Today marked a royal milestone for Kate: her first solo visit to Scotland in an official capacity. We tend to see the Cambridges travel together for 'away days' to Scotland and Wales, so it's quite nice to see Kate's role developing in that sense.
Ahead of the visit Kensington Palace noted: "The focus of the day is on the valuable partnerships that exist locally between charities, communities and schools to deliver a range of integrated programmes and sporting activities designed to nurture children and young people."
Kate's first port of call was St Catherine's Primary School to see some of her patronage Place2Be's work in Scotland to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils, parents, families and school staff.
The Countess joined the school assembly where students sang a song of welcome and presented a quaich cup of welcome. What is a quaich cup you might ask? It's a special kind of shallow two-handled drinking cup in Scotland, deriving from the Scottish Gaelic 'cuach' meaning cup. "The origin of quaichs in Scotland is traced to the Highlands; it was not until the end of the 17th century that they became popular in such large centres as Edinburgh and Glasgow. Commemorative quaichs were awarded as prizes or given as gifts. These prize cups are rarely used for actual drinking. Wooden commemmorative quiachs were given as presents to winners of the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Kate joined headteachers from schools in Edinburgh to discuss the mental health challenges of their school community and the benefits of having a partnership with Place2Be. It's good to see the focus on children's mental health continuing with this visit. Over the past several months we've seen Kate's interest and commitment grow with engagements in the area, a video message for Children's Mental Health Week, and most recently a collaboration with The Huffington Post. The Palace recently stated this is an area Kate plans to support in the years to come.
A fantastic drawing from a student participating in a Place2Be programme.
Kate's second engagement of the day saw her visit The Art Room's first studio in Scotland at Wester Hailes Education Centre.
The Art Room's presence in Edinburgh represents a new phase in the charity's growth. In addition to providing an Art Room studio offering therapeutic intervention to children and young people, the charity is working closely in partnership with local support agencies in the area to maximise the impact of its work within the community in Wester Hailes. The Countess was greeted by talented students who are working on a Frida Kahlo project. No doubt art history graduate Kate will be familiar with Mexican artist Kahlo's famous self-portraits. Indeed, several royal fans and fellow bloggers were incredibly excited about this portion of the visit. Ms Kahlo's work has been celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition, and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form. As with many great artists her life was a troubled one, with a volatile marriage and lifelong health problems caused by an accident she survived as a teenager. Kahlo famously said: "I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best."
Kate then join practitioners, school representatives, local stakeholders and members of the wider community for a roundtable discussion about the role and impact of the charity's presence in the area. Again, an opportunity to evaluate the progress and success of the organisation's programmes implemented in schools in the area. The Duchess enjoyed helping children with their artwork and chatting to them about their experiences. A peek at some of the recent artwork recently created by talented students of The Art Room. I'm always amazed by how creative and talented the children involved are and it's always a joy to see their latest work.
The Countess' final stop of the day was to Craigmount High School to participate in a 'Tennis on the Road' workshop hosted by Judy Murray, mum to star tennis players Andy and Jamie Murray. The exciting event called for a change of clothing. Built on the assumption that more can be done to capitalise on the success of the Murray brothers, 'Tennis on the Road' was created to increase coaching capacity in Scotland and grow the game at a grassroots level. Featuring engaging and creative activities, the programme is tailored to teach the basics of tennis to parents, teachers, volunteers and sports development teams to help children develop core skills.
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| Tennis on the Road |
Since Judy founded the workshops in 2014 over 2,200 adults have been trained and over 35,000 children have had access to tennis as a direct result of the programme.
Kate sat on the wooden floor with other attendees of the workshop and listened to Judy speak before activities began. Kate joined Judy and her team for a demonstration workshop and joined in activities to test the skills learned. The Duchess was in her element and appeared to have a fantastic time throughout the workshop. It was an ideal event for keen tennis player Kate who is reportedly set to become patron of Wimbledon during the tournament this summer. Judy Murray said Kate told her she loves tennis because it's one of two sports she can beat William at. A coach from the event said the Duchess was "very competitive". Kate shows off her racket skills.
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| Farfetch |
Kate appropriately debuted a new Scottish label for today's events; Le Kilt. The Gray Classic Houndstooth Wool Kilt is pleated with pin embellishment, frayed trim leather buckle fastenings at wrap front. The piece is 100% pure new wool. It retails for £470. (with thanks to A Petite Princess).
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| Le Kilt |
Founded by Samantha Coach in 2014 with a vision of adding a dash of modernity to her family's kilt-making heritage. Samantha's grandmother has been a traditional kilt maker in Scotland for over 40 years and through Samantha's teenage years she would observe her grandmother expertly tailoring kilts, trousers and other traditional staples from fine Scottish tartan. Samantha has continued the tradition and re-appropriated the style into her modern wardrobe.
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| Le Kilt |
This love of tartan inspired the creation of Samantha’s brand Le Kilt. The name being both a playful homage to the legendary Soho club of the 80’s and a wink towards the untapped, chic potential of the kilt. Central to the Le Kilt philosophy is a preservation of traditional techniques, underscored with modernity. Le Kilt plans to complement its ‘kiltie’ core with key garments and accessories in the coming season - all with a nod and a wink to Samantha's wistfully nostalgic Scots background.
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| Le Kilt |
The brand recently showcased their Autumn/Winter 2016 presentation at London Fashion Week. It featured a freak take on the classic kilt with a variety of colours used. They are also stocked at Harvey Nichols.
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| Le Kilt |
Kate wore a black turtleneck sweater underneath; it's a popular choice for her, especially with skirts.
Kate sported her trusty Stuart Weitzman Power Pumps in black suede.
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| Stuart Weitzman |
The Duchess accessorised with her £2,200 Kiki McDonough 'Lauren' yellow gold diamond pave leaf earrings.
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| Kiki McDonough |
And her Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.
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| Cartier |
The Duchess carried her black suede Mulberry Bayswater Clutch.
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| Mulberry |
For the tennis workshop, Kate opted for a fresh, sporty look featuring a mix of brands. Kate's top is the Nike Baseline Half-Zip women's tennis top (with thanks to Kate's Closet) It features a mock neck and half-zip front for a custom fit and coverage, and contoured seams for enhanced range of motion. The top has 3/4 length sleeves and flat seams to minimize irritation caused by chafing.
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| Nike |
It's a very sleek top perfect for tennis. It comes in an array of colours and is available in sizes XS - XL at Nike for $70.
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| Nike |
Middleton Maven quickly identified Kate's Monreal London Side Panel Track Pants. The panelled track pant has a relaxed silhouette designed in superior Italian-stretch fabric. The pants have been restocked at Monreal London and are available in very limited sizing at Saks Fifth Avenue reduced from $365 to $146. It's another new brand for the Duchess - one her sister Pippa is a fan of.
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| Saks Fifth Avenue |
It is thought Kate wore the Asics GEL-Solution Speed 3 trainers. The $130 pair are described as: "Beloved for its perfect blend of moderate support and speedy ride, the New GEL-Solution Speed® 3 keeps the same low-profile sole geometry of its predecessor yet features a new high-performance upper design." They are available in all sizes at Zappos.
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| Asics |
There's a video from the day available on YouTube.
It was a lovely day with a nice variety of engagements encompassing several important areas. It was fun to see Kate having such a good time at the tennis. What do you think of the day's event and Kate's two looks?
Nice day of engagements today, look forward to the rest. Love the "theme" of going to 3 different schools. Nice for many people to be able to meet/see her! Will also be very nice to see her sporty, she's always as most at ease when competing :P I like to see her highlight these kind of school based projects. It's such a perfect way for charities to connect with the kids, being there at school. Makes it a much smaller step for both kids and parents than if it was something stand alone. So very nice!
ReplyDeleteI love Kate's "Turtleneck and short kilt" look this time, just as I did with the blue one. It's chic and young while respectful! Also, she seems to continue on her houndstooth streak. Which I'm not opposed to at all, since I love houndstooth. I like this reuse of the coat. Doesn't matter that it's rather close in time, the looks are so different. This is a good formula for her regular day events. A nice coat, suede pumps and matching clutch and small drop earrings. Like her version of a uniform.
I agree Rebecca. It was a really nice bunch of engagements for her today.
DeleteAlso, agree that the kilt style skirts with the turtleneck is a winning look. Can't get overly excited about the coat as it is a recent repeat and a rather ordinary, uninteresting piece. Same with the tennis outfit. She looks like an intermediate school Phys. Ed. teacher but, honestly, what else could she have worn. Any tighter would have been bad. Any more loose even worse. The Nike top is cute though.
The important thing was she was dressed for sport, able to sit on the floor and otherwise actively interact with everyone freely and comfortably.
DeleteThe Border Terrier Club of America has several sterling silver quaich cup national trophies donated to the club many years ago as perpetual trophies. Now I know the meaning behind what they represent! I love the green coat on Kate and the tartan skirt. - Ohio gal
ReplyDeleteJust watched the Westminster Dog Show here in the U.S. Dog shows are so fun Ohio gal, aren't they? And so educational. The Westminster one has been around for 178 years or something. Only the Kentucky Derby is the only other sporting event here that has been around longer. I had to switch over to HGTV intermittently as the dogs were so so cute and I don't have a dog at the moment so I had to diffuse the dog cuteness to avoid talking myself into running out the next day and bringing home a dozen or more. :)
DeleteI had a beautiful black Labrador named Sunny. Haven't felt up to another angel yet, but I'm almost there. :)
With so much love to give and so many dogs who need it, I hope you find another angel soon - perhaps from a Labrador rescue or a Labrador-cross. Each pup is different so it won't be quite like Sunny but special in his/her own way. I love my pups to pieces and they give so much in return. I know how devestating it is to lose one - thinking of you.
DeletePlease tell me I'm not the only person on the planet who detests those earrings... but goodness that green coat. LOVE.
ReplyDeleteReally? Detest?! :P That's pretty strong. I think they're pretty! I wouldn't pay that much for them, but they're cute, to me.
DeleteI don't detest them but they are young looking. My twelve year old would be all over them.
DeleteI do not think they are detestable at all. They are gold and pave' in a classic style.
DeleteI thought the green and the kilt were appropriate for Scotland.
DeleteI have no objection to Kate's earrings - I think them quite cute - but Orkney is famous for its wonderful gold jewllery - I would love it it she would choose some pieces from there next time she in Scotland - likewise there is fine jewellery made with a touch of Welsh gold when she does engagements there.
DeleteI don't detest them, but they are rather small and I think white gold or pearls would have been a better choice with the black and white outfit.
DeleteMy dislike stems mainly from their ambiguous shape... I know they are supposed to be leaves but they also look like hearts and I have a very fierce stigma against any jewelry that is heart shaped. From any distance, they look like they should be round but they aren't. The gold and pave is lovely, I just find them... muddled.
DeleteI don't detest them either but I think they would look perfect with a pair of dark denim thin, straight leg Jeans and a white t-shirt or white cami. And maybe a navy blazer with that, and a slightly bumped up ponytail. Something classic but more casual.
DeleteWell, I don't really hate them, but I think they are not the best ones for Kate. They are too small, and the encrusted-diamond design is very overwhelming for the small, yellow gold surface area. I said it before on this blog, but I chose these earrings for her in my segment "Choice Selections for Kate" in white gold, not yellow gold. I think the white diamond look is so much better with white gold. So I agree with royalfan. She should have worn white gold or pearls.
DeleteI would have also liked to see a necklace on her with this outfit. The upper half of it is very basic.
I think those earrings are very beautiful. I think they look really beautiful on Kate. When they catch the light they just sparkle so nicely. (Diamonds, gotta love them.) I am glad she wore the heart earrings after the press frenzy. Wouldn't surprise me if she did that on purpose and of course she was going to be working with children also so that might have had something to do with her choice, but I wouldn't discount overcoming bad press with a little heart-shaped earring either. That would be so Kate.
DeleteI love yellow gold with diamonds, and I think these earrings are perfect for events with children.
DeleteCharlotte how do you do it so fast? Thank you so much! Especially liked that she wore a kilt made by a traditional Scottish firm. Wish I had the figure for it still!
ReplyDeleteI ask her this question all the time
DeleteMe too.:-)
DeleteYikes! I hope she doesn't wind up wearing one of those hideous kilts from the Autumn/Winter 2016 collection!
ReplyDeleteThose were silly looking IMHO. Just regular kilts would be so much better and there are so many beautiful plaids/tartans. Really beautiful ones that stand on their own. They don't have to be adulterated like that. Former Scots are probably rolling over in their graves. (haven't wars been fought over tartans and the integrity thereof?) (not suggesting war, btw, just fashion critique.)
DeleteLove, love, love Kate's look - ladylike and professional. The forest green colour suites her complexion and the skirt is gorgeous. I love seeing her thriving in her role, the work she is doing is so important and much needed. Thank you Charlotte for such a wonderful, positive blog on the DoC - her work and fashion !!!
ReplyDeleteShe is doing such a great job! The choice of children's mental health as her focus is wonderful. It's a meaningful cause where teal impact can be made because it's not a topic most high profile people promote so there her impact is huge. What a worthy cause! I admire both her and Prince William. While I don't feel sorry for him, I do think about the fact that he has practically no choice over his the direction his life takes. Yes, he's wealthy and will have experiences in his lifetime are amazing. And, in his position he can so greatly impact the world in a positive way. However, anyone on this earth that was born trapped in a narrow place with practically no chance to do whatever their heart calls them to do, be they rich or poor, is poor. Freedom is the most valuable possesion a person can have and, like I said, while I don't feel sorry for him, I feel for anyone in any position that never even got the chance to choose their life. Ir's probably just the American in me coming out though! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your posts, Charlotte!! You have a very professional and informative blog. Keep up the positive work just as I hope Willuam and Catherine do! :)
So well put, Anonymous 14:53! These thoughts cross my mind all the time with the Cambridges. Especially when the critics go on & on about their work ethic & such. I don't envy their positions in life, privileges & all, but I admire them endlessly. Not sure which is more difficult....to be born into this role or to marry into it ;-)
DeleteBrava to the Duchess on a notable day of engagements!
A very compassionate perspective 14:53.
Delete22:11, good question. I was going to say being born into it but even if Kate would divorce him (and thank God she won't) she would still be mother to the 3rd and 4th in line to the throne and then directly related to everyone on the throne from then on, so I think being born into it and marrying into it, for Kate anyway, would be equally challenging.
DeleteKate looks so chic today. I'm loving the gym attire. I know I might be a little late, but how many titles does Kate have. She's known as a countess here. It is quite confusing, so she is a Duchess and a Countess? But Sophie is just a Countess but not a Duchess? I'm so confused. :)
ReplyDeleteShe's Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearan, Baroness of Carrickfergus (Spelling?) and Princess William. She takes all her titles from William. He got the 3 Duke, Earl, Baron titles when he got married. Duke of an English county, Earl of a Scottish county and Baron of a Welsh (I think). Edward asked to not be a Duke and be titled an Earl instead (hence Sophie is a countess). When Phillips Duke of Edingburgh title reverts back to the crown on his death, they have made plans that the Queen/Charles (depending who's on the throne) will re-create it for Edward so he can have a line of the Edingburgh dukedom.
DeleteStrathearn is an area, not a county.
DeleteNot pretending to be an expert on this but almost all members of the nobility have multiple titles - the eldest son of a duke/marquis/earl will take his father's second title as a courtesy title normally until he inherits his father's title.
DeleteJust as an example - the queen's cousin Prince Richard who is the Duke of Gloucester - his son is known as the Earl of Ulster until he inherits from his father.
Normally, royal princes close to the succession will just be known as Prince George of Cambridge - for instance - one of these days most likely to be Prince George of Wales, rather than a courtesy title - but Charles did use his second titles sometimes when he was young and was engaged in matters outside his royal duties.
It's traditional for royal family members who have Scottish titles to use them when on official duties in Scotland rather than their most senior title - so Charles and Camiila are the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when on duty in Scotland. There are times likewise when the Queen will be known as HM Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Lancaster... when she visits that county.
Rebecca is correct that it has been said Edward will be made (that is the title will be created) the Duke of Edinburgh when his father dies. The inheritance is not automatic in this case, since Edward is a third son, so time will tell. The title will go to Charles (and to William, if Charles died first) and would be merged eventually with the crown until it is recreated for someone - Edward, for instance.
I'm sure everyone is already confused but it it also should be noted that Louise and James are just as much a prince and princess of the blood as Beatrice and Eugenie - their parents simply prefer that they be called Lord and Lady - probably because they are so far down the succession that they will not undertake royal duties - and in private life, being a prince and princess would cause more notice.
The Duke of York is the traditional title for monarch's second son. Dukes of York by pure chance have not produced sons to inherit the title for a very long time - but as Andrew still could, the title's future will be unknown until he dies. If he lives as long as his father - it could be a second son of George's to take the title - or it could be that a second son of William and Kate (if any) would be given a lesser title on marriage and the title of Duke of York recreated for him when it becomes available - a similar situation to Edward's today.
I think Carrickfergus is in Northern Ireland, not in Wales :) So she has not a title for Wales? I'm confused!
DeleteShould add more correctly that it is said Edward is likely to take the title after both his mother and father pass and the title is merged with the crown.
DeleteI've followed Charlotte's blog for quite a time now and I think it's amazing! All od it. Posts and comments - keep on working Ladies and - probably - Gents :)) Anna from Poland
DeleteEmi- she'll be Princess of Wales in due time. :)
DeleteCarrickfergus is in Northern Ireland not Wales.
DeleteCharles is the Prince of Wales. I don't know that William and Kate have Welsh titles.
Thanks Cecilia.
DeleteOh, that's true Emi! Thanks for correction. Wales is a prinicipality (Hence the Prince of Wales title) so it's probably why.
DeleteThanks Cecilia. I found that curious and in an effort to learn more about Kate I looked up Strathearn.
DeleteStrathearn is the "strath" of the river Earn in central Scotland. It extends from Loch Earn
in Perth and Kinriss to the river Tay.
A "strath" is a large valley, typically a river valley, that is wide and shallow (as opposed to a "glen"
which is deep and narrow). "Strath" can also refer to the low lying grassland along the river or a broad mountain valley where the lowlands meet the highlands.
This Strathearn area is steeped in history and thusly very significant that William and Kate be given these titles.
Courtesy of Cecilia, Wikipedia and Webters
Okay, once I got started I wanted to find out about Carrickfergus also.
DeleteCarrickfergus is a seaside city in Antrim County,
11 miles from Belfast in Ireland. Locals call the city Carrick. It is one of the oldest settlements in Ireland, steeped in history, and again, significant that William and Kate were given those titles.
Carrick is home to one of the best preserved Norman castles, Carrickfergus Castle. John Paul Jones in 1778 and his ship Ranger, attempted to capture a ship moored at Carrickfergus during the revolutionary war. (I was not aware that the war had extended that far.) In 1912, the Titanic (built in Belfast), was moored overnight near
Carrickfergus. Now when we hear Kate addressed by these titles, we will know more of what they are talking about.
Okay. Please bear with me. :)
DeleteI wanted to find about her other title also so,
Cambridge is on the river Cam about 50 miles north of London. Not surprisingly, it is steeped in history, and perhaps more so because it is riverside. Cambridge pre-dates the Iron Age and has archeological evidence of Roman and Viking settlement.
Cambridge is home to Cambridge University, one of the top 5 universities, per Wikipedia. Cambridge is the "Silicon Valley" of England. It is also home to Cambridge Biomedical Campus, one of the largest biomedical clusters in the world. Over 40% of the workforce has higher educational qualifications than twice the national average.
In 1944, a secret meeting of military leaders met in Trinity College and planned the Allied invasion of Europe.
Thank you, Anon, for the research and your very interesting explanations of William and Catherine's titles! Isn't it interesting that each of these titles refers to an ancient area of settlement which also has a fascinating modern history. I suppose Wales is not included because it is not a kingdom and because William is a prince of Wales and will eventually be Prince of Wales.
DeleteYou are welcome. The titles definitely carry a lot of weight in those countries. Now I understand more why.
DeleteI think this is a great day of engagements for her, from singing with the children to the tennis. I particularly like the tennis event (not just because I'm a tennis buff I admit!) but I think engagements like this have a direct "cause and effect" - it will inspire a lot of kids and parents to get out and play! And as research and studies have shown, regular exercise is good for the physical and mental health of children and adults.
ReplyDeleteIt's why I personally would love to see them do more :) they can have a great impact when they're out promoting things.
Meanwhile the EAAA seems to have a gaping leak, more inside information about William's work schedule in the Sun today, as well as his *alleged* temperament at work. And the Telegraph is on Kate about the helicopter again. Tom Sykes has also given his take on the whole thing over at the Daily Beast. They're in for a stretch of this I think.
My fear about these stories is it's a very different time (as I'm constantly reminded) with the internet and social media making it hard to shake labels once they're fixed.
I think the Queen, or possibly Charles, will jump in, maybe as was done with Edward and Sophie. But I'm also thinking there will be a massive staff shake-up at KP, personally I think they could use more mature, experienced staff, so we'll see.
I agree with you completely. However I'm not so against taking a helicopter in this instance because she is going so far from Norfolk. And Norfolk to London has a direct train so to me it's OK in this instance to use the help
DeleteAgree with you about the staff shakeups however there is only so much they can do until William is ready to.listen to their advice.
I hope for a staff shakeup. Also a little shakeup for William and Kate but I don't think he should leave be for his contract is gonna go out. That would make him look flimsyer. I saw pictures of him fueling the helicopter today so it's good that he's seen working. Also, I doubt his temper since the people who worked with him in the RAF said it was impossible to dislike him etc.
DeleteGood point Sarah, I'm not sure if the communications staff are just not very good, not well suited to handling such a high profile couple, or if the boss interferes too much. The reporters and photogs have had good things to say about the KP staff at times, after Charlotte's birth I seem to remember they were very happy, said communication and information was excellent and made for a very smooth day. Though that's a hard day to screw up :)
DeleteDavid Manning was the key person involved with William's speech, one of the reasons I thought it was a deliberate reference (like father like son). Manning is very experienced, has been around a long time, and his sole purpose is to avoid these kind of gaffes, he had to know how it would be interpreted. So it seemed pretty clear to me that William was either used there or wanted to get a point across.
And personally I'm not bothered by the train/helicopter thing (all the royals have been the subject of these stories) was just pointing out the latest press and my sense that they may be in it for a stretch.
I adore this engagement too! Kate is at her best when she's engaged and looking like she thoroughly enjoyed the activities. Her balloon tennis practice with the little girl is very sweet!
DeleteI wouldn't trust the Sun at all. Here it has a reputation of a lewd rag. And the author has been proven wrong in many occasions, taking her quotes and stories from forums and thin air. I am quite sure EAAA and its crew are fully supportive of William. If you read quotes from William's colleagues in the past, you'll see he is well loved.
I agree that KP could use more mature staff. However I do not believe William's current bad press is on the level of Edward and Sophie where a major change was warranted. Far from it.
Dailybeast is claiming that William worked only 100 hours this year ? If it is true that would be quite surprising.
Deletehttp://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/24/lazy-william-has-worked-just-100-hours-this-year.html
I don't understand why everyone is hoping for a staff shake-up - isn't the underlying problem here William's work arrangement? That's not going to change regardless of how many PR experts they hire. Or do you think another PR manager will be able to stop the press from writing negative articles about William and Kate's low engagement numbers?
DeleteIn my opinion, the only mistake here that could possibly be traced to a staff person is the sloppy excuse about CAA rules. However, there's always the possibility William instructed his staff to provide that as his reason. If that's the case, it seems terribly unfair to fire the staff members. I highly doubt the PR folks are going out of their way to antagonize the media, it seems far more likely that they are being given marching orders by William and trying to execute them the best they can. If anything, I hope this is a wake-up call for William. The last thing he should do, however, is surround himself with PR yes-men!
Could you explain the Edward and Sophie reference? I'm relatively new to royal watching but they've been well respected and hard working since I started following the BRF (around W&K's wedding). Was this not always the case? Thanks!
DeleteI would be pleased if Charles, during one of his engagements, would simply state that he is proud of his sons. No need to make this into a bigger issue. (This is not a Sophie and Edward scenario.) How simple would that be? Free PR that Charles, too, could only benefit from. I cannot imagine if, 30 years down the road, something like this happened to George or Charlotte, that William would remain silent. I just can't! Diana would have done something by now, including a very visible lunch date with her daughter-in-law. I'm sorry, but the silence is telling. And by that I am not suggesting that CH is behind it, but the total lack of paternal instinct is quite sad!!
DeleteRoyalfan, I agree with you. A word from Charles or the Queen would do a lot to end all of our speculation. I know that couldn't be done officially, but a comment while on an event would be so simple and, as you inferred, just the thing a caring parent would do. And if William HAS gone rogue, the same tactic could work to light a fire under him. Not this "source" nonsense that is hard to believe, either way.
DeleteAs for Kate's engagements today, she did wonderfully. I loved the kilt and it made me like her coat even more than I did on Christmas. Her tennis outfit was perfect and it was obvious that she enjoyed every minute of the event. It almost makes me want to try tennis myself. Almost!
Hi Heather :) Sophie and Edward tried to have normal, civilian jobs after they were married, she had a PR firm, he had a film production company. They both made disastrous mistakes and showed terrible errors in judgment and were caught by the papers. They have had to work hard to build the reputation they have now.
DeleteI was *not* implying that Kate and William had made those kind of mistakes, not in the slightest. I was referring to how Buckingham Palace *handled* the situation.
They both gave up their positions in the aftermath and the official line was that the Queen asked if they would commit to royal duty full time to help her with her obligations. Likewise, I think a similar line could be trotted out here, attributed to the Queen or Charles, in order to let William save face. That way it looks like he had to give up the air ambulance to help his father and grandmother, and not because of the bad press... of course everyone would see right through that, just as we did with Edward and Sophie :)
And royalfan, how do we know that Charles hasn't reached out to William? Maybe William's put him off, he's known to be prickly. And as I've said, William would not want for a second for anyone to think he, or anyone on his behalf, was reacting to the press. I really think it's a shame that Charles is so often accused of a lack of paternal instinct, or not being a good father, as others have alleged.
Darren McGrady, who knew Diana better than both of us, said she would be furious with William right now, but would have had a hard time handling it, McGrady said "she'd say he's stubborn just like his father!"
I think McGrady is forgetting Diana could be quite stubborn too, when you think of it William didn't stand a chance in that gene pool with two headstrong, stubborn parents!
Well royalfan, an alternative explanation for the paternal silence would be that William's actions are antithetical to what Charles would have wished and to his own sense of duty. Maybe he silently agrees with the press - that his son is lazy and could benefit from a shaking up. Charles has gone on record to publicly shame one of his sons to take on the Princes' Trust. The fact that he publicly spoke so strongly about his sons' reluctance leads me to believe that he may not be quite as happy about William's reluctance to take on the royal role as you believe.
DeleteHeather, thank you for asking for that clarification about Sophie & Edward because that is exactly what I was scrolling down to do when I saw your post! And Claudia thank you so much for the explanation. I was vaguely aware of Sophie making some sort of gaffe early in the marriage but I didn't know the full story.
DeleteRe: William and the criticism, I just think it is very sad all around. He can't be happy, which probably means that Charles nor Kate can be truly happy, and that family is not known for confronting issues head-on. No matter what the details behind the scenes are, I feel very sorry for everyone involved because the press isn't letting up and I don't know how this could end well.
I don't think for one second that William is lazy or irresponsible. Quite the contrary. And when all the dust settles I think we will find that William was working even over the expected amount but within the parameters of safety. I don't think he was ever rude or snippy either. He hasn't been so far. I think the previous management was lacking in certain areas and it showed. Most all unrest gives way to gossip and confusion if the leadership is not proper.
DeleteKudos to you William (and a big friendship hug of support). Keep on keeping on and God richly bless you.
To Heather Potts: The Earl and Countess of Wessex both tried to continue their work outside their royal role when they were first married. He made films, usually with royal themes, and she owned her own public relations firm. But one day she was tricked by a journalist posing as a businessman into saying unwise though not unkind things about the Queen. Soon after, the Wessexes had to give up their outside work and become full time royals.
DeleteThe fuss did not last long. Sophie nearly died in childbirth, and her daughter's eyes were damaged in the process. The sympathy from that crisis, her good cheer, her work, her sincerity and attractiveness, the Queen's favor, and their young family have made the Wessexes popular.
The earl was also in trouble with Prince Charles at one point for letting his photographers take pictures of William at university during the media blackout. That also blew over eventually, though Charles does not seem fond of either of his younger brothers.
Later on, the Duchess of York was tricked by the same unsavory journalist into much worse behavior than Sophie's. She was not so easily forgiven, as that turned into a scandal.
Anon 18:11 Glad I could help with Edward and Sophie, it was quite a fiasco at the time!
DeleteAnd I actually agree, this is all a little sad in some respects. It's frankly what I think will end monarchies, not taxes or costs, but putting that obligation on someone without giving them a choice. And I think people are going to start asking that question a lot more given William's seeming reluctance. Why have it if someone may not want it? Yes an heir could step aside, but a monarchy could only survive so much of that.
This hit home with me after I had my children. I would hate to think a child would have to step into such a public role if it went against every fiber of their being. If someone hated the sight of blood would it be fair to push them into being a surgeon?
Elected officials at least voluntarily throw their hats in the ring, serve for a specific term, and are compensated accordingly with housing and pay. That said, while William is getting many of the benefits that come strictly from his position as heir, he needs to step up in my opinion. After his grandmother dies, I would not be surprised by anything.
I am certain there will be a King Charles, because of timing more than anything. He is said to want a respectable, but brief, period of mourning before the coronation, unlike a year plus when the King died. (you can imagine there are several reasons for this!) So there won't be time for any drastic changes.
I think many serious questions will be asked during Charles' reign however and other plans may be made, I'm less and less sure what will happen after that.
"May you live in interesting times" as the saying goes!
Claudia, we don't know what has happened between them privately this past week, but that is not relevant to the point I was making. For a man who has spent his life hating the press, Charles has even more reason to speak up on William's behalf, aside from being his only living parent.
Delete02:10, Charles' comments referred to both of his sons and had more to do with a father wanting his children to walk the exact path he did. W&H would not be the first, or last, to want to make their own mark. And I guarantee that if William was Charles' shadow, there would be complaints about him riding his father's coattails and NOT making his own mark.
Charles should have spoken up, I'm sorry. The silence reflects badly on the Firm as a whole. Charles pays major money for PR, but a pence worth of common sense would go a very long way here!
And Charlotte thank you always for these great posts! I tend to dive straight into the conversation, others are so much better at thanking you first, I will try to follow that lead! Thank you for the post and the ability to chat, I really enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I do that as well! Last post I actually remembered to thank. So THANK YOU Charlotte. But I think yoou know I like this place already ;)
DeleteI'm guilty of this also :( This is wonderful site, Charlotte, and I appreciate all the time and effort that goes into making it so.
DeleteI have to admit, even this cold dead heart of mine has some sympathy for her today having to go out and perform after the horrific week of bad press her husband is having.
ReplyDeletebluhare you gave me a good laugh with that one! You're right, probably one of the hardest things about public life is having to go on with the show when things may be swirling around you. (Charles and Diana should have won Oscars when you think of it) Kate did a fantastic job today I think, especially given the circumstances.
DeleteWith you on this statement Bluhare. Must also give her kudos on her professional demeanour. No external sign of the drama surrounding her husband.
DeleteYeah, but she seems to be her normal self. Reminds me of the "in that tiny body of hers I think they will see that she has a steel rod going down her spine" (parafrasing). We saw it in Asia after the france pictures, we saw it during their breakup, and we've seen it many other times (and will in the future). It impress me very much, her "keep calm and carry on" persona will help her very much in the future, and is probably one of the things that has such an calming effect on William.
DeleteI agree. I also remember when they were on tour and the French magazine pblished her naked pics. She also showed great strength there. She was shaken I am sure but you could see no sign of it on the surface.
DeleteI hope Claudia will be right and there will be some changes in KP communication team.
Count me as impressed with her enthusiasm and professionalism, too. KP needs to turn Kate loose. I suspect William is to blame for holding her back when it comes to royal engagements, but that is pure speculation. I'm weary of his petulance, and unlike the more generous souls above have little sympathy if he feels burdened by his role. Embrace your power to do good, enjoy the privileges into which you've been born, and get on with it.
DeleteWell it has been said that she has a spine of steel and I can very well believe that. There is a leak as wide as the Niagra Falls at the EAA. And that leak does not seem happy at all. Which is understandable if William took 4 weeks off at Christmas and a number of other people had to miss Christmas with their families or pre-scheduled vacations as a result. KP and William really need to think deep about whether this is the course they want to continue on because the press may not relent now that they are openly calling him lazy. Even the Telegraph openly called him out on his lies and carried the story front page !
DeleteThis article says that a royal insider is now taking over EAA. I wonder whether the old head is being fired over the leaks and they are replacing him with someone who will really clamp down on people leaking to the press. Some of you - I think Claudia predicted that the Queen and CH would step in to stop the press and I think this is what we are seeing.
Deletehttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-williams-new-boss-man-7427120
Well bluhare, when the complaint is that they don't do enough to support the citizens of the UK - I don't quite have the sympathy for her that you do. She took a half day to visit with folks in Scotland and this will probably count as the Cambridge's annual public visit to the country - when you recognize that they will be traveling overseas in April and doing public engagements for the Queen's 90th birthday later this year.
DeleteHer staff is doing a good job of consistently linking her name to children's charities this year - through video release, the HuffPo staff coming to KP, and she visiting two patronages on the same day. I'm curious to see if it will be kept up - or if that's it for this cause for the year.
Anon 18:34 your comment is to the point and in my opinion sheer perfection! I am giving you a solid round of applause :) I may cut and paste and forward to KP!
Delete"KP needs to turn Kate loose" - Yes! Those of us who want them working more recognize the good they can do, the impact they can have, Kate is clearly growing in confidence and ability.
And your last line, "embrace your power to do good... get on with it" I agree wholeheartedly. I know William didn't choose this life and I do have sympathy for that, which gets us into a much bigger conversation about the system of monarchy. But focus on all you can do instead of what you can't. I often think they make things much harder than they have to be.
So much potential exists! I hope this week may be a wake-up call and they both will indeed "get on with it" :) Just a fantastic comment Anon!
Well, if there’s anything good about all the trashing tabloids did on Kate while she was dating William it’s that it has prepared her for situations like these. She’s used to just smiling for the camera and going on with her business. Anyone in the public eye has to develop a thick skin and learn to ignore tabloids or they would have serous mental and psychological issues.
DeleteThe announcement of the new head of the charity was made weeks ago. Nothing to do with the latest drama.
DeleteGood heaven, I'm aghast that the implications with this (not at you, Lecia, but the whole idea.) I trust this gentleman has been choosen solely because he is best suited for the job and for no other reason.
DeleteThis is a charity with an important life-saving role - it is not in anyway there to benefit a prince, even in the slightest. The idea that good and valuable people within that organisation might be "clamped down on" for speaking their perceptions about William is outrageous.
He chose to go into civilian employment and all burdens relating to that must be his alone- William has to be as professional as every other person he works with, and if he fails to carry his load - it must not be smothered away. People's lives could be harmed if good people were punished for nothing more than comments about a prince.
I'm being Cassandra so much, I think I might as well change my name but I warned from the start that royals and civilian employment alway end up as a bad mix - I hoped to be proved wrong but it isn't sounding like it.
As for William, I'm saying what I've said before, do this work for just long enough more that leaving isn't directly linked to these troubles, then get the hell out and go back to royal duities only you can do - where so much good can be accomplished. Find a role within royal life to give it meaning as Charles has done with the Prince's Trust. Better yet, take that over - as your father is said to have wished - it is needed more than ever and could stand a younger representative.
It's impossible any more to say for William to get out of royal life if he doesn't like it and just wants to be a rich Norfolk toff like his mates - by extension, that would remove George and Charlotte from the succession with no say from them. At this point, the ship has sailed, and William must take on the role that he was born for - and whose benefits he has always accepted.
The handful of people William helps even if he did eighty hours is tiny compared to the thousands or more he could benefit in a full-time royal role. He has had ample opportunity to fly and experience private work - although the way he experiences it is nothing like a comman man's and that's the problem. He should be starting to realise now that employees don't like others who are seen as slacking off.
I don't think it will happen because the queen doesn't function that way, but I think it's time William and Kate got sat down for a lesson on royal duty and obligation.
I agree with you all that Kate has a great ability to get on with things, no matter how hard something might be for her personally. And I'm glad she does because she needs it and it'll serve her well in the future. I think the good thing is that, as opposed to Diana, she was already tested on this during her break-up with William, so she knew exactly what she was getting into.
DeleteI think that time in Asia after those pictures got published must have been much harder for her than today though, so after she managed that so well - and better than William even - I think she'll most likely be fine, whatever else may come her way
I must say though that I don't like the fact that they're having a royal insider take over the EAA. William says he wants to work a regular job, that's fine but having someone favorable to you take over the company that you work for is not working a regular job. If he can't deal with the fact that not everyone there will protect him and only ever say positive things about him, then he shouldn't work there.
Claudia, your kind comments prompted me to try to figure out how to post using my first name instead of anonymous. I've enjoyed Charlotte's site and it's contributors for years and would like to be join in the fun. I selected "name/url" (don't have a url), and I'll see if this works.
DeleteRoyal Insider?
DeleteMOXIE!!!!!! I've missed you! I've got extra library privileges because I've been such a model inmate and now you're back working on your thesis! YAY!!
DeleteJulia, interestingly wouldn't Cubitt be related to Camilla? :)
Moxie I thought you'd be here soon, what with the news recently and conversations here.
DeleteA KP representative was said to have commented some years ago that nothing ever gets to her. She is as steady as they come. William was said to have told everyone at their wedding reception during his wedding toast to her that Kate is his rock. I think she is definitely Queen material.
DeleteThought this little media fray might bring you around Moxie. How have you been?
DeleteI have to agree with Julia that it is extremely disturbing that William's new "boss" is a personal friend. I sincerely hope this fact is not just brushed under the rug and ignored. It is hugely problematic.
Deletewelcome Kim. It worked. : )
DeleteMoxie,
DeleteWelcome back! All we needed a kind of a sport event and you are back:-)))
Hi Kim! I did the same thing when I started commenting :) I wasn't sure if it would work at first either, I don't have a website or google account so I was a little stumped too - But glad to see it worked for both of us!
DeleteYour comment just was succinct and perfect, it's not rocket science, just "get on with it" As Churchill himself would say, just keep on going!
I think they got the right man for the Job, regardless. If he was brought forth he was much needed no doubt. I don't believe even one criticism printed about William anyway. Someone had an agenda to take William out and that backfired on them, thankfully.
DeleteWhatever the situation that led to a close personal connection of William's being made his boss - it is a terrible decision - one that gives a strong feeling of nepotism and even the appearance of impropriety.
DeleteSince William has taken on a civilian job - possibly taking it from another qualified person - he should be bound to the exact same rules as any of his part-time co-workers - otherwise is is most unfair to all.
My guess is there was unhappiness among co-workers before it ever reached the press - I fail to see why people are so vindictive about co-workere who may be unhappy. Generally, the person with the lowest seniority works Christmas, and yet William took three to four weeks off making others take over his shifts (no doubt, to the relief of Bluhare who was going to have to do some milinary munching otherwise.)
There have been past reports about William being arrogant - (not uncommon among royals who have little experience dealing with fellow civilians on an equal level.) There is no reason why co-workers would be making this up.
As for back-firing, hardly so. It has reflected very badly on Kensington Palace and on William. There were damage-control photos of him today fueling a helicopter. He has a lot of making up to do.
The idea someone would be fired because they dared to be honest about a prince who isn't carrying his weight and that anonymous thinks that's a good thing shocks me. I simply hope William is treated like everyone else or he shouldn't be in the business - and I repeat - royals and civilian work are an extremely bad mix. For a charity where people's lives are at issue it is particularly dangerous.
I believe Kate enjoyed today's visit, it's so great to see her again talking about mental health and playing with children!
ReplyDeleteYou've got amazing blog, Charlotte :) I'm waiting for your next post and next engagement for Kate :)
I love that she changed into training clothes and participated fully! Also like that she wore the modern kind of pants and didn't sink into "I have to wear puffy pants because people will think I'm showing off my body" but still didn't choose the most skintight pants. Seems like a good balance.
ReplyDeleteI agree Rebecca, nice athletic look. I thought it was a great event that she was obviously well suited to and looked terrific as well. I hope it inspires a lot more people to play!
DeleteEverything about this look was perfect. I don't like the earrings at all, however. It seems a bit childish and rather dinky looking.
DeleteI think those earrings need to be worn with dressy casual attire. I would LOVE for someone to "encourage" (suggest to or nag) William to buy a beautiful pair of at least 4ctw. diamond studs of excellent cut, color, clarity, and dazzle in 18ct. white gold with slender double basket setting and secure posts for Kate. If anyone would ever get a lot of wear out of them it would be Kate. Every girl needs a pair of diamond stud earrings. Come on William. :) Kate has enough drop earrings for the moment.
DeleteI do agree that she would get a lot of wear out of a pair of diamond solitaires. They instantly pull any outfit together.
DeleteI agree Erika. Now, how do we get William onboard? :)
DeleteI'm really liking the length of Kate's hair! It's grown out a little, but still shorter than the past, it's perfect for her. I think this is my favourite 'day-time' hairstyle we've seen for a while. And does she ever wear coats well!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post as usual Charlotte, thank you!
Kate- Vancouver CA
I love your blog, Charlotte! What a beautiful day for Kate, she is magnificent!!! Kisses of France
ReplyDeleteSandrine,
DeleteI hope this isn't too much off subject. I was watching The Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network and she did a segment on Paris, she loves Paris and has a home there (and also in NYC and the Hamptons). The segment was on how American food is becoming popular as sort of simple but very haute cuisine in Paris, i.e. the restaurant Spring, etc. Very Noveau.
And a friend of mine who was planning a pub tour through England was going to be en route from London to somewhere (I forget what their destination was) but they were going to stop in Leominster (Julia) and were so surprised to find American food there, like barbecue, like ribs, etc., I think she said. WHAT is happening to quaint and ever so special English pub grub and French cuisine. Will England and Paris ever be the same???
oh my. :)
Great Post! What a great day for Kate! I love the work she does with Children!I really wish we have Place2Be at my son's school. There is someone that he has talked with at different times, but there are so many children who need help but are not getting it. I really hope the stigma of mental issues goes away.
ReplyDeleteHopefully KP announces some new events in her schedule!!
Ah Charlotte, what a wonderful blog you run! So beautifully run and written and speedy as always! I am so grateful for the day that I came across this blog - by far the best one about Kate.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Kate, I thought she looked wonderful and happy today. Such a beautiful coat and that skirt is stunning - loved the nod to the Scottish roots!
Her hair is glossy and looking great! and I really thought her gym outfit was fabulous and well suited to the occasion. She looks to be a keen tennis player (not that I expected otherwise, she is very talented when it comes to sport!)
I agree a 100%. Reading your blog made my day, Charlotte, as it had done many times. Thanks! Zora
DeleteThanks Charlotte for wonderful informative and unbiased reporting. It is interesting to see what Emily Andrews reported from the events on Wednesday. She was certainly front and centre at all events and yet her article makes no mention of the charities involved. Contrast her report to that of Carolyn Durand and some others who give great coverage of the charities and one wonders if Emily Andrews and The Sun have an alternate agenda concerning the Cambridge's or is it just shoddy journalism on her part.
DeleteI agree Charlotte. Your efforts have been a Godsend to me more than once as a delightful and much needed distraction during some challenging times in the past. And it is such an excellent place to visit anytime. Thank you. :)
Deletemaybe both, 14:24.
DeleteI really like the coat, and I like the skirt and sweater as seperate outfits, but I don't like them together, I don't like the print of the skirt with the coat. I'm not sure why, as the skirt is neutral colors, I just don't like it with the coat. I also don't like how she wears lower neck coats with higher neck sweaters( mostly turtle necks) it reminds me of when she wore the red spangoli suit with the black turtle neck, I didn't like that eaither. If she wore just a normal necked sweater with this coat I think I would have liked it better.
ReplyDeleteAs for her second outfit, I don't like the pants at all. It reminds me of those 90s adidas pants that everyone had. Of course I get why she changed, I'm just saying haha, Also does anyone remember those adidas ones that snapped up the legs? Lol! Flashbacks!
It's very sad that one has to get one's kilt skirt made to order to get the pleats right, that is to say, the way they are in men's real kilts. Even the Countess has to make do with ladies' pleats, which are really not good enough.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about kilts, but this brand is more of a fashion brand inspired and modernizing kilts than a pure traditional kiltbrand (although the creators grandmother was a traditional kilt maker) so I think it looks nice.
DeleteMy love for kilts, especially when worn by a very nice looking man, is well known. I heartily second your "not good enough" comment. A kilt is best when it's made the traditional way.
DeletePut a skimpy, meagre pleated skirt next to a proper kilt and you will see what I mean. Pleating is just a dressmaking technique; there is no reason why it should not be used in modernising or fashionable garments. Of course, doing it the proper way uses more fabric, and so is more expensive. But the effect is so good that we should hold out for it to be applied to ladies' clothes, just as it used to be.
Deletenice. Now a generation who may have never even thought of a kilt or known what one was, now knows. They may even learn about the history of various tartans. Who would have ever thought that that would ever happen in this day and age. Watch attending the Highland games become the next trend.
DeleteSomewhere I have kilt skirt from Scotland that is a half century old. I must find it and see if I can figure out what this difference in pleating is about. I do think both of Kate's kilts could fit better across the abdomen. And yes, I know what you mean about that marching swing of the men's kilts!
DeleteLove both outfits!and her air looks so much more on point today than it has the past couple of times we have seen Her! I'm just soaking it in because they still haven't scheudled another engagement for Kate...
ReplyDeleteThought she looked great all day. Cecilia can you explain your kilt comment? Do you mean were the pleats are located? I will need to go and look at some of the kilts made for men. Someone commented on the earrings earlier, I too am not a fan of them. Ali
ReplyDeleteA proper kilt has at least five layers of fabric. In a ladies' kilt skirt, the front or visible fold of the pleat is on the same vertical line as the back or hidden fold. Men's kilts have the pleat going back further under the folds. I am sorry if this is not clear. The extra fabric in the men's style s what gives the kilt its amazing swing.
DeleteCecilia are you a seamstress by any chance... the one who used to make comments about fit etc? Just curious, I love your insight on kilts, reminds me of some members of my own family :)
DeleteBe aware, if you look at kilts in shops, that some men's kilts, the cheaper ones, are made with ladies' pleating. Count the thicknesses of fabric, and hold the garment up and swing it from side to side.
DeleteCecilia, you are a wealth of Information. Thanks
Delete:)
Where are you from if you don't mind my asking?
England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales?
Scotland for the last forty years.
DeleteOh, and I make clothes for myself, when I have the time; but I am not a professional or even particularly skilled. But I have an interest in how things look. And a prejudice against manmade fibres, i have not commented about this sort of thing before.
DeleteThank you Cecilia. That's neat. :)
DeleteCecilia, I wish I had your talent! :))
DeleteOn fashion note, this coat did not do her any good back then and nothing today. Maybe the brooch was missing or a scalf, it is too bland.
ReplyDeleteThe skirt looks similar to the previous one but she is after skirts these day which is good. One day maybe she even wears a nice pair of pants.
Thanks you Charlotte for the amazing post!
Pants are fine but Kate is a dress/skirt kind of girl.
DeleteI am probably in the minority here, but I do not like the coat! I much prefer how she wore it on Christmas with the thicker belt and broach. I think the skinny belt here accentuates the heaviness of the material, and it looks like it drowns her! I also think I prefer it with her hair up. It accentuates the beauty of the collar.
ReplyDeleteI love love her athletic gear look. She looks so sporty and comfortable, and it's the perfect amount of color with the yellow top underneath and blue sneakers. You can see she is really in her element.
Wonderful post Charlotte. It's lovely to see how Kate interacts with children. She is just so natural, down to earth and warm with them. These are significant causes, and I am happy that she is so involved. She looked sensational today. I loved the kilt and turtle neck. Her hair is at a perfect length now and looks shiny and healthy. Loved the tennis exercises. Kate looks so tall, with her long legs and perfect body. She must have had a very satisfying day, and a sense of accomplishment. Wonderfully executed.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right, Tedi. Kate was in her element and it looked like a hugely successful day for her. You would think she was raised with her current role in mind! :)
DeleteI liked the outfit very much. The coat "matched" the children's sweaters (from the photo above) and the skirt is ideal for a school setting. I also love the other pieces featured here. A nice combination of fun and classic.
Her coat did match the children's sweaters and you are right, her outfit was perfect for a school setting. She is a detail girl.
DeleteAfter being grumbly in the last post - glad to have much to praise here - delighted to see Kate continue her work with children's mental health, by visiting organisations she is patron of - Place-2-be and the Art Room - the tennis engagement is a fun one - and will fit if she becomes patron of Wimbledon.
ReplyDeleteI loved her outfit - paricularly the kilt - the perfect length - and a wonderful new designer creating kilts for new generation- although I would love one myself. I liked the coat with it as well, that green is very flattering to Kate - and am just glad to see the old "uniform" retired for now from sporting events to be concerned with what she wears to one.
I do wish she would cut her hair again - to me it looked both fresh and professional and reduced her fiddling with it, which she did again here. I don't think this hairstyle was her best but opinionss do vary a lot.
All in all, it was a great day and should help the mass of bad publicity they have suffered from this week - Doctor Julia prescribes more engagements of this sort in the coming month for both William and Kate to help offset the bad - here's hoping.
Excellent prescription doctor :)
DeleteI think William and Kate definitely have a game plan and I think, from what I know so far, that it is an excellent one. The number of engagements is perfect and will grow as time goes by. I think they will probably become the best King and Queen that the British Commonwealth has ever had.
DeleteI think the coat looks much better with the narrow belt she wore today. It was fun to see how different the coat looked to me with the two different belts. Fun to see her enjoying the tennis activities.ali
ReplyDeleteI would not want her hair any shorter:) I also think the layering on the sides needs a different "hand", still often looks like two different hairstyles. I would love a kilt also :) ali
ReplyDeleteFabulous post, as always! I LOVE her kilt- love the brand and I want it for myself now:) Thank you for all the info! Loved today's engagement
ReplyDeleteSportive Kate, encouraging. One of the reasons I like Pippa and Kate is for their interest, strength and stamina for making sport and exercise look like fun.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to enjoy sports very much. They are great ambassadors for fitness.
DeleteThat was quite a nice workshop of good, fun and interactive exercises for tennis. Who wouldn't want to learn tennis with workshops like that.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charlotte for yet more Wonderful & Informative Coverage!:) I had fallen behind & I enjoyed reading & responding to all of your amazing recent coverage of Catherine & I hope I can keep caught up to be able to join in on more of the discussions real time. I still enjoyed entering my feelings & responses to wonderful posts, even tho after the fact! She's doing an amazing job; looked beautiful & I agree ..... I too think she has a core of steal:) Me thinks she reminds me of The Queen Mum:) She & Will will find their way & as many of us feel..... He could not have asked for a better partner! What a credit She is & I believe will continue to be for The UK!
ReplyDeleteBecca:)
Great post great look. Thanks Charlotte
ReplyDeleteKate looked great. I just cringe at the prices of her active wear though. I hope she got a better deal (TK Max, outlet stores, etc?), otherwise overpaid for good athletic wear.
ReplyDeleteThe article does not say that Major General Cubitt is a royal insider, just that he was in charge of the military for the Cambridge wedding processions. Given his surname, is he related to Camilla?
ReplyDeleteThe video says that it is private and asks me to sign in, which I do not know how to do.
I like the narrower belt with the coat, although the black belt looked nice with the dressier styling at Christmas. I like this coat, and I like turtlenecks. The turtleneck is warmer as well as easier on Kate's neck than a lower neckline that would allow the coat fabric to rub against her skin. I also like the kilt, though it doesn't especially match the coat. The tennis attire is fine, and the earrings, with their heart shape, are sweet for children's events.
Was any actual tennis played at the workshop? Thanks, Charlotte, for such interesting coverage of Kate's events.
The new leadership of EEA was announced weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteCan you point to the article where it was announced - I can't find it anyway. I do not believe that it was announced "weeks ago".
DeleteThe chairman stepped down in December of 2015 according to The Daily Anglian. Major General William George Cubitt is the new chairman. Patrick Peal, the current CEO is still there and has been there for awhile.
DeleteThe old chairman retired in December after fifteen years service and this gentleman is his new replacement. Appointment would have been then.
DeleteLove TJMaxx but their Inventory is rarely consistent and that's fun but to be looking for specific pieces department stores might yield more success.
ReplyDeleteLovely! Well done Kate :)
ReplyDeletethe duchess looked lovely in her outfit I love the coat from last year the duchess looked very enjoy in the activity with andy murray mom judy she on her element that she enjoyed the visit as much we do the duke always work hard stop hate charlotte love your page always
ReplyDeleteKate's hair was so cute for the tennis workshop! I love it when she attends sporting events; she definitely seems to be in her element!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Toni! Sporty Kate is my favorite.
DeleteI agree too, Kate was absolutely fab in the tennis workshop,, Thank You Charlotte!!xoxo
DeleteCan you attach a video or photo of how to do her hair style when she was playing tennis?
ReplyDeleteTake two bobby pins. Pin the fringe back on each side. Done.
DeleteIt seems to me that because William and Kate don't give the press a lot of drama they are creating some. Most the articles wtitten about EAA are based on innuendo, not actual facts. Since when does anyone trust a newspaper run by the people who iillegally tap phones? Everyone should just calm down and look at the big picture.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that William lives with deamons every day. No one can really know (other than Kate and Harry maybe) what is going on with William and I would give him every benefit of doubt given what he has dealt with in his life. Old wounds run deep and sometimes are opened by events in our lives that may seem trivial to others. Remember, he is his mother's child as well as a Windsor.
Umm the paper that tapped the phones isn't in businesses anymore
DeleteAnd we need to stop letting William use his past his reason for doing so little now
His mom has been gone for almost 20 years and the press that covered are mostly gone by now. So please
The paper is not but the owner is. Rupert Murdoch is the owner of The Sun.
DeleteThe Telegraph, a very conservative British paper, is the one that gave the story momentum not a tabloid. Kensington Palace in effect confirmed the anonymous source when they said that William can't do more because he's got to rest thereby confirming that he is not (a) working a full time shift at EAAA and (b) not doing royal work either. The Telegraph talked to the CAA and debunked the "rest" argument. So William's own office is the one that really set the fox in the chicken coop by responding to the initial stories. Put the blame where it is deserved, not on the people reporting it.
DeleteI find it amusing that everyone here rails against the press. I hope you all realize that without a free press you would know absolutely nothing about him or his wife. He would control it all, and all you'd see would be official statements and the occasional bone thrown to placate the masses. I read people here who will go scour the internet for every detail they can find about their lives. Most of that comes from the media. And I'm not talking social media either.
The paper is owned by the Murdoch group. Isn't it? So little work by definition of the press who has its own agenda. Hasn't anyone else noticed that the attacks on William really ramped up after The Huffington Post got so much positive publicity with #youngmindsmatter and they felt left out. Really very petty.
DeleteI don't think that most of us would let someone else run our lives. Why should William? Self determination is a basic human right.
I'm sorry but the youngmindsmatter business only got traction among royal followers. I know that someone here has been claiming that it was trending for days on twitter but that is simply not true. No publication other than the HP carried anything about it. None of the big papers, online or broadsheet talked about it. The BBC did cover it for the day. Other than the little royal fan following no one paid any attention to Kate's events of the day. IMO the Huffington Post used Kate very cleverly to make their entry into the UK - they got some redirected traffic from BBC and they got the royal fanbase to visit their site for the day. I am not sure what traction the actual cause got.
DeleteI am concerned when the press makes the news instead of reporting it.Kensington palace never said that he couldn't do royal duties. Perhaps there are some things we don't need to know.
DeleteThank you for pointing that out Bluhare - there's a real irony in the fact that many of the people who are railing against "the press" or "the media" are the ones creating the demand for coverage (and so ready to accept positive stories as gospel when that's what's being written!). I'm so thankful the press exists. Royals operate in a very bizarre sphere, they are given huge privileges, taxpayer funding, and a global platform for their voices solely because of their births (or marriages), you absolutely need the press to add a layer of accountability. If William is uncomfortable with the scrutiny, he should remember that it's the trace-off for his very substantial real estate and ability to meet with world leaders when he has an issue he wants to promote.
DeleteI don't think that Kate supporters accept as gospel any positive press regarding Kate. I don't think we are stupid or gullible. Hope you truly don't either.
Delete22:19, no offense but I very much disagree. I think that you are, at best, over simplifying and
Deletemisinformed.
03:38, well said. I appreciate your empathy where William is concerned.
Delete23:02, I do agree.
Funny, 23:02, because it seems that those who advocate freedom of the press (as it pertains to the royals) are the ones who seem to relish the negative stories.
Undoubtedly there is a need for the press. Unfortunately the press fabricate and skew things to meet their own agenda, especially when it comes to royal reporting.
DeleteI think the Duchess Kate Blog on 2/17/16 gave an accurate account of how immense the coverage of Kate's editorial efforts were. I am amused at how people try so many ways to minimize that.
DeleteNothing new really.
Was that Rupert Murdoch's former paper that did the phone tapping?
DeleteKensington Palace DID say he couldn't do anything during those rest days. That became the problem!
DeleteI was struck by how much more confident Kate has become when undertaking solo visits. She was totally at ease throughout the day whether interacting with the children or discussing the progress of the charities with teachers and other professionals once again showing her total involvement with mental health. It was good she included a visit to Judy Murrays tennis workshops giving publicity to an excellent initiative promoting sporting activities for young children. It was great seeing her so fully taking part in the training sessions.
ReplyDeleteHaving had such an excellent few days I hope she will now build on that and increase her number of engagements and widen her interests hopefully including her previous support for Each Hospices. Overall she has recently received positive press despite adverse reaction to travelling by helicopter. The Palace has made a statement defending the decision and explaining why.
The press are certainly gunning for Prince William at the moment. I think the fact he had just over 3 weeks holiday over Xmas & New Year started the discontent but apart from a week at Balmoral in September this is the only full break he has had since he started in July. He is entitled to holiday as well as days off. Working with civilians is very different to working within a military environment and more likely to have discontented colleagues if you have special treatment. No one really knows how much he has worked since returning on Jan.11th but bearing in mind the initial statement on hours worked for a year stated that they would average out at 80hours a month which makes me wonder if he has worked more shifts than normal to compensate for the time he will have off in April undertaking the tour to India and additional Royal duties supporting the Queen over the next few months hence the lack of engagements this month. I very much hope we will see more of them both especially together in the coming weeks. They have clearly lost public support but are in a difficult position with 13 Royals already classified as full time Royals running around doing engagements I don't think W,K & H would be popular amongst the others if they became full time Royals as I doubt there is the finance to support such an increase in official engagements.
Hopefully they will attend the presentation of Shamrocks to the Irish Guards on March 17th but at the moment no one really knows what is going on. I just hope all is well in the Cambridge household.
Thank you for throwing some sense on this brouhaha, Mary! I also suspect that William has been participating in the planning for the trip to India, and perhaps spending additional time with his children while Kate was involved with the HuffPost project. It is true that we do not know how much he has worked this year. We also do not know what his current involvement with the Duchy of Cornwall is. Too much hearsay does not the truth deliver.
DeleteThe media showed their true colors throughout the past week or so. Media circus and fickle are polite words for that actually.
DeleteThe Duchess has looked fine lately but am I the only one feeling a bit bored by her look?
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that she would wear two skirts that are so very similar for engagements following so soon together (Dolce and Gabbana for Mental Health/Huffington Post day and Le Kilt for the day in Edinburgh). The Le Kilt skirt would have looked so much better with the Blouse she wore for Huffington. That would have been a very sophisticated "work" look. The other skirt was pretty and fashion forward but looked odd with the blouse.
I mention the boredom with HRH's style because I've looked at the Princess Charlene blog and she is just so chic that it makes me feel that Kate has lost her way somewhat. HRH has moments of great style but is generally a little bogged down by hairstyles that are too young/long/plain for her, boring choices of hats (although I am devoted to the "Betty Boop" as my favourite hat of hers)and dull footwear.
I would LOVE to see a coloured shoe, some scarves or wider belts (that thin belt on the green Max Mara coat just looks weird and out of proportion to Kate's long waist), coat choices that bear some relationship to the rest of the outfit, etc.
How great would it have been if she had chosen one of the more interesting Le Kilt patterns for this latest trip to Scotland. I think that would have been very fresh and not so "outside the box" as to have been disrespectful, especially when it was a day spent with children and young people. I love and respect Kate. I just would like to see her do more with the platform she has.
Just a side comment on Lululemon -as a Canadian, I've been familiar with the brand for years. There have been some recent issues with the quality of their fabric.
The most pivotal thing for me was the very disrespectful comment made by their founder, Chip Wilson, about how some women may just be too "large" to wear the brand successfully without "wearing out" the fabric. Quite an insulting and rich comment to come from a man who has likely made the better part of his fortune from the purchases of just such women!
After that comment from Mr. Wilson, I gave up on the brand. It was extra ironic to me since the brand appears to use "vanity" sizing. I never thought I could purchase their pants comfortably because they didn't offer larger sizes. A friend gave me a pair and I could suddenly fit into a size two or three sizes "smaller" than what I usually buy. A nice surprise but especially rich in light of the founder's comments about larger women. I was pleased to see that he was forced to step away from being the public face of the company after his careless speech.
I'm looking forward to the upcoming tour. I think India will provide a very welcoming audience for the Cambridges which might offset some of the recent negativity of the British press.
The lovely white blouse would not have been warm enough for the day in Scotland. When Kate wore it, she was inside Kensington Palace for the entire event. When she left to go shopping, she donned a very warm sweater and vest!
DeletePrincess Charlene has put herself, or has been put by the palace, into the hands of elite French fashion houses. I don't think that move would do for Kate! She requires a more natural, British look.
I don't like those patchwork kilts, though I agree she might have worn one with some color. However, the Queen does not wear true tartans for public events in Scotland. I think she prefers to suggest the Scottish traditions rather than identifying with her clan.
I like the narrow belt which came with the coat. But I agree with you about the Betty Boop hat; it's also a favorite of mine.
So glad that you mentioned that Princess Charlene has the French fashion houses as her closet and stylists. I don't think that would work for Kate.
DeleteCanadian friend, you are definitely not the only one feeling bored by Kate's look. I would jump for joy if we saw a colored shoe or scarf, or ANY shoe that is not a suede pump. That is quickly becoming the reviled shoe that used to be the nude platform pump or the high platform navy wedge, which finally disappeared long after they wore out their welcome. And still waiting for Kate to debut a dressy black trouser under one of her colored coats! But my hope is running out.
DeleteThat being said, she always looks "nice" but, At her age, her beauty, and figure, she could do a lot better.
I think that in the photo of Kate greeting Judy Murray in the first photo, those earrings look really good. And in the other photos also.
ReplyDeleteI agree, they are precious.
DeleteIs Major General Cubitt related to Camilla?
ReplyDeleteI think William worked plenty of hours given the requirements for flight and rest. The media was not taking those into account. And if there was any unprofessionalism it was on the part of the administration of that agency and the media.
I think the people that that charity serves should have huge relief that a military man is at the helm.
I think they should be very happy and thankful.
DeleteGreat day of engagements for Kate! I think she dressed appropriately, with a mature skirt length with appropriate style/designer for the location, not to mention the thankfully new casual outfit that didn't involve a blue and white striped shirt and/or tight jeans/jeggings. She also looked happy and in her element, especially during the tennis engagement. Plus I'm just so thrilled to see a casual outfit that isn't the usual that my happiness about that would probably have overwhelmed any complaints I might have had anyways :)
ReplyDeleteQuick other thoughts:
It always amuses me how much Kate seems to go through "phases" in terms of her clothing/accessory choices. Like she had the LK Bennett nude heels phase, but that's been replaced quite strongly now with the black suede heel phase. And it's also like she just discovered houndstooth in the fall and now loves it. She also seems to be having a black turtleneck phase now. And she's always in a coat phase :) although it's nice to see her wearing separates more now too. It will be interesting to see if she moves on from these "phases" as strongly as she has moved on from past ones, or if these are more her actually finding a style she likes and is comfortable with sticking to. Everyone goes through phases and there's nothing wrong with that, although sometimes I do think Kate's phases make her outfits more boring than they would be otherwise - i.e. how similar this skirt is to the Huffington Post one just a week ago, and just the sheer number of times she has had these same basic accessories (how can a former accessories buyer be so incredibly stale in their own accessories choices?!)
I also do think she could have switched the Huffington Post skirt and this day's skirt and I would have been happier - this skirt is much longer and much more professional-looking, and thus appropriate for a day as a guest editor. Whereas yesterday's engagements were a little lighter and so I think the shorter skirt would have been fine (although in general I do wish she'd move away from the shorter, school-girly skirts/dresses).
One other small thing - I do still dislike her bangs, and think they look messy in the pictures from the non-tennis engagements. They still don't really look blended in with the rest of her hair, and imo make her hair look untidy and even a little limp from the side. I think this is especially important when her hair is shorter, because short hair is less forgiving in terms of how it looks with any hairs out of place. It's a lot easier to not notice little bleck spots when someone has long hair, imo. That being said, I love this length (and think she could even go a little shorter if she wanted), and think it freshens up her face and is far more professional. But really, I just think she looks sooo much better in the tennis pictures than she does in the other pictures from the day, and while I know she tends to always look better at sporting things because she's really in her element then, I also think that her looking better has a lot to do with her bangs being pinned back for the tennis event.
I agree with much of what you said, Maggie, especially the part about too short skirts, which I don't like for any function. Knees are not very pretty. I do think Kate has been wise to acquire some basic accessories and repeat them as long as they are in good shape. Her choices of shoes and bags, and the rest of her attire as well, should not be a distraction.
DeleteThere's nothing wrong with Kate's knees. :) Age and genes are on her side.
DeleteYup, her kness look great!
DeleteOh my. Knees are lovely:)
DeleteHeh, rf. I was talking about knees in general. I just like skirts right at the knee, and always have.
DeleteIt's not really a question of her knees. More of dressing like a professional woman. I read Corporette - (wish they had it in my working days) and short skirts are simply not professional, even for young women. The length of Kate's kilt was very good - the Huffington Post one was cute but she looked like she was back in school.
DeleteOh also her mother and/or sister are doing Kate a great disfavor if they haven't told her that she needs to change her makeup as she gets older and her face changes. She clearly has more bags/lines under her eyes than she used to, and her eyes look more sunken in too. There's nothing wrong with that - it's just the natural aging process, compounded by two difficult pregnancies closer together than doctors would recommend for even healthy pregnancies. But she needs to accept that her face is changing, and adjust her makeup routine accordingly. She would benefit SO much from lightening up the eyeliner more (and not drawing it around her eyes entirely and instead stopping halfway to the inner corners on the top and bottom), and also it would help if she added some color to her cheeks and/or lips so she doesn't look tired and pale - something that I feel like is happening more often recently. It's like the top half of her face is the opposite of a natural look, and then the bottom half is almost too natural. Sophie has a good makeup technique, imo. It looks very natural, while giving her color in her face. Has no one mentioned to Kate that it shouldn't be the case that when she laughs, her eyes disappear almost entirely?
ReplyDeleteIn general I feel like Kate has a tendency to stick to a certain look (accessories and makeup-wise) for a little too long, and would benefit from changing things up a bit. Another reason a stylist would be so useful for her, since it seems clear to me that she just isn't that interested in experimenting herself. It is also perhaps a situation in which her closeness with her mother and sister are holding her back - they all seem to have adopted very similar styles, and while there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking style tips from your family, it is important to also be willing to broaden the number/type of people you take advice from.
Maggie, have you looked at the pictures with this post? Kate has clearly done exactly what you are suggesting with her eye makeup, and also made her lipstick line more crisp.
DeleteKate looks great. She is one in a million.
DeleteMajor General Sir William George Cubitt was also the man responsible for the Trooping of the Colors. Haven't found yet whether he is related to Camilla or not. I am still researching though. Any help would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and lovely day for Kate! She has had a wonderful couple weeks in bringing the much needed attention to children's mental health. I love to see her interact with the children both at The Art Room at Wester Hailes and the Tennis on the Road workshop. She is absolutely in her element when she's around children and she has a certain glow about her. Seeing Kate in the photos at the engagement with Judy Murray were my favorite. You can tell she truly enjoyed herself. It seemed that it was a wonderful day for everyone!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the post and seeing Kate, it made me think of why I feel the Queen is so fond of Kate and definitely one of the reasons William fell in love with her. In a week full of bad press and negativity, Kate certainly was herself; happy, calm, and composed. I know some might say that she has to be, but Kate has a certain strength and was made for the role she is in. Brilliant job Kate. Keep on keeping on.
Thank you for the wonderful post Charlotte!
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ReplyDeleteWhy aren't the newspapers questioning Prince Harry's schedule? Isn't he a full time royal ? Just askng.......How many full time royals are needed given the current economic climate? William does donate his salary to charity and I would thnk that he has helped EAA raise a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteHumm. Did the papers ever mention recently that William donates his salary to charity?
ReplyDeleteDid KP ever admit to which one? Their silence is suspicious.
DeleteAs in report something *positive*? ;)
Deleteyep
DeleteTheir silence is prudent since anything they say gets interpreted a dozen different ways.
Deletefact
ReplyDeleteMajor General William George Cubitt is replacing the former chairman of EAAA who stepped down in DECEMBER OF 2015. The former chairman was Andrew Egerton Smith. So that replacement was made for a vacancy occurring in 12/15. Patrick Peal is the current CEO and has been for awhile. This is from an article in the Daily Anglian, 2/18/16.