The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will carry out a series of public and private engagements focusing on efforts to prevent suicide and to support those bereaved by suicide next Thursday, 10 March. Kensington Palace noted: "The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry are making mental health a major focus of their work in the year ahead. The Duke of Cambridge is particularly keen to better understand the difficult issues around suicide, bullying, and the mental health of young men. These are issues he has been exposed to both in his official work with homelessness charities and in his work as an air ambulance pilot."
Kate has made strides with her work in mental health over the last several months, and is eager to focus on children's mental health and raise awareness of the subject. It seems a natural progression for William to get involved in the area with an emphasis on suicide particularly concerning young men. Among royal commentators I've spoken to recently - and following the negative media coverage William has received - a key criticism has been the lack of focus on specific areas in which he can affect change. Mental health is a largely ignored and overlooked sector and I hope to see William delving into support of young men who are going through difficult times.
The ever-increasing numbers of young men committing suicide has been a growing concern in recent years. Back in 2013, the Mail Online wrote an article titled 'Silent Taboo of Suicide Among Young Men':
"Every year, more than 5,000 people in the UK take their own lives – and 22 per cent of them are men aged between 16 and 24. In the 20 to 24 age group, men are four times more likely to kill themselves than women. Suicide is the commonest cause of death among men under 35. ‘It’s one of the few things that men are better at than women,’ says David Trickey, a consultant clinical psychologist and specialist in traumatic bereavement. ‘And because of the way in which they try to kill themselves, they are more likely to succeed.'
Men who die by suicide often choose to do so violently. William stabbed himself with a kitchen knife and, although surgeons repaired his damaged artery, the blood loss he had suffered caused irreparable brain damage."
The public engagements next Thursday will focus on the inspiring story of Jonny Benjamin. More from the press release:
"Jonny's life was saved by a stranger in 2008 as he contemplated taking his own life. After receiving help, Jonny launched a social media campaign called #FindMike six years later, together with the charity Rethink Mental Illness, to find the man who saved him in order to offer his thanks. The campaign succeeded and Jonny was reunited with not a Mike, but Neil Laybourn.
Jonny believes that if he had received help for his mental health challenges earlier in life he would not have reached his crisis point. He has gone on to work together to promote mental health awareness in schools through the Thinkwell workshop. His aim is to break the stigma associated with mental health and put mental health education on the national curriculum."
William and Kate will meet Jonny and Neil at St Thomas' Hospital in London where Jonny was sectioned after his near suicide. They will then travel to Kensington Palace to watch a screening of a documentary about Jonny's experience. Afterwards, the Cambridges will join a private discussion with a group who have been bereaved in various ways by suicide. The remainder of the day's programme will be private.
The Palace also confirmed William, Kate and Harry will join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day, Monday, 14 March. Readers will recall William and Kate attended the service last year.
Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom. The service will be broadcast live on BBC One for the first time, and across the World Service, in celebration of Her Majesty's lifetime commitment to the Commonwealth in the year of her 90th Birthday. The theme for 2016 is 'An Inclusive Commonwealth,' emphasising a vast community which embraces diversity among its 53 countries and 2.3 billion people, of which 60 per cent are under 30 years old.
Following the service, William, Kate and Harry will walk through Dean's Yard to attend a reception.
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In our last post we looked at two prospective designers Kate may wear during the royal tour of India and Bhutan in April. In the comments section readers left some fabulous suggestions - sharing the names of designers who would be a great fit for Kate - and a reader from India suggested including information on the textiles of India (we'll be researching this and many of the designers suggested for a future post). For today, we're focusing on two well-known brands with connections to India.
For over two decades husband and wife duo Sachin & Babi Ahluwalia have been busy making their mark in the luxury fashion and lifestyle worlds. The couple met in 1994 while they were both studying at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. Known for their attention to detail, love of textiles, embroidery and rich colour palettes the brand is an elegant mix of covet-worthy dresses, separates and outerwear that can seamlessly take you from day to night, work to play.
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| Sachin & Babi |
Sachin Ahluwalia believes "fashion is an evolution and there are no rules. What the industry craves is ever changing and what the fashion customer wants is affected by more than trend. What a woman wears evolves with her lifestyle and the realities of the world in which they live".
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| Sachin & Babi |
Readers have expressed a desire to see the Duchess experiment with colours during the tour, and there is certainly plenty of scope for that with this brand. Below we see a Short-Sleeve Flame Coloured Top worn with a gorgeous midi skirt, the Cap Sleeve Floral Top and Matching Skirt, the Short Jacquard Fit and Flare Dress, and the Eyelet-Overlay Dress.
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| Sachin & Babi |
There's a strong emphasis on separates and teaming floral print tops with full midi skirts as demonstrated below with the Solandra top and skirt, the Cattleya Embroidered Organza Blouse and skirt, and the Parket Floral Lace Top and skirt.
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| Sachin & Babi |
A closer look at three beautiful prints used.
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| Sachin & Babi |
The Sleeveless Embroidered Crop Top & Colourblock Lace Jacquard Skirt, the Strapless Floral Print Midi Dress, the Oren Top and Ball Skirt, and the Floral Embroidered Top and Brush stroke skirt.
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| Sachin & Babi |
Three striking looks from the Resort 2016 Collection.
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| Sachin & Babi |
In terms of evening wear, there are numerous possibilities. The Pleated Maxi Gown With Crepe Cross Straps is a beautiful garment with a back centre zip.
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| Sachin & Babi |
Sumptuous gowns in jewel tones with embellishment feature heavily in the Fall/Winter 2016 Collection.
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| Sachin & Babi |
The collection is described: "Rich in silk, floral patterns and intricate embroidery complement classic velvet in the form of beautifully tailored gowns, as a well as a bevy of special occasion separates. Ruffled tiered maxi skirts, modern boleros and signature handwork embody an old world elegance and charm, balanced by the ease and wearability that the modern girl demands."
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| Sachi & Babi |
Aside from their beautiful designs there is another reason Sachin & Babi would appeal to the Duchess: their philanthropy. Sachin & Babi were born in India and are deeply committed to improving children's education in Mumbai.
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| Sachin & Babi |
More on their work:
"In order to prepare these children for the future, Sachin & Babi have entered a partnership with PACT (Promise to Act for Children Today) an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to providing qualitative education to Indian children.
Since October of 1997, with no corporate endowment, PACT has been financially supporting education initiatives and participating in funding day-care centers for street children - As well as holding two classroom sessions a day for over 120 young pupils, and several non formal education centres for older children across Mumbai. PACT also focuses on initiating educational programs with vocational training especially for girls of these deprived slum communities."
5% of each online order will go to raising the $200 each child needs to receive academic support and food for a year.
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| Needle & Thread |
The brand received instant recognition for offering expertly drawn lace and floral motifs in intricate threads and sequins. In 2015, the collections have continued to diversify, establishing Needle & Thread as a global celebration brand, creating unique pieces to treasure for that memorable moment.
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| Needle & Thread |
There's something rather Jenny Packham-esque about the beautiful embellishment on the brand's pieces. Take a look at the Organza Trimmed Embellished Tulle Dress. The pastel pink dress features sequins and beads in a vintage-inspired floral design.
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| Needle & Thread |
The Chiffon Lace Gown, Scallop Lace Gown and Embellished Tulle Maxi Dress.
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| Needle & Thread |
The detailed embellishment is shown off beautifully on these three black frocks, the use of shimmering crystals, beads and sequins is superb.
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| Needle & Thread |
The Tulle Embellished Dress, the Ballet Midi Dress, the Embellished Maxi Dress, and the Backless Sheer Sleeve Maxi Dress.
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| Needle & Thread |
What do you think of the two brands? Do you have any favourites you would like to see Kate wear?
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a Happy Mothers Day on Sunday! :)
Mental health is an area where the younger royals are better equipped to make a difference. I say this because being approachable and compassionate is critical and I'm not sure some of the others could pull it off.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do like the Resorts 2016 Sachin & Babi dresses, especially the one with polka dots. Crisp and fun at the same time. It's something I could see Kate in, as well as the other two. The teal gown is another favorite.
I am so happy to hear that William has found his focus area. (Nice that it dovetails with Kate's.) I imagine he has had first hand experience with that in his work with homeless youth and search and rescue.
ReplyDeleteI like the three Resort 2016 dresses. I think Kate would look lovely in those. I would buy those in a minute if I were building my wardrobe.
I like that the designers are actively charitable.
Thanks Charlotte for yet another beautiful post.
Happy Mother's Day Mums. :)
Liked several pieces from Sachin & Babi of which I think Kate would look lovely in, namely the floral printed midi dress and the colour block lace jacquard skirt and sleeveless top. The two silk gowns at the very top are just gorgeous. And the Resort 2016 collection is very Kate and she would look beautiful in all of them. Needle and Thread I'm surprised I'm not loving more because I love floral, beads, sequins, crystals. I'm sure they are indeed gorgeous in person and I'm sure Kate would look stunning in them. Thank you Charlotte. Have a great weekend all :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Charlotte! I was glad to hear about this engagement after the recent controversy. Mental health is an important area to focus on. I did have a question though - just to put it out there....a large critisim is that they aren't focusing on specific causes. But many have also said that it doesn't seem like Kate nor William has found their niche. Now we know William is also interested in mental health and they've done engagements together on it before. But it seemed that recently Kate was getting more and more into it with the HuffPost engagement. Now it seems they want to make it a combined niche for both of them? Does anyone else see what I'm getting at here? Why don't they focus on separate issues? Is this William trying to scrape some of Kate's popularity with the HuffPost engagement? And if Kate's focus is more on kids and Williams is more on young men, why is Kate attending this engagement? Why doesn't William come out on his own to take a stand on something new, relevant or unique? Something he can call his own? I kind of thought Kate started to do this too with the HuffPost thing, but it feels like they've taken a step backwards now.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't see anything backwards about it. And I think Rebecca's comment @ 8:11 is on the money.
DeleteArticle in the Times stating that W, K and H are embarking on a year long campaign on mental health with each one focusing on a specific area. The campaign is apparantly been launched at the end of April. Hardly a step backwards.
DeleteI first had similar thoughts Anon 02.25, but as royalfan said, I found some reasons that makes sense for me.
DeleteI'm delighted to see the involvement of both William and Kate with mental health - and agree with Royalfan, it is an excellent area for the young royals to get involved with, particularly because of the harsh and inappropriate way it was used by Charles' friends to attack Diana - and in the process of doing so, they ended up attacking, by implication, so many others. At the time, I wondered if they realised what they were doing, how many people they were degrading by using issues such as bulimia to paint her as unworthy - sadly, that attitude still lingers among some royalists.
DeleteAt the same time, I agree with Anon that William doesn't seem to have found a niche of his own at home (as opposed to protecting wildlife which he clearly is passionate about but which is more global than British) outside helicopters and sports matches. There have been hints - he did fine early work with the homeless and his involvement with grief therapy seemed very personal but he has only dabbled in these worthy areas.
I have many problems with Charles personally, but his broad range of interests is not one of them - agree with everything he does or not - his interests show he really cares about the people who will be his subjects - how they live, young people finding employment and so on. With a country with so many needs (what country doesn't have them) it would be wonderful to see William find an area he can build on - as Harry has started to do with the military and Kate with mental health.
It is time perhaps for the public to be able to take the measure of the man with William - at this point we only have hints. We think he is a good man,a caring man, a family man, people who have met him speak favourably of him, but have no clear picture of how he sees his future role as king and some of us wonder if he has a clear picture of this himself. As he approaches his middle thirties, it seems time.
I agree very much Rebecca. Your observations are always astute, insightful, constructive and very refreshing. That is quite a unique combination and you are consistently that way. Thank you. :)
DeleteI know you have mentioned your struugles Rebecca. I hope you don't mind my saying this, but bear in mind that oppression doesn't like positivity, never has, and tries to stifle that. Don't take it personally. Stay strong and do not be stifled. Wholeness to you Rebbeca. (It has been purchased for all of us 2000+ years ago ya know.) God bless you miraculously and richly Rebecca.
Amen 18:56. you rock Rebecca.
DeleteI hardly ever comment on clothing but that green velvet and satin gown with the collar necklace is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteHahaha lovely choice:-) You must have really liked them if you drop by and comment.:-)
DeleteThese two brands really spectecular. Personally I go for the blue awesomeness in Resort 2016. But each and every could passs really.
I did! That gown and a pair of opera length gloves would be stunning. Take the collar off, and put the Queen's emerald and diamond parure on and there's a winner and a half.
DeleteI'm glad they are doing more this month but I have a feeling they will dip out of Sir again after st. Patrick's day until the tour starts
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm glad they are focusing on mental health but I feel Kate is neglecting a couple of her patronages especially EACH. It has been more than a year since she did anything with them and same goes for the natural history museum. She has such few patronages now so she should be visiting them more than once a year
She can be passionate about mental health but still pay attention to her other patronages
I mean I thought that was the point of them having so few patronages AR the start..so they can devote more time to them
I also think they will dip out a bit. Charles and Camilla will soon have a tour and then Harry and usually the Cambridges try to keep low profiles when they have tours.
DeleteChildren from EACH were invited to the Bafta event in October and were present along with other children from the charities under the umbrella of the charities forum of W, K, and H. Also remember that BRF in their role as patrons are invited to attend public events. Unless it is known that Kate has declined invitations, it is not fair criticism. Also it is not known if she has had private meetings with these charities.
DeletePlease if Kate called up EACH to set something up I doubt they would deny her so that excuse is hogwash
DeleteAnd that still doesn't give a reason for her ignoring the museum
I sgree one hundred percent with the comment about the UK papers trying to get back at William and Kate. Hope they stay strong and oontinue to drag them into the new age of oommunicartions. I often think that W&K should pack up and move to Africa where William has always been happy. In the end,
DeleteKate and his children are the most important people in his life, not tbe public.
She could call them up but that is not how they operate. Anyway a public event takes some planning when you consider who and what is involved. How certain are you that she is ignoring the museum? Because she has not done anything publicly does not mean she has not done anything.
DeleteOh dear heavens. OF COURSE William puts his family before the public. If he didn't he should have just checked himself in the therapy from the git go. Taking good care of his family is foundational.
DeleteThat was the ESSENCE of their pledge of service read at their wedding, admired and ratified by those in authority at the wedding. Are you not aware of that? They stated that as they are blessed with a strong marriage and family life they will use that strength to radiate that strength in helping others.
AND, no one is "dragging" William and Kate anywhere. lol. Some may be attempting to destroy them by slander, negative aspersions and innuendo, but that is nothing new. It is the nature of the media beast and politics.
Where many curse the darkness some are lighting candles. William and Kate, undeniably, are lighting candles, and in a big way. How many candles have we been lighting recently, if ever?
William and Kate's "statement/pledge of purpose"
Deleteread by the pastor during their wedding is amazing and, if known, would have eliminated a lot of questions and angst, speculation etc. historically found on this comments section.
Did anyone hear that pledge?
0257, You guys do know that "British papers" includes their internet presence, right?
Delete1845, I think they've proven they have a strong family life. Time to take that foundation and go and earn their keep. After a while you need to quit talking and actually do something. It's called walking the talk, and it's beyond time they did so.
I see there's an article today about the three pronged campaign about mental health that will be put out there at the end of April. I'm all for it if the three of them actually do something instead of doing a couple of photo ops and calling it good.
I think they are taking that foundation and earning their keep. They are walking the talk. Again, to me, your comments make it sound like they do nothing. That is not true.
DeleteOK, 0523, prove me wrong. Outline what they do -- other than photo ops. Because from where I sit, I do not see much.
DeleteGuest Editing: one hour, and she was photographed shopping later that day. Her staff and HP did the heavy lifting on that one.
Mental health: One video and one or two photo ops.
Bullying: ?????
Addiction: ?????
Children's Hospice: ?????
I will give you that she has done a couple of royal events (church services and the like), including upcoming India tour (for one week).
Upcoming:
Three prong attack on mental health -- at the end of April.
And I ignored William. He does some investitures for the Queen, and apparently makes ill conceived speeches occasionally when he isn't getting wrapped up in fuelling hoses on one of his rare days at EAAA.
hmm charlotte love all the dress and the designer who had great deal art researching I love its that true lady Melissa percy and Thomas van straubenzee are divorce ok back to dress love all the lace the duchess is filled with calendar week
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for another brilliant post.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! Love both designers and I would love to see more colors on Catherine.
ReplyDeleteSadly, as I said in another blog, she tends to wear more block colors, so maybe she won't wear a lot of prints.
But who knows? She might surprise us! :)
Oh, she might! She has before! (Most notably, the Erdem evening gown!)
DeleteWow that Erdem was a controversial one. Yuk from me unfortunately!
DeleteGreat suggestions Charlotte. Fantastic opportunities for Kate. The question is...will venture out to new territory? Diana did what she wanted to do but she lived in period where online criticism by 'everyone" didn't exist. It would be so great if everyone would stop judging Kate based on the "day of" and having a conversation about "what potentially goes into her decision."
ReplyDeleteYour suggestion Charlotte are fabulous! Love the separates, love the colors. And the textiles - want to see Kate go wild. And would love to see everyone embrace her choices.
I really, really, really like this focus they are having on mental health. The trio is really approching this from many different angles and I am so proud! This is such a worthwhile area, and especially if William are gonna focus on male mental health. Its an area with ALOT of heavy stigma which leads to people feeling hopless and taking their lives or leading lifes down destructing paths in an attempt to dampen or hide their feelings! So if someone as public and "buttoned up" is William will talk about the importance of mental health changes in men, I think it's a humongous deal and can make a big difference. I really, really enjoy and appriciate that they are tackling this from many different points. Childhood mental health, mental health in families, addiction, prison, veterans and now males. This is a really nice spread of their effort and I cannot WAIT to see what this grows into!!
ReplyDeleteAt first I was wondering why they dont split up more on engagements to cover more ground. But in this case I get them. Both, it's a subject they probably really wanna shine a light on, and I've noticed that engagements where they both are present get way more press than their solo engagements. But also, they are gonna meet people affected by someone commiting suicide. I can really understand if they need eachother as support that day.
Also, I was not active in the last post. Great post as always but I had my mind elswhere. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden got a little Prince Oscar!! I don't have much to say on the fashion. All good choices as usual Charlotte, I just don't have anything to add on the subject right now :P
What an exciting news, Rebecca! Thank you for sharing it. You must be thrilled about the new addition to your royal family. :) I liked the way Prince Oscar's father announced his birth. You could see how moved, proud and happy he was.
DeleteI agree that it will be important for William and Kate to share in the experience of meeting people who were affected by a suicide. This issue is a really difficult one.
As for the new designers, I really love the Needle and Thread dresses, they are exquisite!
Zora
Rebecca, I think you summed up W&K's approach beautifully.
DeleteAnd congratulations to Daniel and Victoria. :)
http://us.hellomagazine.com/royalty/12016030312349/princess-victoria-baby-first-picture/
That's so funny about Sachin + Babi! I had never heard of the brand, but ended up ordering something of theirs as a replikate from Saks Off Fifth. To be honest I don't remember what it was, since I think I found a closer replikate or the original one Kate wore became available or whatnot, but it was very pretty. If I recall correctly it was a sweater :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I have *just* started noticing Needle & Thread recently...again, had never heard of it, but as I am a big fan of anything embroidered or embellished, it kept coming up in searches and every piece was just gorgeous.
Plus, both of these brands aren't *outrageously* expensive. They're certainly not inexpensive and I would definitely need to wait for them to go on sale, but some of the price points are really very reasonable :)
Sachin and Babiit have it really going. Of all the Indian designers on this blog so far, they stand out the best IMO. Their philosophy on fashion as quoted above is truly realistic.
ReplyDeleteNeedle and thread’s fashion looks softly feminine and at times classic. It is the kind of product every woman might want to have at least one piece.
Love these designers, rspecially the colour and work of some of the pieces. The blue and yellow Sachin is very similar to an outfit the Countess of Wessex wore recently. I could see our Duchess in many of these, though I wonder how much the heat will affect choice.
ReplyDeleteNeedle & thread is a fabulous brand, I love their embellished dresses! I could definitely see kate wear them, maybe even to events in britain :)
ReplyDeleteAnd the Sachi & Babi Resort 2016 collection is stunning!!
I agree that Resort 2016 is one to die for.:-)
DeleteI believe that the mental health focus probably was William's passion from the beginning. Because of his work with bereavement and the homeless, I am sure that he has seen the devastation of mental illness on individuals and families. He has certainly had eniugh trauma in his own life to recgnize the need for support in this area. Working as a team is good for the cause as well as a uniting force for them as a couple.
ReplyDeleteThere are many ancillary causes that can eminate from this issue such as: employment, housing, education and assisting young parents becoming better parents. Maybe we should give it some time before judging so harshly.I would not want to be in William's shoes for all the world. But I can
empathize with someone who is trying to be his/her own person.
I thoughtI would comment on the new engagement and things I considered about the last couple of posts separately to the fashion.
ReplyDeleteFirstly I am delighted with the new engagement. Men of all ages but young men in particular kill themselves efficently and at a far too high rate. In general as a sex they are non communicators on anything even vaguely appearing to be a mental issue. It is WONDERFUL that a young man of stature is highlighting this area.
Then a few comments about the last few weeks
William was in my opinion trashed by the media as pay back for Huffington, as a warning to think about this next time and to recoup the income that would have been earned if they had got the day. The timing was too coincidental and at the time William was an easier target than Catherine.
I am in the minority here but I think William's job is a good thing. Apart a very short stint at the end of World War II when the Queen was in the services this is the first time a future monarch has lived and worked in direct contact with his people. Many years of experience to inform his kingship. Invaluable.
Again in my opinion William and Catherine despite all the criticism have not done much wrong. William certainly has not been thought to be Jack the Ripper as was a Victorian prince in direct line to the throne nor has he shown the lamentable lack of judgement of Edward the VII who was insistent on marrying a woman at best over friendly with the hierarchy of a country Britain was about to go war with and at worst probably on their pay roll. This could be viewed as treason on his people and had he remained I am sure there would be no monarchy today.
Then finally in recent times royalty have wrestled with evolving forms of media. George VI and his battle to conquer radio, the Queen and Charles with newspapers and television for the main part, but for WIlliam and Catherine it is going to be to define their relevance through what is delivered on mobile phones and tablets
But predominately the phones. This generation for the most part like pictures and captions and don't have time for more, which is why I like the Kensington Palace move to twitter. I would love for some of the royal reporters with their research skills ability with language and years of knowledge and experience to be writing blogs but they don't seem to want to safeguard their future.
And then finally a bit of context. The Queen was born shortly after Anna Bates's son and Prince Phillip about the time of George and Marigold (Downton Abbey) hasn't our Queen had a journey.
Regarding HP payback... If this is the way the press will act if something doesn't go their way, then they should be added to the "do not negotiate" list. Call me crazy, but they should report the news, rather than expecting to choreograph it. What prevented them from covering Kate's day with the HP? Bruised egos. I don't buy the competition argument because they could have found an angle to focus on and they would have had their share of clicks. And what prevents them from extending a similar invitation to KP? Bruised egos...or diaper rash. ;)
DeleteAlimai and RF, Thank you.
DeleteRegardless of whether you agree with Williams work schedule or not, the press did investigate and report on what happened. KP LIED about the reason he couldn't do more work as a royal, and were caught out by the EEA who, rightly so, were honest about it. And even though William never specifically said how many hours he did per week, the public were led to believe he was working more than he is. Then, we believe, he threw Charles under the bus. And even if he didn't make that statement about being around his family more for that article, he still uses the excuse of wanting to spend time with his family regardless...it doesn't seem like they're really living a "normal" life if he has so much free time to be with his kids. And it's an insult to normal people who juggle work and a family life.
DeleteYes, the coverage was quite harsh, but it's not just due to be HuffPost thing, it's been building up for a long time. The press could have been more tactful about it, but there's no denying that there was an issue a journalist investigated and KP screwed up. Their press relations have been strained for a while. And no matter what anyone says, William and Kate are supposed to be promoting British interests, not an American newspaper. That's not to say the messages from that day were not great - they were, and Kate did a great job. But why use HuffPost when your media relations in your own country are not good. Why not try and improve them by giving one a good opportunity like they gave Huffpost?
Does anyone remember Kate's topless photos? They weren't published my any British newspaper. And despite what they say about privacy for their kids...the British newspapers have mostly been following the rules for the last five years. But the relationship goes both ways. HuffPost published an article about Kate's orgasm faces AND has published unsolicited pictures of the kids. Now tell me...how does this situation make sense??
No wonder people think HuffPost has something over Will and Kate. Unless, as many people have said, KP just doesn't care about press relations. If that's the case then don't complain about a little harshness when an actual, true and investigated story has been reported.
Good one, rf! :-D
DeleteJust had one comment "eaten" so I will repeat it and hope it's not a duplicate. I do think there is a payback with the press - it was inevitable and predictable when Kate chose a foreign media source for her platform. It's less bruised egos than competition. Since William and Kate already had a poor relationship with the press, I don't think Huffington Post was a wise choice - as well, as linking Kate with political issues she shouldn't be linked to. And the burden of such endeavours go both ways - Kate could have reached out to the local press - she didn't and she got ignored. All that effort for relatively little result.
DeleteBut the royal family is also very reactive (slow to take action without being nudged.) And the press also serves the role as royal nudger. They represent the British public and the issues they are raising are ones that are out there- they have been mentioned on this blog. At the end of the day, the British press will always count far more than any international media because only they take the pulse of the nation.
As for the suggestion above about William, Mother's Day is a good day to point out the paternal/maternal role of the monarch - one reason the queen is so loved is because she does fill that maternal role. That feeling still exists even today.
So if William can't care almost as much about the public as he does his own family, he should get out - he will make a terrible king. But I don't think that is true. I think he is struggling a bit to find his own path and hasn't been pushed hard enough to do so. It is a shame the press has to do the pushing in a hasher and more public way than his own family would.
I agree with what Royalfan has often said - that Charles is more concerned with his own position and Camilla, than he is in encouraging his sons to step out and develop his sense of duty and strong interests. And despite what has sometimes been said here - the queen has never been known to push her family - but rather to let them struggle and sometimes fail to find their own way. (An exampe is Andrew- said to be her favourite son - who has been allowed to destroy his legacy.) I think this may be because her own father died when she was young and she had to quickly manage on her own. But some people find their own way better than others.
As for moving to Africa, as someone suggested above, William would be miserable in a month. He has only lightly touched on the enormous problems on that continent and has romantised it. I understand - I adore Italy and dream of a Tuscan Villa but I've spoken to enough Italians while visiting to know the reality of living there full-time is very different. We all have our dreams and are probably fortunate they mostly don't come true.
At the end, I think this negative attention is to the good. More engagements are announced - new ideas are raised with William taking an interest in men's mental health. He will learn from these articles just as we did in school with a big red letter scratched on our essay. We didn't like it - we may have thought it unfair and undeserved but we took note - and that is what is happening here - even on this blog.
Amen, 0600.
DeleteAnd agree with your last two paragraphs Julia. I hope that they do take something from the negative attention and build something good out of it.
Julia, I have been critical of the Queen for burying her head in the sand while the RF continued to welcome Mr and Mrs Parker-Bowles into the royal circle during the 80's and 90's. It is my feeling that while she may not have had control over her son's actions, subtle public support for Diana could have gone a long way. Diana respected the Queen and the monarchy and I think the feeling of being in it alone was the true catalyst for much of what the RF regretted in the end.
DeleteHaving said that, I do wonder if the Queen's "stay out of it" approach isn't the result of her growing up and seeing other members of her family not having the freedom to make certain decisions, and being unhappy as a result...
Suicide is a huge and complex issue. It happens to be their future engagement, and hopefully will invite a lot of discussion even as sensitive a subject as it can be. Here, personally,at the present time and this blog, more enchanted and delighted with this creative couples creativity of fashion products and getting to know thread and needle. The later reminds me of a boutique owned /managed by this dynamic lady who used to put out fashion shows in Washington DC. Her store's name was Toast and Strawberries. One would have found almost exactly what is here under thread and needle except may be the last raw.
ReplyDeleteWell done William and Kate!
ReplyDeleteMany of these dresses are lovely Charlotte :)
I like the long white dress with the beige sweater and appliqué flowers.
ReplyDeletePrince Charles, like King George V and King George VI, served in the Royal Navy. So did Prince Philip, who saw active duty in WWII and was on a ship in Tokyo Bay when the peace treaty with Japan was signed. Royal military service is a tradition.
ReplyDeleteCute comparison with the Downton Abbey kids!
I love your coverage of fashion. But am always annoyed by the way you have of making sure that every stupid thing written in the Daily Mail that is negative, is mentioned in your posts. The comments today are particularly ignorant. William (and his foundation and charities) have always been focused on mental health and issues that impact it negatively, the military, and conservation. None of this is new. He is enlarging his focus to include male suicide. But instead of applauding him for making his focus even broader, you act like he has finally decided to focus.
ReplyDeleteHello Jane,
DeleteThank you for your comment. I'll have to respectfully disagree with it though, I neither rely on the DM to formulate my opinions nor feel my comments deserve to be branded as "ignorant". I have spent years closely following the royals and over the last two have made a specific point of becoming more informed thanks to countless conversations with royal experts, writers, reporters, photographers and commentators.
Of course, William could improve. I find that to be a completely factual and fair remark. I will be the very first to applaud any work he does in the area of men's mental health. This will be a new focus for him and yes, it has been suggested focusing on key areas is something he and Kate need to do (nowhere did I imply "now he has finally decided to focus"). I'm merely reporting the facts with my own take on it.
We absolutely should expect the best from our Royal family in these incredibly challenging times. I find it enormously disappointing to see any constructive opinion met with such negativity. I really do.
Feel free to disagree, I encourage healthy debate but please become more informed before labelling anyone ignorant.
Dear Charlotte,
DeleteI am so sorry for this comment up there. I totally disagree with Jane. I have never found your style, comments, opinions ignorant or sensational or negative. I think you are the person actually who always tries to be fair with everyone (royals, commenters). I hope it won't discourage you to publish and share your personal take on things. Thanks a million!
If there's one thing guaranteed to lose friends on a blog it's calling the blog owner ignorant. Charlotte, that was a brilliant response.
DeleteBut as mental health and suicide have always been William's priorities, Jane, perhaps you can tell us what William did after Jacintha Saldanha committed suicide besides a public condolence statement.
Amen Charlotte. You, of all people, are most impartial, and considerate. To label you ignorant, is ignorance itself. You have always been supportive of William and Kate, and present a fair and honest view. That is why I, for one, read and comment on your blog. It is also why we devoted posters love you. I support you 100%.
DeleteJane, Charlotte has always handled this blog and the comments with grace and has proven so again with her response to you. I also enjoy healthy debate but your comment seems to be a bit harsh on our tireless blog administrator who does this for her own enjoyment and without any compensation (in fact often loses money as the ads on her blog do not cover the cost of the licensing of photos). Please kindly remember you are addressing a fellow human who deserves our respect. If your opinions differ, there are other blogs that focus primarily on fashion.
DeleteCharlotte, I am so glad you feel comfortable enough amongst us to defend yourself when the need arises. I think it is also very nice nice that you still agree to open, civilized discussions, leaving others to feel free to express their opinions. We have all done such a much better Job at this and so this incidence is disappointing. My hope is that Jane's wording wasn't her most thought out comment. I am sure, that at the base of it all, she has great respect for you Charlotte. How could she not. :)
DeleteCharlotte, I really hope that Jane's comment is not going to stop you from the way you handle this blog. You handle it wonderfully and I totally disagree with Jane. I agree totally with all those who posted comments after your to this one. I agree with bluhare, about calling one ignorant. Charlotte, you do a wonderful job on this blog! Thank you for all the time, money, and effort you put into this!! We all thank you for every post weather there is something in that post that we disagree with or totally agree with!! Thank you once again for all your work on this blog for all of us to read!
Deletehugs to you Charlotte. :)
DeleteQuite right, Luxembourgermeister. This is my favourite blog, Charlotte, and the only I follow day in and out. The difference is you - your tone, research, commitment...one could list dozens of factours. Thank you so very much for all you do to make my day more enjoyable and entertaining each and every time you post.
DeleteYay Charlotte!! :-)
DeleteBut I don't think we need to know what Wiliam did when Mrs. Saldanha committed suicide. It would've been tacky to advertise. Im sure it upset him and Kate more than we will ever know.
Jane I find your remarks to Charlotte very disrepectful. I do not know how long you have been reading her great blog but I think it has not been very long. I and many more here have been with her since she started this blog.
DeleteShe has never used DM for any of her remarks. You have confused others here that use DM in their comments and now blaming Charlotte for those. I would ask that you think very hard on your comment to Charlotte. Many of us here right now are not to happy by the way you have treated her.
Charlotte I am truely sorry for Jane's comment to you. She has no idea what she is talking about. I have not commented in a long time but I still read everyday. But I will not sit back and let someone talk trash about you.
Thanks again for all your hard work.
And Happy Mother's Day to our beautiful Duchess.
Jane with all due respect your comment is quite rude dear. Perhaps the tone is lost as is the case with this type of communication. However the world ignorant implies stupidity which is below the belt. Charlotte always provides a well balanced and impartial blog.
DeleteI so dislike the namecalling. I am so sorry Charlotte that you had to deal with this today.
We do have some very interesting debates here but I have never seen anyone call another person here ignorant...much less the owner of the blog.
In South we say "Bless your Heart". I will leave it at that Jane. Some will know the gist.
DB
Jane, I didn't get that impression at all (regarding William), but if you did, I don't think an insult directed at Charlotte was necessary. She did NOT deserve that.
Delete2213, it was more a response to Jane's assertion that mental health and suicide had always been a priority of William's. I don't think it has, and I wasn't really expecting an answer. Although it does beg the question. And if you'd like my opinion, I'm happy to provide it.
DeletePS Pauline, I've actually missed you. No one here kicks me around quite like you do. :)
DeleteOh Jane Jane Jane, while you are entitled to your opinion, I have to agree with the comments posted here. Your insulted Charlotte- A NO NO from where I am sitting. Never have we had anyone so well informed as she IMHO. Charlotte: as previously stated in many ways, you to an awesome job for us & we totally appreciate it. Debate is one thing, but Jane went over the line. God Bless you Charlotte.
Deletebluhare. Thank you for missing me. Hope you have been well.
Deletebluhare. Thank you for missing me. Hope you have been well.
DeleteYou're welcome, Pauline. Hope you're well too.
DeleteFor those interested, Jacintha’s husband went public in December 2014 to tell among other things that William personally wrote to him and his family. Different news outlets reported at that time. http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/07/prince-william-jacintha-saldanha-family
DeleteI suppose that William’s work for the prevention of suicide might in part stem from what happenend to Jacintha.
The black dress with teal flowers in the last set of dresses from S&B is beautiful. Obviously it would need to be bespoke because the top is too low for Catherine, but I think she would look phenomenal in that dress. Change the color just a little to a little more blue, perhaps, and it would look exquisite with the earrings and bracelet from the gala in NYC.
ReplyDeleteI find myself liking a lot of the S&B designs. I like some of the N&T but the S&B just seem more elegant. The Cattleya top and matching skirt are so feminine and airy looking. Even a solid color top with the skirt would be beautiful. If the only opportunity is a dinner that is more cocktail apparel this dress might work. I love the different textures.
https://www.modaoperandi.com/noir-sachin-babi-r15#lkcell-57812
Even some of these skirts would work well on Catherine. Although I cannot see her wearing a busy print top and bottom together, I think using one piece with a bright print would be a fabulous look on her and a bit of a departure from her style as of late.
These garments are beautiful as well and could work in bespoke versions for Catherine and not just for the India tour:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Sachin-Babi-Noir-Strapless-Embroidered-Cocktail-Dress/prod186520182/p.prod?eVar4=You%20May%20Also%20Like&RST=CategorySiloedViewCP
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Sachin-Babi-Noir-Cap-Sleeve-Floral-Combo-Sheath-Cocktail-Dress/prod186520186/p.prod?eVar4=You%20May%20Also%20Like&RST=CategorySiloedViewCP
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Sachin-Babi-Noir-Strapless-Poppy-Lace-Tea-Length-Cocktail-Dress/prod184350179/p.prod?eVar4=You%20May%20Also%20Like&RST=CategorySiloedViewCP
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Sachin-Babi-Noir-Confetti-Print-Tea-Length-Dress-Slate/prod179880260/p.prod?eVar4=You%20May%20Also%20Like&RST=CategorySiloedViewCP
I am not sure I love this last one but a bespoke version might work and the fabric is light and airy:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Sachin-Babi-Noir-Cap-Sleeve-Floral-Eyelet-Fit-Flare-Dress/prod186520184/p.prod?eVar4=You%20May%20Also%20Like&RST=CategorySiloedViewCP
These also might work for Catherine:
ReplyDeletehttp://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sachin-babi-noir-marina-embellished-eyelet-tea-dress/4238888?origin=productBrandLink
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/alvin-skirt/4199805?origin=productBrandLink
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/avalon-skirt/4211647?origin=productBrandLink
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sachin-babi-noir-flora-embroidered-organza-dress/4238889?origin=productBrandLink
This would be a twist on her normal comfort zone clothing:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/joan-coat/4211853?origin=productBrandLink
And something like this skirt would be a good staple for her wardrobe. I really think it would work well for cocktail type functions and because it is a black skirt she could wear it many times with different tops and accessories:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/till-skirt/4206990?origin=productBrandLink
It can be a tricky length to wear but Catherine could pull it off.
A lot a great options for Kate. The skirt (bottom here), especially, would be a great addition to her wardrobe. I love the possibilities it inspires!
DeleteLots of great choices, Courtney, thanks for sharing.
DeleteWhat lovely dresses from Sachi & Babi there are several I would like to see Kate in The needle & Thread ones are also attractive but not quite as good as Sachi & Babi. I do hope she wears some of their dresses.
ReplyDeleteChanging topic there would appear no doubt that KP have been shaken by the adverse press William has received most of it unjustified.
Thinking back over the years W & K have been married I recall Kate received adverse comments on the time she took to take on her first patronages explanations given that she was undertaking considerable research before deciding and from what we now know about Kate I think those comments ring true her first one's being Each hospice, Action on Addiction, The Art Room & National Portrait Gallery followed by Place2Be, Natural History Museum, Sports Aid the following year. William was already Patron of a number of Charities supporting young people with various problems but at that time the word dealing with Mental Health in particular was not raised. However it would seem to me this is what has been happening for quite a while but not in such a public manner.
Soon after Prince George was born both William & Harry were criticised for there strong interests in Africa William in particular after his over the top very emotional speech on preserving Wildlife and it was suggested they should think more of problems in there own country.
W & K & now Harry since he left the Army are now in a very difficult position there are already 13 Royals undertaking full time Royal Duties but understandably the public want to see the young Royals. Personally I think William has done the right thing having another job and Kate should be allowed to be a mother but they do need to slightly increase their public duties. Harry needs to also have another job.
Mental Health is a worthy cause to highlight as until Kate started highlighting the issue little had been heard on the lack of provision. It is a wide issue and could be a minefield as so much of it could be political so as Royals they will have to be cautious with their approach but I very much hope by keeping it in the public eye they will succeed in more money & resources being given to what is a serious problem in this country
One thing to remember about those thirteen royals is that they are mostly retirement age and also draw little attention. Edward and Sophie are presently in the Bahamas but I wouldn't have known that except for seeing it mentioned on Royal Order. I then looked to see if I had missed it in the various papers but I can't find that I did. (Why I miss the Royal Digest so much- yet, even with Charlotte's brilliant ideas, too few people popped over.)
DeleteSophie wore clothes that would have dazzled us on Kate. It isn't fair but there's not much to be done - it's not just William and Kate's relative youth but the fact they stand close to the crown - I think when Charles and Diana were so active, it drew more interest overall in royalty that isn't there now.
I have never believed that the royals should be a popularity contest and yet I also believe, like any organisation, that it has to stay in the news and stay relevant to all and that includes the young. And unfortunately, there are only three relatively young members presently active.
I'm not down-grading the work these other thirteen do - it is important and I'm sure highly valued by those they meet. Nor do I think they need to step back - there is far more work there than William, Kate and Harry could take on. The patronages of the queen and Philip alone are overwhelming. I just don't think this should be an excuse for the young royals not to step forward as mostly full-time active royals - interest is beginning to wane - even in them - and before it slips away, is the time to act.
I'm very excited about this three-prong approach and have high hopes it will do a huge amount of good - the only thing I wish they would have included is mental difficulties in the elderly - it is a huge problem with some of the people least likely to seek or to know how to get help.
I would also like to see William, Kate and Harry spread their interests out a bit more too - there are so many good causes -I'm a bit old-fashioned in believing that all those trees planted and ribbons are symbols of good done - but at the same time I think having a focused area is an excellent thing - especially if there aren't to be a lot of engagements.
I agree on Kate having time to be a mother - although I think a light weekly schedule wouldn't interfere with that. I don't agree with William's job. He has had over a decade since university of working outside of royal duties and it has reached a point where it will not contribute more to his future as king (and might actually harm it.) Since we all believe he should have family time, the most important priority for the balance of his time should be royal duties - reaching as many people as he reasonably can and learning about all areas and aspects of his varied nation.
Who knows that William hasn't had suicidal ideation at some point after his mother's death or during the media fiasco that happened after that. That would have been huge for a fifteen year old or anybody to deal with In addition, working in rescue and in the populations within the charities/patronages, he most likely has encountered that also. Bringing attention to the topic of suicide can help people realize there is help available and that they are not the only ones who are feeling that way. That William and Kate aren't doing enough, aren't doing this that or the other, is preposterous. What they are doing is huge.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - hope all had a Happy Mother's Day. My own mum is gone but I always think of her and all she gave me, and send blessings to all mums out there.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charlotte for speaking out. I think it is terribly important, and you have such thoughtfulness and wisdom and the gift of putting this into words. There are purely fashion blogs for those who want that, there are blogs that censor and allow nothing negative - making for an unreal persepective, and there are probably blogs that gleefully rip royals apart. (I try to avoid those)
- But this blog has a lovely balance of real and very serious issues along with fashion - and you do an excellent job on bringing our attention to the background of engagements and the charities and institutions involved. No other blog does this so well. This was completely missed by the above commentator - who showed her own ignorance (not a word I use lightly) by suggesting this should just be a fashion blog.
Not every person who comments (very much including myself) will do so with perfect expression - but it's important to know what people are thinking and what issues concern them. I always try to read every comment, even if I completely disagree with them and take them seriously (whether I should or not.) There are so many interesting perspectives.
As for the fashions, Kate could make a fabulous wardrobe out of all the designs shown here for a tour three times as long. There are lovely clothes and it is wonderful that some of these firms are helping bring employment where it is most needed, especially to women. A mixture of the gorgeous and the good.
As for William I'm glad he is "continuing" his work with mental health and hope he will do dozens or more engagements on the same theme. As for his foundation - my dream is that he will pay a visit to each and every one of the charities it supports so that we will know what they are about (something we have little insight into now) and we know this is something more to him than occasional meetings and hitting on rich people for donations. It has to be more than just the foundations rich people have - and I hope it will become so.
I'm sorry to hear that your mum is no longer with you, I can not bear the though of mine leaving. :(
DeleteThank you, Anon 20:51 - I couldn't bear it either until I lost both my mum and dad and had to bear it.
DeleteI was very grateful to have been offered grief therapy by hospice - it is a valuable resource - one William has touched on a little with children but not too broadly as yet. It is as yet another form of mental health - one that will touch almost everyone in different ways - I sometimes felt others thought I was taking the loss too hard and for too long - not long ago, I was pleased to read an article in Good Housekeeping dealing with various issues women face - including one by a woman who had to fight through the grief of losing her parents - it made me feel less alone.
I know that feeling of isolation touches everyone who is dealing with problems, so wonderful that William and Kate are helping remove the stigma of seeking help - it's a tough one in a stiff-upper-lip world and DM touched a nerve with that bit about Kate risking her children becoming therapy junkies - but is so important for people not to be afraid to seek help.
As for DM, it's worth noting that most of the articles we have been discussing these last few points came from the Times, the Telegraph and Mirror, so we're dealing with multiple media sources.
Happy Mothers Day to Kate
ReplyDeleteand
Happy Mothers day to all the people who observe today.
The hands that rock the cradle rule the world. :)
ReplyDeleteDrink in all the love that will hopefully be afforded to you today Mums. Store up some of it in reserve for the tough days, as few as I hope those are.
From one Mom to others, "Happy Mothers' Day". Hugs
Charlotte,you may want to have a look at 3 more Indian designers; Manish Malhotra, Sabhyasachi and Anita Dongre. Charlotte, I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed by the research you have put into researching Indian designers. There's also another Indian designer, Manav Gangwani, he designed Kendra Spear's wedding saree to Prince Rahim Aga Khan. Thank You Charlotte!XOXO
ReplyDeleteManav Gangwani -- I went to their website and goodness are some of the fabrics used for the couture dresses sumptuous. That is a common thread throughout Indian design but some of the dresses are made of fabric so exquisite you can almost feel the different textures through the computer screen.
DeleteManish Malhotra - This brand has some beautiful items as well. I would love to see Catherine in something like this and in this color. I think it would be lovely with her coloring.
http://www.manishmalhotra.in/celebrity-in/malaika-arora-wine-anarkali-set.html
A bespoke version of this would be stunning as well:
http://www.manishmalhotra.in/catalog/product/view/id/18873/s/old-rose-lengha-set-with-mirror-work-mmmalwlh415-manish-malhotra/category/18/
I so wish I could afford some of the things I love. I suppose even if I could I would have nowhere to wear them. As a stay at home mom to three I don't have many opportunities to wear evening wear.
Sabhyasachi -- Again many beautiful garments but I got distracted by the beautiful clutch purses. If Catherine isn't adventurous enough so feature the amazing bright, beautiful fabrics I think a clutch would be a nice touch.
DeleteAnita Dongre - I am coming to the conclusion that Catherine has an impossible choice to make between designers. The tour isn't overly long so it would be hard to showcase more than a couple designers.
I love this look. The top is so structured whilst the skirt is so floaty.
http://www.exclusively.com/product/french-fuchsia-lengha-with-white-bandi-set?trk=browse
Love this fabric but I would love to see her in a bespoke dress or gown in a brighter color in this fabric.
http://www.exclusively.com/product/azra-lengha-v-ad23mar15r193-anita-dongre?trk=browse
These two were designs I really like. Thank you so much for giving more possible designers. I tried to search Indian designers when they announced the tour would be to India but did not come up with nearly as many beautiful designs as the ones that you and Catherine have mentioned!
http://www.exclusively.com/product/the-falak-jacket-and-nayana-sharara-v-ad12aug15j301-anita-dongre?trk=browse
http://www.exclusively.com/product/ramani-lengha-v-ad23mar15r187-anita-dongre?trk=browse
I feel KP missed a prime oppurnity for some good PR today. Did you see Clarence house released footage of the queen with Charles when he was young? I thought it was so cute!
ReplyDeleteIf I were working at KP I would advise Kate and William to maybe publish a short video of Charlotte and George playing or something along those lines
It may appear that way, but I think this video had more to do with highlighting the Queen and Charles, than it did Mother's Day. Subtle but huge difference there, IMO.
DeleteCharlotte,
ReplyDeleteCommenting on this blog has given me opportunity to develop and improve more critical thinking skills, and to get better in touch with what my feelings and opinions are and to hone my writing and diplomacy skills. And hopefully to be a blessing in the process. The fact that I also get to follow the life and style of Kate and her family and communicate with some amazing people from all over the world are the cherries on top. Thank you Charlotte.
I find it odd that they are doing so many more joint engagements these days - I thought when George was born they wanted the opposite b/c they always wanted one parent with him? I don't understand why Kate is going with William to the suicide engagements, when that isn't her area of focus. It's obviously not a bad thing for her to go, but since she works a very limited number of days, it's may trade off with one of her causes, like hospices, which have gotten so little attention lately. My guess is this - they only want to be in London if absolutely necessary, and they have to time it for when William isn't working so they don't have to split up the family (although given how little he IS working, that shouldn't be as hard as they make it out to be). So, they both can only work the same, small number of days during a month, which makes it hard for them to avoid joint engagements because having competing engagements would split the attention. And if they don't do joint engagements, their numbers would be even lower. Frankly, it has felt to me like for awhile now, one of them has basically been tagging along to an engagement about something they are not focusing on but the other one is. Now, of course royal couples should support each other's causes, but it's different when they have already explicitly limited the amount of work they will do, which I think means they should recognize that showing support to each other is less important than trying to maximize their efforts to broaden their attention - efforts being hurt by their refusal to become full-time royals (only for work, not when it comes to the benefits). I wouldn't be shocked if part of the increase in joint engagements is because they want as many days to themselves in the country as possible, which requires combining engagements/causes to limit the number of working days total for both. It reduces preparation time for them, increases how much time they can spend at Anmer, and unfortunately, makes it even harder for them to give attention to a multitude of causes. I think that on most of their joint engagements, William tends to take the lead, which imo, makes the whole thing a lot easier for Kate and puts less demands on her at the engagement. It's disappointing though, because I enjoy how much more she shines when she's on her own, and I don't like that when they are together, William is usually the only one quoted as saying anything for the most part. Either the press focuses on what he said - which I don't think is true because Kate is the one who sells headlines - or it's just another example of how he tends to take the lead in most of their joint engagements and Kate doesn't do as much at them as she does during solo ones.
ReplyDeleteThis is all a good example of why William's job, and the couple's insistence to be holed away in the country, is hurting their ability to be good royals. If they were willing to live in London and/or William didn't have a civilian job, then they could keep their family together to focus on their children, while at the same time having ample opportunity to focus on their individual areas of interest. I feel like the very few days Kate can actually be in London without having to be away from her husband/children has played a role in why her focus has become so heavy on mental health, with very little attention paid to her other patronages like the Natural History Museum, or EACH.
I know other royals also mostly live in the country, but a lot of them (i.e. the Wessexes, Yorks, and Anne's bunch) don't have huge apartments in the city that were renovated with millions of pounds of taxpayer money. Additionally, their country living situations clearly don't impact their desire/ability to do work (and didn't even as young parents - at least in Sophie's case).
Obviously my post is just conjecture - I just hope people can respect that most responses will also be based on conjecture just as much :)
Am I the only one who recalls comments from folks along the lines of what is stopping William (or Kate) from attending this or that? After all, they have a nanny and surely he (or she) can get away for a few hours.
DeleteWe go from that to references to them tagging along. But hey, maybe it's me. ;)
It was a question of why they cant work as full time royals given their full time privileges. They gave the excuse of the kids. So now they are bein called out on it.
DeleteMust be just you.
No, RF, we have heard it all before.
DeleteJust think of everything negative anyone could possibly come up with about W/K and we have heard it all before, even in the wake face of W/K's many accomplishments. Their critics will always be their critics no matter what. They will NEVER be satisfied this side of heaven, regardless.
I posted my thoughts on the joint engagements up thread. It also makes sense if the trio is gonna make this into a clear cut endevour, that they are involved with eachothers areas.
DeleteAnon 5:02, I thought so, but thank you for the confirmation. :)
DeleteMaggie I completely disagree with you. All you ever write about is how they are not going what other royals are doing. Again if the queen wanted then focusing on royal duties they would be doing that. I have many friends who live in England and Inhavevtomhavevcreame to all of them regarding W&K. And they all tell me that they have full support from the queen. You may not like it but that is the way the roll. So why not write something nice once in a while regarding them. Like how nice it is that they want to be full time parents and not have their children raised by nannies like William and his father were
DeleteMaggie, I think it is important for William to take the lead during their joint engagements. He is the royal and the one that was born to be future king. He is also the husband and the man of the family. It is his job to take the lead and Kate to follow. This isn't a negative blind following but one a dutiful wife is supposed to do to support her husband. He is the lead of the family.
DeleteI do think that Kate's other patronages need to be as visible as they were when she first became their patron but that should not limit her abilities to continue to explore other avenues of mental health. It's such a broad topic that it will keep her busy for many years.
I also don't think forging new traditions and breaking with old ones is a bad thing. It's an evolution of the monarchy that needs to occur to keep it alive. If all they cared about is selling headlines and racking up numbers they could very easily do so.
I agree Julie from NC.
Delete03:35
DeleteThey ARE working.
Other than the part about how he's the husband and Kate should dutifully follow, I was nodding along with you. I agree that as the future King, he should be taking the lead, but not because he's a man and Kate should do what he says.
DeleteIf I were to ask Mr. bluhare about about being the head of the family with a dutifully following wife, he'd laugh me out of the room.
Maggie, no offense, but I am curious, are you ever satisfied with anything William or Kate do, ever?
ReplyDeletesometimes being constantly critical can be a real disadvantage.
I don't think Maggie can be happy with anything W&K do. All she ever does is talk crrap about them. I think they owe her to be out there doing engagements after engagements and let the nanny raise their children. But sorry to say that is not how the Cambridges are doing things. So she needs to get a grip.
DeleteI am truly concerned about some of the consistent vehement dislike and disdain regarding William and Kate. Having all that discontent in your system cannot be healthful.
DeleteFind something that creates some peace and happiness within you and regularly incorporate those things into your life for some healthful balance.
1652 and 1840,
DeleteYou are two sides of the same coin. If Maggie is so wrong why don't you counter what she says with an argument of your own. But you don't. You just carp that she said it.
1652, Maggie does not need to get a grip. I suggest you need to rein in your blatant dislike of opinions different than yours and learn how to counter them.
1840, I could say that I am concerned about the consistent vehement dislike and disdain exhibited here toward other posters, along with fake concern that it's not healthy for you either. But I don't. And suggest you do the same thing as 1652, and get a grip on your own biases before launching at someone else.
I'm breaking my new rule about engaging with posters like you, because you apparently cannot see the hypocrisy of your own posts you're so busy trying to slam someone else -- done anonymously of course as you don't have the backbone to stick up for your own opinion and can pretend it wasn't you when you get called on it. If you feel so strongly about your hero and heroine then let them know who you are when you stand up for them.
Sorry, Rebecca.
"fake concern" ? how do you know that?
Delete"hero and heroine"? how do you know that?
The fact that one has opinion is not the issue. The insistent, relentless, deep negativity is. This has been commented on more than once by others.
"The fact that one has opinion is not the issue. The insistent, relentless, deep negativity is. This has been commented on more than once by others."
DeleteAnon 21:31. Thank you!! Exactly the point I have made more than once, even if it does get twisted like a pretzel. :)
I know that as much as you do 2131, unless you're the one who said it and then perhaps you can tell us all how concerned you really are and that William and Kate are not the subject of your hero worship.
DeleteThanks RF, :)
Deletetwisted pretzel is a good way to put it. thanks.
DeleteOh my. What much ado about nothing in so many of these posts.😊Again just my opinion. Ali
ReplyDeleteI agree with many things you wrote Maggie,they do engagements together not just because of the numbers (I do not think they care) but because they are hardly any time in London. So it makes sense to do these things like for a week 03.10-03.17. I wonder whether we see them in March or that was it.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures of the young family on twitter
ReplyDeleteThe new pictures of the family on a ski vacation are adorable. George and Charlotte are getting so big!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the very informative post Charlotte. Learning about the Indian designers is so fascinating. I love several of the items from Sachin and Babi. I think Kate would look amazing in the Cattleya Embroidered Organza Blouse and skirt. It seems to follow some of her other preferences. I am thinking of the blue and white lace dress she wore on the South Pacific tour a few years ago. It follows a similar style she gravitates to. I would love for her to pull that piece out of her closet and wear it on this tour too.
ReplyDeleteI like that they are finding their focus in areas that they can make a difference in such as mental health.
Keep up the great work Charlotte and have a lovely week. I am hoping that the St. Patricks day engagement is confirmed soon. I always love that engagement each year.
I would love to see her pull that dress out of her closet. I also loved the Prabal Gurung purple and white dress, which I think was from the same tour. I would love to see it with her hair up and some amazing shoes. A lot of her early looks were stunning and I would love to see her give them another spin. The formal gowns she wore the first year of her marriage were all pretty stunning. Would love to see those again as well.
DeleteCan someone tell me if there's a chance of seeing the young royals on the 10.03.2016 and at what time do you think they'll be where? Thank you very much if there's an answer!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Charlotte. :)
ReplyDelete