Duchess of Cambridge: What Now for Catherine? Future Duties, Roles, Responsibilities

[Baroness of Books]

Not sure where to put this article, but PETA petitions Catherine to advocate for their cause:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/09/22/peta-begs-kate-middleton-to-stop-prince-william-from-shooting-birds/

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

And here is the official news release about it:

The Prince of Wales - An update: The Duchess of Cambridge's plans for the next few months.

seems the link has been deleted on the website?

 

[American Dane]

Not sure where to put this article, but PETA petitions Catherine to advocate for their cause:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/09/22/peta-begs-kate-middleton-to-stop-prince-william-from-shooting-birds/

Even if Catherine takes up the PETA (which she should, it's a very good cause), it is unlikely that she or her partaking in the charity will stop William from shooting. The Queen is patron of RSPCA and Prince Philip as well as the rest of the family continue to shoot. Maybe perhaps Catherine won't shoot herself if she's involved with them?

 

[HRHHermione]

Even if Catherine takes up the PETA (which she should, it's a very good cause), it is unlikely that she or her partaking in the charity will stop William from shooting. The Queen is patron of RSPCA and Prince Philip as well as the rest of the family continue to shoot. Maybe perhaps Catherine won't shoot herself if she's involved with them?

I seriously doubt she'd get involved with PETA- they're a pretty controversial organization.

 

[American Dane]

I seriously doubt she'd get involved with PETA- they're a pretty controversial organization.

Yes, some members of PETA do controversial things but it is overall a good organisation that is passionate about its cause. No different then some of the royal patronages in the past. I was just making the point that royals can get involved with a cause and still not change their way of life or activities. Charles is passionate about the environment but his critics are always ready to point out when he takes a first class flight when he could've taken the train or be driven (not realising that there's a small amount of time between engagements).

 

[NGalitzine]

Yes, some members of PETA do controversial things but it is overall a good organisation that is passionate about its cause. No different then some of the royal patronages in the past. I was just making the point that royals can get involved with a cause and still not change their way of life or activities. Charles is passionate about the environment but his critics are always ready to point out when he takes a first class flight when he could've taken the train or be driven (not realising that there's a small amount of time between engagements).

Isn't PETA's latest gambit a porn site? I believe the idea is supposed to be you get to watch porn and receive a message about the animals as well, but still a controversial way of getting attention. Not really the type of thing the duchess should be patron of IMO.

 

[American Dane]

Isn't PETA's latest gambit a porn site? I believe the idea is supposed to be you get to watch porn and receive a message about the animals as well, but still a controversial way of getting attention. Not really the type of thing the duchess should be patron of IMO.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was. I'm not advocating Catherine take on PETA, I'm just pointing out that many organisations have faults and that royals take them on anyway because the CAUSE they're for is OVERALL good. Wasn't Harry's charity Sentebale accused of not giving its fund to where it was supposed to go? Does it make Sentebale (and its purpose) any less important?

I don't mean to offend if I have

 

[American Dane]

Isn't PETA's latest gambit a porn site? I believe the idea is supposed to be you get to watch porn and receive a message about the animals as well, but still a controversial way of getting attention. Not really the type of thing the duchess should be patron of IMO.

My post didn't get moved so I'm quoting it here

I wouldn't be surprised if it was. I'm not advocating Catherine take on PETA, I'm just pointing out that many organisations have faults and that royals take them on anyway because the CAUSE they're for is OVERALL good. Wasn't Harry's charity Sentebale accused of not giving its fund to where it was supposed to go? Does it make Sentebale (and its purpose) any less important?

I don't mean to offend if I have

 

[muriel]

Potential causes the Duchess of Cambridge could support

I thought it would be useful for members to be able to post their views on the causes they would like The Duchess of Cambridge to support in this thread.

 

[Skippy]

seems the link has been deleted on the website?

It is here - perhaps they moved it:

The Prince of Wales - In the News.

 

[KittyAtlanta]

I would like to see her take up animal welfare organizations. I don't think this will happen, though, as it has been said her favorite food is pate de foi gras.

Otherwise, the elderly need more attention.

 

[Lumutqueen]

Wasn't a thread like this created a while ago? :S

 

[Skippy]

Wasn't a thread like this created a while ago? :S

Not exactly a thread of it's own, but this one overlaps with the Duties and Roles thread.

 

[roseroyal]

I would like to see her take up animal welfare organizations. I don't think this will happen, though, as it has been said her favorite food is pate de foi gras.

I would too- We can't say what her favorite food is for sure, but I still doubt it would happen- the media would then criticize the BRF for hunting and stalking, and other field sports. ( not trying to stir up a debate about that here, BTW, just making an observation.)

I think charities that deal with sick kids will make the list....
Before her marriage, she was involved in fundraising for Oxford Children's Hospital, and also the Middletons support The Starlight Foundation U.K.

 

[Lumutqueen]

Not exactly a thread of it's own, but this one overlaps with the Duties and Roles thread.

Maybe, but I swear it was moved because the duties thread existed.

 

[American Dane]

Maybe, but I swear it was moved because the duties thread existed.

Wasn't it called 'Duchess of Cambridge Charities and Patronages'? It was in the D and D of Cambridge forum where William had one of his own with the same title I thought...

I also hope she would take up an animal welfare cause. Perhaps she can share RSPCA with the Queen? Or sports: rowing, swimming, whatever hasn't been taken already by another royal. Maybe given her recent trip to Canada she could represent a charity there or a Canada-UK organisation like some of the Commonwealth patronages Charles has?

 

[Daria_S]

I would too- We can't say what her favorite food is for sure, but I still doubt it would happen- the media would then criticize the BRF for hunting and stalking, and other field sports. ( not trying to stir up a debate about that here, BTW, just making an observation.)

I think charities that deal with sick kids will make the list....
Before her marriage, she was involved in fundraising for Oxford Children's Hospital, and also the Middletons support The Starlight Foundation U.K.

I also hope that she does charities involving children who are seriously/terminally ill, but it would be wonderful if she supported something special education related. I've read so many stories about children not getting the services they need due to lack of funds or good advocates (who care about the CHILD not about how much money can be saved when drilling into the parents' head that 'adequate yearly progress' [passing with the skin of one's teeth] is all that the child needs and therefore, no changes will be made to the existing program). I think she could do great things in this field, and it would be appreciated by children, parents and educators.

 

[windsorgirl]

My two cents' worth:

Bullying!!!
Sport - given her love of outdoor activity; don't know which kind though
Elderly - great suggestion from an earlier post, especially Alzheimer's
Emergency Services - William connection?
Underprivileged/underserved youth of some sort - to piggyback on the disenfranchised youth from the riots
The Arts - Almost forgot this one, especially as an outreach to youth

Really we could go down the list of beneficiaries from their wedding foundation and get a great start!

 

[Baroness of Books]

There are some really great ideas being brainstormed here. Given Kate's love of children, maybe a patronage similar to the Fresh Air Fund, a non-profit agency in the U.S. that provides free summer vacations in the country to underprivileged children from New York City. If an organization like that exists in the UK, it could be a possibility. Or, given her love of sports and outdoor activity, a patronage with an agency that offers disabled or underprivileged children/youth exposure to this area who might not have enough of it in their lives.

 

[NGalitzine]

I would like to see her take up animal welfare organizations. I don't think this will happen, though, as it has been said her favorite food is pate de foi gras.

mmmmm, yummy, I love it too.

 

[MRSJ]

You know, I could well imagine Kate still having a hand in Party Pieces since it's such a family affair and she might want to remain involved for now (in between her lessons on statecraft, protocol and procedures, government affairs, researching charities etc.) Who knows what input she still contributes? That's an interesting thought.

I disagree. I think Sophie and Edward are prime examples of why it doesn't work out when royals are involved in private jobs, or at least the more well known royals. I do believe Kate's stepped away from the family business totally (aside maybe from chit chat with Mum and Dad) and I applaud it as an excellent and mature decision on her part (and to be honest possibly a required one)

 

[Baroness of Books]

That may be true, and Sophie and Edward's involvement in their respective businesses were fiascos, but this is party planning as opposed to PR and making documentaries, and Kate could just be only on its periphery if she still has a creative brainstorm or two she can share with her family. But if she has severed all ties, it's probably a wise decision considering what she's got on her plate.

 

[wbenson]

Duchess of Cambridge to become Queen of Arts - Telegraph

The Duchess of Cambridge is to become a patron of the arts as part of her future role in public life.

The Duchess is considering supporting a number of national arts institutions, thought to include The Tate, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A.

 

[Lumutqueen]

This article kinda contradicts the ones that say she's bored of a quiet life?

Kate Middleton: Does the Firm know what to do with the Duchess of Cambridge? | Mail Online

 

[Princess of Durham]

Strange article. The innuendo of the title, then everything else which is pure conjecture/illusion on the part of the writer. Even venturing into a criticism of the Buckingham Palace exhibit. Mostly a hodge podge, IMO.

 

[HRHHermione]

This article kinda contradicts the ones that say she's bored of a quiet life?

Kate Middleton: Does the Firm know what to do with the Duchess of Cambridge? | Mail Online

Yea, it's a weird article- sounds like mostly filler because editors want more Kate news and there isn't much to print.

What's funny is the assumption that there's no work for her to do when she's not doing royal duties, when truthfully, she could probably work 18 hour days just at answering her correspondence if she chose to! It makes absolute sense that she's taking time to learn the ropes- even just to establish a good working relationship with her office staff and figuring out what she'd like to answer personally and what needs to be delegated. And as for charitable work- of course she should take her time! Sitting on the board of a charity isn't as easy as a lot of people seem to think. To be an informed board member, you have to understand an organizations finances, fundraising activity, goals, organizational and management structure. Can you imagine the scandal if she chose poorly and picked an organization that looks good on the surface but has some skeletons in the closet?

 

[roseroyal]

Duchess of Cambridge to become Queen of Arts - Telegraph

The Duchess of Cambridge is to become a patron of the arts as part of her future role in public life.

The Duchess is considering supporting a number of national arts institutions, thought to include The Tate, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A.

This is wonderful, but surprises me somehow. Though I have read that the Duchess is very interested in the arts, in which case patronages of these institutions would be a perfect fit, I have always seen her role as working with young people.
Nothing is offical yet though.

 

[Daria_S]

This is wonderful, but surprises me somehow. Though I have read that the Duchess is very interested in the arts, in which case patronages of these institutions would be a perfect fit, I have always seen her role as working with young people.
Nothing is offical yet though.

I think she'll do well as a patron of some organizations that deal with art due to her interest in the subject as well as her university degree. I also think that she'll go along the routes of helping young people and working with children too. She has enough passion for both, or so it appears.

 

[Lady Ann]

Kate Middleton takes on first royal patronage - The Times of India

"We believe that it will provide a unique opportunity for us to use our privileged position to make a real difference in the future to many areas of charitable work," the Daily Express quoted Prince William as saying.

"We feel passionately that, working closely together with those who contribute to our foundation, we can help to make a long-lasting and tangible difference," he added.

 

[MetalLaLa]

I believe that whatever the Duchess chooses to support in a public fashion, there will always be a negative reaction from some outlets about what she has chosen NOT to support. If she has chosen to focus on the arts, she will surely do a wonderful job. Linking the arts, like others have posted on here, is not going to be a difficult job to do in terms of working with children or those who are underpriviledged as creativity can do wonders for people who haven't been given a chance to do so before, and I think Catherine would enjoy supporting those organisations that do just that