the people at Westminster Abbey are the ones mostly organizing the concert.

    • Sid says:

      I believe so too. As I understand it the main choir event was happening long before Mrs. Wails stepped in and put her name on it to make it seem like it was all her idea.

      • Christine says:

        Yeah, per usual, Kate takes an existing thing and acts like she is a trailblazer who thought of it. See also: Early years are important, you don’t say.

        I don’t know who ever convinced her she could and should compete with Meghan. I am so glad she and Harry took their collective work ethic, talent, and sparkle to another continent where this stupid, talentless family couldn’t use them simultaneously as cover and good PR, as needed.

  9. Laura D says:

    The thing is Kate missing an event isn’t like it was when the REAL queen cancelled. We all knew that when QEII missed an appointment then there was something wrong. However, Kate does so little that it’s a bigger shock when she actually turns up for something! Her non-attendance really won’t have the headlines she (and her mother) think they will.

  10. Hypocrisy says:

    Is Camilla hoarding all the tiaras? I always have found the ridiculous “fab four” narratives hilarious.. this family doesn’t even have a fab two anymore it’s a reach to call an of these extremely out of touch, unaccomplished and homely people fabulous in any aspect of their lives.

  11. Jaded says:

    I’m celebrating an A+ on my latest tumor markers — down from 41 to 1, lymph nodes looking clean. Think I’ll dig out the family jewels to wear with my housecoat and get Mr. Jaded to make me French toast for breakfast.

  12. PinkOrchid says:

    Now I understand why Kate appeared alone on a BENCH for her cancer reveal video. As Kaiser points out in this post, Kate has been benched. The symbolism is too obvious.

    • Anonymous says:

      Also, Peg did not want to be associated with that AI bench video at all for all sorts of reason. IT was AI, the cancer was her announcement, not Peg. Peg and the courtiers can easily play it out later on that the woman made it all up IF the woman starts something IF the big D happens, and she starts talking about DV happening, then Peg can counter that with cancer being made up by her. Those people are malicious and devious and nothing is low enough to get one over the other. Anything is possible with that family.

  13. therese says:

    I agree that this is the kind of thing Kate liked, because it was one of the few things she could handle: pretty dress, diadem, small (baby) talk. I just think that her lack of finesse in speaking off the cuff, or at all, has diminished considerably. I also agree that she is being edged out. I think that something this past year was wrong with William and they put the focus on Kate. I think she had a nervous break-down, and possibly an eating disorder emergency, but I think this is what will be used eventually to say that she has decided to step down. And operation Free Willie is underway.

  14. sunnyside up says:

    Wow, what a surprise, and if it was her idea what a snub to all the diplomats. If it was the King’s choice then that is really interesting.

    • Jaded says:

      I don’t think it was her decision. This has KFC’s hands all over it, as well as Camzilla’s and Slumlord Bill’s. The whole cancer story was just a badly contrived way of covering up an ugly marital separation. She gets AC and big blue but has to maintain a low profile and a shut mouth.

  15. Tina says:

    This surprises me as I had this event as one of the handful that she would attend annually in the ‘new normal’. She would get a new dress, wear a tiara and the press would be sated for weeks with the pictures. Easy peasy. Huh…….I’m actually a bit shocked.

    • ncboudicca says:

      @Tina: right there with you on this one. It’s a big deal annual event and I would’ve expected her to show up and wear a fancy dress, with several days of photos and fawning news articles about how glamorous she is to follow.

      But given how terrible she looked on the balcony the other day, perhaps she’s just not in any kind of state to be able to “perform” at the reception and make small talk with strangers.

  16. Mads says:

    God, this is so reminiscent of the dying days of Chuck and Diana’s marriage with the Rota and the wider media holding the palace line against the glaringly obvious reality of a broken marriage.
    Really not sure how long this can go on for but it’s going to be the foreign media that will break first.

    • Christine says:

      Word, except Kate never distinguished herself like Diana, so she’s easier to get rid of. It will never stop surprising me that Kate and Carole completely missed the part where she was supposed to make herself irreplaceable to the British public. It was obviously never going to be with charisma, like Diana, but it could have been through a great work ethic and choosing unpopular causes to shine a light on, like her mother in law did with landmines and HIV/AIDS. I will never forget Diana hugging the earliest victims of the AIDS crisis.

      • Blujfly says:

        The mistake they made was believing the royals that if you’re a good girl we will take care of you. Or, Kate was truly incapable of that kind of work or attitude. The Middletons’ focus seemed solely on co-opting William.

  17. aquarius64 says:

    Kate as future queen needs to be at an event like this and they are not pulling the cancer card. Planning for that Xmas concert is day work (done by the staff at WA) . I may have been premature with Kate being at a Trump state visit. What is going on?

    • Becks1 says:

      Yes, if we had heard something like how this event would be too tiring for her, she can’t be on her feet that long as she recovers, her doctors recommended she not go, SOMETHING – this wouldn’t be as surprising. Instead she’s not going because she’s planning her christmas service? What?

      • Nic919 says:

        It’s pretty hard to say she gets easily tired when she did a whole video of rolling around and wandering the meadows.

    • Eurydice says:

      Seriously, the Future Queen, Wife of the Global Statesman and Rock in Times of Crisis won’t be standing with the Royal Representatives of the UK and Commonwealth Realms…because, something, something, Christmas party…

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      Given the ‘pre cancerous cells’ comment and the traction is gained esp on SM my guess is KP finally read the room – she is the future (at the moment) Queen and she should be there. She has been benched, likely by William – the excuse is odd given her attendance at the Remembrance day events. If she can plan her ‘good days’ for her Christmas Carol event then am sure she could have mustered up the energy to attend this.

      Wanna bet the Carole event the guest list is made up of mostly Middletons with maybe a few members of the RF? Might get Zara and Mike there.

  18. tamsin says:

    Kate seems to attend events where she all she has to do is smile and wave, or just stand and be seen in full make-up and “costume.” A diplomatic reception requires interaction with people. Kate seems to be avoiding that. I know she presented a tennis trophy and attended matches, but she is not required to interact with anyone in the royal box with her, and she could be given a script for the trophy presentation. She really is now just a mannequin it seems. I really think there are mental health issues here aside from other medical issues.

  19. Lulu says:

    This is rather shocking. She finished her ‘treatment’ in September. She cannot attend a dinner for a few hours? Why is she benched? C&C don’t like her to upstage them, Will is distancing himself or perhaps she behaves inappropriately at this type of event? Probably all of the above. This is probably why there was a nauseating article about Will and Kate’s love story, trying to get ahead of this announcement.

  20. Sid says:

    Willileaks does not want Mrs. Wails sitting next to him on that ugly wooden chair if he makes it there. Chuck’s cancer diagnosis has probably made him even more frantic about preventing that.

  21. Amy Bee says:

    I’m going to bet that Kate will attend the Qatar State Dinner.

    • Jais says:

      So you’re thinking she’s not benched so much as she’s saving the drama of her appearance for the Qatar state dinner?

      • Amy Bee says:

        I just think that in her mind, the State Dinner would be the more glamourous event.

      • Jais says:

        Maybe? It’s possible? I can see a big thing being made about her not attending this event and then surprise or last minute attending the Qatar one? Guess we’ll see. But any tiara event seems like something she would want to do? But who knows at this point. If she doesn’t attend the QAtar event that would be another ouch.

    • Mayp says:

      I don’t know. They have a built-in excuse now – the Christmas concert. That concert is being filmed 3 days after the State dinner. Great excuse to keep Kate home. Honestly, this was what I was expecting years ago – Kate being benched. So at this point, I would be surprised if she shows up for the State dinner.

      • Jais says:

        So the concert part is being filmed? When does the family do the whole walk into the church thing? Wearing matching colors? Is that also the 7th?

      • Mayp says:

        Yes, @jais, the whole shebang takes place on Friday, December 6th. The coordinated walk, the carols, etc. But it is not aired until Christmas Eve this year. That gives them plenty of time to add in fake piano playing and edit out any unflattering bits.

      • Jais says:

        Oh wow, interesting, sorry Dec 6th. So will the king and queen then be too tired to attend? I’m guessing probably?

      • Mayp says:

        I’m not sure they’ve ever attended.
        Maybe the first year? I would be surprised if they do. It will be interesting to see what Royals show up for the event. I’m also wondering if we’ll see the Earl Spencer’s daughters.
        They seem to have firmly planted their flag in the Waleses’ camp.

    • Kat says:

      But but what can she eat at the State Dinner without putting just one ounce of weight on?

  22. Kateee says:

    Is it possible Kate is benched from these high glamour receptions because of doctor’s orders? Perhaps she is not far enough into her recovery to be publicly around food while also being scrutinized for her appearance? I could see events like this being extremely triggering for an ultra competitive woman whose self-worth is rooted in her “effortless” thinness.

  23. Sue says:

    I’m sorry for being clueless – I usually don’t read the royal stories because they’re not my area of interest – I’m more here for the celeb gossip and U.S. political commentary. Why do they want to bench Kate? Are they mad she took up too much attention by having cancer? Her cancer diagnosis stole Charles’ cancer diagnosis’s thunder?

    • BeanieBean says:

      William is tired of her, it seems.

    • Mayp says:

      @sue, so many reasons. I don’t think she’s has ever been liked in the family, first off. She has pulled too many mean girl tricks on some of the other royals, for example, Beatrice and Eugenie. She wouldn’t take direction well, for example, walking in front of the Queen, repeatedly flashing people, etc. Also, being part of a grabby duo when it comes to homes that they want and kicking people, and in one case a charity, out. Grabbing jewelry, with the help of Angela Kelly, that had been loaned to other people (previously jewelry would be loaned to one Royal female for life). Seeking and getting attention when the spotlight was supposed to have been on Charles, Camilla and or the Queen. Her insistence that her family, the Middletons, be included more in public Royal functions than in-laws previously enjoyed. And, of course, her laziness. I really think the Royals thought Kate would snap out of it and fall in line.

      This and more led me to believe that Kate was not very well liked within the family, however, William previously had her back. That is the difference now. I think William is finally fed up with her and is not going to bat for her, or the Middletons, anymore. That is why I think it is possible that she could be benched now when previously, as much as the Royals might have wanted it, they felt they couldn’t.

  24. Blujfly says:

    I’m going to take a slightly different tact here. I don’t think the celebrity/fun/adoration of Kate ratio is high enough for her to deign to attend it. Usually only 1 official photo is realized and even that is recent. The other pictures are just of them driving in. There’s no movie to watch, no celebrities to touch, no frivolities. They’d rather not have her there because she’s a lightweight, and if you get to wear a tiara and no one sees it, is it even worth it?

    • Jais says:

      They only get one pic? Huh, I guess I’m baffled by the fact that there’s going to be a tiara event with lots of people wearing tiaras and they won’t even share pics with the public? That’s kind of weird right? I get that they might not want the heat of so much wealth on display but still that is kind of proprietary. Very we’re all wearing tiaras but no one’s allowed to see vibes. At the end of the day though, I’d think any one picture of a tiara would be something kate would want? Maybe not though. I mean maybe Camilla refused to let her wear a new tiara and so Kate has refused to go. That’s an actual possibility. Maybe she is refusing to go to a tiara event until she’s given a new tiara to wear. Maybe she’s waiting till she’s queen and then has full control over the royal jewelry vaults. Maybe she knows she doesn’t have long to wait. Idk I’m just throwing spaghetti at the wall.

      • Becks1 says:

        They are starting to share more from the event. The pictures in this post are all from last year or the year before. We used to just get a shot of them arriving, and then maybe some blurry video, and then they started releasing one official picture, and now we get a lot more.

        Kate likes to dress up and wear tiaras and big jewels, and this is absolutely an event she will be expected to attend as QC. So it is VERY weird that she’s not going.

      • Jais says:

        Okay yeah. At the end of the day it’s a tiara event and it just doesn’t at all seem like something she’d want to miss. She even made a fake tiara for the coronation!

    • Nic919 says:

      They have started filming it which is likely something Charles started. It’s not just a photo anymore. Plus it’s usually where we see if new orders are given.

  25. Tessa says:

    Kate does not “organize” the concert. The work is done by others and the singing is rehearsed without Kate. Kate may plunk a few piano keys and grin for cameras, but really does nothing for that concert.

  26. Lau says:

    Man, we won’t be getting the enormous hairpiece dropped at the top of her head this year ! Sad.

  27. Popsicle says:

    The “protective bubble” comment by Jobson to me reeks of eating disorder recovery.

    It’s going to be very very interesting to see what their excuses will be going forward if she skips more and more events further and further out from her treatment.

  28. Jennifer says:

    As someone who at 35y/o was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and now is the same age as Mumblina Middleton (42) I will forever insist that something HAS/IS/DID happen to Mumbles but cancer and chemotherapy isn’t it. None of this makes any sense at all and if it wasn’t so obvious how inept everyone involved is acting it would actually be legitimately tragic. It is so clear that whatever … ‘relationship’ she and Willwont have now is at best a contractual one, it’s also sad how they or those around them think PEOPLE BELIEVE IT or they’re doing a good job at “selling it”
    Maybe the photoshop/airbrush budget doesn’t allow for adequate quality of retouching of any released photos for this event, especially so close to her big hurrah piano recital.
    I’m more interested or may be more concerned or convinced that she’s still struggling with “something” if they find an excuse for her not to participate in the upcoming state visit from the representatives from the Qatar idk. That seems like something a entrenched future Queen Consort would be expected to be part of, full stop.

  29. Teagirl says:

    Can anyone say if someone in recovery from an ED would be able to go to a fancy dinner with lots of courses and rich and exotic food? Surely it would be very difficult?

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