| | |  | Kate Middleton News & Gossip
|
|
| | Duchess Kate had the fewest work events of all the 'full time royals' in 2017 | | Added 7 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
As we discussed, the end of the year always brings a trilogy of stories about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Sometimes there?s a variation in the order, but three stories always occur around New Year?s every year, for the past? what? Five or six years. We hear about how much the Duchess of Cambridge spent on clothes. We hear about how few events William and Kate did throughout the year. And we hear – from sources – about how in the new year, they will be extra keen to work even harder. We already had the story about Kate?s 2017 clothing budget: she spent something like $160,000 on clothes this year. And now we know how few events she did, especially in comparison to other royals.
Although she is one of the senior members of the British royal family we don’t often see much about her in the media, but that doesn’t mean Princess Anne has shied away from her duties. The Princess Royal, 67, has carried out more domestic engagements this year than the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry combined.
Low-key Anne, who is rarely covered by the wider press when conducting her engagements, was confirmed as the busiest member of the royal family due to clocking up 455 appearances, according to The Times. These include charity events, dinners, receptions and other engagements around the country this year ? not to mention another 85 events overseas.
The royal who undertook the fewest UK duties this year was the pregnant Kate Middleton, 35, for the third year running. She undertook 63 official engagements at home and 42 abroad. Her husband, Prince William, attended 117 events at home and 54 abroad. Prince Harry, who is set to marry Suits actress Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018, made 139 domestic appearances and 70 overseas this year.
Anne is well known for her charity work and is patron of over 200 organisations. The second child of Queen Elizabeth II is also highly regarded for her equestrian talents, having won two silver medals in 1975 and one gold medal in 1971 at the European Eventing Championships.
The latest figures are based on an analysis of the court circular by 85-year-old Tim O’Donovan, a retired insurance broker from Berkshire who has compiled an annual account of royal engagements for The Times for 37 years. On Anne being the hardest working royal, he told the publication: “She is always rushing around the country. I’m just amazed when I look through the court circular at what she does in a day. The amount she crams in is extraordinary. She can be up in Scotland then down to a dinner in London that evening.”
[From The International Business Times]
Good for the Princess Royal. Anne always gets sh-t done and she?s always been really no-nonsense about it. Which is why, I suspect, Anne and her kids can do no wrong when it comes to the royal courtiers and the Queen and Prince Philip – both the Queen and Philip adore Anne and I feel like Anne is their rock. Anne?s adult kids – Zara and Peter – are two of the Queen?s favorite grandkids too. As for Kate?s sad numbers? like, girl barely broke 100. She couldn?t even be bothered to average ONE hour of work every three days this year. I?m hoping the presence of Meghan Markle is just the incentive to make Kate really and truly keen in 2018. We?ll see, peeps. I suspect that over the weekend, we’ll get our annual Will And Kate Are So Keen article too.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Pacific Coast News and WENN.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Duchess Kate was keen to be seen in polka-dotted Kate Spade today | | Added 7 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement yesterday, and the day was full of royal coverage across all of the gossip/entertainment media. Most sites and media outlets drew comparisons between Meghan and the Duchess of Cambridge. I did as well, which caused a few minor sh-tstorms from Kate-defenders. It?s going to be a really long engagement stage if you Keen-fans get touchy every time Kate is mentioned alongside Meghan. Personally, I don?t think it bothers the Keen fans that Kate is mentioned alongside Meghan, I think it bothers them when comparisons are drawn and Kate is the one found wanting.
Anyway, I predicted that Meg and Harry would announce on Monday because I correctly read the tea leaves. Part of the ?tea-leaf-reading? was that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were exceedingly extra in their public schedule last week, making unannounced appearances and suddenly being solicitous with photographers. Almost like they knew what was coming and they wanted to make sure no one forgot about them. Well, surprise, Kate also had to make a solo appearance today in London, at the Foundling Museum. Kate is normally so keen to disappear for weeks, sometimes months at a time. It?s remarkable that she chose the end of November to suddenly do, like, six events in the span of a week. It?s so special, and different.
Kate wore a polka-dotted and buttony Kate Spade dress for today?s appearance. Polka dots are like buttons built into the fabric!! This Spade dress is apparently from the Resort line and it?s not even being sold yet. Kate was especially keen to speak to the press today too, which is also very special and unique!
A day after her brother-in-law Prince Harry announced his engagement to Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton was all smiles as she stepped out for the first time since the big engagement news.
?William and I are absolutely thrilled,? she told reporters early Tuesday at the Foundling Museum in London. ?It?s such exciting news. It?s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.?
[From People]
I mean, what is she going to say? ?OY, I NEED EMERGENCY BUTTONS TO GET THROUGH THIS TRYING TIME.? We?ll see, y?all. I mean, there will be years and years of this. This is a gossip marathon, not a sprint. The Kate vs. Meghan comparisons will become an entire industry. And you know what? The Windsors are actually happy about that. If we?re talking about Kate and Meghan, that means we?re not talking about royal tax dodges and how much the Buckingham Palace repairs will cost.
See Princess Kate wish Prince Harry and Meghan well on their engagement pic.twitter.com/6oxL4rD4SF
— Simon Perry (@SPerryPeoplemag) November 28, 2017
More Photos Here
    |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Prince William & Kate will magically attend this year's BAFTAs, shock | | Added 8 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
As we discussed last week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have never attended the BAFTAs together, which is weird because William has been president of the BAFTAs for years now. As it turns out, William doesn’t like attending the BAFTAs. I know this because he goes out of his way to avoid the awards show. He skipped out on it two years in a row, just like he skipped out on the pre-BAFTA reception HELD at Kensington Palace for two years in a row. Anyway, last week there was a story that William was beefing with BAFTA producers because our galant Normal Bill just wanted to bring his wife to this year’s BAFTAs, only producers were allegedly saying that Kate shouldn’t come because she’ll steal focus from the stars. Yeah. BAFTA producers shut that down and magically, Bill and Cathy will be attending this year, officially now.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, will attend the 2017 BAFTAs next month. William, who has served as president of BAFTA since 2010, and Middleton will walk the red carpet at London?s Royal Albert Hall and attend the awards ceremony, according to a release issued by BAFTA on Friday. The duke will also present the BAFTA Fellowship, the academy?s lifetime achievement award.
?The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are fantastic supporters of BAFTA. We very much look forward to welcoming Their Royal Highnesses at the EE British Academy Film Awards,? said Amanda Berry OBE and Chief Executive of BAFTA. The ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 12.
The announcement followed a story published in the British tabloid The Sun this week that claimed drama behind the scenes. The story asserted that Middleton, who has not previously attended the glittering awards ceremony, was unwelcome by BAFTA because the academy feared she would ?outshine A-list actresses.? BAFTA has called the claims in the article ?nonsense.?
The ceremony will be hosted by perennial host Stephen Fry and will be broadcast on BBC One.
[From Variety]
Hm… methinks that the whole “Kate will outshine the real stars” story was some kind of plant to deflect from whatever was really going on. I’m still not sure what that was. Like, William absolutely had to attend this year’s BAFTAs. He couldn’t skip out for a third year in a row. That much I know. But why all of the drama about whether Kate would attend? Was that some sort of fuss to deflect from whatever is really going on behind the scenes? Is BAFTA trying to push out William? God, I hope so. He’s totally useless.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Duchess Kate set to attend a Scout event, for the first time in two years | | Added 8 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
By my records, the Duchess of Cambridge has not done anything for one of her (very few) patronages in almost two years exactly. That patronage? The Scout Association. Her official patronage page says she?s a ?volunteer? with The Scout Association, but she hasn?t ?volunteered? to do anything for or with them since 2014. She used to average one or two appearances a year in the first few years of her marriage. But not lately! Thankfully, The Scout Association is celebrating their centenary anniversary this month, and Kate has deigned to RSVP to a big celebration which will be held next week, on December 14th.
Kate Middleton will attend a special pack meeting next week, where she will play games and join a baking class and first aid training. The meeting, at North Wooton scout hut next Wednesday, is part of the Cubs? centenary celebrations.
Kensington Palace said: ?The Duchess of Cambridge will attend a special Cub Scout Pack meeting with Cubs from the Kings Lynn District to celebrate 100 years of Cubs. Her Royal Highness will join the Pack as they take part in games and activities themed around looking after yourself and others physically and emotionally. Activities will include a parachute game to encourage teamwork and cooperation, first aid training and cub cake icing. They will then join together to renew their Cub Scout promise and celebrate the Cubs? 100th anniversary with the lighting of 100 candles and a rendition of happy birthday.?
Cub scouting was co-founded by Robert BadenPowell and Vera Barclay on December 16, 1916. The anniversary year, called Cubs100, started with a special camp for cub scouts from across the UK at London Zoo. Since then thousands of small and large events have taken place to celebrate the cub scout centenary with events taking place at locations as far apart as Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Warwick Castle, the London Eye, Edinburgh Castle, The Angel of the North and the House of Commons.
[From the Eastern Daily Press]
It doesn?t sound like this is going to be some big gala, right? It sounds like she?ll be able to wear jeggings and boots and perhaps she?ll get to color in one of her books. What?s also sort of weird is that this is supposed to be sort of a busy time for Kate and the royals ? they?re all trying to add some last-minute engagements so their year-end numbers will look better. But Kate hasn?t done an event since November 22nd. I don?t think she has anything scheduled for this week either. But she?ll have this Scout event next week, and then the following Monday (the 19th), she will join Harry and William for a Christmas party for Heads Together.
Here?s what Kate isn?t doing: attending galas for EACH, nor attending the annual Royal Variety Show (which was last night, and Charles and Camilla attended). Long story short: Kate seems to have basically given up on looking busy. She goes three weeks or longer without doing a stitch of work, even when ?work? might involve a fancy gala for one of her few patronages. I still feel like something fishy is going on, but we?ll see. Maybe she is knocked up. Or maybe it?s something else entirely.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Duchess Kate was keen in green Catherine Walker at the Chelsea Flower Show | | Added 9 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
Big news! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their first-ever visit to the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday. They attended this year because the National Chrysanthemum Society (which is really a thing that exists) named a new Pink and green flower the ?Charlotte.? And since Kate loves to theme-dress, she wore a coatdress in a bright green. For greenery and leaves and weeds and such. Flowers, etc. Her coatdress was by Catherine Walker and I actually think the cut is really nice. Kate often gets weird tailoring done to her coatdresses, but this looks sharp and smart.
Hilariously, the British papers are making a big deal about this being Will and Kate?s first time to the Chelsea Flower Show. The Queen goes most years, the Duke of Edinburgh has made it the show many, many times. The Prince of Wales, Prince Harry and more royal family members all make it to the annual event with some regularity. But not Will and Kate, before this year. So since the British papers were pressing poor Jason, he had to explain why Will and Kate have never been before: ?diary issues.?
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the couple’s previous non-attendance had largely been down to ‘diary issues’ but added: ‘This year the diary has worked out fine and especially in the Queen’s 90th year, Their Royal Highnesses were keen to join her.’
[From The Daily Mail]
Meaning, their schedules are just so jam-packed year after year that this is the FIRST TIME they?ve ever been free for the Chelsea Flower Show. And this year, they?re SO KEEN. Because the Queen was in attendance. And Harry too. So it probably would have looked bad if they didn?t go.
Two more pieces of information ? Kate ?wrote? a short ?message of support? for Children?s Hospice Week, which is this week. You can read her message here. I guess that?s all her patronages are going to get out of her? She won?t make a speech, nor will she record a video, nor will she? you know, visit a children?s hospice for Children?s Hospice Week. But she?ll have her people send a message. And here?s the last thing ? Tom Sykes at the Daily Beast had a really interesting piece about Will, Harry and Kate?s ?bloody-mindedness? when it comes to giving any kind of access to the press, and the press is starting to feel ?hacked off? at the younger royals. These was this interesting note from Penny Junor: ?When Kate gets out of a car she seems to deliberately turn in the opposite direction. It?s annoying the press, and that is a really dangerous situation.? Which goes a long way to explaining why there are so many crappy photos of Kate these days. She?s not even trying to give photographers good photos, and even if she did, the photographers are pissed off.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Photos courtesy of Getty, Fame/Flynet.
More Photos Here
    |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Kate Middleton Spreads Christmas Cheer at Anna Freud Centre | | Added 9 years ago | Source: Celebrity Gossip |
|
|
|
|
|
Always a welcome sight to behold, Kate Middleton made her royal rounds at North London?s Anna Freud Centre on Tuesday morning (December 15).
Clad in a festive red Alexander McQueen dress, the Duchess of Cambridge was all smiles as she chatted with staff and families at the facility, a leading institution for children with mental health issues.
During her visit, Catherine helped out with a Christmas Tree collage and took in a musical performance given by the kiddos, who showcased what they?ve learned over the course of the term.
More Photos Here
    |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Prince William and Kate Middleton Attend 23rd ICAP Charity Day | | Added 9 years ago | Source: Celebrity Gossip |
|
|
|
|
|
Always up for a good time, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hung out at a London, England brokerage firm at One Broadgate on Wednesday afternoon (December 9).
As royal watchers and shutterbugs looked on, Prince William and Kate Middleton took part in the 23rd Annual ICAP Charity Day, helping to staff the phones and mingling with financial brokers, a few of whom wore denim hot pants and heels.
Dan Lebeau was selected to show William around- ?That was the first thing he asked me - where on earth did I get [my high heels] from. I'm a size ten and it wasn't easy. I told him we were quite enjoying it but I had new respect for women. I didn't have the guts to come in like this, though. We all changed when we got here.?
More Photos Here
    |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Duchess Kate attends a private party at BP, adds 2 more events to her schedule | | Added 9 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
View image | gettyimages.com
Here ^^ is a photo of Duchess Kate last night, being driven to Buckingham Palace so she and William could attend a private dinner/party for various ambassadors. Kate looked like she was wearing the famous Lovers’ Knot Tiara, a tiara frequently worn by Princess Diana back in the day. These are likely the only photos we’ll get of the event, which People Magazine took pains to say is considered “private” and that no photographers would be allowed. My question? If there are no photos, does it still count towards Kate’s year-end royal-event numbers?
Yes, it’s that time of year? the time when Buckingham Palace and the British media count up the number of events each royal family member did over the course of a year. Ever since Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge, her numbers have always been at the bottom of the list for ?working royals.? She can literally go months without doing one event that ?counts? towards her year-in total, and even then? the events that do ?count? for Kate and Kate alone have been benefited by a bargain-basement threshold. Premieres, tennis-watching, rugby-game-attendance, a few handshakes on a rope line, all of those count towards her year-in numbers. And even then, some people even believe that Kate?s numbers have been padded the past few years with her very alleged ?private meetings? with various charities and scholars.
We still have a few weeks left in 2015, but Kate?s numbers are without a doubt going to be very low. We could give her a break because she spent half the year gestating Princess Charlotte, but honestly, Kate kept working through the last half of her pregnancy and she seemed to be pretty comfortable (?working throughout? = maybe two events a week). Then she took an extended maternity leave, then Poor Jason tried to convince everyone that Kate was feeling ?energized? about mental health issues enough to really hit the ground running this time and Poor Jason promises this time will be different! So Kate did a bunch of events all in a row in late October and throughout November. We all had high hopes. Maybe this time would be different. Maybe she really was committed this time, and it wasn?t just a commitment to looking busy before a lengthy vacation.
Before last night, her last public event was November 20th. She’s also doing a charity phone bank thing with William today, which I’ll cover in a moment. And this week, she did add two more events to her December schedule: she will making a trip to Action on Addiction in Wiltshire on Thursday. And she?ll be attending a Christmas party held at the Anna Freud Centre on December 15th. These are her only public events in a month and a half? (As I said, I’m hesitant to count last night’s event at BP because it was “private”.) Also note this: I?m pretty sure that Kate gets to ?count? going to church on Christmas day with the royal family as a royal event too. So? that makes three public events, one private tiara-event and one royal-family event in six weeks? time. Her last burst of energy for her year-end event numbers.
? And before everyone starts yelling about how unfair it is that I would expect Kate to be able to average, at best, two or three events a week, think about this: Kate and William?s event-numbers are consistently half, even a third, of the numbers from the 94-year-old Duke of Edinburgh. They are healthy, young, and perfectly capable of doing more. They just choose not to.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Duchess Kate 'has a fear of public speaking,' that's why she's so 'silent' | | Added 9 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
The Duchess of Cambridge isn?t much for public speaking. We learned that the hard way, because the very, very few public speeches she?s made have been? um, bad. Hair-tossing, fidgeting, staring blankly at her notes for seconds, no eye contact with the audience, awkward silences, etc. Not everyone is cut out for public speaking, but it?s the kind of thing you can practice and rehearse, especially if your job requires smart media relations and the ability to communicate, which is exactly what royals are supposed to do. Even if Kate still struggled with making public speeches, the answer would then be ?just do a few one-on-one TV interviews.? William and Harry do TV interviews several times a year, but not Kate. Well, anyway, The Daily Beast?s royal gossip guy has an interesting piece about Kate and how silent she is.
Kate Middleton has a fear of public speaking, sources say, which may go some way to explain why she has not made so much as a squeak in public since the birth of her baby daughter Charlotte in May this year. Despite being an excellent communicator in private, she is reluctant to put herself forward for more public speaking or interviews, and the palace, wisely knowing the game they are playing is very, very long, are not pushing her to do so.
Kate herself actually confessed, ?I find giving speeches nerve-wracking? to a guest who attended her first ever public speech, at a children?s hospice in 2012. That first speech of her princess-hood was not made for almost a year after her wedding, a delay that was widely attributed to her nerves. And it seems that the passage of time has not eased her anxiety, despite access to the finest media trainers money can buy.
Oddly, Prince Harry also shares Kate?s fear of public speaking, a secret he revealed in support of World AIDS Day last year. Kate was not always a shy and retiring type, and does not appear to have suffered stage fright as a kid. She starred in a prep school production of My Fair Lady when she was 12 and famously won the attentions of Prince William when she walked?in a negligee?in a University fashion show. But since becoming a princess of the United Kingdom, Kate has not engaged much with the media-facing side of the job.
Hard as it is may be to believe, given her media ubiquity, Kate has done just one in-depth television interview in her life?and that was shortly after she and William got engaged back in 2011. Watching this video four years later the first thing one notices is how remarkably posh Kate?s voice is. Weirdly, it?s slightly posher than William?s. But watching that cosy chat with the hindsight of a few years, it?s also noticeable how open Kate is. One might have expected, on the basis of that interview, that Kate would regularly be speaking to the media, but it?s been a long time now since we heard Kate talk in public at any length.
Even public speeches on behalf of her charitable causes have been few and far between–and have often seemed painful for her to deliver. There has been nothing from Kate compared to the kinds of interviews that William and Harry have done in recent years, being interviewed at length about their life and causes. Even the Queen has been more forthcoming than Kate on camera.
But who can blame her? Friends of Kate have always said that she is nervous about public speaking, notwithstanding her early dramatic career, and the truth is, she is not exactly a natural at it. After her visible nerves during the 2012 hospice speech, another public speech did not follow until almost a year later, when in April 2013, she recorded a message at Clarence House in support of Children?s Hospice Week. Her delivery was stilted and at times a little wooden.
However, her nerves were most evident when she made a brief speech at the National Portrait Gallery in 2014, and repeatedly stumbled on different words, before ending with a hastily garbled ?sorry about that? as she crumbled into embarrassed laughter and fled the podium.
Part of the problem is that Kensington Palace has a strict policy of not allowing anything other than broadcast interviews (to prevent misinterpretations). A few broadsheet interviews with friendly outlets might just go a long way to easing her nerves. In the meantime, we will just have to continue to wait, with baited breath, for the day when Kate actually speaks.
[From The Daily Beast]
The fact that she was happy enough to perform on stage as a kid, and model lingerie as a college student, and sit down for an engagement-announcement interview shows that she?s quite comfortable in the spotlight, I think. She fine with being photographed, she?s fine with being seen, she?s fine with being a public figure (perhaps there’s even an exhibitionist streak in Kate). It?s just the ?making speeches? part of her job (and actually showing up for work events, but that?s another discussion entirely). I still think it?s something she could easily master if only she put some effort into it. Practice, be familiar with the words of your speech, rehearse your speech in front of your communications people, and yes, maybe hire a professional to help. In the meantime, spare us the PR puff pieces about how Kate does “more” than just smile & nod at these events.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Duchess Kate repeats a grey Orla Kiely for charity visit: lovely or dull? | | Added 9 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
|
|
|
|
|
Here are some brand new photos of the Duchess of Cambridge actually making a charity visit. It?s sort of amazing how much she?s been working the past three weeks or so. We get next to nothing for months ? like, two ?fun? outings in three months? time ? and then BAM, she actually starts scheduling stuff back-to-back. For Kate (and William), ?back-to-back? engagements mean ?one appearance for an hour? once a day. But Kate has been doing so many events, it?s like someone (Poor Jason) put the fear of God into her. Did someone put their foot down about the much-anticipated Mustique vacation next month?
Anyway, Kate traveled to a Chance UK program in London to ?meet children and mentors? from the program that aims to improve the lives of kids in danger of falling through the cracks, or kids at an increased risk for developing criminal behavior. Kate and William recently did a joint appearance at another program similar to Chance UK.
Kate finally wore a repeat ? this dress is by Orla Kiely and we saw it on her for the first time in 2012, during an appearance with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. I kind of thought it was too fussy back then, but after three years, I like it a little bit more. Maybe that?s because she wore it today with a jaunty ponytail and it reads as ?cute.? She looks like a cute school teacher here, which is appropriate for the outing.
Kate?s also due to appear at the 100 Women In Hedge Funds dinner tonight. Back to back events for the second day in a row! SHOCKING! Seriously, I?m very surprised. Let?s give Kate a slow clap (before she heads off for a three-week vacation in Mustique!).
Photos courtesy of WENN.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| | | 6.032.263
Photos Online+ 4.094 past week
2.563
Users Online | | |
| | | | | | | | Coming Up Soon
Dafne Keen
Isabela Merced
Keke Palmer
Nikki Glaser
Penny Lane
Sabrina Carpenter
Sadie Sink
Sommer Ray
| | |
| | | | | We Salute
Kelli Berglund
Photos of Kelli Berglund will not count in your daily view limit, if you are a registered member
Tribute ends in
24 hours | | |
| | |
|
