Kate Middleton: Family, Wealth and Background

[Ella Kay]

Originally Posted by Idriel

What James is doing is no different than what Sophie did and I don't see why he should get a free pass when she was vilified.

While I'm not sure that James's free press in Hello! is doing his sister any favors when it comes to public perception, I do think there is a clear difference between James and Sophie when it comes to benefiting from links to the royals: James isn't involved with any member of the family, and Sophie was and is.

Even though I'm of the mind that James probably shouldn't have taken advantage of Hello!'s offer for an article, I think that his doing so is far different than it would be if Kate were giving magazine interviews to promote a business and exploiting her connection to William in the process. If Kate were doing so, I think the situation could be more easily compared with Sophie's. James and Sophie aren't in the same proximity to the royals, IMO.

[TonyaR]

Ella Kay I hadn't thought about it in those terms, but you're absolutely right! In order to compare James Middleton properly, we would have to compare his situation and interview with Hello magazine to Sophie's SISTER doing such a thing, if Sophie had a sister, rather than Sophie herself.

It isn't the same thing at all, is it? And James Middleton didn't mention Prince William, he didn't mention Catherine, and he didn't mention royalty. In essence, he isn't exploiting Prince William or the royals at all. He isn't exploiting his sister either, if he didn't mention her.

[Amelia]

I stand by my word that they have been courting the Middletons.

And I still disagree

What James is doing is no different than what Sophie did and I don't see why he should get a free pass when she was vilified.

Unless you know something about James and William that the rest of us don't then yeah I think it is a little different. When Kate starts posing in advertisements for James cakes then it will be similar.

[Warren]

Reader warning: Those who are offended by James Middleton's promotion of his cake kit and cup cake company should ignore this post and move on to the next.

For the rest:
James is not selling cakes, he is selling cake kits.
Here's the website: Welcome to the Cake Kit Company
and here are the cake kits
(cup cakes are in another tab)

There's no 'princess' cake kit, but there's a 'castle' cake kit.
The obvious question that must be asked is this: should James Middleton be held to account for his castle cake kit cashing in on Kate?

[Wisteria]

I rather like the idea of his cakes, I wonder if he is the first one to think of this kind of kit, it makes cake decorating so easy, or at least it looks easy.

[Cassi]

Has someone read the new book "Kate Middleton: Princess in waiting", and can tell me how it is?

[Myself1995]

I found the Party Pieces website that Kate's parents own on another website, and I poked around a bit there. Both websites had really cute stuff, but if anyone's website looks like they're cashing in, it's this one - a color-it-yourself castle and throne? A color-in princess fancy dress? It would look fine on anyone else's site, and definitely something I'd buy for a kid - but it does look a little funny here.

http://www.partypieces.co.uk/product...rafts/6440.htm

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Myself1995

I found the Party Pieces website that Kate's parents own on another website, and I poked around a bit there. Both websites had really cute stuff, but if anyone's website looks like they're cashing in, it's this one - a color-it-yourself castle and throne? A color-in princess fancy dress? It would look fine on anyone else's site, and definitely something I'd buy for a kid - but it does look a little funny here.

Why does it 'look funny', there are dozens of places that you can buy colouring books and craft items especially along the Princess theme, most of the supermarkets and all of the toyshops sell them. There are quite a few places that sell Princess outfits, party bags etc. Party Pieces was doing this sort of thing before Kate & William even met (1987). I had a Princess cake made for one of my daughters back in the early 70's, (this one survived the candles, Myself1995). Then there was Princess Barbie and her castle .....

[Ella Kay]

I'd think castles and thrones would be pretty standard for children's "princess" birthday parties.

[Myself1995]

They are, and you can find similar stuff at Party America or any other store - it just looks a little funny here. As a matter of fact, I had this almost exact cake for a Cinderella party when I was 7, only my mom put candles on it and the babysitter lit the candles and caught the dolls hair on fire. I notice his kit doesn't come with candles - he's smarter than we were.

Welcome to the Cake Kit Company

ETA:
Similar to theirs, but not nearly as cute;
Princess Decorations

[Sonjapearl]

The Royalist is reporting the News of the World will have an scandalous exclusive on Kate's uncle. The tabloid says her uncle did drugs and had flings with prostitutes at a villa Wills and Kate once stayed at.

The Royalist - Alleged Sex & Drugs Scandal Hits Kate Middleton's Family

The way I see it, its the News of the World. What are the chances that they ever accurately report on anything?

[Ella Kay]

Originally Posted by Sonjapearl

The Royalist is reporting the News of the World will have an scandalous exclusive on Kate's uncle. The tabloid says her uncle did drugs and had flings with prostitutes at a villa Wills and Kate once stayed at.

Here it is. Not pretty, but I don't really see how it would reflect badly on Kate herself: News of the World: Kate's uncle fixes hookers and supplies ecstasy

[Dierna23]

Originally Posted by Sonjapearl

The Royalist is reporting the News of the World will have an scandalous exclusive on Kate's uncle. The tabloid says her uncle did drugs and had flings with prostitutes at a villa Wills and Kate once stayed at.

The Royalist - Alleged Sex & Drugs Scandal Hits Kate Middleton's Family

The way I see it, its the News of the World. What are the chances that they ever accurately report on anything?

Well I can't help myself, but isn't it a big scandal, that the uncle of the girl, who maybe will be Queen some day, is in a video, where he deals with drugs?? IMO it reflects bad on the Middletons... Its disgusting I don't want to be the moralizer, but in my eyes its a no-go.

[muriel]

Originally Posted by Dierna23

On one side I agree, but I hardly can't understand, that times have changed that much? A few years before, I'm sure it would have been said: That family aren't the people a Prince of Wales (or his successor) should be in contact with. Remember Camilla wasn't allowed for some reasons to be with Charles. And there were a many lower scandals, which ruined some other womans reputes... And its not only the drug-thing (what IMO is a very bad thing) - its everything, his behaviour, his BELLY OMG, its so cheesy. And I think you can see such things even on her mother, brother and sister... I don't know and I'm sorry, but it makes me really urghh... Its not only a little bit bizarre - its cheesy IMO.

My take is that every family has embarassing relatives, and so do the Middletons. The BRF have Princess Micahel of Kent and her various antics over the years, the Middletons have Uncle Gary.... Big deal!

[Myself1995]

yeah, they've a video of him up selling drugs and bragging that he is going to be related to William and that William has stayed there. He's apparently her mother's brother. But I agree - unless they have a video of Kate doing drugs, I'm not sure it makes a difference - I think he says that he doesn't even live in England.

[Ella Kay]

I think he lives on Ibiza, if I read it correctly. It's not great that William's been in his home, but besides mentioning a little bawdy humor from William, I don't think he ever even alludes to William or Kate having participated in drug-taking or anything else illegal.

[Principessa Cano]

Kate Middleton uncle drugs & vice shock | Prince William stayed with Gary Goldsmith | News | News Of The World

Oh my, it seems that Kate's uncle is a bit of a scoundrel. Check out the video at the end of the article. He's quite the gentleman.

[Lakshmi]

I just found this article and wanted to post it but Principessa was first.
This Kate's uncle is impossible. He is also very stupid being so open with people he barely knows. How couldn't he know that drug dealing is a crime?
I just wonder how it would affect Kate & William relationship. And what will be the media outcome. Lets just wait and watch...

[Mermaid1962]

The one I feel sorry for is his daughter living in Manchester. Wanna bet William and Kate won't go to his place this year?

Originally Posted by Principessa Cano

Kate Middleton uncle drugs & vice shock | Prince William stayed with Gary Goldsmith | News | News Of The World

Oh my, it seems that Kate's uncle is a bit of a scoundrel. Check out the video at the end of the article. He's quite the gentleman.

[carinthia]

I just wonder how that sort of uncle and his lifestyle has been able to be a secret all over the years of the kate-wills-relationship ? Or is it the right moment when the whole world is discussing an upcoming engagement of kate and wills to bring that uncle to public light?