Hello hello,
I'm briefly popping in amidst a flurry of last-minute festive preparations with news of a new sighting of the Duchess of Cambridge. Following Her Majesty's Christmas luncheon, the Cambridges travelled to their country home, Anmer Hall, ahead of celebrating the festivities with the Royal family at Sandringham. Like many of us who have been braving the queues and traffic (no matter how prepared one is, it seems inevitable to forget something) Kate brought George and Charlotte for a spot of shopping in Norfolk today. A fellow shopper took several snaps of the Duchess; they are available to view on The Sun's website.
Fellow shoppers at the Range store in Norfolk were surprised to see Kate, George and Charlotte stocking up on "trolley-loads" of books, pictures and artists materials. Of course, it's long been traditional for the royals to gift each other inexpensive gifts, often with a comic edge. Apparently Kate once gifted Harry a 'Grow Your Own Girlfriend' kit. Kate revealed one Christmas she decided to gift the Queen her grandmother's chutney: "I thought, I'll make her something. I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table."
'One mum said: “I did a double-take when I saw her. You don’t expect to see royals shopping at The Range.” The mum who saw Kate said she only realised it really was her in the store at King’s Lynn, Norfolk, when she spotted George, five, and Charlotte, three.
She said: “I recognised little Prince George holding Kate’s hand and Charlotte with a red bow in her hair. “Their protection officers were keeping a discreet distance so they looked like any other family out grabbing last-minute Christmas bargains. “When Kate got to the checkouts I plucked up courage to ask if she’d do a selfie with me and my kids. She very politely declined. She was so nice, explaining she was just doing a bit of Christmas shopping.”
More from the Mail Online:
'Teacher Sarah Daniels told how she popped in to discount retailer The Range yesterday, and was stunned to see the Duchess of Cambridge browsing in the aisles – with Princess Charlotte and Prince George in tow.
Mrs Daniels, 43, first saw the royal trio in the arts and craft section of the home, garden and leisure retailer, before they moved on to the toy section where George showed interest in 'dinosaur slime'.
The shopper said: 'As I was looking at the shelves I noticed a tall dark-haired lady further down the aisle and thought to myself 'I recognise that face'.
'Then I heard George say 'Charlotte, pick that up' and the penny suddenly dropped as to who they were. It seemed like a lovely family outing for them the day before Christmas Eve. Mrs Daniels said that at one point, Charlotte sat on the floor and was told by her mother, dressed casually in jeans, low-heeled boots and a jacket: 'Get up, poppet'.
The King's Lynn Range store offers discounted items across homeware, furniture, bedding, arts and crafts, novelty gifts, health and beauty, and much more. Below, a glimpse of their vast festive stock.
Middleton Maven suggests Kate wore the Dubarry Bracken tweed utility jacket. The £239 piece features a stand-up collar, zipped front and storm flap. Dubarry of Ireland is an Irish brand with a collection of premium performance footwear, clothing, leather goods and accessories. Established in 1937, Dubarry markets a range of sailing and country footwear and clothing for both women and men.
The Palace has just released a snippet from Her Majesty's Christmas speech. In her timely and carefully-considered words, the Queen says: "Through the many changes I have seen over the years - faith, family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance. Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human-being is always a good first step towards greater understanding."
We'll see the Queen's speech in full on Christmas Day at 3 pm. We'll also see the Cambridges making the annual walk to church on Christmas morning. I'll see you then!
In the meantime, I hope your own preparations are going swimmingly and you're all looking forward to a relaxing time with your loved ones :)
Hnm making last minute shopping ..and wrapping my gifts to my family and friends and also from my god children i hope we all have happy merry xmas
ReplyDeleteKate continues to warm our hearts as a wonderful mother and wife, bringing normalcy to her family while presenting herself as a respected royal. Wishing their family and all of you a very merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a fun and exciting moment for the cashier (sorry, don't know what they are called in the UK) when Kate came to her to be served!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, MrsSM! 😃
DeleteThank you, Charlotte, and Happy Christmas all dear fellow readers! May our hearts get filled with hope, joy and peace.
I'm glad they were able to look around a bit and I'm glad she declined a selfie especially on a private shopping trip. She would have had a lot of people asking otherwise. Very glad the kids could be part of a bit of regular life.
ReplyDeleteI love the Queen's dress---that scalloped neckline and sleeve are very attractive. And I love the photo of her and PP -- she always had a wonderful smile, didn't she?
Gives me a chance to grip about the implication that H&M staying at Sandringham means they don't want to be with K&W. Kate is probably spending time with her family and I guess this is the first time H&M can be a married couple at Sandringham. Makes perfect sense to me! We really don't see Kate with Pippa or her mother but we know they are very close. I hope this searching for feuds where they don't exist will fade away soon.
For some reason, I was expecting a Kate shopping sighting, in fact that is the reason I checked the blog tonight. I like her jacket a lot. Wish I could’ve seen what the children were wearing.
ReplyDeleteI think it is hilarious to see the headlines. If royals such as Kate or Meghan wear something very expensive it is wrong, and if they shop in a discount store it is also wrong haha. How would you get it right I wonder. The answer: impossible. Just do what feels right! I hope the Cambridges have a lovely Christmas holiday at Norfolk with endless arts and craft for the littles.
ReplyDeleteI love this woman! She's so down to earth!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteI love this! So classic Kate! And I also like that while the kids were there, we don't get any pictures of them! Hope they all will have a great christmas and the same to Charlotte and the Mr and all you fellow commenters here on the blog :) It's already Christmas here on the 24th! :D
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there are no photos of the kids (unlikely) or if the newspapers are just not running them (which I applaud).
DeleteIt seems like W&K have realised that they cannot control all photos, so as long as the kids privacy are respected and people are not harassing Kate they are not going to make a fuss. Which would be a sensible compromise.
Merry Christmas!! Kate looks better than I did today when I ventured out for more wrapping paper. I know it must feel invasive to have people taking your picture when you are shopping ... but I love seeing the pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhen you marry into the BRF, there is so much privilege (tiara, jewels, gorgeous clothes, etc.), but it in some ways it must be hard — never going anywhere by yourself, taking your kids out for a fun activity, being spontaneous, never having friends drop by ....
Hope from USA
It is a delicate Vance, but one that the Cambridges famiky seems to be handling quite well; lucky they as, are they are all senior royals for life!
DeleteHere everything is ready, the meals cooked, the tree is decorated, we are waiting for my sister to arrive. :) Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Charlotte!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Charlotte! Thanks for all the hard work you do on your blogs, I always love reading them both, and hearing the stories behind the royal news.
ReplyDeleteAlison
(Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Charlotte, we can always count on you! I love seeing these candid pics.
ReplyDeleteWhen a member of the public asks a royal for a selfie, I wonder how they “politely decline” — like what do they say, specifically? A simple “no thank you”? It’s a tiny thing but I find it interesting.
A friend of mine once ran into Maria Shriver at Disneyland and asked for a photo. She said “no thank you, I’m here with my family” but had a gracious smile as she said it. So I imagine Kate said something similar.
DeleteI understand the desire for a selfie, but I wish people would understand it’s not really polite to ask. She’s just a mom trying to do some Christmas shopping with her kids. Yes, she’s a public figure, but she deserves some time to just go about her errands with her kids.
A polite decline is usually, “ oh, no that you, but thank you for asking.”
DeleteYes! I've been wondering the same thing!! Would love to know.
DeleteCharlotte, what a delightful surprise for us all! (Including those who saw them shopping) xx
ReplyDeleteWishing My DKB & MAM Blog Family A Happy & Merry Christmas, from The States!!! :) xx
#Blessings #Gratitude
As Always, a Special Christmas Wish for you Charlotte & Thank you for another year of immense hard work (for both blogs) & your always incredible coverage that we can all count on to be quick, timely, accurate & always very fair!! The Bentley Of Blogs!! :) xx Becca USA
Is she wearing the Heath colourway, i.e. the jacket in the image posted next to the one of the model? Or perhaps the Acorn? Can we tell from the Sun photos?
ReplyDeleteHello Penelope,
DeleteI'm not certain, but I think it's Acorn :)
Merry Christmas Charlotte! By Acorn you mean the photo you posted next to the model?
DeleteI ask because this is Heather. Acorn is a lighter green. Thanks Penelope
It really angers me when people take pictures of Kate and/or her children while they are in personal situations. I understand that others become excited when they see her out and about running errands, but it is wrong to snap pictures of their family during those times. And, asking Kate for a selfie is considerably rude and appalling, given the circumstances. She deserves to be able to run errands or enjoy personal time without being photographed by the public or paparazzi. Nor does she deserve to have such pictures, her children's actions, or anything she says sold to a press outlet for publication. Doing so is just plain wrong.
ReplyDeleteShe seems to take it in stride. Everyone said she was super nice to them. If she hated the public interaction, she wouldn't go into the shops with her children.
DeleteI agree with you, Sarah, and I think this Blog Spot should take the higher ground and not share unsolicited photos.
DeleteCharlotte,
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Merry Christmas to all of you and your loved ones.
Merry Christmas Charlotte. May you and your family have a lovely warm cozy holiday. Thank you for bringing such fun and entertainment to all of us.
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for the kind Christmas wishes. I hope you all have a wonderful time with your loved ones :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas! Thank you Charlotte for creating and continuing this wonderful blog, it's always a joy to come here and see what's happening with Kate and Co.
ReplyDeleteHave a good holiday to everyone who love's Kate!
I love these pics. It is great that George and Charlotte are getting the same experiences as non royal children. Can Kate possibly be any prettier!!! Merry Christmas Charlotte! Thank you for your hard work on both blogs. They are my favorites!!
ReplyDeleteI really like the jacket. I love her casual style.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays to everyone.
Merry Christmas, tons of LOVE!!
ReplyDeleteXOXOXOXOXO
Merry christmass everyone and happy new year too
ReplyDeleteLove all this! Nice to see Kate in a normal errand with her children. Merry Christmas to you Charlotte, to Mr Charlotte and to all fellow commenters of this nice blog. Silvia, Siena, Italy.
ReplyDeleteGood for her. I think it's lovely that she and her children could enjoy that experience together. She has not forgotten her roots; I think that will serve her in good stead when it is her time to serve as Queen. I am guessing that our Target stores would be the American equivalent of The Range stores??
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me the photo on the Queen's desk during her speech is always a meaningful one,and the choice of Her Majesty and DoE with baby Charles is perhaps indicative of the passage of time and the handing off of more duties in the New Year to the heir. HM looks gorgeous as always albeit quite serious.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Charlotte and thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking, Charlotte; this year was easy because I went all gift cards😁. Thanks for sharing pic of the Duchess at the check out counter. Enjoy your Christmas Day with family and friends everyone.
ReplyDeletethe british press are so classless! it's so vile how they call catherine a "cheapskate" sigh
ReplyDeleteanyways she looks beautiful merry christmas
This post is lovely. It sounds as if Kate and her children were having a great time. But I am deeply concerned about you, Charlotte. You told us about a day of illness recently. If it has returned, I trust you are receiving care and rest. I even hope that it might represent good news. In any case, I know that missing Christmas must stem from a serious crisis in your life.
ReplyDeleteThe duchesses smiled and chatted as they walked to church, both looking beautiful, and I know you will be heartened by their evident friendship. Their husbands also looked happy, though William kept wrapping up his throat as though it hurt. The Queen was lovely, and so were the other ladies. There was a nice crowd.
The Queen’s speech began with a nod to Kings College Chapel’s centennial carol service. I listen to it every year. So beautiful. The Queen recommended kindness to each other, even in disagreement. The world so needs her words.
Be well, our Charlotte, and return to us when you can. We can find pretty photos elsewhere, but they are accompanied by often snide words. We miss you today.
This post is lovely. It sounds as if Kate and her children were having a great time. But I am deeply concerned about you, Charlotte. You told us about a day of illness recently. If it has returned, I trust you are receiving care and rest. I even hope that it might represent good news. In any case, I know that missing Christmas must stem from a serious crisis in your life.
ReplyDeleteThe duchesses smiled and chatted as they walked to church, both looking beautiful, and I know you will be heartened by their evident friendship. Their husbands also looked happy, though William kept wrapping up his throat as though it hurt. The Queen was lovely, and so were the other ladies. There was a nice crowd.
The Queen’s speech began with a nod to Kings College Chapel’s centennial carol service. I listen to it every year. So beautiful. The Queen recommended kindness to each other, even in disagreement. The world so needs her words.
Be well, our Charlotte, and return to us when you can. We can find pretty photos elsewhere, but they are accompanied by often snide words. We miss you today.
I am sorry about the double message. The page came back with my message still on it, and so I sent it again. Am so glad, Charlotte, that you are back with us, feeling better, and so glad you took the time to recover. Too bad you had to do it on Christmas day and no doubt sacrifice your own celebration. But illness is no respecter of holidays, as I learned last year! Take care of yourself as we head into what I can only hope will be a much less frightening year on all fronts. Your Christmas post is beautiful, as always.
DeleteI hope your Christmas was lovely, Charlotte! My best wishes to you and your family. I hope all is well with you. Looking forward to learning more about the BRF Christmas day festivities from you.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to all! I’m on the train to work today.... no holiday in the US today... I think the kids were in at least one of those pics. One is cropped rather oddly so it looks like the picture was adjusted to not show them. It was brave of her to venture out with 2 kids.... I’m reluctant to do that and I don’t have papparazzi to worry about🤣erininnyc
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas and best wishes for healthy new year...cheers
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Charlotte, hope you are ok!
ReplyDeleteI'm also sending best wishes and loving vibes. Charlotte, i so look forward to your voice, my connection to England and the Queen. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhen you don't blog, we notice and send our best...cheers