The Duchess of Cambridge Current Events 1: April 29, 2011-January 2012

[Osipi]

From what we saw she had enough free time to shop, have hair done and walking with William and puppy through Welsh beaches. I don't expect that she'll work as hard as other CP but she should work more. Vacations after work not before.

Kate though is not a CP. She's consort to the heir of the heir.

 

[Princess of Durham]

And once again the DM has managed to stir the sh*t and bring out all the resentment and jealous people. Do these people KNOW how many other wealthy people take winter vacations to the Carribbean? It seems that they think it is just the royals, who of OF COURSE THEY ARE PAYING FOR. The Middletons have their own money and the trolls don't like that either.

There are many hours in Catherine's day that are not photographed by the paps. The DM likes to constrict Catherine's whole days to the times she is either shopping or going to the hair dresser. Maybe they would do well to poll their female employess and find out how much time THEY spend doing the very same things. When she is fulfilling part of her roll such as attending premieres in lovely dresses they resent that as well.

As to Catherine and Williams strolling the beach in Wales .... please, I guess no young couple should do that in the first year of their marriage ... or ever for that matter. It boggles the mind how resentful and mean people can be.

 

[regardez]

I think it's difficult to take pictures of Catherine researching charities or taking princess lessons. When she does public things (like go on vacation or go shopping) that's what they have pictures of. I think we shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet and give her some more time. It's only the 21st of January. There is a lot of opportunity in the future for her to "prove" herself. Hopefully while William is gone she'll take on more engagements. But again we have to remember that even William is not a full-time royal, she's new to this game, and she's married to the heir of the heir.

 

[Daria_S]

I'm not in the least disappointed. I don't see working for The Firm as being constantly in the public eye though. What made her deserving of being a member of the Royal Family was one thing.... William loved her and asked her to be his wife. She is his consort and that's her main responsibility I think right now. She will grow into her royal responsibilities as the Firm sees fit. What aspect I do think will be so wonderful is that with the DoE slowing down on his engagements, perhaps tagging along with HM on some engagements is going to be learning the ropes hands on from the most professional, most dedicated monarch on the planet. Will be a delight to witness I'm sure.

Well said . I don't think people realize that a royal works behind the scenes as well as in the public eye. We don't know how much time she spends learning about her role (and that's working in my opinion), or getting acquainted with her charities, or doing whatever paperwork that needs to be done for the said charities. It's not fair to judge someone based on what a tabloid paper chooses to print. Yes, we saw her at a movie premiere, a concert and Christmas celebrations in the last month, but before that we saw her on a tour, a hospital visit, and at a solo engagement that was sprung on her last minute as a favor to her father-in-law. I think for someone who is a new member of the RF as well as a wife to a heir presumptive, she's doing fine. She'll take on more as the years go by, and as was mentioned with Prince Philip taking a bit of a back seat due to health, Catherine will probably be seen a bit more doing 'work'. I wish people would just ease up. It's not as if she's frequenting brothels and doing drugs.

 

[Lumutqueen]

I'm the first one to say that the Cambridges should be working, but I have nothing against Catherine going on a family holiday to celebrate her birthday. From what I've read William is joining her this weekend for a 'romantic' weekend before he flies off the the Falklands.

 

[Daria_S]

I'm the first one to say that the Cambridges should be working, but I have nothing against Catherine going on a family holiday to celebrate her birthday. From what I've read William is joining her this weekend for a 'romantic' weekend before he flies off the the Falklands.

You're right about that. Here's a little about it from 'PEOPLE' magazine. It's nice that Catherine has an opportunity to do something like this. I'm sure as she takes on more and more royal engagements and duties, trips like this will be few and far between.

Duke to Join Duchess of Cambridge in Caribbean : People.com

 

[Baroness of Books]

I say to let them do this while they can; the Middletons usually take a vacation this time of year since most likely their business is bustling during the holiday season and this is a good time for them to get away. Kate has always joined them and William is, too, before he's deployed. This might be the last time they'll be able to do so for a long time with all the responsibilities, duties and possibly a family coming up so I'm willing to cut her some slack.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Do you work 24 hours a day 7 days a week? I don't. I take walks on the beach, shop, and do lots of other things when I'm not working. Royals should be afforded the same curtesy.

If Kate WAS working (and I dont count any movie premiers as "work") I wouldnt have a problem with shopping etc but she actually does little else in the public eye.

To say that she works loads behind the scenes is as much speculation as to say that she doesnt.

 

[PrincessKaimi]

It almost seems as if some people are obsessed with work. I agree with the Barones of Books. I also think we have far over-emphasized work to many of our young people - with today's life expectancies, they've got plenty of time to work when they're older.

I am not a socialist. I believe it's fine for people to inherit things from their parents, and though things are inequitable, I prefer that to having inheritance banned. Kate isn't getting a single penny directly from the British taxpayers for any of her day to day activities (unless she is on official business). Presumably, her family can provide for a vacation - so the disappointment expressed here really grates on me. The Middletons can provide nice vacations for their kids - so what?

If, 50 years from now, Kate is still disappointing people, so be it - but to prejudge someone when their life is just starting for doing something with their family, well, it just sounds like sour grapes.

It's not the DM that bugs me so much as the judgmental attitudes of people, including people here.

At university, I often had to stay behind at Christmas (with one or two other people in a huge house) because my parents couldn't afford my airfare. Other students jetted off for family vacations in the Caribbean or Hawaii. I was happy for people who got to go off to Hawaii, even though I really wanted to go myself. I was brought up that this was the right and charitable thing to do - to be happy for others' good fortune.

I still can't afford to jet all over the world, and I work two jobs to afford the lifestyle I have - that still doesn't make me criticize people whose circumstances are different. But I guess some people's interest in royals comes from a desire to inspect and criticize how the "others" live. I suppose I can try and understand that position better.

 

[Princess of Durham]

If Kate WAS working (and I dont count any movie premiers as "work") I wouldnt have a problem with shopping etc but she actually does little else in the public eye.

To say that she works loads behind the scenes is as much speculation as to say that she doesnt.

Maybe YOU don't consider it "work", however it IS part of the work of the members of the royal family. It would be nice if we all could attend such functions but then, it would be of no import if we did. It IS working for the royal family and in support of a charity. Traveling over the world may seem like "fun" to some people but it is part of the work of the family and to judge them as not working simply because YOU think it would be fun is not logical. Unless of course you are anti royalist and think that none of these appearances or support for charities is "useful" or work on their part.

 

[MichelleQ2]

I say to let them do this while they can; the Middletons usually take a vacation this time of year since most likely their business is bustling during the holiday season and this is a good time for them to get away. Kate has always joined them and William is, too, before he's deployed. This might be the last time they'll be able to do so for a long time with all the responsibilities, duties and possibly a family coming up so I'm willing to cut her some slack.

Well said. She is joining her family for a nice vacation. It is her 30th birthday and her moms bday as well. I'm glad she is having some down time with her family...and more pleased that William is joining them as well. It's nice that they are integrating both families into their calendar.

 

[PrincessKaimi]

I consider public events of all kinds to be work, and where I work, they want us to do them "for free." It's a big PITA. Similarly, while I do attend public events for charity (and donate services), the event part is definitely more work than the service part.

Traveling (which I have to do in order to keep my skills current for work, because I believe I should, not because I have to) is not always fun either - at least until you get where you are going. To me, that's work too. It's easy to be an armchair analyst of how fun or hard some activity is for someone else though.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, though, of course. What I admire about both Kate and William is, regardless of how they may really be feeling about an event, they always look happy and warmly engaged in public. I don't think that's easy and since their engagements are set well in advance, it's even more difficult. Many people stay home from events if their mood isn't quite right - but if it's your responsibility to be there, you put on a happy face.

 

[grevinnan]

From what we saw she had enough free time to shop, have hair done and walking with William and puppy through Welsh beaches. I don't expect that she'll work as hard as other CP but she should work more. Vacations after work not before.

What do you consider work? What is Catherine doing when not in the public eye? You must have insider information to be so sure about her lack of "work". Let's remember that a 9 - 5 place to go to for "work" is a lower and middle class behaviour. There are other segments of society that have "work" that entail very different activities than clocking in somewhere. The Queen seem to run a tight ship so I would not worry about Catherine sitting around being lazy. And even if she was...so what!

 

[LadyDee]

I don't post often, but I have been reading here for a while. I am sure I am not as knowledgeable about the RF as some of you are here, but I think the Queen has all of this under control!! I read some of you saying how Catherine doesn't work, and maybe to you it doesn't look like work, but I am sure the RF has a plan for her.. I think some of you just like to gripe about her just because you don't like her. Give the girl a break, she hasn't even been married a year, I am sure in time she will live up to YOUR expectations!

 

[Lenora]

I don't post often, but I have been reading here for a while. I am sure I am not as knowledgeable about the RF as some of you are here, but I think the Queen has all of this under control!! I read some of you saying how Catherine doesn't work, and maybe to you it doesn't look like work, but I am sure the RF has a plan for her.. I think some of you just like to gripe about her just because you don't like her. Give the girl a break, she hasn't even been married a year, I am sure in time she will live up to YOUR expectations!

Completely agree, I don't remember the most other princesses worked really hard in their first year after marriage. Kate probably doesn't want to imply too much in different engagements in order not to overshadow the other members of the royal family, but at a specific moment in the near future she will show her abilities in a really nice manner, I guess.

 

[sophie25]

I remember Fergie in the early 1990's being crucified in the press for going skiing during the recession at the time which was nothing on a par with this one. If we are going to have a family that represents the nation ie a Royal family then they (no matter how rich they are personally) have to reflect the society they represent. My husband has been close to tears of late due to the decline in customers coming to his business and I am on tender hooks every single day with regards to my own job. As a UK citizen it does thus annoy us, to say the least, when Prince william and his wife take themselves off to the Caribbean at a time when most of us are scraping a living. It's really simple in my mind. Opt out of being Royal and take your millions with you, but if you want to represent the nation then please have some tact when the ordinary family is on it's knees. It's that simple.

 

[agami.pearl]

I can see how you might be a bit disappointed that Catherine isn't doing more public engagements (although as previously explained by Clarence House she is not going to be a full time toyal for some time) but criticizing her for walking on the beach as opposed to doing royal duties, that's a bit of stretch isnt' it?

I'm not criticizing her for walking on the beach, she can do this, but she should also prove that she doesn't afraid a hard work as a part of BRF.

Do you work 24 hours a day 7 days a week? I don't. I take walks on the beach, shop, and do lots of other things when I'm not working. Royals should be afforded the same curtesy.

But you're working 8 hours 5/6 day a week. She's not. She can enjoy her free time, but after good managed work.

Kate though is not a CP. She's consort to the heir of the heir.

I know that she just wife of 2nd to the throne. But it doesn't mean that she can't work more than she is working now, especially when we see how advanced in years is older generation of BRF. Kate is young, has lot of time and can relieve members of her new family.

I think it's difficult to take pictures of Catherine researching charities or taking princess lessons. When she does public things (like go on vacation or go shopping) that's what they have pictures of. I think we shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet and give her some more time. It's only the 21st of January. There is a lot of opportunity in the future for her to "prove" herself. Hopefully while William is gone she'll take on more engagements. But again we have to remember that even William is not a full-time royal, she's new to this game, and she's married to the heir of the heir.

How long she will use excuse of being 'new in the firm', enjoying fresh marriage, being not full-time royal? Work more, you'll get my full support, Kate.

Well said . I don't think people realize that a royal works behind the scenes as well as in the public eye. We don't know how much time she spends learning about her role (and that's working in my opinion), or getting acquainted with her charities, or doing whatever paperwork that needs to be done for the said charities. It's not fair to judge someone based on what a tabloid paper chooses to print. Yes, we saw her at a movie premiere, a concert and Christmas celebrations in the last month, but before that we saw her on a tour, a hospital visit, and at a solo engagement that was sprung on her last minute as a favor to her father-in-law. I think for someone who is a new member of the RF as well as a wife to a heir presumptive, she's doing fine. She'll take on more as the years go by, and as was mentioned with Prince Philip taking a bit of a back seat due to health, Catherine will probably be seen a bit more doing 'work'. I wish people would just ease up. It's not as if she's frequenting brothels and doing drugs.

She was with William for several years, was his fiancee for 5 months, she easily could prepare during this period. 'Princess lessons' can't occupy her all time (she should be more careful during them, she still has lot to learn IMO). I believe that work 'behind the scenes' takes a lot of time, but she has people who can do this for her.
I'm not judge her after DM article, I'm thinking about attitude which I get from Kate. Probably, soon - words so often use when talking about Kate's work.

I'm the first one to say that the Cambridges should be working, but I have nothing against Catherine going on a family holiday to celebrate her birthday. From what I've read William is joining her this weekend for a 'romantic' weekend before he flies off the the Falklands.

I've read that because of crisis they decided be 'down-to-earth' and skip annual ski-trip. And what, they're going to expensive holidays in tropics? So how you want be consider, W&K? Romantic weekend they can spend in GB, also privately without unnecessary expenses.

If Kate WAS working (and I dont count any movie premiers as "work") I wouldnt have a problem with shopping etc but she actually does little else in the public eye.

To say that she works loads behind the scenes is as much speculation as to say that she doesnt.

When I'm looking how she presents herself as a royal I can highly assume that she should work more. Attending at galas and smiling to the cameras is not a work.

Maybe YOU don't consider it "work", however it IS part of the work of the members of the royal family. It would be nice if we all could attend such functions but then, it would be of no import if we did. It IS working for the royal family and in support of a charity. Traveling over the world may seem like "fun" to some people but it is part of the work of the family and to judge them as not working simply because YOU think it would be fun is not logical. Unless of course you are anti royalist and think that none of these appearances or support for charities is "useful" or work on their part.

It's a part of work, but in past few months she only spends time on galas, concerts, dinners. When is so important charity work? Without expensive gowns and jewels? Kate chosen organizations and silence, no work, no meetings, nothing.

Well said. She is joining her family for a nice vacation. It is her 30th birthday and her moms bday as well. I'm glad she is having some down time with her family...and more pleased that William is joining them as well. It's nice that they are integrating both families into their calendar.

They spent NY's break with Middletons, aren't the holidays? William has lot of free time, I wonder if his colleagues also have so much possibilities to be with their families.

What do you consider work? What is Catherine doing when not in the public eye? You must have insider information to be so sure about her lack of "work". Let's remember that a 9 - 5 place to go to for "work" is a lower and middle class behaviour. There are other segments of society that have "work" that entail very different activities than clocking in somewhere. The Queen seem to run a tight ship so I would not worry about Catherine sitting around being lazy. And even if she was...so what!

I don't need to be the insider, it's so visible that she work less than she can. She doesn't work 9-5 so she's better that middle class? No, she's not. She just fortunately married a man who is the prince. But it doesn't mean that Kate must lower her work standards.

 

[Grandduchess24]

Kate Middleton leaves Prince William in Anglesey as she jets off for Caribbean family holiday | Mail Online

I wish I could join the carribean instead of the snow outside plus I love the outfit pippa has on.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Don't people in England take the most vacations out of every country in the world? Seems Will, Kate and the Middleton's are right on point with the rest of the country. If I recall the last vacation WnK had was in May.
Either way there are always going to be people whining that Kate doesn't do enough work where everyone can see it; the fact that she is doing the same amount of work as William doesn't factor in the equation.

 

[Osipi]

I don't need to be the insider, it's so visible that she work less than she can. She doesn't work 9-5 so she's better that middle class? No, she's not. She just fortunately married a man who is the prince. But it doesn't mean that Kate must lower her work standards.

One thing we are forgetting here is that it is not up to Kate to decide how much she does, what she does and where she goes and how she does it.
When it comes to royal engagements, the Firm is a very well oiled machine and everything is planned right down to the last detail months in advance.

I think we get clear picture of this efficiency when we look at the preciseness of the entire wedding of William and Kate. Everything was planned down to the minute. Kate is not choosing how much she is working or not working. She is working within the structure of the Firm.

I think the only thing not planned was the one engagement where she filled in for Charles at Clarence House at the last minute. The fact that she pulled it off with style and grace tells me she's going to be very good at what she does.

 

[fortimo]

Lockdown in paradise as Kate jets in for Middleton family holiday | Mail Online

http://www.mustique-island.com/villa/aurora/index.html

 

[Lenora]

Prince Charles and Camilla have invited Kate to spend time with them when William is posted to the Falklands next month so she will not be lonely.
Friends say Kate, 30, is ‘dreading’ William’s six-week absence on a tour


Read more: Camilla opens door to Kate when William is away in the Falklands | Mail Online

 

[agami.pearl]

One thing we are forgetting here is that it is not up to Kate to decide how much she does, what she does and where she goes and how she does it.
When it comes to royal engagements, the Firm is a very well oiled machine and everything is planned right down to the last detail months in advance.

But I'm pretty sure that palace won't say anything if Kate would declare that she want work more, it would be very nice from her side.

 

[MARG]

How long she will use excuse of being 'new in the firm', enjoying fresh marriage, being not full-time royal? Work more, you'll get my full support, Kate.

When I'm looking how she presents herself as a royal I can highly assume that she should work more. Attending at galas and smiling to the cameras is not a work.

It's a part of work, but in past few months she only spends time on galas, concerts, dinners. When is so important charity work? Without expensive gowns and jewels? Kate chosen organizations and silence, no work, no meetings, nothing.

Like most people I have been waiting for Catherine to "roll up her sleeves and get into it". I expected they would take their time and ease her into Royal Duties slowly and carefully. I think people need to remember she has not even been married for a year and will not be until April 29th.

Many people seem to think it is unnecessary to allow for time them to settle into married life because they were living together on and off for years. But living with someone is not the same as being married to them and it certainly isn't a trial run for a Royal Marriage!

I am beginning to think that HM has decided to keep the pressure right off and allow them to establish themselves and perhaps even start a family before they have to move into full time royal duties. I know many people on the forum have said that Catherine will not get pregnant in 2012 as it would "clash" with the Diamond Jubilee.

Somehow I think HM would think it the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake! More importantly, HM is nothing if not a realist and Prince Philip's health scare at Christmas must have brought home to them that they are going to have to cut down on their heavy workload if they are to enjoy these later years. I think both HM and Prince Philip would like to see the next generation in the sucession, but they want them to have the same advantages they did. Peace, quiet, and as little pressure as possible.

So, perhaps it will be low key royal duties, pretty dresses and hopefully good news in the not to distant future.

 

[Baroness of Books]

One thing to consider here is the biological clock; Kate is not old by any means, but she's no longer in her 20s and who's to say what will be the ease or difficulty of her getting pregnant? Just because one plans to start a family doesn't mean it will happen immediately, so delaying too long because it may interfere with the Jubilee may not be a wise course. I've seen several of my own friends trying unsuccessfully for years to have children before they were able to do so, and if they were lucky. William and Kate may want to take that into consideration before too much time lapses.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Prince Charles and Camilla have invited Kate to spend time with them when William is posted to the Falklands next month so she will not be lonely.
Friends say Kate, 30, is ‘dreading’ William’s six-week absence on a tour


Read more: Camilla opens door to Kate when William is away in the Falklands | Mail Online

I wonder what other army wives think when reading this. Six weeks is nothing for army people. It seems to me that Kate - and that is the history of this relationship - is more or less Willy's factotum, being at hand whenever he calls without a life of her own. And when he's gone, she doesnt have a clue what to do with herself.
A 30 year old moving in with the in-laws when hubby is away, OMG.

 

[Baroness of Books]

I guess unless this actually happens, we can only take these reports with a grain of salt. And just because her in-laws may have invited her doesn't mean she'll accept it. I think it generous that they may have done so; it shows the close relationship that exists between them.

 

[Lumutqueen]

I wonder what other army wives think when reading this. Six weeks is nothing for army people. It seems to me that Kate - and that is the history of this relationship - is more or less Willy's factotum, being at hand whenever he calls without a life of her own. And when he's gone, she doesnt have a clue what to do with herself.
A 30 year old moving in with the in-laws when hubby is away, OMG.

I agree with the whole 'lost Catherine' analogy.
But I do think that a newly married military wife would miss her husband were he away for 6 weeks. I don't necessarily think the wife would move in with the in-laws, but the article itself seems to suggest that Catherine has just been invited to spend time with Camilla and what's going to happen is Catherine splits time between Kensington and her family's home in Berkshire. I wouldn't want to stay on my own in a Welsh cottage away from my family when it was possible for me to spend time with them.

One part I have just noticed in the article is this;

Kate jetted to Mustique via St Lucia first class on Wednesday, accompanied by at least two taxpayer-funded Scotland Yard bodyguards, along with her parents, brother and sister.

They might as well go and highlight the "taxpayer - funded" seeing as they've clearly but that in there for a reason.

 

[Al_bina]

"... two taxpayer-funded Scotland Yard bodyguards ..." is true, isn't it? It is right of the newspaper to point this fact allowing their readers to interpret it the way they like. Why not? The life is not fair.

 

[Lumutqueen]

"... two taxpayer-funded Scotland Yard bodyguards ..." is true, isn't it? It is right of the newspaper to point this fact allowing their reader's to interpret it the way they like. Why not? The life is not fair.

It is the truth yes, but I don't see why a newspaper has to insert it into a line of text when it isn't necessary. It's common sense to assume that when a royal goes on holiday, they are protected. The DM placed it in there to cause the typical 'royals are a waste of taxpayer's money' argument.