282 thoughts on “Kate joins Queen for first Garden Party of the year”

1. Wow, that first photo really says “welcome to Buckingham Palace!” doesn’t it? 🙂

   1. Hahaha!

   2. They are listening to the National Anthem being played.

      1. They all look so unhappy, I wonder if it is an inside joke where they are all doing their William impression. Except William who is just being his sourpuss self.

         1. KMR thnank you for the photos of all the blood royals iattending.

            Willnot kannot middleton reportedas Ordered – and it shows. Her with her maniac nonroyal protocol facial, shiny evening wear (couldn’t careless how she appear, and hate associating with plebs, paying her luxury lifestyle); both taken from fake carol wedding planning – he and his jaw clenching.

         2. They are being respectful because the national anthem is being played.

   3. “Welcome to Buckingham Palace. May the odds ever be in your favor!”

2. Hmm, Kate, let’s see… Is it the angle of the photo, or the angle of the hat throwing a shadow? It does seem to make it look like she’s either very tired or a bit doped up?

   Anne looks nice. I’d love to have a conversation with her as she is very knowledgable.

   Princess Beatrice looks good, like the blue outfit on her and I think I see that she is wearing a pair of shoes that a friend owns too. Very comfortable apparently and perfect for standing a long time on grass.

   1. That hat is so far down over her face, it almost obscures her right eye. If she tilts her head down even slightly, it is the millinary equivalent of giving someone the hand.

   2. Agree about her shoes, which won’t get stuck in the lawn, but I am tired of seeing Bea’s knees. Just a couple of inches longer would look better. But I’m a fan of boaters, so I like her hat.

   3. Beatrice looks lovely and summery. I even like her hat.

      1. I love Bea (you all know this) buuuuuuuuut……her hat reminds me of the beloved literary character, Anne Shirley from the Lucy Maud Montgomery Anne of Green Gables series.

         Has anyone see “Anne with an E” on Netflix? I watched the first episode and did not like it at all! I really tried and want to like it but I simply couldn’t. I was spoiled with Megan Follows’ performance back in 1985 and this is a very disturbed take on a 100+ favorite female character.

         1. I don’t want to watch it. The Canadian version released in the 80s is the definitive film for me. It didn’t need to be remade.

            1. Oh I LOVE IT! Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie (RIP) simply ARE Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe! Jonathan was absolutely perfect as Gil. **sighs like a teenager**

            2. There are some roles that actors just are.
               Colin firth is the mr. Darcy and Megan follows is the Anne!!
               You don’t touch classics for a reason.
               PEI does Anne tours =) it’s on my list =)

            3. Another Megan Follows Anne fan here. I watch it at least once a year on the blurry DVD.
               I watched the first episode of the new one. Why do they take a beloved classic and add scenes that weren’t in the book, and modern drama that makes it a Lifetime movie, not Anne?

         2. Megan Follows IS Anne Shirley. Full stop!

            1. I agree. I associate Meghan and Jonathan as Anne and Gilbert. Beatrice does look like Anne of Green Gables in that outfit but the dress is suitable for a garden party.

            2. I have to ask is the third dvd in the Anne of Green Gables worth a watch? It does not follow the books at all.

            3. Laura, you might find the third part on youtube. It’s not terrible, but nothing as good as the first two.

            4. Laura, no! Don’t watch it. It has the same actors but the story goes off book in a horrible way. Stick with the first two and think of Anne and Gilbert living happily in Canada.

      2. I think it’s a bit too short. An inch or two longer would have looked much nicer.

         1. Meghan Fellows and Jonathon Cromibe were Anne and Gilbert for me. Beatrice does remind me of the Anne of Green Gables look. It goes quite well for a garden party. Beatrice certainly has a sense of humour.

         2. Bea’s dress and hat were a disaster, as far as I am concerned. Sometimes, I just wonder what she is thinking. I love her spirit and hate when people are rude to Bea and her sister, but this dress! Oh, no. That hat, too.

            Come on, guys, if Kate wore this, all heck would break loose. imo.

            1. I agree with you!

            2. I don’t think that dress would suit Kate. Maybe when Kate was in her twenties. It looks like a pepulum skirt or am I wrong?

            3. Yeah, well, Bea is not in her 20s anymore, is she? Sorry, the outfit just did not sit well with me.

3. I actually like Anne’s outfit best. Kate is boring as usual. Sure it’s a repeat but a bad one. And the bump on the back of her head looks silly. I guess extensions don’t look natural in that style.

   1. According to Daily Mail, Kate is “lending” her hairdresser Amanda Cooke Tucker to Pippa for her wedding.

      So I guess we will be seeing that bump on the back of the head coming down the aisle on Saturday?

      1. Thankyou for bringing this up… can someone please tell me why the pippa Middleton pr machine is going into overdrive? Not only is it distasteful, it gives me horrible visions of the future – British queen with a kardashian-esque sister!! *shudders*

         1. It’s horrific how much media this wedding is getting and the comments sections would appear to suggest that people aren’t at all happy about it. I know I’m not. She’s private individual and this hoopla is so vulgar. I bet there’s hardly any of society attending either.

            KMR I do hope that when you write up this weekend’s events it’s from a slant of the Cambridge family and not the the Middleton’s wedding. Carrying on like the way they are has shown just how little class they have. A quiet country wedding has become a PR circus and Pippa Tips is loving all the attention. DM got a photos of her smirking coyly at the cameras yesterday. I have a feeling this insatiable thirst for PR coverage over this wedding might backfire in the longer term.

            1. I’m going to cover the Cambs and Pippa’s wedding dress on here. And then I’ll cover Harry and Meghan over on my other site. All I’m interested in about this wedding is the royals + Meghan, and Pippa’s dress.

            2. The PR has been relentless, and as you say, vulgar to the point of aggravation. Clients like Victoria Beckham have had success in some endeavour and there is something to parlay. Pippa, though, has had no career to speak of so her PR can only be framed through her venality, gold digging and spending habits. And that smirk is everywhere. Nothing coy about it.

            3. Thanks KMR……far be it for me to ‘ask’ you to pitch your articles but my fellow Brits and I are so heartily fed up with the hypocrisy surrounding this wedding I couldn’t bear it for this sanctuary to turn into another Middleton promotion zone. I think your pitch is exactly right re. the event on saturday that the Cambridges and Ms. Markle are attending.

               How the hell William cannot see the wood for the trees with this farce I have no idea. It would appear it’s ok to invite and accommodate the press with regards to William’s kids if either him or the Middleton’s sanction it. They have whored this wedding out like pimps. It really leaves a poor taste. I’m surprised there aren’t some big screens in the Church relaying the actual ceremony to the masses. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

            4. between pippa’s PR and meghan’s PR (on E!), I am so ready for this wedding to be over.

            5. Are we having the wedding in real time? I hope you get some of the weekend to yourself KMR 🙂

         2. Pippa hired former Beckham publicist, Jo Molloy, to handle the PR for the wedding, hence the massive saturation over the past month. It must drive the Brits mad. Herazeus (on the Meghan Markle Review) has broken down the product placement (= discounts). The photos will no doubt also be sold. All orchestrated at the behest of Pippa Middleton. The publicist will continue to handle ‘other projects’ that Pippa has in mind post-wedding, so expect more. Pippa’s not going away. Ever.

            1. OMG Jen, Pippa hired a publicist to handle the PR for the wedding? After KP making that statement about the wedding of a non-Royal person I can wait for everything. I read that Pippa was wanting too much money to Hello Magazine for the photo exclusive and the magazine declined. I also read that Pippa was demanding extravagant things to her wedding. Ridiculous. This wedding will be a real circus, and I’m getting ready for Meghan Markle and her smug smile.

            2. How can she have a publicist when she has no job? Who is paying? Mom or fiancée? Whomever is paying must think she has a future doing…..something.

            3. Plus she’s hired an “assistant”.

         3. Not to mention that the ‘pleaseGODno’ future queen has the original Kardashian playbook, which she read cover to cover and then well, **uncovered** to capture a title. It is indeed a scary thought, I love the UK and the people deserve so very much better.

      2. She’s ‘lending’ her hairdresser? Is Pippa paying?

         1. So, it’s a given Pippa’s hair will not be looking so special on her wedding day. I read in the Daily Mail that the woman cuts Harry’s and William’s hair, too. What’s left of Will’s, that is. Her Kate styles leave a lot to be desired, imo.

            The Midds are turning this into an extravaganza. Wedding of the year, indeed! If I am disgusted here in the States, I can only imagine how you Brits feel. Mrs. BBV, you summed it up so well.

            Ugh!!!!!

            1. BLECH!!!! Agree. Vulgar and crude, desperate for making the social climbing Middletons seem like aristocrats and very very important people. I have never ever ever dissed either CarolE or Mike for having the jobs they did, and why CarolE isn’t proud of herself for just that is beyond me. What is it about ‘social status’ that matters so much to her, she won’t ever be accepted especially after this running joke so why? Anyone have a guess??

            2. I’m guessing emptiness, perceived inferiority, and a pathological sense of entitlement. And shallowness- she’s as shallow as a dry brook and hence her problem solving is crude, simple and lazy.. She’s a big black hole of need and want and she’s filling that hole by being a predator and parasite including feeding off her children because that’s easier for her than merit. Sounds rather anti-social to me, just like the Midd family sounds like the mafia to me. Even the business seems shady, and Uncle Gary is shady, so there’s that.

               I don’t know much about the Boleyns but the Midds are constantly compared to them. Perhaps someone could explain that in more detail.

            3. @Maven, But the Bolyns were well connected. The Midds are desperate wannabes which explains why they always get being aristocratic wrong. Like toilet paper trailing from their undies (if they actually wore them) while they step in front of the camera at every opportunity, they can’t understand why we don’t find them fabulous.

            4. MaventheFirst,

               It wasn’t until towards the end that I realized you were talking about Kate! Originally, I thought you were talking about Pippa and/or Carole!

               The Boleyns were notorious social climbers. First, they allowed Anne’s sister, Mary, to sleep with the king (though both were still married to their respective spouses) and then, Anne teased him relentlessly until he got divorced from Catherine because (supposedly) she didn’t just want to be another mistress (like Mary). She wanted to be the queen and stopped at nothing to get that “job.”

               My fellow historians: is that a good enough cliffs notes version or would you like to add more?

               Edit: @Indiana Joanna: thanks, girl! 😉

            5. Kimothy,

               Actually I was talking about Carole, but it’s quite telling that they all seem so interchangeable, eh? Carole and her mini-mes.

            6. @Kimothy, You are adorable!

            7. Indiana Joanna: **blushes** thank you…. 🙂

            8. IndianaJoanna,

               Bwahaha! Since the Midds are not well-connected perhaps they depend on tunnel vision, and a barrage of PR. They will change everyone’s minds through sheer will? And peranent infiltration, once they get those titles.

               Thanks for the education on the Boleyns.

            9. Not to go all Tudor history but I think it’s interesting that we don’t know much about Anne’s mother. Especially since she was a Howard.
               I could see Carole and Thomas taking notes.
               Now if only pippa would go quitely away like Mary

            10. I would watch Lucy Worsley’s “Six Wives” to get a sense of Anne Boleyn (or any other of Henry XIII’s wives). She brought a lot of nuance to the charicture we all know.

            11. I disagree on the Boleyn comparison since it was standard practise for all ambitious families to put their daughters in the King’s bed as a means of advancing themselves.

                On top of which, the Boleyn matriarch was a Howard aka daughter of the Dukes of Norfolk. The Howards were already in service to the Tudor Kings so it wasn’t that great a leap for Anne and Mary. Plus, they’d already spent their childhoods at the Netherland and French courts as maids of honour.

                The Boleyns were spectacularly successful and spectacularly cast aside which is why they resonate brighter than other families, but the Seymours were another similar family that played this game and triumphed by producing a boy heir.

                The Middletons and the Boleyns are compared because both families have 2 daughters and a son. Both suck up to a King for personal gain, but apart from the number of children, i don’t think they are similar. I think the better comparison is the Woodvyles in the Plantegenet era.

                Elizabeth Woodvyle had a good pedigree on her mother’s side, but for English purposes was as common as muck.

                An unsubstantiated legend says that Elizabeth seduced the King by waiting for him on a public path to grab his attention. Edward 4 being an incorrigible womaniser was hooked, seduced and secretly married her. When the marriage was revealed, the court and his family were horrified not least because the marriage cut off the ‘marriage as a political tool’ prospects of the King.

                Elizabeth immediately put her brothers and and children into all the lucrative positions at court, married them all off to rich nobles to the resentment of said nobles and entire nobility for this and other reasons.

                Elizabeth and her family had no talent for politics or diplomacy and were useless to the King in this respect. All they cared about was money and quickly cashed in any advantage that made them more wealthy. And all that wealth came from their royal links. The public never grew to love her.

                The only thing that protected them was that the King remained devoted to Elizabeth even as he philandered elsewhere. As soon as he died, all bets were off.

                Elizabeth’s efforts at politics came to nothing after the King’s death because she was banished to an Abbey by the Tudors though her daughter married Henry Tudor.

            12. It wasn’t Elizabeth’s lack of politics though that banished her to the Abbey. It was because she was considered a traitor for scheming against Henry and plotting to overthrow the Tudor King. Lack of politics wasn’t her undoing, but rather her need for power.

                And she did have some diplomacy since she showed the Tudors that Henry needed to marry her eldest daughter Elizabeth in order to unit England. Their marriage brought the white and red roses together. That was a necessary political marriage. So, her mother did know a thing or two of what she was doing even if she came in with nothing to offer. Say what you will, but she was a very clever woman.

            13. Overit: i compare Elizabeth to the women of her time, especially Margaret Beaufort Henry Tudor’s mother.

                At every turn Elizabeth’s political manouvering ended in failure. Marrying her daughter to Henry Tudor was the only successful thing she did and it didn’t gain her any advantages.

                Yes, there were reasons why she was banished, but the very fact of her being banished when her daughter was the Queen of England points to her failure as a politician.

                Compare with Margaret Beaufort. A woman who managed to successfully divorce her first husband as a child of 7 (or 9 depending on her birth year which remains disputed) and keep her fortune. She wasn’t a passive heiress leaving her matters to adults. She was actively involved in her own affairs.

                Each subsequent marriage was strategic and no matter the setbacks, she always emerged triumphant including being xaught plotting against the King on several occasions.

                By contrast Elizabeth never established political allies even where she was at an advantage.

                For a woman who was Queen of England for as long as she was and then a Queen Mother, her life was a failure.

      3. If I was pippa I’d say thanks but no thanks! Her stylist has to be the worse of her terrible team
         Her hair here was terrible! THere was some weird pouffy bump at the back on this do

         1. Pippathepuffedup should probably say thanks but no thanks, but then how could she brag and boast about having her hair done by a ‘royal’ stylist. Seems that if you word thing right no matter how inept the person is at what they do it becomes a special honor that no one else can have. This @#% wedding/circus is beyond sickening, the articles are utterly and completely ridiculous and the Midds have a PR person?? They really do consider themselves to be oh so very very important, and one thing that gets my attention every time is James isn’t just James, oh no, he’s a millionaire hedge fund manager. Gotta have that title.
            Sorry KMR for venting on waity’s thread. She looks slippery to me. And the excess of food is obscene but guess that’s what uber rich people do. I wonder if those invited, if they aren’t ”royal” (are they any) that they’re eating food that **they** paid for, and watching the ‘firmers’ prance about in clothing that probably would cost them a month or two or three of rent which they also paid for. Leeches.
            What is a pageboy? Is this a British thing? I better shut my trap, I’m so fed up with the circus that I keep blabbering on, and go off topic. Sorry.

            1. “Pippathepuffedup” LOL!

               Wow, royalsareajoke, you can be even more caustic than I! Do sit by me :).

               Yes, this is a circus and the Midds are driving the clown car.

            2. “You know what they say, ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit by me’.”

      4. Pippo The Clown has turned her wedding into a circus, with everyone playing their part including Harry & Meghan. If the intention was to make the Middleton’s seem high class then it has backfired in spectacular fashion. They have yet to learn the lesson that all the money in the world can’t buy you class or respect. They are being laughed at from many quarters & I fear there will still be repercussions once the dust has settled from cirque du soleil the wedding edition.

         1. Is Pippa the Paris Hilton of Great Britain?

            1. She wishes!

         2. I don’t think they care a jot about what people think of them. They have hides like leather. The Middleton’s want global attention, and they have it. This wedding circus sets up whatever Pips wants to do next. Of course it’s tacky PR but it puts her front and centre, where she wants and feels she deserves to be. On another level, imagine the internal jealousy Pippa must have been harboring to go to these lengths to best her sister.

            1. If the idea all along was to match Kate then why did they initially bill it as a small family wedding. Who were they trying to kid. This is partly why they’re now being made fun of. Along with the glass palace there will now also be a fly past. Some small wedding!

            2. You can pretty much discount everything coming out of Middleton mouths. After the engagement, Pippa said she was neither a party girl nor a socialite, yet her life thus far has been about little else. There was no way that the ever-thirsty Pippa would settle for a simply family wedding.

               The Middleton’s are being mocked for being even more outrageous than the fictional social-climbing Hyacinth Bucket. People watch it all unfold because it is such gob-smackingly pretentious entertainment, though irritating.

            3. Jen, I’ve wondered how much Pips must resent Carole’s obsessive attention to Willie and KM and now her grandchildren. Now she believes it’s her right to get global attention. I’m sure she thinks herself superior to KM because she was the alpha sister at school.

            4. FWIW, Pippa was in her late-teens when Kate and William started dating, not a little girl being ignored by her mommy though, on the flip side, this obsessive behavior of Carole’s, now going on for what? Almost 20 years (I’m including Kate’s time at Marlborough because that’s actually when Kate first met William.)? That has got to feel like the proverbial middle finger. And on top of that, Pippa was unsuccessful at nabbing Earl George Percy. That must’ve disappointed Carole terribly.

            5. Perhaps the PR game plan was to have Pippa insist that she wants a small, family wedding because of how modest & unassuming she is. But now, due to the immense interest of the public (thanks to her PR firm), poor Pippa is forced to have a grand wedding complete with $100,000 tents and a flypast.

               I have to say she plays the game perfectly and I don’t think we would have the Duchess Dolittle & Workshy William issues had Pippa been the one groomed for William. She loves the limelight!

            6. Believe me, Kimothy, as one of four sisters, I know first hand that any sister who is perceived as a favorite or more successful can cause enormous envy and resentment well into adulthood.

               For all the tales of Carole being such a loving mother I bet she stoked fierce competition between the two sisters to see who could fulfill her aristo fantasies. Carole focused on her daughters’ sexual attractiveness to the exclusion of more long lasting accomplishments such as a career and caring about others. Pips is hellbent on claiming her rightful place as the best most beautiful princess in the land. That comes from a place of deep resentment.

            7. @Indiana Joanna – I’m sure it rankles given Pippa is the more able of the two sisters, and closer in nature (aka grasping) to her mother. But it will always be such as long as Carole has a son-in-law and grandchild destined to be kings. If William walked away, or the monarchy fell, maybe things would be different. Money is the next best thing to social status so Pips wins there since James has far more money than William personally has to his name. But yeah, the over-the-top wedding arrangements are a well of resentment bursting out like there’s no tomorrow.

               And a light bulb has just gone off in my head as to why both Wales brothers are attending this wedding: access to James’s money down the track. Plus the private jet, Eden Rock etc.

               @Kimothy (or should we call you Phantom Pharter?) – Pippa’s tried and failed to land several rich and titled men, so disappointment several times over.

               @Ginger Mini – the alleged interest is manufactured by Pippa’s PR woman. I find Pippa such a poor actress; she so obviously plays to cameras, she knows where they are. Her tell-tale smirk gives it away. Nothing shy about that one.

            8. @Indiana Joanna: I’m the oldest of 3 and it was different in my family because of my health issues. Once I had received my transplant, the one closest in age to me (4 years younger) and I would have screaming matches because she resented the sh!t outta me but now (in her 30s) she realizes that, considering what our folks were up against, they did a pretty damn good job at keeping us together. They never forgot that they had two other daughters and my sisters could see, first hand, why I had to have physical therapy, lung function tests, learn what an echo cardiogram was, etc. In fact, Mel (sister closest in age) is now pursuing a nursing degree and she feels that, with what she experienced as a kid and teenager and seeing everything that I went through, she has a unique insight and perspective that others don’t have.

               Just realized I rambled like crazy. My bad…..

               @Jen: bahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!! If you would like……hehehehehe 😉

            9. I have to say the Middletons are just horrific. Pippa pushing for such worldwide attention. Or, is it Carole, too?

               I glanced at the DM yesterday and there were photos of the house which she shares with her fiance. The paper even published a picture of their bedroom . Would you want that? Really?

               Privacy is so important to W and K. Why would anyone in their right mind, who is related to royalty through marriage behave in this way? Why would anyone, period. I’m sick of this celebrity culture. I doubt HM views herself as a celeb. My goodness!

            10. Jenny, those house photos were old. They were of James’ first house, the one he bought in his early twenties and sold a few years later for a ten-fold profit. His mother helped him renovate it (it had been used as office space previously) and decorate. I have no idea what his current home looks like. Pippa posed for some photos when her cookbook came out and there was a lot of white, but I don’t know where that was set.

            11. If she were smart she would have had the anti-royal wedding. She would have gone with a few close friends and relatives to a lux location, worn a beautiful dress to an intimate ceremony at a beautiful and exclusive location, then had a great dinner for the intimate party prepared by a sought after chef.. Then she would have had one or two photos “slip” into the paper, and not officially “sold” the photos. That would have raised her profile while keeping what little good image she had in tact. It would also have given her and her future hubby a better chance at making friends with the people they so desperately wanted to fit in with. Instead she actively worked for the fame on the level of a Hilton or Kardashian and of course it’s backfiring.

            12. Haha, Jennifer, good idea, will never happen with the Middletons.We can just learn from the horrible behaviour of this family and try to be down-to-earth and working for a cause.I could not live their life, there is no sense except spending money for posh things.

            13. Jennifer,

                “If she were smart she would have had the anti-royal wedding.”

                Too right! But that’s what happens when only your lizard brain has been engaged and nurtured. Higher cognitive functioning would tell us there is a smarter way to social climb, with finesse, and come out smelling like a rose. Instead, we get Kardashian levels of crass and coarse.

            14. I’m in denial when it comes to competitiveness between sisters all the while having a younger sister who, the evidence suggests, has competed with me; I just can’t wrap my mind about it and don’t go there.

                Whoever predicted a horse drawn carriage and possible exit in antique cars should take up prophecy for money. According to the Sun, Pips is arriving in a horse drawn carriage and perhaps exiting in a fancy car?
                She’s having a royal wedding knockoff- the common nouveau riche version. It’s looking like she indeed, has been stewing about her older sister for a very long time.

4. I like the soft colours of the Queen’s outfit.And this adorable brooch! Soft colours are my favourite on her.
   Kate wears again a light blue coat dress.Not newly-buyed, good! But too boring for this garden party, in my opinion.
   William, you worm, smile once! Once, he looks as if everything he does is a big joke, the other time, he looks deathly serious, but there is no “normal” face expression.
   The cakes look delicious.
   I love the outfit of the woman in blue and beige.
   A nice garden party, I wonder how William will host them one day.

   1. I think the pale blue works for a garden party. I don’t think it’s too boring for a garden party. It’s just fine for a garden party.

      1. Agreed but why does she wear suede pumps with heels on a damp lawn? She really has some very strange ideas. Not a huge fan of this outfit as I always felt the satin finish cheapens it but pastels and a garden party, what could be better?

         I believe she’s going to the Chelsea Flower Show next week too. And there are also some rumours going around about her being rather grand and not giving Princess Sparkle any steer on what she might be wearing to the wedding which given there will be inevitable press comparisons between the two of them, well it seems a bit churlish and mean spirited. She really could do a bit to help Sparkles not hinder her. I wonder if this is a sign of things to come? I mean Madam is hardly known for her generosity to the sisterhood is she?

         1. In a sick way, I hope she is because I love the gossip of it all.

            In another way, I hope they are nice to one another because that family cannot be easy to navigate

            1. I don’t think Kate will be nice to Sparkles at all, at least not behind the scenes. In public yes but any repeat of Merry Wives of Windsor is just so far off Kate’s comfort scale. Her advice to Chelsey Davy was unkind and patronising. Luckily for Sparkles she has a host of ‘friends’ in the public eye who so far seem to be doing a good job helping her. Somehow I don’t think she’s as naive and eager to accommodating as Fergie was and Kate certainly isn’t in the Diana stratosphere so comparisons are not the huge gulf that separated those two. If anything I think Sparkles is well enough connected that she might outshine Katie Keen. God I hope so. At least lets have one Royal wife sing for her supper and do some good.

            2. Agreed, Mrs BBV.

               Waity Katie is not going to let any other female get close to influence or the spotlight or forget her place. But Meghan is no shrinking violet and is rather PR savvy, so I don’t see her as particularly intimidated by the likes of Dolittle. She also has Harry in her court.

               If you’re a woman with any perspicacity, you can see through Kate the minute you meet her and can adjust accordingly. The fact that people want to paint Meghan as someone vulnerable to the wiles of Waity aren’t giving her enough credit for being a woman of the world. Seems to always be the case- worrying about the little woman, and now cutting a career woman down to size in favour of the Brit Bum. I’m certainly not worried about Meghan and can’t wait to see her cut Waity down to size. With finesse!

   2. Yeah, the food looked yummy! I just want to pile my plate high with those goodies! I don’t like tea, though- think they have any Coke for us peasants? 🙂

      1. Since Coke is supposedly Andrew’s and Anne’s favorite tipple, I’m sure there are some bottles tucked away. But the peasants might have to “liberate” them.

      2. And Charles hosted something awhile back and there were cans of Coke out!! =)

   3. I don’t expect William will host them, he’ll either delegate them to the Middleton’s or abandon the practice altogether. Anything that ties William to convention and established dates in the diary is in real danger of being cast aside because William wants to do what he wants not what protocol and precedent dictate.

5. Off topic, and sorry if I’ve missed the discussion thread if there has been one, but did anyone watch Charles III on Masterpiece? The depiction of William and Kate and Harry is really fascinating – a very odd show since it’s a Shakespearean “what if” take on the death of HM and the aftermath within the immediate BRF. Curious about anyone else’s thoughts on the depictions, especially in light of the lovely garden party photos! 😉

   1. It’s so funny you brought this up because I just watched it tonight. It was not what I was expecting. I thought Charles was portrayed in a really poor light and very weak. I had originally thought Will and Kate would be portrayed in the same way, but they still somehow came out looking better. I found Harry’s storyline laughable. It was really interesting though and I know it was satire but it was fascinating. It does make me think though that when Charles is king people will still see him poorly because of Diana. It’s baffling to me to that there are people who believe William will be a good King. It made me really wonder what life is really like with the Royals behind Palace walls. My biggest takeaway was it will be a very sad day when the queen passes.

      1. It probably reflects upon how people see Charles: bad, weak or equally dangerous with opinions, and William and Kate are modern, loving, intelligent and charitable. And Harry still cast as the idiot drunk who likes Nazis.

         None of this is true but it seems how people see them.

      2. It’s high melodrama, for sure! (My comments may contain things that people perceive as spoilers so bewarel!) I thought it was interesting how so many things were worked quietly into the narrative, like Hilary Mantel’s comments on Kate and Diana’s comments from back in the day about how William should be king instead of Charles. I didn’t know what to expect going into it – whether it supposed to be serious or a spoof or what. I kind of just had it on in the background while I did some other things until the bits about Diana caught my eye! That, and Kate’s nerves of steel! I’ll definitely make some popcorn and watch it again to see what I might have missed! 😉

   2. I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet. I’m hoping I will get a chance to tomorrow.

   3. They gave more of a personality in the play than she does in real life. The behind the scenes interview with Charlotte Riler definitely had her say as much but in a polite way. Tim Pigott-smith was a good Charles even though I didn’t like how they made him weak. However, the arguments with William did make me think of the Christmas shadow court incident and if there were disputes that were similar.

      The main issue I had with it is that the playwright had a tabloid level of knowledge of the royals from about five years ago and so it could definitely be viewed as fiction and not so much a what if, especially as William has proven that he does not want to work of being on the throne. And since Kate was and is mostly a cipher, her character was just pure fiction. I actually found the end a bit creepy, even more so because William will be king outside of the monarchy ending. It did not provide as sense of hope at all but dread.

      Oh and there is a line at the beginning about how kate has great fashion and hair and how that is good for the BRF. I laughed at that line.. probably not supposed to be taken that way.

      1. Right Nic919? The comments about how many “column inches” W&K get compared to Charles and Camilla! Usually I think Kate is pretty bland, but I could see Mama Middleton coming out in her if she thought the crown was in her grasp and using her children to persuade William to her way of thinking. Prolly not likely, but it was entertaining. Also, kind of like a train wreck…

   4. I only watched about 30 minutes and thought it was so awful, that it was too painful to watch the whole thing. I thought the depiction of Kate was very unflattering, she was made to look very grasping, shallow and not particularly nice. Maybe that is art imitating life.

      1. BostonBrahmin: You comment reminded me of a Chinese ad that came out soon after WK were married. I can’t remember exactly what the add was for, but it depicted the royals stuck in Greenwich Naval college and needing to get back to BP. All the other royals joked about the situation and said they would make peace with the situation, but Kate refused to entertain any such ideas saying she’d worked hard to get to the Palace and she was damned if she was going to lower her standards!!

         Also, my local sainsbury’s periodically rearranges CDs/ books/dvd/games by themes in the national headlines.

         The week before and after WK’s wedding, they had dvds/CDs/books on the theme of gold digging, weddings and how to marry a millionaire (they had that movie on DVD prominently displayed!).

         It’s interestinv that this playwright, the Chinese and my local Sainsbury’s all thought Kate was grasping and or a gold digger.

         1. I remember too Ricky Gervais cracking a joke soon after the wedding about how Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton were sort of alike, but one was much cheaper and more easily bought.

            1. Ouch! Many a jest meant in earnest…

            2. Neato. I wish he’d do a running colour commentary for this highly ignoble wedding. Except that right now he would be saying, “Pippa who?”.

      2. I also quit after about 30 minutes. I found having Diana appear as a ghost particularly distasteful!

         1. 30 minutes for me, too. Tim P-G was good, but he will always be the vile Merrick to me in Jewel in the Crown. Thought the Harry portrayal particularily bad.

   5. I saw it. I hated how Charles was portrayed. I found it ironic that he was championing freedom of press
      I find it interesting that several people describe kate as being more than a doll/mannequin but what has she ever done to exhibit that that she is intillegent, interested in her surroundings, empathetic.., I’d say boring mannequin sims her right up. I see Carole as the one pulling the strings. I don’t see William as weak but I could tots see him stabbing his dad in the back like that!
      I enjoyed it. And wish peeps would speak iambic pentameter!! =)

   6. I watched and my take is while Charles waited for 70 years to be king he went about the business to become a decent man with integrity. Did that make him unfit to be king? Unlike E II, he refused to give assent to a bill that curbed the free press. And that led to the crisis.

      I don’t think W or KM character looked good at all. W was weak and passive in the face of KM’s urging him to grab power. The Harry character was kind of flat. KM portrayal was unbelievable given how clueless she seems in her appearances.

      1. Was it a Belgian king who refused to sign the bill I think that legalized abortion years back? He “abdicated” for the brief time it took for the bill to become law, then resumed his duties. A face-saving exercise.

         1. Yes, Baudouin
            http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/05/world/belgian-king-unable-to-sign-abortion-law-takes-day-off.html

            Grand Duke Henri of Lux refused to sign a euthanasia bill, which cost him most of his political power.
            https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/12/luxembourg-monarchy

6. Oh cakes! I want cake. The Queen and Princess Anne look nice. Kate’s outfit is a miss for me.
   Off topic but apparently Pippa will have a flypast at her wedding. She is trying way too hard.

   1. Pippa and the Middleton’s are total ‘TryHards’. That’s half their problem.

      1. I bet the aristo set are having a good laugh at how royal Pippa is trying to make her wedding.How William can’t see that the Middleton’s seek out the press he hates so much is crazy to me.Hiring a PR person screams that you want a big over the top wedding and not a quite no press,no fuss country wedding.

         1. Yes Erica, I read that Pippa is going all out for this – luxury bathrooms in tents next to the greenhouse marquee – another tent marquee erected near the church. But they expect thunderstorms. The DM guesses the wedding cost about 370,000 pounds. Her father must be rolling his eyes. And emptying his pockets. No wonder they report Michael was crying.

            1. I can just imagine that glass tent in a downpour.

            2. If Micheal Middleton has been caught crying, I bet it was due to facing Carole’s fury after being photographed with what apparently was a half-empty bottle of booze in his car’s driver’s side door. That photo gives credibility to the alcoholism-wrecking-the-marriage rumors I have heard.

               There’s no way on this earth that the Middletons can afford this level of expense. And if TR James is footing the bill for this OTT event, then he must be as weak as Michael. Not a good sign for the future of any of them.

            3. Lizzie,

               Your comment just made me realise something fresh- that Carole has raised her girls to be just like her- man eaters. It’s becoming quite apparent now, isn’t it?

            4. I wonder if the midds are actually paying. James is in his 40s-well off and pips in her 30s. He could be paying for a portion of it.
               I also wonder how much discount the midds are getting. I saw some photo of pippa with a bag of goodies from a salon, so for free pr they could be offering her their services free-discounted. Because, come on, how elese would the media/photographer know she would be at this location.
               I hadn’t heard the stories that Michael has a drinking problem

            5. Maven, I totally agree. Identifying, targeting, seducing and trapping and draining weak men with deep pockets (and preferably a title) is the MO of the Middleton women, with Carole providing constant support and backup to her two daughters. But William’s arrogance and stubborn streak must present more of a continued challenge for Carole than the spineless Michael and James, who seem to cower in the presence of their partners.

            6. Spot on, Lizzie. Well, given Willy’s character, I’m guessing it takes *two* man eaters, Carole and Kate, to keep Willy in line. Ha! But they do know a weak character in a man when they see one.

      2. I read in the press this morning that they have hired aircraft for a flypast. How true this is I don’t know,but all will be revealed in due course !!!

         1. The New York Times even has an article about this wedding with the title:The Not-Quite-Royal Wedding: A Guide to Pippa Middleton’s Big Day
            https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/fashion/pippa-middleton-wedding-guide.html?_r=0

            1. Aaand, take a look at James’ old bachelor pad and you will understand *everything* you need to know about him. He and Pips are a perfect fit. In addition, I barely recognised him.

               http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4513274/My-big-bed-Mr-Pippa.html

         2. Eek I thought the aircraft stories were a joke but I read it too! How gauche. I actually thought this was a reasonable article about how a lot of peeps feel, bizarre considering it’s a dm one
            http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4516928/STEPHEN-GLOVER-Pippa-s-oh-lavish-wedding.html
            My thoughts when couple’s spend this much on a wedding is that it doesn’t usually last. Although, considering his wealth, she might grip tight like a barnacle

            1. Sarah: this article is by a political commentator. This is the 2nd time in recent memory that he was written anything about royally related themes. And the other article was also negative in tone.

               It’s one thing for the gossip and royal press corps to write snarky articles about this wedding, it’s another for a serious political reporter to do the same. Not a good sign about how this wedding is going over with the establishment in relation to the young royals.

            2. While I don’t like the dm I read this article & thought it was spot on. I’ve mentioned before that there will be repercussions after the wedding in how the younger royals are perceived.

            3. Perhaps this is the reason why Harry is attending at all. William knew the wedding was getting out of hand and wasn’t man enough to be able to receive the full brunt of the criticism so he dragged his baby brother into the circus stage so that he can have mud slung at him and less on he and Kate.

            4. It’s the first article offering a rebuke of the circus Pippa has created to promote herself as royalty. She’s hoping no-one will notice that she is not. The comparison to Russian oligarchs is a none-too-subtle slap down. That the royal trio is lumped into the mess is interesting.

               @Kimothy: interesting perspective. I had uncharitably thought that William had persuaded Harry to attend (a) in order to build a relationship with rich James for future leeching, and (b) please the Middleton’s with another significant in attendance.

            5. I do not think that the Midds had to be persuaded to invite Harry to appease William or for damage control. He is on the guest list 1) because he is a popular royal; 2) in hopes of a reciprocal invite to his possible wedding in the next 1-2 years; (however, I do think William would have made sure they were included on Harry’s guest list if the Midds asked him to); 3) the extra publicity over Meghan Markle’s attendance (even though it may seem to some to take away from Pippa’s spotlight, I do not think CarolE cares; what’s important to her is that the ‘couple of the moment’ will be attending a wedding she is throwing). I think that William is too tone deaf, arrogant, stubborn – take your pick – to think, or care, that the unwashed masses hold any negativity toward the wedding, or the Midds in general.

            6. Thanks for explaining who wrote it. It also makes me feel better that I actually agreed with his analysis and thought it was done well.
               Not 2 things I usually say about the dm (online version anyways)

            7. Boy, that article really called the Middletons out on this extravaganza of hoopla. It’s true that money cannot buy taste.

      3. Yes, Mrs BBV. The Midd women try and try to impress us and can’t understand why we don’t see the specialness. God, they are so tacky.

         What did they mean when they first said they wanted a simple family affair for the wedding. No one believed them and their desperation to appear regal is always hideously ridiculous.

         1. The Middleton’s value acquiring other people’s money and status and do it through sex and obsequiousness. They don’t care what people think of them. They get what they want through sheer audacity and tenacity.

            Perusing the DM comments, the steamroller PR has upset so many people who have now taken to wishing the happy couple a downpour, or worse, on the day. The PR woman has done her job but it’s hard to spin the unaccomplished Pippa as anything but venal, delusional and smug. Saturating the media with a blow-by-blow account of Everything Pippa grates like chalk on a blackboard.

            1. Jen, I’ve wondered how much Pips must resent Carole’s obsessive attention to Willie and KM and now her grandchildren. Now she believes it’s her right to get global attention. I’m sure she thinks herself superior to KM because she was the alpha sister at school.

            2. You know, Indiana Joanna, you’re onto something. Pips is the brighter of the two and certainly the more ambitious and able. While close to Kate, it was said that she and James were put on the back burner while their parents managed the Kate-William relationship. It would have rankled. So I can see her thinking that this is her turn. And perhaps her parents think they owe her that attention?

   2. I would go the garden party just for the food.

   3. Okay if Pippa is really having a flyby then she is delusional. I say that because flybys are normally for royal weddings and occasions. The fact that Pippa would pay for one is crazy to me. She must think of herself as extended royalty and wanting what Kate had. Its very ostentatious and screams look at me. That is something the Kardashians would do.

      1. Very ill advised. They must have the hide of a rhinoceros or they are beyond caring what their critics say. I cannot think of one society wedding recently be it Percy, Knatchbull / Brabourne or Wellesley / Wellington who would dream of carrying on like this. Absolute vulgarians and I wouldn’t mind betting that HM lips are very thin in disapproval when she glances at the morning papers this week.

         1. George Percy was one of Pippa’s flatmates during her time at the University of Edinburgh. Do you think he’ll be there or avoid this colossal tsunami called a wedding?

      2. I didn’t go but a mutual friend of mine had the red arrows in her photographs of her wedding party. It was not even planned. The red arrows just happened to be in shot. Why a fly past for Pippa is necessary is beyond me plus I am beginning to think Pippa doesn’t really care about whom she marries.

         1. Pippa has always been clear about her aims: money, power and title. However, these last few years prior to engagement she set about an established route of re-inventing herself as charity worker, keeping a relatively low profile etc to be more acceptable to society/wealthy families. James would, no doubt, know her priorities plus have his own. Neither are innocents.

            I’m more interested in Pippa’s psychology being revealed here in the sheer competitiveness of having more, more, more. There’s years of resentment in being second sister in these over-the-top choices, plus an ego of grand proportions.

            1. Pippa dated JJ Jardine didn’t she? I am surprised she has not marrying someone she is friends with as well. I don’t get the love young’s dream vibe and if she is marrying for his money surely that is upsetting for him. I just want Harry to marry Meghan and Eugenie to marry Jack and Beatrice to get married preferably to Prince George Percy or the new Duke of Westminster so it would be a wedding I am actually interested in. So not much then lol. What is the betting George will be wearing a sailor suit tomorrow?

            2. *George Percy of Northumberland. Too many Georges.

            3. Oh, no, no, no, no, no! I really hope George will not be replicating William as a sailor when he was a page boy for Andrew and Fergie’s wedding. The family is already uber-creepy in dressing the poor child in his father’s old clothes.

               As for Pippa, yes she dated the JJ Jardine guy at uni, not sure of the others. I’m not inclined to give Pippa much slack; I find her too calculating, at least from the persona projected through media over the years. I don’t buy the love’s dream vibe either but he must know her ambitions by now, and she his. Marriage is always a deal of sorts. We choose to dress it up with emotions, but it’s a transaction all the same.

               I’d imagine Eugenie and Jack will marry; they seem stable and low-key. Let’s hope Bea finds someone who won’t ride on her connections like the last guy did.

7. I hate that pale blue outfit. I’ve never liked how easily it wrinkles, and its overall effect seems far too washed out (and wintry) for a spring garden party, and not at all welcoming. Kate’s expression seems somber and her wiglet seems ridiculous under the hat.

   I love the Queen’s shade of pink. And I also like Princess Anne’s outfit, which she’s probably owned for ages, but looks classic.

   And how much fun would it be to attend that party? The cakes look delicious, and the presentation is impeccable.

   Keep up the great work, KMR! I always love reading the articles and seeing this community continue to thrive and go on with its on-point observations.

8. Princess Michael of Kent looks fabulous. Queen looks great, I love that brooch.
   I hate that coat on Kate, it looks cheap and sort of plastic from far.

   1. Princess Michael looked elegant and glamorous and so did her husband. Those two always eye pleasing, imo.

      I liked Bea’s outfit and the boater- I think she’s worn that hat before.

      Kate’s coat is very nice but I don’t love the hat. I also saw video of her from behind, speaking with guests, and her calves were getting quite a workout trying not to let her ankles flop around in that soft grass in those heels. All that working out really paid off- she didn’t stumble. She does have that ungainly stride though. Almost like she takes a bit too big of steps then has to sort of throw her body forward to catch up.
      Who was the man taking her from group to group and making introductions?

      1. Prince Michael is one of the most distinguished-looking men ever, royal or not. And he seems very intelligent and kind as well.

         I wondered, too, about the man guiding Kate around. There were a couple of shots with Rebecca Deacon off to the side, so what was her purpose in being there if this man was guiding Kate, giving introductions? How many people does Kate need to prop her up at a garden party of all things? It’s not as though she’s having to walk some delicate diplomatic line.

         1. Each royal had someone that would take them around and introduce them to garden party folks. It makes it more organized for everyone.

9. Yay for the garden party! The Queen always looks like she really enjoys hosting. She looks very healthy.

   If it is a tour of Scandinavia then we may see them with the Swedish or Norwegian royals at last.

   Will did a hospital visit earlier too, so I do think he is working more this year.

   The coat is too shiny for my taste. I like her other blue ones better.

10. KMR….what other site do you have? I refer to the comment you made about covering Harry and Megan “over on my other site”.

    1. I created a site about Meghan: http://meghanmarklereview.com/

       1. Yehhaaaaaaaaaa!!! A safe place to talk about this and read as well. I haven’t been reading much since well you know ‘rules’, now I can!!

          1. Hello KMR !
             Well, I don’t often comment but I wanted to say (but I’m minority here) that I found it sad that you have an other site for Meghan. It was so simple to check on KMR to have informations on the BRF and it’s in the title of your blog : the rest of the BRF.
             You write about other royals too, and I thought it was really nice to have this one and only site to check.
             But of course it is your decision and the most important is that you like this new project and that you are successful !
             Have a nice day !

             1. French Girl I am actually with you. I forget to check that site, where as it was nice having some info on Meghan and Harry here. I fully understand making a site, but since there is so little regarding them right now the quick tid bits were nice on this site. Once they become engaged I am sure there will be more to report on that will require an individual site. I just hope you don’t burn yourself out KMR.

11. Beatrice’s hat makes her look rather squat. It is also too big around her head.

    I like the silhouette of Kate’s coat but dislike the shiny fabric.

    For me Ann is the most stylish today.
    Her coat is beautiful.

    +1

    1. And here I think Bea looks an absolute treat! Slightly whimsical, some panache, charming. Perfect for a garden party. Unlike Kate with her rather formal icy, shiny satin suit of armour. I really like Anne’s embroidered outfit as well, very tactile and inviting and suited to a garden party.

    2. This is one of those outfits that should be brought up when people insist Anne is no-nonsense and never wears anything frilly. It was worn at Ascot two years ago, the Queen’s birthday event last year.

12. Sighs… boring Kate again. She literally wears every outfit she has the exact same way every single time. Someone teach her how to mix and match! And the shoes have to go! I can’t stand the colour.

    1. IMO Kate approaches fashion like she’s doing a “painting by numbers”.

       No flair, no passion it seems either?

    2. Just when we think she couldn’t possibly find another coat dress, she amazes and finds another one.

    3. “Someone teach her how to mix and match! ”

       Some must have tried? But it’s not sticking?

       It seems that Kate is very good at getting an idea in her head and sticking to it, like glue? I think a great example of this is Kate wiping off her wedding makeup, done by a makeup artist, and redoing it herself. Or her habit of altering clothes by lifting the waistline a couple of inches and taking in the side seams if possible. It looks bad and makes the clothes hang funny. I suspect even that blue coat she wore in Lux was altered as the waistline sat (and pulled) oddly. Plus the hem line was wonky. And she had that self fabric belt which did up messily at the back. My impression there was some alterations after it left Emilia Wickstead is backed up by the fact that the lining of the coat seemed close to the same length as the outer fabric. No designer, or even a home sewer, lines a garment like this. A garment’s lining is always shorter. Makes me think that some fabric has been cut off the bottom of the coat. (Sorry for the rant but it winds me up to see Kate alter expensive clothes the same way again and again and again.)

       I wish someone would be able to teach Kate a bit of fashion style and some fashion sense too?

       Would flash cards help?

       1. Yes, Cathy. Flash cards She seems to enjoy “flashing.”

          Hope all is well and I always love your take on sewing and the mess that is made of most of Kate’s wardrobe.

          1. “Flashing”

             Oh my gosh! Jenny! I didn’t think!

             (I don’t think Kate needs lessons in flashing, do you?)

             As for the sewing? *sigh* Mat as well just copy and paste my comment as it’s the same thing with her, over and over again.

             All is well here, but it is getting colder as it’s autumn (Fall) here in New Zealand now. It might even get as cold as 10 degrees celsius (
             50 degrees fahrenheit, think?). People further south laugh at us Aucklanders, can’t think why?

             I hope you and your family are all well? What is Miss Maddie up too? Letting Mummy sleep through the night for example?

             1. Hi, Cathy, You teach us all quite a bit about sewing and proper ways to fit clothing! I wish I had the talent.

                It was so horribly hot in NY yesterday. With poor air quality, too. I envy the fact that winter is coming in your neck of the woods. But, I also complain about winters when I am in the midst of them, so I wish you a good one. And, understand your dread of the coming season.

                Maddie does sleep through the night now –For the most part, but her rise and shine hour is so early for me. Her Daddy, too. I feel as if I am always dragging! Try to catch a small nap when she takes one, but that cuts into other things I need to do,
                BTW, We often use her complete name, Madeleine Juliet in a sing-song voice when chatting with her and she likes the Juliet part. She started to call herself Liette! Sometimes, she will say Jool – ette.
                So, mabye she is choosing her own name, after all. I really wanted to name her Juliet Madeleine, but when I first held her, I saw a Madeleine. So, who knows what her choice in her name will be down the road.

                She is going everywhere now and is non-stop. Talking, laughing, smiling and blowing kisses. Waving bye-bye. The usual stuff. She is a pretty happy baby for the most part. But, has a stubborn streak and when she gets over-tired, like most kids her age, watch out!

                Thanks for asking about her. You are always so kind. I so hope you and your loved ones are well, too.
                Sending warm wishes your way. I just asked Maddie to blow a kiss and she did! So, there’s one of her special ones for you! Take care and enjoy Pippa’s wedding! I hope I have the time to catch the dress, the kids, and the gall of Ma Middleton. Also, looking forward to Kate’s ensemble! But, all this hoopla is insane, isn’t it? I hope KMR survives the day and hope everyone enjoys watching the circus!

             2. Hi Jenny

                First of all…
                Tell Maddie that I’m blowing a BIG kiss to her from New Zealand! And then do you need to tell her that I am on the other side of the world from her and that when she is asleep I am up and enjoying my day? Or maybe leave that for a couple of years? I remember trying to explain this to a kid I was babysitting. Rather cute, he got really worried that people on the other side of the world were upside down and they may fall off. So never mind having the birds and the bees talk, what is the right age to talk about gravity?

                I was going to ask about alarm clocks, but if Maddie is an early riser that must mean the alarm clock is her?

                It’s cooler today, around 15 degrees C (59 degrees F), but that’s because there is a storm coming. It doesn’t snow here in Auckland, like you get in winter, it just rains but that’s mostly at night so I shouldn’t really complain.

                I hope you have a good summer, I’ve heard that it can get really hot in NY though! I’ve lived through heat waves in London so I know how darn hot and stuffy a big city can get. And that the air feels heavy and like you can cut it with a knife.

                I’m hoping you can all get to the beach this summer?

                I must say that I hope Miss Maddie will allow you to continue to use Madeleine as her name and not swap to Juliet. My Great Grandmother was Madeleine, she was a wonderful lady and I feel so lucky to have known her. You can tell Maddie from me that very special people are called Madeleine!

                Big kisses to Maddie from me and I hope you all have a great weekend!

                Of course we are all going to be entertained by 3 ring circus in the UK, luckily I will be asleep while it’s on so I’m going to make a prediction about Pippa’s dress – yes, I agree, there will be a tartan sash, very high heels, tight tight tight over the rear end, probably a tiara, oh yes and a cathedral length veil (even though she isn’t getting married in a cathedral). Now, the flowers, over the top everywhere else, but I can’t decide if it will be a huge bouquet or a small one like her sister? There will, of course, be lily of the valley in the bouquet?

                I will be interested to see what Meghan will be wearing, I don’t think I’m looking forward to seeing what Kate is wearing though, I just hope she isn’t wearing something that will fly up easily as if there is raining coming over Bucklebury then it may bring wind too?

                Yikes!

             3. Hi, Cathy,

                Good to hear from you. So, we survived the wedding. I’m really exhausted. It’s a gorgeous, cool day here and we all went out to see my husband’s sons in their Little League baseball games. Not so little, anymore, I may add I had to come home with Maddie, who needed a nap and I started to take one, but could not sleep.

                I will explain the “other side of the world” thing to Madeleine when she is older. And, I am sure your grandmother Madeleine was a great lady. She’s funny, because depending on who talks to her, she often uses either Matty, or Liette when referring to herself.

                I also wish you a glorious day and evening and day!

                We were wrong about the plaid waistband for Pippa. Unless, of course, that was part of the reception. Still waiting for photos of that!

                THis week is supposed to be much cooler here and I am grtaeful. I so hope you don’t have a rough winter. Someday, if I can ever get over my fear of such a long flight — and if I have the money, I want to go to New Zealand. One of my cousins went and said it is the most beautiful place, with the greatest people. He gave me a picture book of NZ for Christmas that same year and I still enjoy leafing through it and planning my one day trip!!!!

                Be well. Too bad, we did not get a Meghan sighting.

13. I wonder what the Queen makes of all this wedding hupla? I would love to be a fly on the wall when she’s looking over the morning papers and you know that Carole invited her, I imagine that she found something else, anything else to do on that day.

    1. She probably said no without worrying about having something else to do. If in fact she was invited she probably saw it as the Middletons not knowing their place.

14. Princess Michael of Kent slays! She gets an A+ for looking fabulous and appropriate. Everyone else looked very nice. I will also give props to Kate for being dressed appropriately.

    I am going to a bachelorette party this weekend with 0 wifi so I won’t be able to chime in on Pippa’s wedding with you all, but I am SO excited to watch this spectacle and gossip about it with you after!

15. The first thing that struck me about this event was how much I wanted to try all the goodies. As far as Kate goes, typical look for her and usual lack of accessories except for the new boring KiKi McBoring-Frightfully-Overpriced earrings.

    I have been wondering what Kate will wear to the church for Pip’s wedding and I predict a repeat outfit. I hope, as a guest, she does not wear anything with lace, as to me, that would detract from any bride.
    For some reason I keep thinking she will wear the following, veddy appropriate Catherine Walker for a “country” aristo wedding
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/style/celebrity-fashion/kate-middleton-looks-chic-blue-8155752

    1. Oh me too with the food! Were I there, my mingling would all have happened within reaching distance of those tasty goodies ?

    2. Ya think? I think Kate will wear something new. That ensemble you mentioned looked like something for the Mother of the Bride. Kate is boring, whatever she chooses. Can’t wait to see George and Charlotte. Pippa’s gown, too.

       As for the flyover? Who do these people think they are?! I guess I know the answer, but I needed to say it.

       1. Of course she will wear something new! Who wouldn’t wear a new outfut to her sister’s wedding? That’s a very special occasion

       2. I vote for her busting out something new as well, jenny. But, I think it will look like 27 other coat-dresses she already owns – and will look mother of the bridey. She’ll add an ugly new fascinator and some nude shoes. Same old, same old.

          I can’t wait to see what Meghan wears!! I really hope we get lots of pictures. My one concern about Meghan is that I hope she doesn’t try to emulate Kate’s “royal bride” style in.ANY.way. I didn’t like the Erdem dress she wore to the Jamaica wedding – way too close to Kate’s style and past dresses – so I hope she doesn’t think she needs to dress like Kate to fit it. I will lose it if that happens! I want Meghan to wear British designers but to keep her own style and flair and be willing to be more adventurous than boring, samey Kate.

          1. I just hope Meghan wears something that she likes and not what she thinks she should wear. Fancy schmancy designer names, be damned!

          2. I missed the post-editing window to add this to my previous post, but Princess Sparkle has apparently landed in London and was whisked away to KP for a rendezvous with the Ginger One.

             http://www.eonline.com/news/853266/meghan-markle-arrives-in-london-for-pippa-middleton-s-wedding

             …And he’s apparently already asked and received permission from the queen to propose to Sparkles. My dream is that we’ll get an announcement on Monday. This will also knock ALL the Pippa wedding news off the front page. Hee. Yes, I’m evil.

             1. I wouldn’t mind a rendezvous with the Ginger One but that’s just me. 😉

             2. Hee! I feel ya’ Kimothy, I feel ya’!

                If they don’t end up getting married I will be floored…it’s really already a done deal in my own head, haha. I really can’t wait to see these two together…holding hands, wedding planning, out on engagements, the engagement interview(s), wedding, babies! I want to see Harry snuggling with his own kids. Squeeeee!

                I seriously don’t know why I am so hyped up about these two, lol.

             3. Maybe because the last British royal couple to marry have as much warmth and passion as the slowest boiling pot we can imagine? 😉

                (Hope you all don’t mind my snarkiness, I’m in a mood.)

                I think the last British royal couple that had that “va-va-voom” spice were Fergie & Andrew because they were so matched passion-wise. They genuinely liked each other and were friends before they allowed love to blossom.

             4. I wonder if it drives Carole crazy that Megan Markle looks like Pippa but isn’t Pippa, if you catch my drift.

             5. Quinn,I bet she has probably thought to herself had she helped pippa apply the same playbook Kate used on William to harry it would be Pippa with him instead of Meghan.

             6. There is a possibility that Sparkles could attend The Chelsea Flower Show on Monday with the RF. Now that would really set the seal on it. Harry usually attends CFS and has had his own exhibits so I wouldn’t count that out.

             7. @MrsBBV – OMG, I hadn’t heard that about the Chelsea Flower Show…Please let it be! My head might just explode from excitement. I really, really hope she does. Fingers crossed!!

             8. @Mrs BBV, Yes that would be fantastic if Meg (aka Princess Sparkles) appeared. She’s conducted herself well by staying out of the limelight which only makes people more interested in her, something Carole and Pips can’t fathom.

             9. If Meghan shows up at the flower show, that will summarily knock ol’ Pips and her tacky show and fam out of the gossip rags. Sweet. I hope it happens.

             10. I would love the ENGAGEMENT announcement to leak the day before the nups, Gudgeon. Or, that morning. Oh, wow!!!!!!!!

             11. Gudgeon, i believe if the media get some good pictures of H&M and the two young Cambridges prince George and princess Charlotte, Pippa will be covered as an afterthought, there won’t be any need to announce any engagement, mark my words. As already been mentioned by others before me, MOST people are more interested in H&M than they really are in Pippa and her shenanigans.

          3. Oh, how many fascinators can actually fit into that Church? It’s going to be hat heaven, for sure!

             I agree that Kate will have a new ensemble. I also think it will be very MOB. Mother-of-the-bride.

             This wedding is a circus and now that The Greatest Show on Earth has shut down in the States, we all need a good clown show!

       3. I can see Carole wearing a new Catherine Walker, doing her Diana impression like she did at W&K’s wedding.

          1. Agreed…..but I think Kate will be in McQueen. She’s usually plumps for bespoke McQueen at her ‘important’ events.

          2. MrsBBV…just curious why the name sparkles.. did I miss the reason… I want in in the joke as well. Lol

             1. Megan Markle…..Princess Sparkle……Sparkles. Just good old rhyming slang / word association. I quite like it though, it doesn’t feel derogatory. I was called Bubbles at school on account of the fact that I was rather effervescent. So it’s really an affectionate term for our Princess-in-waiting more than anything. Meghan has really grown on me over the last month. I was most certainly not a fan and I have reservations but the polo …….that shows a love match and that’s all I want for Harry. Xxx

             2. Thanks for asking this question Josunfun and MrsBBV for your great answer. I have always wanted to know why you called her sparkles. I actually thought it was because she is scandal free (so far no scandals) which is very unusual for an actress, so thanks for the explanation.

    3. What about the Middleton family crest, you know, that was created right before Kate got married? I’m betting on it being a prominent tacky part of Pippa’s big day, whether it’s part of a tiara, a beaded design on her dress or maybe just jewelry.

       1. Hee! hee! I like it…Mrs BBV.. Yeah i liked her in theory, but thought she was super ambitious which can read as fame seeking? So I went back and forth.. but Polo showed me that Harry is all about it… and I realized that because she had to pave her own path compared to Kate, who just held her breath and waited she would come off as ambitiously … so Sparkle it is. Ps my spidie senses are telling me that Kate is not a girls girls and is probably ambivalent about Meghan. They will not be having slumber parties.

       2. Lizzie, I’m sure Michael and Carole will have the crest on their velvet cloaks or perhaps their crowns. I’m sure it is also carved in stone somewhere on their house as well as having it on their flag flying high for all to see.

16. Beatrice and Philip are my sartorial wins. I like Anne’s outfit as well but I’ve seen it a time or three before.

    As far as Pippa’s wedding is concerned, the PR push, hype or whatever you call it is working on me because I am really looking forward to this wedding!!! I am looking forward to it more than I looked forward to William and Kate’s wedding, actually I don’t think that I looked forward to Will and Kate’s wedding.

    The Middleton machine really got me with the crystal palace but there’s also the dress and George and Charlotte as attendants. Meghan and Harry are a bonus, if they bring it fashion wise then that will be fantastic but I am not banking on that.

    1. +100

17. Not a fan of shiny clothes, but Kate is okay for a garden party. I noticed that she only lit up when talking to men, even when other women were in the group. And her expression in the walking picture tells so much about her feelings about this event.

    I liked Anne’s outfit, but not her hat. I think maybe she doesn’t have a hat face.

    And yes, Prince and Princess Michael are beautifully dressed.

18. Is the hat Beatrice wearing a boater? I like the dress and boater. The shoes are practical for the weather and the dress is modest.

    Kate. Just boring. I like the blue outfit but the shoes. From what I can see the shoes look like they are putting a lot of pressure on the ground. How Kate can walk in them I can only guess.

    I like Anne’s outfit. A Classic outfit and I like the decollage on it. It is good to see Prince Michael of Kent and his wife. Princess Michael of Kent looks very elegant. Edward is there but no Sophie? I could eat one of those chocolate cakes or mini Victoria sponges.

    1. It’s a ratio hat

       1. What is a ratio hat?

          1. a type of hat that she wore http://www.lauraapsitlivens.co.uk/product/ss1706-ratio/

             1. Thanks for that. I thought the term referred to a type of hat eg boater, panama etc. It’s a very nice hat; sits a bit low on Bea’s head though keeps out any glare.

19. I have a possibly very naive and stupid question. Why was Kate in the front row and William in the back. Shouldn’t he have been in the front with his grandparents?

    1. They are standing level to each other, but Kate is in a light, bright colour whilst William is in a dark colour that makes him blend into the background such that he appears to be standing further back whilst Kate appears closer.

       In terms of placement, William is of lesser rank than his grandmother and so stands stands behind her rather than besides her.

       It’s impossible to replicate on the Balcony as there is no depth to indicate these sorts of rankings, so they settle for side by side positions according to rank with HM the centre and Charles to her right, William to her left.

       1. Thank you so much. I couldn’t understand why Kate Philip and the Queen were in the front row and everyone else was behind. You’re right, the shiny blue outfit was playing tricks with my eyes.

20. Since I’m tired of commenting on Kate’s constant boring attire I’ll comment on the things I like
    I love the queen in pink and her sparkly brooch. I also love her matching pink umbrella! Anne is also a win for me! I would like Beatrice’s outfit sans the hat.
    There’s something dashing about morning dress. I wish we would adopt it here in the states
    I finally watched Diana the last 100 days and it made me wish someone would wear her jewels, especially the sapphire choker but then I look at the weird thing kate does with either jutting her jaw out or whatever it is she does (pic3) where you can see her veins and tendons popping out and I think it would ruin the look for me. Maybe when Harry marries we’ll see them
    Thanks for the food pics! Those look yummy!!
    Is that a Deacon sighting in pic 4?

    1. I thought that was Rebecca, too! Anyone know for sure?

       1. Yes that is Rebecca.

          1. Thanks, Herazeus. You are our go to person for all things we need to know. You, and KMR. that is!

21. MavenTheFirst, I would consider it an honor to sit by you!:)

    1. Aw, the feeling is mutual, royalsareajoke. We are going to thoroughly enjoy this trainwreck with no holds barred! The grandiose glass ‘marquee’ is already making me twitchy. This, from people pleading privacy and needing a shipload of security. Will they have fighter jets in the air for protection?

       1. No, they have the spitfires instead. Lol. The RAF is busy Saturday. Maybe William can fly his heli? And no doubt they’ll be a fireworks show in the evening.

22. I loathe those fascinators, including that awful thing Kate has on her head. Her hairstyle looks like a wad of yarn. Atrocious. Hate the coat dress, and the shoes are awful.

23. Wow, kate has attended more than twice as many garden parties as william and she ‘only’ married into the royal family a few years ago while william was born as a prince… that is quite shocking I think

24. Once again, the kids get trashed- Kate worries about how they will behave. Considering one is a toddler, what does she expect? Total obeisance? I don’t even know how Char can be in the wedding party without the possibility of going off script. Kate has nothing positive to say. Ever. She could have talked about their being excited, or the pretty dress Char is thrilled to wear or anything about their reactions, but nooooo, the little devils may misbehave. Sheesh. Which leads me to believe, once again, that she doesn’t interact with them very much.

    1. It seems to be the Cambridge’s MO to speak this way about their children: it is vapid, generic and every parent can identify with the ‘normalcy’ of toddlers. Whatever they say to people will be reported in the press so make it about nothing, give nothing away.

       1. Too true. Or, give nothing away because you know nothing. Meanwhile, cumulatively you make your kids look obnoxious.

          1. A two year old walking down the aisle is a disaster waiting to happen. Will Nanny Maria be with her? And, will Nanny be wearing her uniform, too?

             How old was William when Andrew got married. He was a little fussy on the altar, according to my mom. A bit of a cute prankster, actually. Wow, I wonder how George will behave?

             Is this wedding ceremony being televised? Pardon me for not knowing. .

             1. William had just turned 4 years old when Andrew & Sarah married.

             2. Thanks, Kimothy. You are an official go to person, too!

             3. Awww thanks jenny! I just happen to have an astoundingly good memory and though I was only 6 years old when the two wed (and probably sleeping in that day since I had just finished Kindergarten 😉 ), I do remember dates and whatnot very well. 🙂

    2. William the other day talked about how George is so rough and naughty, and doesn’t listen.

       He’s three, William. You may not have experience with three year olds. It doesn’t make him bad.

       1. 3 was the naughty yr for my niece. It’s the age they’re trying to be more independent yet aren’t quite there yet (or take forever so you/me just want to do it yourself!) I was getting my niece ready for bed and took her shirt off and she had total melt down because she wanted to do it. I told her when she’s done crying to come find me and we could finish getting ready. Auntie time =) but it was also a great time because she would have her favorite books that we would read. I love how exponentially their little brains grow.
          That’s typical 2-3 yr old behavior. How about saying he’s totally a typical 3 yr old but we love that he——we only hear the naughty stories about George. So sad for him

    3. Speaking as a parent of a spirited toddler (whom I love and interact with constantly)… it is absolutely normal to be anxious about whether said toddler will behave at an important event. I don’t take this as “trashing” the kids… you can’t predict how little kids will act and I don’t think it’s strange to hope they behave and do their part without making a scene. I worry about how my son will act before family funerals, weddings, normal church services, etc!

       1. I agree, I didn’t see it as trashing the kids either. When my mom’s cousin got married, my sister and I were flower girls at her wedding (walking down the aisle in church with her and throwing flowers at the ground). We were bith still really little, I think either 2 and 4 or 3 and 5 years old so of course my mom was worried about how we would behave. I just asked her and she said of course she expressed concerns about our behaviour when people asked her about the wedding (and we were really easy and shy kids who never threw tantrums so there was no concrete reason). It is just natural for a mom to wonder if your kids will behave if there are so many people which might confuse or scare them so I don’t think Kate meant it to come across in a negative way 🙁

25. I don’t like the ratio hat Beatrice wore, but its better than that orange one she wore once

26. Apparently the theme for this Garden Party was “Blast From the Past”, because Kate is channeling some 1990’s realness with that shiny jacket (paging Edwina Monsoon!) and Beatrice came dressed like a Victorian era schoolgirl.

27. Question for the group, is the Queen wearing a hat pin? Are hat pins decorative? I always thought they were functional, to attach the hat to your hair. But a diamond hat pin looks really cool. It also looks like there are tiny marks/holes on a level band around the hat for various pin placement.

    1. Yes, that’s a hat pin.

28. “Mr Bates. 55, from Coventry said: ‘She said that they were all really looking forward to her sister’s wedding at the weekend but she was a bit worried about how her children might behave. She said she was hopeful that they would be good but you never know at that age.’

    “Prince George, three, will be a page boy and Princess Charlotte, two, a bridesmaid for their aunty on Saturday.

    I have a tangentially related story to this! Here goes:

    When I was 18 months old, my aunt asked my parents to let me be her flower girl, and my parents agreed. As a result, there are now some infamous pictures of me throwing a royal tantrum on the aisle because 1. It was apparently really hot in that church and 2. It was supposed to be my nap time. That wedding also marked the momentous occasion when I said my first swear word. My grandma asked how I liked my pretty outfit and I had some choice words about my pinchy shoes. Luckily for me, my family has a great sense of humor (my aunt included) and it’s become one of the family legends that gets repeated whenever we get together or I have a an important birthday.

    My point being, unless Charlotte is a total two year old miscreant, she can’t be any worse than I was at that wedding, so Kate doesn’t need to be worrying. Or, maybe she does. 😀

    1. I was my aunt’s flower girl at three. The tantrum was thrown by the ringbearer, who apparently didn’t expect anyone to be in the church but the wedding party. The best man had to carry the lacy pillow with the rings. My basket had rose petals that I was to scatter before the bride. No way, I wasn’t letting one of them go. When a few drifted out because I bounced the basket, I picked them up. Consequently, most of the wedding pictures are of me bending over at the waist. And the tulle ruffles were really itchy, so of course I scratched a lot. I hope the Middletons have a sense of humor, because toddlers and weddings are combustible.

    2. When I was 2 years old, I went with my parents to a wedding. During a quiet moment in the ceremony, yours truly let out a massive fart. It was so good that EVERYONE looked at my parents thinking that the sound (and smell) came from one of their butts!! They quickly got their things, got up, and left (all embarrassed) but as soon as they stepped outside the church the busted out laughing! 😀

       1. OMG that is hilarious! I laughed so hard I cried a little. Thank you for sharing that gem of a story.

          1. No problem! Even at that young age, that was all the proof my dad needed that I’m definitely his daughter! 😉

       2. So you literally embodied the phrase “went over like a fart in church”, didn’t you? 😀 😀 😀

          1. **grins proudly** Yup! 😀

29. Scrolling down the pics I realised two things, 1. the Queen looks great and the colour pink suits her really well and 2. The food looks… who cares about the royals when you can stuff like this xd

30. Now for a different slant on the upcoming wedding…

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4516928/STEPHEN-GLOVER-Pippa-s-oh-lavish-wedding.html

    1. Wow, I liked the reference to the fact that they have both been around the block a few times.

       I think the groom looks rather weak. I guess that is what Pippa, Kate and Carole always have in mind when groom shopping. That, and mega bucks. In, W’s case, a chance at the throne, too. Notice, I said, chance.

       1. I agree Jenny and if his work ethic and demeanor don’t change that “chance” will be a pretty fat one.

          I have admitted that I pretty excited about this wedding, but it’s really starting to get on my nerves. My god, the porta-loos are nicer than my bathroom and about 5 times the size! As it stands now, all I’m really excited about is seeing the wedding dress, Meghan and Harry. I not even very excited about seeing the kiddes, I just don’t feel any connection with them and think that W&K will hover so much that any little bit of personality being shown will be quickly squashed.

          1. Hi, Queen Lauri. I agree with you. The wedding is wearing on me, too.
             You are so funny about the size of the porta-loos. My sister and her husband live in a small Brooklyn apartment and she said the loos seemed bigger than their abode!

             I’m a major fan of weddings and am eager to see Pippa’s gown. I have to agree that I feel disconnected from Char and George, but I am eager to see them and their antics. If, indeed, any cute things crop up. I hope that not too much fear of God is put into them, as any sweet, typical toddler things would be so nice to see.

             What Kate will wear could be another snooze fest, but where there is life, there is hope.

             Oh, well. We shall see quite soon. Enjoy the wedding!!!!

       2. well Pipps has certainly been around the block more than a few times – but James ? He has a look that suggests that he would have liked the chance more often than it might have happened.

          1. Oz, so funny!

    2. I’m sorry (not really), but port-a-loos don’t scream wealth to me. I’d never use one. Which comes back to the fact that all this wedding hysteria is tacky and tasteless. Thanks to the desperation of Carole and Pips, the wedding, the Midds and by association the Matthews seem very coarse and needy to me.

       James Matthews was the last man standing after Pips pursued so many other more appealing men (according to her definition) than moderately rich James. Pips had no one else interested. So while they may possibly be nice people, they seem dull, dim, and clueless. How much more lovely and special and, yes aristocrat, to have had a small church wedding surrounded by close friends and family.

       1. The Middleton’s don’t do anything with a light touch, do they? All so try-hard. A country family wedding would have been ideal to our eyes, but I think Pips came to see it as a competition. Nor did she want to be denied another moment in the sun.

          Marriages are contracts first and foremost; as long as both Pippa and James know what they are want and what the other will deliver, it will probably work after a fashion.

          Like her sister, Pippa has been described as rude and uppity and like a heat missile in hunting down those she wants access to. I don’t find her in any way believable when she played they coy, country girl, ever so surprised at her instant fame after the W+K wedding. Like her mother, she’s one tough cookie. So yes, James was the last man standing. Maybe she was the last woman standing too.

          1. +1000

          2. Help me out here people. Wasn’t Harry interested? I saw him seemingly hitting on Pippa at W&K wedding, I could have been wrong but that’s how it seemed to me!! Or maybe they (Midds) could have figured that he wasn’t interested in settling down with anybody at that point so they didn’t pursue it?

             1. Harry’s always had a reputation as a player, whether the woman was single or not (a Windsor family trait). At the time of the Royal Wedding, Pippa was in a relationship with someone. There have been stories planted re. Pippa and Harry; if I recall he shut them down, firmly, and ordered one outlet to print a retraction. He most definitely was not interested. Had her two daughters married two princes, Carole would be on cloud nine. She would have moved heaven and earth to make it happen even if the possibility was remote.

       2. If they truly wanted a private family wedding they could have just as easily had it at any of his family’s properties. That would make it impossible for prying eyes to see deets. I don’t believe there is any great sentiment attached to this church other than it was offered and close to her family’s house.
          The wouldn’t have gotten a clear tent that was visible from the road. They wouldn’t have invited Harry and Meghan (who must have their own reasons for going) they wouldn’t have hired pr guru…. the lists go on. If anyone believes they don’t want the attention are clearly not paying attention.
          This wedding reeks of some deep seeded middle child issues

          1. +1. Middle-child issues writ large.

             There were any number of available solutions if privacy was the principal goal. I think there are CoE churches as close to Bucklebury but Englefield might be larger. At the Christmas service, St Marks was named as their family church though that seems a stretch since the Middleton’s are not known as churchgoers. That Kate was confirmed in the CoE only weeks before her wedding attests that religion is not a core family value (confirmation in the CoE is usually around 12 years of age, or thereabouts).

             From what I can gather, there is no public interest in the wedding but lots of public irritation in having it thrust down their throats. Just a paid infomercial by Pip’s PR. The Stephen Glover article calls Pippa (and family) out in ‘iron-fist-in-velvet-glove’ style. Likened to heavy-handed Russian oligarchs is not a flattering assessment if this article is being fed by establishment sources.

             1. Supposedly an anonymous wealthy Russian donated caviar. Vlad?

31. Indiana Joanna
    You are so right & I agree with you!

32. Umm, it’s been surprising quiet on the faux-royal wedding front today.

    1. Do you think the Glover article stunned them into silence?

       Jo Milloy PR’d the life out of this wedding but what was the point of it all? To make everyone aware of the wedding, or to change perceptions of Pippa for her future endeavours? Just perusing the comments these past days it seems the daily stories have angered people to the point where they now wish it will pour down. They seem to be jack of her. So, not good PR at all.

       1. Either that or they’ve perused the comment section of the many articles written about this wedding and that stunned them.

          Interesting observation you’ve made, what is the point of all this PR? Earlier in the year, it was written that Pippa was hoping to disappear after the wedding and lead a quiet life, maybe start a family but all this PR kinda contradicts. And a few articles make a point of saying that she’s a private citizen but what “private” citizen hires a PR person and runs daily stories about their wedding? Geez oh pete, if Brad and Angelina could keep their wedding a secret I don’t understand why Pippa couldn’t as well, if that’s truly what she wanted.

          I wonder what James and his family think of all this? Is it a shock to them? Did they have a clue as to the aspirations of the Middleton women?

          1. Uh-oh. You spoke too soon. The latest is the wedding will be Scottish-themed: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4520438/Pippa-s-wedding-going-Scottish-themed.html

             I think Pippa has hatched new plans to re-invent herself professionally. The PR for the wedding is over-the-top vanity and self-absorption but is meant to be a starter for whatever is going to happen for her next.

             God knows what the groom’s family make of it all. The Middleton’s would come as no surprise to them. Maybe they want the adjacent to royal adjacent connections too?

          2. Wow,what if he leaves her standing at the altar? Just a thought.
             I cannot imagine Pippa disappearing into private life after hiring a PR firm to make such a splash about the wedding. Maybe, the firm has put a freeze on much media to give us all a sense of withdrawal. Will make people insane for the actual event even more. Just a thought. I doubt it though. Just read about the Scottish theme of the day. My Scottish side of the family must be disgusted!
             I think the comments from the average person are showing the Midds that they are not as special as they thought. Hope there is no dark news on the day of the wedding. Just wishing the couple luck, but also hoping they take the cue and start living more private lives. So very sick of who the Midds think they are.

             1. ” Hope there is no dark news on the day of the wedding.”

                Well, there’s a good chance of rain in the afternoon. I’m hoping it happens (in retribution for their crassness and venality).

                You may be onto something there, jenny- suddenly withdraw all info and pap walks till the day of the wedding, build up the anticipation. Cuz everyone is so addicted to news of this wedding it will be like an org!sm. :rolls eyes:.

             2. Oh, Maven, I adore your comments!

                What will we all do when this wedding is over? Ah, thank God for Harry and Sparkles. Now, that will be a wedding!

    2. Well, I spoke to soon…

       http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4520438/Pippa-s-wedding-going-Scottish-themed.html

       1. Snap! See above…

       2. This article also mentions that Land Rover is donating vehicles to take guests to the church…I do not know whether to laugh or vomit. This whole wedding is beyond crass! It is like putting lipstick on a pig!

          1. If the Midds want to pay for an over-the-top wedding, then that’s their right. But this Land Rover deal shows they are using their royal connections to score extravagant freebies, which reflects poorly on the royals in general.

             1. Add to that the tons of beluga caviar donated by some mysterious ‘anonymous’ Russian. The Midds are going full blown cannibal on dining off their royal connections and they no longer care who sees it; they must be very sure that they have Willy in their back pocket 100% to be this blatant.

             2. This whole thing just has to blow up in their smug faces. One day, perhaps?

             3. The anonymous Russian is a creepy addition to an already bizarre, cartoonish wedding. Carole and Pips are certifiable.

       3. Ok, so Mary Elizabeth and I are going out on a limb and predicting a tarleton satin sash on Pippa’s gown. If not the actual Church one, the one she wears at night.

          Or, mabye, it’s the groom in tux, who will sport a cumberbun in his family’s plaid, or a bow tie. You heard it here!!!.

          I’m exhausted. I feel like I’m a family member who has been helping plan this wedding. I am sure the Midds will all need a holiday after the Big Day. Will and Kate, too.

          1. Good ones! Perhaps he’ll do a kilt, to look like titled old money. Man, we should have had a betting pool. It’s all actually possible considering her pretentiousness.

             Meanwhile, she’ll wear the Royal Order of the Wisteria.

             1. The Royal Order of Wisteria. Amazing idea.

                I think all these comments need to be put into a collection and sold a a savvy publishing house. KMR, you and all your commenters need to raise some well-deserved moolah!!!!

                I think James, may very well wear a kilt. If Mike Middleton does, too, I may lose it, though! I have the local emergency room on speed dial! My husband has been forewarned. The wedding day is to me what the Super Bowl is to him!

33. Maybe she’ll ride to/from church in a golden carriage like Kate, and let’s not forget the fireworks. Surely there will be fireworks. Sigh.

    1. Now we have to take bets on the headpiece- after all we’ve read, I’m betting on a tiara- bespoke, with acorns and skis. In return, they gave James his very own personalised s̶h̶a̶c̶k̶l̶e̶s̶ pinky ring to welcome him to the fam!

       1. Of course, she will wear a tiara. I agree, Maven. But, I am not as creative as you. Love your design! Last night my oldest was watching some report on television about the wedding and she asked me “Who is this Pipster, anyway?” She is still in awe of Prince Harry, so then she asked. “She’s not marrying Harry, is she? I want him to wait for me.” She’s 7 going on 8!

          1. Awww, mary elizabeth, you and your oldest are going to love chatting about it. I don’t think Harry is good enough for her, however. 🙂

             1. Hi, Maven. I know the girls will love talking about this wedding! My little one is excited about a Church wedding we will all be attending in July, but furious that she and her sister are not invited to the reception.

                Thanks for saying Harry may not be good enough for my girl. I have a soft spot in my heart for him and need to become a tad more realistic., I think.

                As for James in a kilt — excellent idea and I will place money on that.

                Just when we thought the media frenzy was on hiatus for the day, I just took a look at the Daily Mail and omg. As for the major rains expected, I have a question. Will guests have to walk far from the glass structure to the porta-loos? Who will hold umbrellas over their heads? In the case of Kate, I’m not counting on Will. Where’s Barack Obama when you need him?

                Or, perhaps, there is a special wing built into the glass “cage” where the loos will be placed?

    2. You were right about the carriage, Jen. Waiting with bated breath to see how much gold.

       1. Noooo if the carriage story is true, it’s just too much. They really are trying to make her royalty.
          Maybe they did buy the queen Victoria sapphire coronet ?back in Jan I asked what happened to it and they said there was a serious buyer interested =)

          1. Oh, Sarah, I wonder if they did buy that sapphire coronet. Between that and a horse drawn carriage, I am reeling.

    3. Ooh, Pips has trees (cherry blossoms)under the glass marquee. Kate had trees lining the Abbey. Snap!

       Security is insane- sniffer dogs, police, security workers, orchestrated, ‘accidentally’ reported upon. Security on the taxpayers’ dime. And yet Charles and the queen could attend weddings without any drama or fanfare.

       1. I was joking about the horse-drawn carriage! Why a Scottish theme? Wouldn’t you only have a Scottish-themed wedding if you were Scottish and your family deeply embedded into its history?

          I am repulsed with the blatant product placement in the DM – from Range Rover to SoHo (that place must dish out a lot of freebies to royal and royal adjacent like MM, Beatrice, Harry etc).

       2. Can we all take a moment and send good wishes to the people of Bucklebury who are being inconvenienced by Cirque Du Soleil: Middleton – The Wedding?

          Or have they all left town for the weekend?

       3. It’s pretty amazing how W&K make everything a total circus when the Queen can go to the Duke of Westminster’s daughter’s wedding without nearly so much fuss. Security checks and such of course but it’s not nearly such an attention whorey mess. Even when HM went to Leicester for Maundy Thursday it was not that crazy!

    4. Does anyone know the schedule or timeline for this “simple” famoily event? What time is the actual ceremony? And is there a wedding breakfast or is it a dinner after the church?

       1. Lizzie the wedding is at 11:30 am, followed by a canapé/champagne reception (this is all the church). Then guests go home to freshen up and change their outfit. They then will go to the Middleton home and the glass palace for the evening reception which can go late into the night (William and Kate’s did, so I am sure Pippa’s will too).

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