360 thoughts on “Prince William and Kate Middleton’s India and Bhutan tour itinerary released”

1. We will see how the trip will unfold, but I don’t see them interact with the locals (In my head I see the expression “akward moment in perspective ” flashing but I can be mistaken.
   I hope that they will not mock the traditional clothes or dance from the Indians and I hope that the travel by plane to go from a city to another city is not considered like an engagement.

   I think it’s funny that there is an event about Bollywood, when we know that William doesn’t even go to the BAFTAS.

   I repeat what I say on another post :

   Interesting sentence :” the Duke of Cambridge is of course aware of the huge esteem his mother, the late Princess of Wales is held in India and he appreciates the iconic status of the images that exist of The Princess at the Taj. ”
   These photos are seen like the symbol of the failure of the relationship of his parents, I’m not sure how he can love theses images.

   And I find disappointing (the word is maybe a little too strong but I don’t find an equivalent of “dommage ” in French, sorry for the digression), that they don’t take engagements separately

   1. Is ‘it’s a pity’ OK?
      Love French! 🙂

      1. Yes I saw that like traduction but with pity there is an idea of mercy and I don’t have compassion for Kate sorry…

      2. Quel dommage – that’s too bad

         1. Thanks for the traduction : I keep for the next time!

   2. “Quel dommage” would translate to “what a shame.” Which is true about so much of Kate and Will:).

2. It is getting very interesting. They are doing everything together. KP must be trying to stop the divorce/trouble in paradise discussion.

   As for the tour, I think Kate will try to PR her way to some positive media with her wardrobe. The more talk there is about clothing the better.

   1. I’m curious to see what she’ll wear at the visit in the water tank slum in Mumbai. I hope she’s not going to make a fool of herself.

      1. Chinos and a smart white shirt a la Diana at the land mines?

         1. Studying Diana’s pictures in similar settings may actually be Kate’s idea of preparing for the tour.

            1. Yeah I wanted to write that : it will be interesting to see if Kate wears similar clothes of Diana during the tour.

            2. Studying Diana and perhaps looking at google maps . . .

         2. Maybe the jeggings and the wedges of doom will make another appearance.

            1. Rhiannon, please not the wedges of doom, anything but that. It is bad enough that she will be flashing big blue the entire time that she is there.

            2. I hope that I didn’t speak them into existence.

            3. And there was me hoping that Lupo had managed to get away with destroying the wedges of doom
               🙁

            4. Noooooooo!

   2. Is that all there is to this woman? Her clothes? That’s just sad… No substance at all.

      1. Of course. I find her better to look at than trying to listen what the heck she’s talking.

      2. Miss K, get some sleep! You work so hard.

         I am not that interested in what Kate will be wearing, but if KP wants the sugar press to write about the tour, Kate’s clothes may be W&K only hope. Substance? I give up.

      3. Actually story about her clothes would be quite interesting this time. What she will wear in the slum? Anything cheap could give her rashes, and anything expensive would get people to throw tomatoes at her. I am personally eager to see what she will do in this case, would she bear the itchy feeling of wearing something less than 100USD, or would she be thick headed enough to push for self-comfort.

         I normally could care less about her clothes, everything she wears looks the same to me. But what she wears this time, when facing the slum, will show us the real Kate.

         Besides, I am eager to see her touching or hugging children living in the slum. Whether they would be genuinely those who live there, or whether it is staged, whether the children are forced to groom themselves and clean up first before letting Kate touch them, and of course… that concerned look. Whether this time it is the fake concerned look, or whether it is genuine, or if perhaps we would get to see something else mixed in between the acts. This trip can be full of surprises, and somehow quite a minefield for Kate and Will. Can’t wait to see.

         I am just hoping Wedges of Doom and skin-tight jeans would never appear ever again.

         1. I bet my brand new Gucci pumps that she will not let the kids touch her. Or if she does, she will have a “shield” – arm, purse, flowers.

            1. She has not the talent of great hugs of Harry

            2. Oh cool, new Guccis?
               I hope you enjoy wearing them 🙂

               As for kate letting anyone touch her? I don’t think so!

            3. I think many people have shoe envy. Congrats! I hope Harry likes them.

               I can’t picture Kate wanting anyone to touch her. Remember when Lebron James put his arm around Kate? The Duchess let the world know it was not the done thing.

         2. This is probably the stupidest question to ask:

            Why does no one like Kate wearing skinny jeans? Is it because they expect more refinement of a princess? Can Sophie Wessex get away with skinny jeans?

            Never understood the bother.

            1. Imo, if she’s on any type of official business, no skinny jeans. If she’s on personal time, you go girl! I live in them, myself, and would even if I lived in a fish bowl. I find them comfy, they go with everything and you can dress them up or down.

            2. For me personally, I have no problem with her wearing skinny jeans. I have a problem with the skin tight-you can see everything-variety. She wears ones that look like they were spray-painted on. If she just wore normal skinny jeans I actually think they would look nice. I have seen photos pre-wedding where she is wearing more normal looking skinny jeans. But now it seems like she wants to show how small she is by wearing too tight jeans. That is my problem with them 🙂

            3. Kate will only be hugging her crotch as usual, not children. I don’t think her arms even bend at her elbows, I pretty sure they are made of plastic or wax.

            4. I agree with Ray and Overit.
               What Kate wears on her personal time is entirely her business and we have no right to be offended. When ‘at work’, well, rules apply to all of us.
               You raise an interesting question; from my perspective, I see a woman who constantly needs to sexualise herself. This is where she sees her value. For her that means making herself incredibly thin, and in the job, wearing very tightly fitted clothes, sometimes too short given the event, and in some instances, alerting the world that on occasion she wears no knickers. It detracts from her engagements as well as sends a poor message to, and about, what contemporary women can offer the world beyond a booty call. Kate’s seeming difficulty in establishing good relationships with women beyond her mother and sister also plays into this mindset of competing for mens’ attention.

            5. Thanks!

               That makes much more sense to me, as I guess I’ve never thought of their casual engagements as work…but you’re right, she’s at work.

               Thinking back to some outfits (in particular her playing volleyball in wedges), those were some insanely tight pants. I never thought too much of it back then because this was immediately post wedding, and she seemed to care about her duties at that point.

            6. But I also agree to your point Jen. I’m very tired of her flashing in public, and I never thought to think of it as her over sexualizing herself.

               I never thought to lump the skinny jeans in the same category as her flashing her booty, but when you put it that way these are all inappropriate work outfit choices.

               Thanks everyone for the clarification!

            7. I also think that the skinny jeans should be relegated to be worn on her own time and not during work, which is any and all engagements that represent the British Royal Family. As far as Kate’s, I swear she wears ones that are a size too small which is why we can see every groove and outline. It’s pathetic.

         3. Kate wouldn’t sample the peanut paste in Denmark, she’s not letting the kids from a slum touch her unless William issues and order and/or Jason bribes her in some incredible way. And if she does it is going to be either incredibly awkward (as usual) or so overly maudlin we will gag from the level of thickness she will be laying on the moment.

            1. I think that the skinny jeans/ flashing her bum were in the early stages. We really haven’t seen that in a while since the Australian/NZ tour when she lengthened her hem lines. I honestly don’t think she over sexualizes herself since she had George. Honestly, even before that I really think she was new in her role and just dressing like a woman in her early thirties.

      4. She could show some substance if she used clothing as a way to reflect appreciation for the different cultural traditions and histories of the countries she is visiting. That will would, however, require preparation and thought.

      5. Of course big blue will be flashing. This woman has no compassion for anyone but herself.she got what she wanted now dance to the music .

         1. Don’t forget her bejewelled earrings. She’s never without them no matter what the scenario.

   3. Do you think they are doing everything together because she has some bad anxiety lately? She may not be able to handle things on her own right now..

      Or- Some people have suggested that Kate may pull out all together or maybe even have ‘exhaustion’ on some days. So, having joint engagements set up makes it easier if Kate does pull something. If she had solo engagements, KP would have more trouble rearranging things. Just a thought?

      1. Her anxiety is out of control. She says sh has a relationship with her Majesty that is wam and caring but can’t even speak about her an interview without voice shaking.

         1. Is it anxiety or nerves or lack of prep for the interview? I can understand all three being present, but a way to overcome these is prepare, prepare, prepare.

            1. Anxiety can be managed but it can also be paralyzing if not managed. I suspect that she is not getting help and is in paralyzed mode, and esp with mounting expectations and criticisms. My 11 year old did not tell me about a big project she was supposed to work on over spring break (yes, going for mother of the year over here). As we crammed to get it done, I realized that she avoided it because it made her anxious and she did not know how to ask for help because she did not know where to begin.

               Seems like a parallel to what we are seeing with K.

            2. I can definitely understand procrastination due to being overwhelmed by the project, so nothing gets done and anxiety builds and builds. In Kate’s case, we don’t know what’s going on and whether she has sought help with her engagements, or medical care of some sort. You would hope that someone around Kate would help or direct her to help. But of course, she would have to be willing.
               I hope your daughter got her project in on time!

            3. It doesn’t seem like she has any one around her. All the resources at hand and she is spiraling. She is a grown up and should figure out a way to pull herself up, but you are right – we have no idea what goes on behind closed doors.

               We got the project done! It was a good bonding experience and lots of lessons learned on her end. I did have to take away one of her electronic gadgets. . . Consequences, even if it kills me!

            4. Like she can’t get her hands on valium, ativan, beta-blockers, other anxiolytics, even valerian? Pshaw. She’s anxious because something is demanded of her and she didn’t expect that. And the lazy git is always unprepared; like Willy, she finds it all too absurd for the posh, entitled likes of them. He is a Prince and she is a Princess. So don’t expect anything from them except the fragrant grace of their presence anointing you all when they feel like it.

            5. Hilarious Maven. Meds help to calm and focus you. You still have to do the work and usually the more prep you do the less anxiety you have.

               I cannot wrap my head around her lack of energy and curiosity. It is mind numbing. Maybe she is just not that smart.

               Pshaw. Love it

            6. Look back at the video of Mary getting out of the car and walking in for the dinner held before the day of the wedding. She walked with style and grace. Wasn’t Mary about the same age as Kate? Wasn’t she in her early 30’s?

               Anyway, Mary was in a country half the way around the world from where she grew up, learning a new language and finding her place in the royal family. Why is it Kate keeps flunking out of the first grade?

               Everyone keeps telling Kate to prepare, but she continues to wing it with unimpressive results. It is difficult for me to feel sympathy for a grown woman who refuses to put one foot in front of the other.

               Thank goodness we will soon have rhiannon showing Kate how to take one Gucci step forward. Someone has to save her.

            7. I think Kate wings it because that is what William does.

            8. In think it is both anxiety and lack of preparation. I really like Kate and had high hopes for her, but she is not a natural fit for this position. She is going to have to work REALLY hard if she wants to succeed, and unfortunately (as everyone has said), the work ethic is not there right now.

      2. I was thinking the same thing Overit. I have a feeling that she will pull out of some of the not so glamorous engagements, The Dinners she will be fine at and she won’t miss the photo Opp at the Taj Mahal.

      3. They gave her four tries to get the Diana question right in the engagement interview, they would have been lenient in this one too. Whatever we saw was the best that was on offer.

         She has shown she is unwilling to put in the time to prepare. One of her PSAs was filmed in less than an hour. We know that because she went to the charity location to film it. Fans said it was an hour-long visit. Instead it was an hour of trying to get her to say 5 minutes worth of text. That is how little time and prep she puts into things. I don’t think it is anxiety, it is another sign of her laziness just as William’s rambling answers are.

         Jenndog, I don’t think they have a close relationship. They are never seen together, not like HM and Sophie. HM is being nice to the new member of the firm, who is the laziest person she’s ever met, in the hopes that one day KM will work.

         1. 4 tries for one question??? I had never heard that. Where did you find that out? It makes me wonder how many times they asked the other questions. That just shows that this is the best of the worst. And they were not even hard questions. I wish they had out-takes 🙂

            1. Overit:don’t know if interview is still up, so much has now been scrubbed from yhe internet, but tom brady, the journalist who interviewed them for the engagement wrote an article for the telegraph,iirc, about the behind the scenes of the interview, and he didn’t hold back. He revealed the multiple takes each question needed, how mostbof Kate’s answers were fed to her by the production team including the one about Diana. It still amazes me that even being fed the answer, and with 4 takes, she was incoherent with that one answer, nevermind the rest.

            2. Thanks Herazeus. I couldn’t find it :(. I did however, find a ton about the New England QB by the same name. Sadly most of my searches came up with him and not the journalist. I’m surprised he was the truthful since he was hand picked by William for the interview.

         2. I agree, it’ s not anxiey, it’ s lazyness: anxiety can be won by being prepared and studying a lot. I’ m quite anxious and all I do to overcome it is being very very very prepared. Instead she’ s too lazy to improve herself. 5 years have gone by and she hasn’ t improved at all; that’ s not being anxious since she didn’ timprove herself at all this is being bone idle like she is

            1. Yes, preparation is essential. But, many people with severe anxiety cannot even get over their fright and prepare. That’s why help is essential. Someone to hold her hand until she is more comfortable taking things on herself.

               I also suffer from anxiety, but what helped me considerably was studying acting in college. When I was playing a part, I did not have to worry. I was someone else. However, overcoming stagefright is another thing. It can be done, but it takes dedication and work.

               I have found ways to be comfortable in “scary” situations over the years and mostly it is thanks to preparing myself for anything that may be thrown my way.

               All the talk about medications in an above comment made me a bit nervous. Yes, in extreme cases, a prescription can help, but so can talk therapy. So, does meditation Exercise and the willingness to work with people who understand when you need a slight push is great, too. I wish Kate would seek assistance . She seems to need it.

   4. At this stage of the dynamic lazy duo, clothes wont matter unless flashing and ‘unbecoming’ representing the BRF, otherwise it’s all about substance, considering King Henry’s serious and valuable Nepal Tour.

   5. I’ve seen a lot of comments on other sites about her possibly bailing. It does seem that she is playing up to the press that she will miss her children so much in the 6 days she will be gone. Granted, that’s true of any mom, I’m sure. But personally, I think there is something very off between her and William and she might be looking to spend as little time with him as possible. I don’t think she will bail but I do think this will be a miserable trip for them both, not because they’ll be away from their children but because they will be together every moment of the trip.

3. I just want to ask one question regarding the tour details..when w&k visit some country,why the details like date ,place and time are mentioned? They dont really feel any security threat?..
   Since IPL is starting from 11th april, i feel there surprise might be watching any match live there as this country is mad about cricket and that event is considered as one of the biggest events in cricket.

   One pic will be released on charlotte’s birthday i guess.
   That’s what the do always..releasing old pictures….

   1. Good catch about the security threat considering that’s why they claim they can’t announce certain British visits in advance, William’s trip to Kenya, etc.

4. They appear to be doing a bit more on this tour than the other, but these are some fairly lightweight engagements. I wonder if the hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery was created after Harry’s hike in Nepal. (“If Harry can take a hike, so can we!”)

   I just finished watching the special on HM’s 90th birthday. I was down more than up these past few days and couldn’t deal with it in it’s entirety until now. I’m more than a bit underwhelmed, disgusted, disappointed by the Cambridge duo. Between Kate’s mumbling and looking down, around, sometimes at the camera while talking about how she’s been taken care of and William’s attempts to be kind of humorous while basically saying (IMHO) that it’s all fun and games to him and he’s not doing anything like she does if he gets to the throne I’m finding myself beyond annoyed with these two.

   This tour could have some very comical moments. There are going to be quite a few wreath laying moments, I hope Kate has gotten past the grinning at memorials thing.

   I hope Jason enjoyed his trip to Nepal with Harry because he’s going to be working overtime on the India/Bhutan tour. I wish him luck!

   1. They’re going hiking a few times, walking across a court yard, lighting a candle, looking at an archery venue. You’re right there is a lot of lightweight masquerading as engagements.

      KMR, any news about where they’re staying regarding the national park? It appears they’ll be there overnight. Another fancy resort they’ll shut down like they did in NZ? There are some seriously high-end resorts in both India and Bhutan to lure tourists.

      1. They’re doing touristy things again. At the charities and slums they will be “learning” and looking concerned. Nothing will demanded of them and they will contribute nothing. Lots of puff and fluff and fabulous photo ops again even though the subject matter is grave.

         Love how they get to be spectators at a cricket match! But, of course! That’s practically a whole day right there.

         1. Kate will be bored after 10 minutes. Don’t think she knows the rules.

   2. I agree this tour seems more lightweight. Compared also with Harry’s, it has more wreath-layings, touristic visits and fun opportunities so that the couple will look in their element and therefore help boost their PR status. It seems to me that both W&K have invested a lot in this tour to regain some lost ground.
      Maybe that’s why both of them seemed to not give a toss about the criticism and its effect on their image so far into this year. I can even picture William reassuring Kate: ‘wait until we go on the tour’, as if they will become a global sensation once they set foot outside UK.

5. I am a Diana fan (Dianamaniac if you like!) but I wish William would let her rest in peace. He seems to use her the same way he complains that the Grey Men used her. I would say to William – either stand on your own two feet without invoking her name and reputation, or stop & wonder why you haven’t emulated the same response from the public. Just stop using her.

   1. Yes, I agree. It is disturbing to see William constantly refer to his mother. Is it to bathe in her reflected glory since he has created none of his own, or is he determined to invoke Diana’s name in the conversation because he wants her to be here? We all understand the latter, grief is always with us though we tend to visit it more privately as time progresses. To use the well-worn Diana phrase, there are three people in his marriage too.
      William should leave the Taj Mahal well alone. Whatever photos taken there will be compared to the iconic Diana image; nothing good can come of it.

      1. *”To use the well-worn Diana phrase, there are three people in his marriage too.”*

         Jen, mic drop!! +1,000,000

      2. 4 if you count ma middleton

         1. +1 love it!

            1. 6, including Pippa and James:)

            2. 7 if you include Jecca

      3. Will has to grasp at straws. If it weren’t for Diana, he would be reviled. I see that the public would view him as they view Andrew. He is just an empty shell of a person. No personality. No independent views. Nothing.

   2. I honestly think Diana is the reason they picked mental health for children as a focus. Her childhood was rittled with instability and she spent alot of time alone with little support when her mother left. When her parents were married it was constant chaos…fast forward to Diana adult life with her inability to cope with life’s challenges i.e, suicide attempts and eating disorders….lean on William and Harry for emotional support as children. I loved Diana and she did become an exemplary woman but there is no denying that she was unstable due to her lack of mental health support as a child and young adult, this is sad to me. I think William is behind all the mental health engagements, not kate. Kate doesn’t have a deep thought in her soul.

   3. I must be missing something…When was the last time William mentioned Diana?

      1. His PR team did, here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-william/12206489/Prince-William-cant-wait-to-visit-Taj-Mahal-where-Dianas-memory-is-kept-alive.html

         1. And, they continue to play the Diana card. This week’s cover story for PEOPLE Mag in the US is pointing out Princess Kate is Following in Princess Diana’s Footsteps. Only snippets of the article are available online and I could not bear to buy it, but it does point out how proud Diana would be of how Kate is raising the children.

            Ugh. Even Rose Monkton (spelling?), a close friend of Diana’s thinks the late Princess would approve of Kate. Really? Come on. Jason and Co. must have been stroking the good folk at PEOPLE for quite some time.

            1. Wow. I wonder how much Jason had to pay to get Rose to say that. I just can’t imagine that Diana’s friends/family or the RF truly think W&K are doing well and are great royals.

            2. I doubt very much that Rose said that at this time. She gave alot of similar quotes at the time of the wedding, and people is simply regurgitating them for this article.

               Any time Diana’s personal friends give a new interview to the media, it is headline news. I’m talking BBC newsheadline and quotes extrapolated to articles across uk press. Unless you happen to read people, you wouldn’t know this article exists or that ‘Rose’had given ‘quotes’.

               Print media are notorious for recycling quotes from one interview into another to make it look like new.

            3. Check your local library if you want to read it without buying it. Libraries usually have free copies of magazines that users can check out. That’s what I usually do.

            4. I actually have the People magazine-due to a subscription. It is pretty nauseating. It is really weak in comparing them. Like, putting the kids into a real school and not home-schooled. Having a photo taken in front of Uluru rock. Being fashion icons. Stuff like that. I don’t think Diana would like Kate and there are no comparisons between the two.

            5. Thanks, Cherry. I just meant I could not bear to buy it and read the entire sugary article. I know I would feel ill after finishing it.

6. It looks promising, with conservation taking a spotlight, and Kate and William do sporty stuff they like such as cricket (I assume one of the surprises is they will try their hand at it?) and hiking. Hopefully Kate can add a wow factor to the Bollywood reception. I thought her Los Angeles BAFTA event was quite nice; I would like to see her back on top form, and I’m hoping India will finally be the place. Goodness knows, India is colorful and the silk is amazing so she certainly has no excuse not to be bold. Since they’ve really highlighted how they needed to prepare for this trip, they ought to deliver, otherwise the press will not be kind. The photo shoot story is an example of that. It could have been framed as a sweet story, instead it uses words like hijacked…yikes. If we’re lucky, Harry’s successful tour of Nepal will get some friendly brotherly competition going, and William will be eager for some positive press.

   1. Assuming “one of the surprises is they will try their hand at [cricket]”–I predict yet another running/jumping in wedges moment.

      1. Didn’t they already do that with Kate in the red suit and heels while William pitched at her? Didn’t he nearly hit her with a pitch? The press got a lot of funny faces out of Kate for that one. Expect her to be in a dress/suit and heels, whatever is inappropriate for sports at the time.

         1. I remember that. If I were her, I would have slapped him. I could imagine him laughing at the incident.

      2. IPL is serious money making sport I do hope Kate doesn’t make an idiot of herself. Maybe she can discuss the LBW rules with the umpires? ( ok now I’ve lost all American and Canadian and Brazilian commenters, but the commonwealth ones will know what I’m talking about!!) .

         1. Surely Kate would be bowling, rubbing the ball against her crotch to get good spin? Non-cricket country folk: you’ll have to look that up!

   2. I wouldn’t read too much into their tour prep. They always make a song and dance of their tour preparations, and refuse to work because of it. We can all see the underwhelming results.

      1. In the past, their “tour prep” involved sunbathing in France…

         1. You forgot the word ‘naked’

         2. Not only naked sunbathing on that balcony either.

            1. What else? I’m confused, lol

            2. Something I read on LoveLolaHeart: Kate kneeling in front of William on that balcony. Guessing there were pics, not published, to go with the other ones. Apologies for lowering the tone.

7. So, they’re going and they’ll pull off multiple events in a day.
   Will anything be accomplished? This just feels like all PR. At least when Harry goes things get done. WK spend under an average at best and no one can say theirpresence made a difference for the better.

   I speculate they will feel this is a very draining time for them. Especially after Kate let it be known the Queen’s Jubilee schedule was too hectic for her. And William has made it known he finds everything royal to be a massive bore.
   If they did something with an impact. Something that their star power and exposure brought to the table to actually help some of these worthy causes. she they care enough to dedicate a few hours of their entire lives into making many others improved. Too much?
   Yea… I’m a grump today.

   1. A good news : Crown Princess Victoria is back tomorrow, she attends a lecture by UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon tomorrow.

      1. Getting things done. And not long after her son is born. I like her.

      2. I am not surprised. About a month after the birth of her son. She is such a good example. Why can’t Kate pay attention?

      3. Maybe she will bring Oscar and Estelle:)

   2. Yes, it is PR. That is their job and it looks like they have a lot on their plate.

      1. One would hope that any official tour has more depth and import attached to it than being merely an expensive PR vehicle for a royal family member. Or in the case of the Cambridge’s, a rehabilitation exercise. They do have many engagements though a good number are on the lighter side, a trademark of their tours. Let’s hope the couple is well prepared, and that the duration of engagements is longer than the mere 20-35 minute crumbs tossed to UK citizens of late.

8. Kate has two expressions while on engagements 1. Dog with head out the window while driving(happy) 2.walking to the guillotine(sad) ….wax figure kate.on another note… I don’t know which spouse was dealt a bad hand in this relationship. William used to have a chiseled jaw line and broad shoulders, and a personality, seriously, what happened there? Kate used to be a real person, from what I could see before she married William. Is he really so controlling that he could black out the sun like that? It will be interesting to see how dramatically thier marriage changes over the next few years, or just for this tour. In all honesty, I really want thier marriage to survive. It would be sad if they in fact, divorced. I don’t begrudge anyone that would feel happiness in light of divorce news. I really wish them a happy and long marriage, but I don’t think they will stay married. I may be wrong, but I get a divorce vibe. Am I the only one?

   1. No, you’re not. Truly things are not the same as before they tied the knot as there may be trouble in paradise and these two probably spend a lot of time apart doing separate things, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re heading for divorce. It will be interesting to see the ‘feel’ of the picture they’ll take in front of Taj Mahal.

   2. Is it that things have changed or is it simply that W+K are not the fairytale sold to us? After 5 years and lots of public goodwill and positively constructed PR, the pair have not performed to expectations. It’s hard to be what you’re not, especially when under such scrutiny.
      They are well-suited in terms of selfishness etc but don’t bring out the best in each other. Unless William wants to re-marry, I’d say they’ll chug along and be discreet about their lives. If they spend a lot of time apart, perhaps that’s a dynamic that works for them.

      1. I always thought it was unkind to speculate about a relationship, but I started to make comments at KMR in the last few weeks about W&K and the state of their marriage.

         I feel as you do about W&K. They do not bring out the best in each other. If the fairy tale is fading, it is because the two of them have made poor choices and that is why people are starting to talk.

      2. I never really felt the divorce vibe until recently. Some media speculation states that William left for Jecca’s wedding with a resentful and angry Kate left at home to “carry on” with the children on Easter. I honestly think kate could give two sh**s about what William does. Maybe she welcomed his absence and packed her bags gladly to spend time with the Midds. We all know she would spend everyday with mom and sis if she could. I honestly think William has grown tired of the Midds and Kate gladly pushed him to go with a “don’t let the door hit you in the behind on the way out” mentality. I used to be in a relationship way way back, where I felt this way. Luckily, I’m happily married for 7 years….but I think kate is tired of William and I think William is tired of the Middleton’s.

         1. I think that the only way that they would divorce is if Big Willie instigated it. Kate is not called limpet for nothing and she will cling on to get the big prize of being Queen. If Big Willie doesn’t start the proceedings then she will be crowned alongside him when the time comes.

         2. I’m sure they are all tired of each other. But who can see inside anyone’s relationship?
            They clearly do their own thing to some extent, spending considerable time apart. Maybe that works for them? The wedding invite to Africa would have been sent months ago. Kate would have known for over a decade that Jecca was a great friend of longstanding. To be jealous or insecure, if the case, speaks to Kate’s problem with women around her age. She sees them as competitors. Time for both W+K to pull up their big boy and big girl pants and grow up.

         3. Kate will nevvvvvvver be tired of Will.
            Will has tired after George.

            1. I’m with you, Fiona. Kate will *never* leave William. Snagging him was the only real job she ever had, her true career, her raison d’etre. They’re not prying him out of her hands with the Jaws of Life.

               (Not that he is some innocent victim, mind you.)

         4. @Jenndog
            I’ve felt the divorce vibe for quite some time. Kate had altered the way she is so she could catch William and I’ve noticed the girls/ women who do this will revert to who they really are eventually and then they really resent the man they are with.

            Even though it was their choice to chase the guy in the first place.

            Kate is stuck though if her mother still wants the kudos of having a daughter in the British Royal Family.

            Unfortunately I just feel that Kate isn’t up to the job of being Princess of Wales and eventually Queen Consort. She isn’t learning from HM and seems unable to learn from any of her Royal peers either. She appears to not be able to hold a conversation for long, can’t give speeches, seems unable to remember to mention the charity/ organisation she is visiting.

            I’ve often thought that Kate seems to have an air about her when at engagements of “it’s all about me”. That impression was reinforced by the recent documentary too. For example, the visit to Leicester was for the Queen, not Kate, but Kate had a moment and the Queen needed to reassure her? If Kate couldn’t cope then she shouldn’t go on these engagements. The Royal Family will let members retire from public life if they find they can’t cope, look at the Duchess of Kent.

            I feel that the two of them bring out the worst in each other. If married to someone else Kate could have had her life with her family off in the country and William, hopefully, would have married someone with a bit more pizzazz. who could have pulled him out of the bad moods or talked him out of the ill advised PR moves.

            1. @cathy, I looooved your reply. Especially the part about the Royal Family letting those who cannot copra retire from public life…with the exception of Kate’s short upcoming tour, it seems she is already well on her way to retirement. It makes perfect sense that she would dissappear for long periods of time, almost like a trail separation from public life. I always thought that it might be Charles’ camp putting the bad PR on the Cambridge in order to prop Camilla and him up to appear more likable and capable to be King by comparison….I could see Will and Kate to be more than excepting of this arrangement due to thier hatred of Royal life….just a theory, but so much goes on behind closed doors, this with Charles and Camilla ready to take the crown any day now, seems to make the most sense to me. I’m sure others have thier theories and opinions as well

            2. Spot on Cathy and Jenndog.
               I don’t think either of them cope with criticism well so if they have been told that people don’t think they are performing well… oh dear.
               They are not a couple that fit well together, at least these days.

            3. William is supposed to be learning from the Queen and Charles. She is supposed to be learning from Philip and Camilla, not the Queen. KM isn’t the future queen, she’s the future Consort.

            4. That’s a very good point, notasugarhere.

            5. Oh, I appreciated all you said, Cathy. William marrying somoene with a bit more pizzazz, would have been such a difference. A woman with a strong work ethic, too.

               Should this couple divorce, I am certain Carole would finagle the perfect conditions that would keep Kate somehow aligned with the Royals. After all, she did give them another heir and spare.

               The entire situation is rather dismal. I doubt very much that Kate will ever grow and be able to hold her own anywhere, let alone in the Royal Family.

               She is a very tragic person, imo. Not able to cut the apron springs, not able to stand on her own. I think she does have the ability to get what she wants from William, but if he is not already tired of her, don’t you think he’s getting to that point?
               He does seem to love his children, though.

               Sad situation all the way around.

               Oh, and the more I think about it, the more I see her taking a page out of Princess Diana’s book when she travels to India. The comment suggesting she wear the khakis and white shirt, was right on target. I can just see it. Oh, and her hair back in a pony tail, too. Will Big Blue be on display?

      3. Exactly Jen, the pair have not performed to expectations. I myself was a big fan of Kate, and now, My God, what a disappointment. This tour will be hard to see. And the Taj Mahal photo, oh my, they should REALLY let Diana rest in peace.

9. Odds on KP releasing her “family snaps” at the same time as BP releases the Annie Leibovitz portraits? Because you know, Kate Middleton is such an artist and talented photographer she had to insert herself into Leibovitz photoshoot and make it her own.

   I’d love to hear what Leibovitz thought.

   1. I can’t believe she had the nerve to pull out her camera and take the photos. I think they will come out around Charlotte’s first birthday. Got to have something for the masses that will tug at the heart strings and make us think they are so very connected to HM!

      1. Also, professional lighting etc will have been set up for the photo shoot – huge amount of work – so Kate can piggyback off others’ talents.

      2. I agree with you. It’s a wee insulting to do that. My nephew is a stylist. He has worked with some of the heavyweights (Demarchelier). He said that they normally frown upon that. Some stars will ask one of the photographer’s assistants to snap the pics for the person and send them.

         1. I said somewhere else in this post that maybe Kate was there to calm the children should they become unsettled, but she would have been wiser to sit quietly and observe, dilettante and amateur that she is. AL might have just had to put up with it, but again to be fair, and because we don’t know, maybe Kate had set up such a favour prior?
            As others have said, I hope all the great grandchildren were photographed together with the Queen; that would be lovely pic to be sure.

            1. Was Maria there?

            2. “maybe Kate had set up such a favour prior?”

               I doubt someone of AL’s caliber is going to put up with this willingly. I’ll bet people try to pull this stunt all the time during her photoshoots and she shuts it down. It is someone stealing her art platform and her and her team’s hard work. This time, given all the bad press around an earlier photoshoot with the Queen, she probably just gritted her teeth.

            3. You’re most likely right. My gut feeling was that Kate would have used her exalted status to take advantage, but maybe she had the manners to ask. Oh, what was I thinking!
               Can’t stand when people use their influence to intrude.

         2. @Rhiannon
            I’m sure your nephew must have some interesting stories to tell 🙂

   2. Kate would have to have one humongous ego to release her snaps alongside those of Annie Leibovitz. Oh wait, she does.

      1. I wouldn’t be surprised if she released them ahead of the Queen’s official pictures. If she does, I hope the press tears her apart.

      2. Hi Jen
         You have captured my thoughts exactly!

         (I cringed when I read Kate had done that!)

         And Annie Leibovitz has children so I’m sure she would know how to settle them if they were upset.

         IMO it was Kate wanting to grandstand, nothing more.
         #itsallaboutkate

         1. Kate is a fame whore when all is said and done.

         2. She just happened to have her camera with her? Gee what a surprise. This isn’t a couple of cell phone snaps which is bad enough. She was planning on doing this all along which makes it worse.

            1. I’m sure KP will issue a statement once the rumbles over this stunt start registering on the Richter scale.” AL asked Kate to bring her camera. Being that Kate is an amateur shutterbug and a huuuuge fan of her work, she graciously offered to let her shadow the sitting and pick up some tips. And take some pictures of her own. It was a wonderful day and everyone was just so pleased and happy with everything.” You know, something along those lines. If the Camb kids weren’t the only ones present for this photo shoot, I hope Kate took care to include all family members present in her portfolio.

            2. Testino set the record straight about how KM was never going to work with him, that was only a fan rumor. I hope AL would do something similar and admit that KM’s behavior was inappropriate.

            3. Yep, that sounds about right. PR mopping up unnecessary mess.
               I really do believe that Kate is delusional. No anxiety there, baby.

   3. It would be nice if the Queen included her other great-grandchildren (Zara’s and Peter’s daughters) in these photos, and not just let it be about the Cambridges. In the documentary for the Queen’s birthday, it really annoyed me how Kate talked about Charlotte’s birth as if she was the first great-granddaughter for the Queen, when actually she is the fourth.

      1. Agree with you!

      2. It is because her children are the extra special ones.

         1. I agree Savannah is the eldest isn’t she, Isla, and Mia are the Queen’s great grand-daughters too. It was a thoughtless comment to make by Kate. I wonder if Carole told her to say that. George is the only boy and a grumpy one at that. I am not keen that they are visiting the Taj Mahal.

10. I really hope they don’t try to recreate Diana’s iconic photo in front of the Taj Mahal. I don’t believe either of them measure up to Diana’s courage, humility and compassion.

    1. +1

11. Their tour itineraries always read like a child wore them about some tourist brochure for a third grade project. No substance, just silly buzzwords. What will this tour accomplish? Nothing.

12. Their guided tour brochure on the PofW site shows they already left for India.

    “They will fly overnight from the UK on Saturday 9 March on a scheduled flight, arriving in Mumbai the next morning. ‘

    So who’s been doing all those engagements?

    1. That’s a typo. They meant April. The rest of the press release says April. William and Kate clearly didn’t leave for India on March 9 since they’ve had engagements in London since then.

       1. Can I add that an experienced PR team would never had let that typo go through? It’s even on their website. Those small things look bad.

          1. So true. Jason Knauf and his crew just aren’t used to anything longer than a tweet.

             1. So true. It looks unprofessional. You would have thought that it would have been fixed by now. Nope. Still there.

          2. And that was the point of my post. You hire people who are better than you are checking the fine details of your public life. The D&D of Cam have inept staff. Their staff often seem as though they are in over their heads as if they have no one to check with when they are uncertain of the proper approach to a question or problem. If it were me, I’d be on the phone to Clarence House asking for direction, recording it and then putting it in a handbook for later reference. But the Cam staff — it’s ‘whatever’ and get the pretties home on time. Their staff’s errors would make them unemployed in any corporate position. Too bad HM’s or PC’s staff doesn’t take the time and trouble to fix this. Or maybe they are enjoying the missteps of the stupid couple.

             1. You are so right. At my company, we have coworkers check our work before it goes to the my boss. Boss checks it again and then it’s rechecked and goes live. Your professionalism is called into question with issues like this. Heck, I am more qualified to work for the Cambridge’s than these hacks.

             2. This isn’t the first time a press release has gone out with the wrong date.

                This is also not the first time a note from KP has gone out with simple mistakes. One of Kate’s annual patron note on one of her charities’ website is very obviously cut/pasted from the same letter year to year. To extent that it doesn’t make any sense because the new letter in successive years isn’t edited to reflect the new year’s events. Ditto letters to fans/children, thank you notes.

                KP don’t have or hire anyone with basic office skills in terms of note/letter writing. The fact that they keep making the same fundamental mistake means they don’t care.

             3. I saw on Gert’s Royals that for the thank you card sent out for the cards and letters that came in for Kate’s birthday, they used a photo/card which was three years old and had already been used before. KP is just so damn lazy. They clearly don’t care at all.

          3. There is/was a mention of a monument made from “standstone”. It’s unacceptable. And confusing, since I, myself just had to override autocorrect to type it.

             1. I’m still shocked yhey send out a postcard as their thank you note. I don’t think it’s signed. Instead it has a printed message on one side and a pic from their asian tour.

                I once knew a lady who was a dresser for one of the older royal ladies who told me that all the royals took time out to write out thank you notes, christmas cards etc. WK are too lazy to do that, but it surprises me because that is one of yhe things drilled into you at public school. We also know that Diana was militant about her handwritten thank you notes.

                That said, every so often, a handwritten thank you note from a young Harry pops up, but none has ever popped up from William.

             2. Geez, so they employ people as stupid and lazy as themselves. There’s just no hope.

       2. I’ve seen typos in KP’s instagrams as well eg

          https://www.instagram.com/p/BDSsJBNqZE-/?taken-by=kensingtonroyal&hl=en

          “Taking in the sunrise over the Hamalayas, where Prince Harry stayed overnight with a local Gurkha family in a remote village high in the hills.”

          *cough, cough” it’s the Himalayas!

          I agree with Rhiannon’s comment that an experienced PR team would never let typos go through.

          *shakes head in disbelief*

13. First of all am I the only one that finds that photo with the spear ridiculous? It’s my least favourite photo of the Cambridges, but I believe it best encapsulates their uselessness and their lack of interest in general. I can just imagine her self talk inside her head ‘okay Kate, look fascinated and in awe, pretend this is the most intersting spear ever’. She looks so bored and superficial and he looks like the arrogant tool that he is. Now that, that is off my chest I can continue.

    At first glance it appears they have a full on schedule (compared to what they usually do). On closer inspection it appears disjointed with no real focus, what is the point/aim of this tour? Why is tax payer money been used when it is not clear whom or what this tour will be supporting or benefiting. How is this tour related to what they do back at home? Like their schedules back at home there’s no clear agenda. Let’s hope they don’t skip the Bollywood function, as the last 2 years they have shown mo interest in the British film industry.

    India will be a huge culture shock for the lazy duo, expect lots of awkward/inappropriate, crazy grinning from Kate followed by some concerned, vapid staring as she tries to not fall asleep at the functions & meetings. I hope she selects an appropriate wardrobe for when she meets & greets the plebs. Flashing in India will not be very appropriate and will be quite provocative. Carole if you’re reading this NO short skirts, floaty dresses or high heels during the day.

    WTF about crashing Annie Liebovitz’s photo shoot? Who does she think she is, it takes gall to bring your camera and crash an artists’ photoshoot and take some snaps. Who does that? I bet she will release candid shots of the Queen and the kids in between takes. I hope Annie yelled at her or at the very least gave her some attitude.

    1. Not sure how Kate taking pictures “crashes” a photo shoot. Really, I don’t.

       1. There is no need for her to take snaps as the real photographer has it covered. It would be a different story had she tagged along to have snaps taken of the family. So yes she is crashing the shoot as her presence is not required.

          1. IMO Kate took photos so she could prove she was there?

             1. That could be case as well, 2 birds, 1 stone. For a photography enthusiast what an opportunity. I’m a tad skeptical as she doesn’t seem like the type that likes learning from others. She saw an opportunity to take snaps, all the hardwork of setting up the shot & fixing the lighting done, too easy. If she were to keep them for her own private collection I’d have no problem with it. What are the odds of that happening?

          2. It is not like she isn’t getting original prints from the shoot. it is like no one ever told her no, Kate, that is not appropriate behavior or yes, Kate, we respect others for their duty, talent, humanity. No Kate.You are not the center of the world.

             1. I compare her piggybacking Annie Liebovitz’s photo session to whipping out a camera and taking a selfie with William during the Testino engagement photos. Had her ego been unleashed at that point as fully as it appears to be now I honestly think she would have and we would have seen the picture by now.

             2. That sneaky Kate! She wants a souvenir while the old queen is still alive. Leaching on the RF is evidable,she feels entitle to it. Is it in a good tast? I don’t think she cares as long as she gets what she wants.

       2. It’s a professional photo shoot led by an acclaimed artist, not amateur hour. It’s also incredibly gauche, not to mention inappropriate.

       3. Bringing her own camera to a pre-planned photoshoot with an international photography icon? Yes that is crashing the photoshoot.

          1. It is tacky.

    2. Cat, can I just say, your comment is awesome and the rant about the spear photo had me rolling, couldn’t have said it better myself…thank you for the spot on iconography haha

       1. Why thank-you Jenndog xox

       2. +1 That picture always bothered me, but I never knew why. You nailed it, Jenndog.

14. I bet this trip is all tied into Kate’s burgeoning chutney business. She is hoping to sell it at that “cute East India Company store” she keeps hearing about! I hope someone at least reminds her both that India was but is no longer a part of the Commonwealth. Sorry honey. No Empress title for you.

    1. The empire no longer exists, however, India is a member of the commonwealth. They are a republic, thus the Queen is not the head of state.

       http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/india

       1. So sorry! Hope you know what I meant!

          1. Of course! 🙂

             I doubt Kate’s interest in anything India lay beyond the Taj Mahal.
             Let alone the complex history of the British empire in relation to India and other colonies.

             1. Given her confusion about Faberge eggs, i wouldn’t be surprised if she is equally confused about the East India company.

    2. +1

15. Annie Leibovitz is a great choice of photographer. So looking forward to seeing her take on QEII and great grandchildren. I have no problem with a non-British photographer working on this project, any more than Brits take on roles of Americans in movies, plays etc. If you choose Liebovitz, presumably you want her creative mind unleashed so hopefully she was given free rein to do her thing. Quite a challenge with small children! The earlier portraits of Liebovitz’s Queen are luminous.
    Kate has an (undeveloped, no pun intended) interest in photography. It would have been more respectful to (a) ask permission to be there, and if so (b) sit quietly to one side and observe how a true artist goes about her work. To be fair, perhaps W+K were on hand in case the children were difficult.

    1. I am sure the kids were wrangled by the nanny. Meanwhile, the Dolittles get to hang with a celebrity.

       Why did Workshy Willy not go back to work? Is he working now? When was the last time he worked?

16. For now the commentaries about K and W trip on the DM are not positive : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3514023/Kate-William-rub-shoulders-Bollywood-stars-meet-slum-children-hike-SIX-HOURS-India-Bhutan.html

    One is particulary lighting :
    “I’d rather know what Harry is up to – he has more personality then these two put together.”

    And another bonus :
    How’s the Air Ambulance career going Willy?

    And many commentaries are about the Irish Guards’ Kate no show

    Realityofroyals says :
    ” I don’t think the excess of W&K in the doc is because they’re popular. It is because they are NOT popular that they are featured. It is the BRF trying to shore up Family Firm PR and pretend nothing is wrong, because W&K have been sinking like cement since the wedding. It is a desperate, “See they showed up to be filmed, they did a whole hour of work, we’re pretending to have any faith at all that they’ll show up again.”

    Anyone share the same opinion? I interest to see the opinions of others about that

    1. I don’t see the point to this tour because K and W are not stellar representatives of the royal family. These two won’t have any clue about history. They represent a tone death reflection of a cruel former empire.

    2. Richard Palmer has tweeted that covers/front pages with pictures of Kate do not sell anymore. On the other hand, articles critical of them DO get clicks. I think that’s a tough hole to dig out of, at least with cheap PR fixes.

       Their PR feels so empty to me. No long-term planning or branding, just lurching from one thing to the other using Diana, their children, etc.

    3. I agree. It is weird that workhorses like Anne and Edward are skipped for these two getting lots of screen time. The Queen reads the newspapers every morning, she knows what the public sentiment is about them.

       1. I search the media for news of Anne and Sophie. The coverage of their engagements is sparse. Yet, when it is covered in depth, a reader/listener can see/hear that they are connected in the substance of the engagements. They seem to enjoy the encounters with the public (if not, great acting) and make their hosts appear to be good and gracious hosts of a member of the BRF. It becomes a mutual thank-you — for inviting me and for showing me that you worked hard to make my visit special. IMO.

          1. Yes! It is that basic idea of honoring the people who showed up to see you. Those are all those “boring everyday engagements” that fans think W&K shouldn’t have to do. That fans (and William) think are meaningless.

    4. I read some comments over at the DM too. They were brutal!!

17. Another new: Richard Palmer will cover the trip finally. Maybe it is because there are more and more critics about W and K that his boss decide to cover the trip.

    1. I hope this is true that Richard Palmer is covering the India tour. There needs to be input from British royal reporters. Thank you for an intensive post.

       1. After this morning’s palace briefing, I’ve been busy sorting out visas. My paper’s now decided to send me on the royal tour to India+ Bhutan
          -> Richard Palmer Tweet

          He says that : “there was a change of plan at the end of last week thankfully”
          -> End of last week = Situation of Jecca Craig/William?

    2. Oh great! Now he’ll go back to syrupy commentary. Feh.

18. Taj Palace Hotel –
    “The Duke and Duchess are following in the footsteps of other world figures, including The Prince of Wales and The US President who have both used their stays at the hotel to display solidarity with the people of this great city.”

    Ritzy hotel stay = solidarity with victims?

    It’s interesting they can manage a tour in six days. They couldn’t weasel a nice holiday out of India and Bhutan. Really highlights the jocular way they feel about and treat the commonwealth countries.

    I hope there will be enough black eyeliner to get waity through all of the wreath laying, boring stuff etc.

    The quote about Diana is bizarre. The iconic memory of his mother at the Taj Mahal? Wtf. Is Bill trying to send a similar message to his father?

    1. I sometimes wonder if William’s horrible attitude is a deliberate slam to his father about the way his mother was treated. Diana inappropriately leaned on William and confided in him about how awful PC and the BRF were to her. This had to mess with William’s head. Also, I wonder if he feels she would be alive if his father had done things differently. As a child, you can keep a lid on emotions in order to get through living with dysfunctional parents until you’re on your own. As an adult, that lid eventually explodes. The whole “up yours” attitude of William toward the BRF, the people, why he chose such an inappropriate mate, parading the Middletons in the forefront, etc., – that is anger.

       1. Absolutely. William is incredibly damaged. He hates his father’s family. I imagine if Will was a “normal” person he would have ceased contact with his father’s family a long time ago and branded them as “toxic”. But because his livelihood depends on the very thing he despises (his father, his “subjects”, the press, and the royal family) he has to deal with it.

          I would not be surprised if Will’s relatioship with the RF is distant at best, like they only see each other during the holidays type of distance.

       2. Then he should choose to abdicate and live a private life with his family- the way he wants to. That would be the ultimate “up yours” to the people that he seems to hate.

          1. I agree! Anne is not nearly recognized enough.

    2. I get the comment about the hotel from both your angle and theirs. Ritzy though the Taj Hotel is, and it’s not like Kate and William were going to stay in a hostel with the plebs, terrorists attacked it in 2008, killing at least 31 people, as part of a spree of bombings and shootings in Mumbai.

    3. The choice of hotel is probably to support it after it was bombed by terrorists several years ago; I think that’s what they mean.

       1. Yep for the support for the hotel (Obama and Prince Charles went here) and it’s good too that this hotel is five stars (like the hotel they wanted to have in Amiens)

       2. What a strange notion of solidarity. If you ask me it’s just another way to drain taxpayers. Can you imagine the amount of security they will use?

          1. Many places hit by terrorism or by natural disasters lose their tourist income, having huge consequences for workers and companies. Potential visitors are spooked by the thought it might happen to them. When prominent figures pay a visit, as an act of support, it quells the nerves of others so that trade returns a bit sooner.
             I think the Indian government meets the security costs of the tour; not sure what else.
             The reason for the tour was given; pretty fluffy stuff:
             “In India, the Duke and Duchess will be starting a personal relationship with a country that will play a major global role throughout Their Royal Highnesses’ lives,” a Palace rep said. “The Duke and Duchess will pay respect to the historical relationship between Britain and India, but will focus on understanding India as it is today and will be throughout the 21st century – a vibrant, entrepreneurial, aspirational nation that faces both its challenges and huge opportunities with confidence.”

             1. Exactly. Choosing to stay in a hotel that was the site of a terrorist attack is showing that the hotel is still a viable option for tourists, and is bringing tourism back to the hotel and area.

    4. Will has always been a snake when it comes to Charles. And I think he might be trying to send a message – don’t even think about complaining about my miserable work record and sense of duty, father, or I will cry like Mummy at the Taj Mahal and make everyone hate you again. Someone in another post mentioned how eerily quiet Charles has been this whole time. I think he’s not daring to get involved.

       1. He is even more temperamental than Diana. I’m convinced that is why HM and Charles aren’t doing more – they have no idea how to deal with William because he will do exactly what you wrote.

          I anticipate that next year (20th anniversary) is going to be a nightmare of William waving Diana’s memory all over the place to justify hiding in Norfolk and more push back at the press. I hope Harry goes away to Africa for a few months again, to get away from The Show his brother will put on.

19. I am so looking forward to this tour for the colour and vividness that India & Bhutan will provide. But the inner bitch in me can’t wait to see a Chopper & Chutney make an absolute dog’s dinner of this and maybe even a diplomatic incident. They’re just too thick and lazy to have done their homework for this tour. If Chutney sits on the ‘Diana bench’ at Agra, simpering I think I will explode or cry. I just hate the using of Diana’s memory for PR puff pieces. Harry doesn’t do it so why do they?

    1. I hope that she doesn’t sit on the Diana bench : if she sits, she searchs the comparaison with Diana. And at the end, she doesn’t win.
       If they don’t respect other cultures or make diplomatic incident, I hope they will be evoked by the press. But like Kate doesn’t speak, the risk of diplomatic incident are less important.

       I hope that W doesn’t make another speech about the importance of protection of the nature : because for me when he speaks about that, I only hear hunt trophy about sick animal are acceptable. I hope that W doesn’t make a speech when he gives a lesson about protection, who is he? Who has he personnally achieve ? He is not a specialist, and he lacks credibility when he hunts in UK (I know that it’s not the same because it is not threated species, that hunt is a part of royalty…).

       Sorry if what I say enter about the speak about hunt, fur…. and if it breaks rule of this site. I don’t want to make a debate about for or against hunt…

       1. Chutney can create an incident without opening her mouth though. New York trip and a certain eye roll. New York 911 Memorial wearing a shocking pink coat grinning like the village simpleton. And as for Chopper who has convinced himself he’s some kind of intellectual with something of interest to say that we all need to hear, God help us if he starts to pontificate. His ideas have all the commitment of something he overheard someone else say before he started speaking. And God forbid he starts trying to inject humouring into the proceedings. He can’t even recognise and understand what his own Grandmother has contributed to world affairs. I’ll be watching this with a sense of impending doom……rather like going to the dentist. Homework, diplomacy, hard work, full tour programme, huge media interest and a stifling, hot climate……one of them will screw it up.

          1. Popcorn time! I agree, one of them is going to screw up. Shall we take bets when and how?

             1. Will will make an ill-advised comment when he visits the impoverished area on day one.

             2. I’m thinking that Waity’s going to blurt out something that leaves the world incredulous at her stupidity whilst at the slum dwellings. I know the idea behind the visit is to highlight causes but I can’t bear the thought of this cold, compassionless pair patronising the dignity of the inhabitants for PR points before they jet off for a post tour ‘rest’ and to celebrate their 5th anniversary. Either that or Prick William will try and make a ‘joke’.

             3. Jason will have everything–comments, questions, etc.–carefully scripted for Kate, in hopes of avoiding another “can you test the smell of tea by smelling it” moment. I’m sure he will be close at hand, too, for prompting and quiet reminders about pronunciations, and to make sure that the press don’t ask questions that require an unrehearsed response.

             4. At least, with her garbled accent, no-one will understand what on earth she is saying. So there’s a plus.

             5. We are waaaay overdue a flashing.

       2. Of course she will sit on the bench. Wearing something similar to what Diana wore, too. She could never let that opportunity escape her.

          1. I forgot to add, I wonder where William will be? If he goes to the Taj with her as expected, he’ll have to sit on the bench too. that won’t have the impact the solo and lonely photo of Diana.

    2. I sure hope William doesn’t get confused about the Taj Mahal being made of ivory-white marble and not actual ivory or else he may call for it to be destroyed! Now that would be a diplomatic incident and a half!

       1. LOL Aimee, I love it.

          Personally, I am waiting to see if Kate wears a cowboy outfit for one of her engagements.

    3. I think your comment is spot on!

20. Their days appear to be heavily scheduled. I wonder the proximity of each engagement, each day. Is there a lot of travel between involved? If so, it looks pretty intensive to me. Interesting. The campfire evening with music and dancing sounds like it could be a really fun memorable part of the tour. A little more relaxed, very colorful (Wills will just be over the moon).

    As to the pics, hopefully there are snaps of the Quenn with all of her grandchildren, and hopefully not all super formal. The ones MT did with Di and the boys, and then Charles and the boys (correct if wrong) were so great. I’d like to see some like that.

    1. It really should be packed, considering they are leaving the children at home so they have no excuse for not doing as much as possible in the short time they have.

21. It’s interesting that the pics for the Queen’s bday were taken while Harry’s still in Nepal. As for the tour it seems a lot of it just them being shown things. They seem to be spending as little time as possible meeting people. And of course Diana was mentioned, the whole tour will be about bringing up Diana as often as they can.

    1. Originally it was scheduled that he would be home by now. The 6 days were tacked on at the last minute to work with the veterans on rebuilding a school. You cannot reschedule Annie L at the last minute, so the photo session would have gone on as planned.

       It is less interesting to me than the christening taking place while he was gone. They could have waited a few months, but they chose to have their PR pap stroll with Diana 2.0 close to Diana’s birthday (while he was in Africa).

22. There is not one reference to one of Kate’s causes to be seen. It is all about William and she is just tagging along. Please, Kate, do an engagement on your own.

    1. “Tuesday, April 12:
       The morning will include two engagements in New Delhi, which will be announced closer to the time of the visit. One will allow William and Kate to see up close work to support vulnerable young people in the city. The second engagement will be a meeting with a senior government leader. Details will be advised.”

       This will be the token mental health event, the issue she is so keen about.

       1. “Dear vulnerable young people, I was lucky to have a great family growing up and lots of money…”

          1. 🙂 If only all those poor children had parents who loved them. Then they’d never have the genetic predisposition to mental disorders…

             1. Yass!

          2. Dear poor people
             Do you know you are in a slum by smelling it? Will you re-build?

             1. I think of Diana and Mother Theresa. Their genuine respect for each other said a lot about both of them. MT was uninterested in fame but she saw something in Diana. I wonder what she would have thought of Kate?

             2. Kate to children in the slums ‘So how is your tennis game, oh you have got to check out my 1851 trust, it’s to get young people interested in yachting (shows big white teeth while accidently flipping her hair into the face of person behind her)

             3. Keep up the good work, slumdwellers.

             4. So, umm, where does the millionaire live?

          3. Spot on, ABKM.

             1. Maven, don’t forget her ubiquitous thumbs up or the condescending Pat on the arm

          4. “I think I heard about a very famous slum dog that is also a millionaire. When do I get to meet him? I think that it is very special how much he must have accomplished as a dog-it must have been, I think, special.”

             1. Overit I wish we had laughing emoticons. Heaven help us when Kate opens her mouth on this tour!

       2. One reason Diana and charles were a good team was that they divided and had separate schedules. Kate needs to do this. But she won’t.

    2. rhiannon, you know they cannot possibly turn Kate loose on her own in a foreign country. She can’t handle the protocol and proper faces in English speaking countries. Heaven help us if she misunderstands someone or a situation and makes an even bigger mess of herself than she tends to on trips. She’s going to be walked hand in hand through this entire trip.

       1. Yep. Fragile snowflake will be well taken care of as always.

       2. “She’s going to be walked hand in hand through this entire trip.” I’d add to that sentence: “and life.”
          Kate has perfected the art of ‘learned helplessness’. The quivery voice in the doco, constantly ‘learning’, being ‘keen’, needing to be looked after are all a ruse to dump responsibilities for her life onto others. Quite the manipulator.

23. They both took the children to be photographed with the Queen? I would have been quite surprised if Kate had gone alone as she would not have been comfortable. Their going together validates the assumption she has little to do with her in laws and would need Will for support.
    As for the Taj Mahal photo op. I agree they need a different approach this time. I am in Australia and have to admit I winced when they replicated the photo of Charles and Diana posing in front of Uluru.
    It was nice, but unoriginal, and took the spotlight off their tour. The local papers were full of Diana stories rather than William and Kate.
    Perhaps William does lean on his mother’s reflected glow a tad too often as they cannot seem to create their own buzz. Diana was impulsive and brave which gave wonderful opportunities for creative and endearing headlines.Hugging a cute baby she spotted in the crowd, willing to touch people others wouldn’t and darting here and there. Will and Kate stick to the rules and never deviate from their schedule. I don’t see it happening as she would have seen how Charles reacted and I imagine would never want to overshadow William.
    Harry is similar to his mother in taking the initiative, sometimes slowing a meet and greet down and it makes him popular because people are aware that he actually acknowledges his environment and the crowd. He says hang on guys I have spotted someone interesting and just goes over, forcing everyone to follow. Thats where you get the worthwhile soundbytes and candid photographs.

24. I am assuming after this strenuous tour of 23 engagements, that they will fall off the map again after. Kate will use the kids as an excuse again. But I am actually hoping they will get caught sneaking away on vacation. I am assuming Will and Kate will take a vacation, just the 2 of them, for their 5th wedding anniversary? Which, I don’t blame them for doing, but at the same time will show how empty the kid excuse is.

    1. Good god for most people the Taj Mahal and The Tigers Nest would be considered a holiday of a lifetime. They are so unbelievably lucky and honoured yet they see it as a chore. But then this is a couple who ignore BAFTA but turn up for Bollywood and of course Hollywood too. And all this conservation stuff after his suggestion that trophy hunting has a place . There is something very rotten at the court of Anmer.

25. I wonder if the TATA executives have been invited to any of the dinners and if so if W&K have any idea what the issues are? They are after all future P & P of Wales.

26. Wow, I just visited a couple other Kate sites and noticed that the mood toward William and Kate is becoming less and less forgiving and more and more disappointed. It seems that blowing off the Irish Guard and their poor performance (his arrogance and her mumbling and continuous use of “I”) in the documentary have really gotten to even the most ardent fans. I have a sense that this tour will be a PR make or break for the Cambridge’s, even how much “recovery” time they need afterwards really needs to be well thought out. Five years ago I would never have thought that they would have fallen off of their pedestal so quickly and even more disturbing is that the “fall” is of their own doing.

    1. This may well be the tipping point. The public is much more respectful of military personnel at the coalface, as well as aware of the immense strain on their families. To blow off such a small gesture offering acknowledgement and thanks was so typically selfish in light of W+K’s many other transgressions and lies. I imagine Harry was appalled…
       As you said, they have brought this on themselves, no doubt thinking that they could not be touched. My, they do live in a bubble. It’s unfortunate that their (lack of) work pattern has become so predictable to render post-tour quite tricky to navigate; it’s unfortunate too that the India and Bhutan schedule is light in substance, begging questions on the point of it at all.

27. Greetings Everyone,

    My internet is stable for a short time before crossing the next channel – sailing is a bit rough.

    This trip and the marriage is doomed.

    There is absolutely no warmth between Her Majesty and snakey Katie.

    Bill is attached to his dead mother in an unhealthy way – as if she only existed for him.

    As for the “big blue” this is damage control as India want the Kohi-nor diamond returned which is embedded in The Queen Mother’s Crown.

    Either way this is a recipe for disaster on every level. Neither of these two dimwits have any idea of the mine field of diplomacy that anything on the World Stage now requires, nor are they interested.

    Madam will make sure her clothes try and mimic Diana’s wardrobe just to put herself in the limelight. Which will fail miserably – it will backfire.

    Visiting the slums with the jewellery will be a definite. It is all about her and her image. No way will madam take a back seat.

    This will come to no good. The marriage is already falling apart. Why do you think that they do engagements together as if joined at the hip?

    Snakey Katie is making sure that billy boy stays within her watchful eye and The Queen knows that this marriage is in deep trouble – she will already be well aware of it.

    Fake, false, vapid – and unhealthy attachments – no Monarchy will survive this farce.

    Sorry this is a straight to the point commentary. No doubt there will be those that disagree with some if not all my points however this is not going to end well.

    When you have the likes of that twitter comment coming out from Emily Andrews which sums it up and she has called it like it is. Brave lady and good on her. Says exactly what many think.

    Take care out there wherever you are. Have a great day/evening.

    A basket full of happiness, an armful of kindness and all the love your hearts can hold.

    The Wild Rose

    1. I still don’t understand what it is about Kate that makes her “snakey”. I understand “snakey” in relation to Carole because people are making fun of her eyes (which are a physical feature which she can’t change and she shouldn’t necessarily be made fun of for it but whatever), but in relation to Kate I just don’t get it.

       1. “Snaky: the supposed nature of a snake in showing coldness, venom, or cunning.” I think it has more to do with personality, not looks. Kate didn’t inherit Carole’s eyes, but she does seem to be quite sly.

          1. Okay, but is Kate a snake or a doormat? Either Kate is a sly, cunning snake who is executing on an evil, master plan or she’s William and Carole’s doormat who can’t think for herself and seems medicated all the time. We can’t have it both ways.

             1. She can be cunning in that she gets what she wants by *acting* like a doormat most of the time for William.

                Stories through the years of her behavior towards other women, towards staff, rumors from Canada tour, the Yorks – do not show a doormat. She gets what she wants (title, status, WAG lifestyle) by letting William call the shots most of the time.

                FLORC has done a great write-up before about the different times she let’s him go *so far* before she yanks him back in line.

             2. notasugarhere, what happened in Canada with Kate?

       2. Honestly the *snake* thing confuses me too, but that’s mainly because it’s Princess Sofia’s normal moniker over at RD and now it seems to be a new Kate nickname?

    2. Hi, Wild Rose! I wondered why W&K are doing everything together for six days. Not even one day where they attend a single engagement on their own. Do you have an opinion on this? Are they trying to make the marriage look solid? Is Kate too (fill in whatever negative comes to mind) to manage on her own for a couple of hours?

       1. Perhaps William is too silly to be left on his own. His foot is constantly in his mouth – even during that documentary he admitted to mixing up two countries at the commonwealth reception aka fancy dress party and thought it was quite funny. Perhaps Kate’s peacock-ing is necessary to deflect from his gaffes….

          1. William thinks he’s very funny, but no, not so much. His jokes constantly fall flat.
             He has the same tin ear as his grandfather when it comes to insulting other cultures. Such a boor and bore all wrapped up in himself.

             1. +1 Charles and Diana often did individual engagements while on tour and did a great job of it.

       2. Its just a matter of opinion wether she is snakey or a doormat. I think one can be snake and a doormat…i.e does everything william says so he agrees to marry her due to her submission towards him because she knows he likes a doormat…maybe kate is more of a sly doormat if you will. Cunning individuals are not one dimensional afterall

28. I just can’t be excited about this tour. Just more cliched platitudes about mental health and boring clothing. I hope I am proven wrong.

29. Maybe as a mental health gesture of good will, Kate can sit down with some of the children in the slums and they can discuss their feelings. And she can tell them what a wonderful childhood she had. That coupled with a teaspoon of her magic chutney will ward off any mental illness that comes their way.

    1. Thanks for my daily giggle. I do hope she does get down to hug the kids. They will be filthy and smelly and brimming full of lice and love, so I hope she can see through the first three and appreciate the last.

30. Mr Sebastian Shakespeare from the Daily Mail published a photo lifted from someone’s blog of Jecca being married. The blogger seems happy about it.

    ” Prince William left his wife and two children over the Easter weekend to attend the wedding of his childhood friend, Jessica ‘Jecca’ Craig, in Africa.
    As this picture shows, the bride was a vision of elegance in a long, sleeveless white dress as the groom, Jonathan Baillie — director of conservation at the Zoological Society of London — placed a ring on her left hand”.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3514733/SEBASTIAN-SHAKESPEARE-Moment-Wills-saw-Jecca-say-leaving-wife-children-home-attend-wedding-Kenya.html

    1. She looks very nice!

    2. Lovely bride! Would have loved to be in William’s head at that precise moment to hear what he’s thinking.

       I do see some Kate similiarities with the hair length (sans wiglets) and very slim figure. I begin to wonder if Kate is imitating Jecca?

    3. Pretty wedding dress.

    4. It appears to be a very windy and cold day. I think the dress was inappropriate for the weather, but still, quite lovely. I hope the couple will be very happy. She’s lucky to have dodged the PW bullet.

       1. Average March temperatures in Kenya is high of 80. It might have been windy but could easily have been a warm wind.

31. Just an FYI to KMR and all, I just went over to the HRH Duchess Kate site and an anonymous poster cut and pasted part of my comment here onto that site’s comments. Has anyone ever encountered this before? I know that I did not post to that site as this one is the only one I post to and the anonymous posted “my” comment in reply to a statement where it really doesn’t fit. This is too weird.

    1. I’ve had my thoughts that I’ve tweeted written here by other posters as their own comments. Literally repeated word for word. Similarly I’ve seen comments on royal dish repeated here.

       Not cool. Intellectual property and all that. If you’re replicating a tweet or a source, say so.

       1. That stinks. I don’t go to other forums for reasons you and I discussed. It’s a shame that they can’t a) give credit or b) form their own thoughts.

          1. Hi Rhiannon, I’m so upset by this. As I told JL, I don’t tweet or anything like that, I’m pretty tech illiterate and I only post comments on this site. I just figured that everyone was like me, do your own thing and don’t f*ck with others, pretty simple really. Sorry for the curse word by I’m just so…argh…I don’t even know how I feel right now.

       2. Thanks JL, I don’t tweet or have any other social media presence other than Facebook (so I can see pics of my granddaughters) so this is a whole different world for me. How does one handle this type of thing?

          1. I don’t know – I guess they mean it as a compliment (?) that they wish your thought was theirs, or you worded it so well they can’t better it. I’ve only just started noticing it myself – my twitter handle isn’t the same as here, so I’ve not said anything myself.

       3. I see it happen on KMR all the time, but certainly not word for word. I just chalk it up to like minded people feeling the same way about the topic being discussed. A full on copy is something totally different, you can’t have much in the way of personal integrity if you are stealing what other people say and claiming it as your own. Give the writer the credit for it, it’s only fair.

          1. That’s the thing. People may have the same thought and when they both go to express it it may come out sounding similar. That’s fine, it happens, nothing sketchy there. But when it’s a literal word for word copy, that’s a huge problem for me.

             When I’m writing on a topic, I only ever read other blogs after I’ve completed my own post. And I almost never read other comment sections. Because I don’t want those other opinions to get in the way of mine, and I don’t want it to seem like I’ve copied them.

             One thing, too, is that once you read someone else’s thought, it and/or their wording may stick in your mind, so when you go write your own thought out, even though you don’t mean to copy them, you’re wording is similar because you’ve just read a word and it sticks in your mind. I’ve done that a lot when commenting to you guys. You’ll use a word and it will stick in my head when I’m replying. So I have to be careful to check my wording so it doesn’t sound too similar to yours.

             1. I totally understand what you’re saying here KMR and I know I’ve encountered that from time to time. Something will stick in my head and the next thing I know I’m writing something very similar…then I have to back space like crazy 🙂 In this situation though it was word for word and really didn’t fit in the context of the comment it was replying too.

             2. I’ve made comments that echo others in feeling and sometimes certain wording quite a few times. It’s usually because I’m responding to a specific comment and haven’t read the dozens (now sometimes hundreds) of comments that have accumulated in my inbox while I’m at work. I just did for Lauri from Ca about posting and her email address. KMR had already said more than I did, but I just saw her reply. It’s an innocent thing most times, but if people are copying and pasting your comments and attributing them as something they’ve written it’s definitely not right.

    2. That’s not cool at all. Why on earth would someone do that? Can they not articulate their own thoughts? It’s disturbing though…
       I post to this site, but also enjoy reading LoveLolaHeart. Both have a critical (KMR) and sassy (LLH) take on things royal, both of which I appreciate.

    3. Lauri from Ca, I went over to take a look and could not believe Anonymous could not think for themselves. I have to say it was something worth repeating, but should have been attributed to you.

       Also, cannot believe the ‘fighting’ over at the sugar sites. I abandoned them years ago after Jane scolded me for bringing up Kate and her lack of work.

       1. Hi G, yeah it amazes me how nasty they can get when someone dares to suggest that Kate (or William) are anything less than perfect. Sometimes I go look just for a laugh and a good head shake (which some days my head needs). I have started to notice however, the littlest bit of dissent on Jane’s site (not that she allows much), again after the Irish Guard debacle some folks are starting to wake up to the lack of work and/or substance.

          1. Lauri I agree about how nasty they get. Which is ironic considering they think they are better since the only worship Kate. But in all actuality it just shows their true colors. If you are willing to attack someone for pointing out a true aspect of Kate, then they have a real problem. I feel bad for those who are truly so obsessed. It is never healthy to put someone on a pedestal. I like HRH site, but the commenters are too much. They are just plain mean.

    4. I once read a comment from “Anonymous” over on Duchess Kate which was literally a copy-paste of part of one of my articles. It really pissed me off because 1) it’s plagiarism, and 2) I don’t want people who read both our sites to think that I made that comment over there.

       I didn’t say anything at the time because I was afraid to, but if that happened now I would absolutely contact the author of the site and ask for the comment to be removed since it’s blatant plagiarism.

       I so rarely read the comments over there that it make me really weirded out about how often that happens. I work really hard on this blog and I don’t want my writing to be plagiarized.

       Whenever I quote anyone, I always cite my source.

    5. Posters have remarked that Charlotte at HRH Duchess Kate tries to run a fair ship. If you contacted her, or posted in the comments section that the comment was stolen, it would send a message. If that anon sees your message and knows you’re paying attention, hopefully they won’t pull that trick again.

       Edit: I didn’t see your later post until after I wrote this. I hope Charlotte will be sympathetic, as that personal is basically fighting with you anonymously through Charlotte’s blog which is so inappropriate.

       1. I agree. Duchess Kate’s the only other Kate blog I read. Charlotte seems to be pretty fair. Jane on the other hand is basically a sunshine enema. Kate can do no wrong and you’re mean to question that. It’s so sugary it makes me wanna vomit. I like Kate. I think most people here do otherwise we wouldn’t be commenting on a blog(s) about her. But that doesn’t mean I have to put her on a pedestal and worship her.

    6. I use a name and if I ever quote part of someone’s blog I add the source as I did not write it myself. Thats an odd thing to do when you think about it.

    7. I’d call them out. Really, Lauri, I find this appalling. And, KMR, too. What you write should be accredited to you. On one hand, be flattered, that your words make an impact, but on the other, shame on anyone who cuts and pastes someone else’s words elsewhere and tries to pass them off has her/his own. That is low!

       1. Low and a complete invasion of privacy. I believe that was pointed out by someone up chain. I am so sorry this happened. It really is creepy. I don’t often troll other sites but if I see anything I will let you know.

          1. I meant to add that I would call them out once, but be careful. You never know what is going through a person’s mind or their motivation. Maybe stay in contact with the site owner to try to lock it down.

32. About their last day at the Taj Mahal…when they say that people visit the Taj to keep Diana’s memory alive they do realize the Taj Mahal predates Diana by a few centuries, right? When I think of the Taj Mahal, I think of the fact that it is a tomb built by an emperor for the woman he loved. I also see it as an iconic symbol for India like the Statue of Liberty for the U S and the Eiffel Tower for Paris. I know people who traveled and lived in India and none of them make the Diana connection.
    So is it just me or did that statement feel a bit pretentious? The fact that Diana’s visit was not a happy memory for her (break down of her marriage, loneliness, etc) makes this statement even more odd. You don’t keep Diana’s memory alive by visiting the Taj Mahal. You keep it alive by continuing her work like Harry does with Sentebale or when harry also walked through a field of land mines like Diana did.
    I don’t think William and Kate understand why we loved Diana. We loved her charitable nature and her work ethic. Kate can’t just wear Diana’s ring and try to appear shy and little girlish and think that that will win people over. She actually has to work and make people feel like she cares. Like she’s passionate about something. Posing in front of the Taj Mahal is not going to win people over right now. I see all of their comments. People are still really upset about the Irish guards.

    1. I fully agree with you Cookie!
       It’s just so sad that both of them have such an amazing platform to really do something of value and don’t seem to have any interest in anything beyond themselves.
       Until this year, they didn’t even have to work hard or even prove themselves in order to earn respect, credibility and the privilege to be heard by people around the world – by virtue of his birth/mother and her marriage, it was automatically afforded to them.
       It’s truly remarkable how they’ve squandered every opportunity afforded to them. I doubt they realize that the current sentiment toward them isn’t some conspiracy or plot to make them look bad, it is entirely of their own making.
       As mentioned in this thread, I can also understand how William being a loose cannon might make HM and Charles think again before wading into the mess that is the Cambridges but someone needs to step in for the sake of the children.
       It might be too late to save William and Kate from themselves/Carole but there is still hope that the kids may grow to become well adjusted, productive members of society and have relatively happy lives whether or not the monarchy survives.

    2. I know, right. I don’t think of Diana when I think of the Taj Mahal. But I do think William is a pretentious a-hole for thinking that people think of Diana when they think of the Taj Mahal. The world does not revolve around William or Diana’s memory.

       1. Very true. Whether it’s ongoing grief, wanting to cash in on Diana’s memory or a bit of both, I don’t know. He needs to stop it though as it’s wearing thin.

          1. Yes, yes, Yes!!

             That statement was so eye-roll inducing.

             Also, ‘wanting to make new memories’with this photocall…..way to stab your still living parent who was made the fool by your mum’s photocall

       2. + 1,000,000

33. Not to threadjack, but I saw a DM article about George going to a London prep-school. Not sure if this is true or a trial balloon to gauge public reaction or something else (like HM kicking the lazy duo’s butts to get them to work more)?

    1. I saw that too Yorkie. I assume someone told them the honeymoon is over and that the heir to the throne will be raised as such. I hope the story is true and that the BFR is taking control. As many have said, Anmer was a mistake. I wonder if there was an agreement that George could have one year or so in a local school, but that he would then be moved to London for more formal education.

       1. I looked up the school at Cromer; I preferred it because it seemed less formal than Wetherby, and also, is co-educational. Just a nice vibe from their website. Personally, I think children should be sent to the school that best suits their temperaments and abilities.
          Harry did not have a good time at Eton, nor Charles at Gordonstoun. They would have been better off elsewhere. I think Wetherby attracts a lot of children from wealthy, high profile parents and security can be assured there.
          Anmer is not the problem. William and Kate are the problem. If they did the job expected of them – engaged and with true grace – instead of being dirt lazy, all would be fine. They are fortunate in having two residences, a couple of hours apart, with staff to ease any work and home issues. Please. Even if their engagements doubled or tripled or quadrupled, they’d still have masses of time to themselves.
          They don’t need carrots, they need sticks!

          1. I worked very close to Weatherby when I lived in London, it was when William and Harry were at school there. I’d have to go passed the school at least a couple of times every day and I had mothers from the school come into my work. It was a great school then and I’m sure it’s a great school now. If George is going to start his schooling there I’m sure he will have a great time.

34. I’m meh on this tour. I’ll check in to see what she wears.

35. Preparing for massive damage control perhaps? A bit unusual that they announce it much earlier than usual. It may just be me, but I can see them anticipating unpleasant media coverage in India and thus preparing to throw in the pic as well.

    http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/queen-elizabeth-prince-george-princess-charlotte-photos-95392

    I would laugh really hard if they actually throw this out after messing up in India, like Kate flashes the Maharaja or sth.

36. Just heard that Will and Kate are attending a reception on April 6th.

    1. I saw KP tweeted that. I’m shocked W&K are actually doing something before their tour.

       1. I am wondering if it is because of all the bad press. It is an easy reception at KP, so it should not be too taxing. But at least it is still something :). But I am thinking if they are already in London on April 6 and probably won’t return home between then and the tour, that is an even longer time away from the kids.

          1. Yep William had already an engagement this day; Harry too.

          2. Unless they bring the kids to KP for a few days and then Nanny and Grandma Carole can take them back to Buckleberry.

          3. I’d imagine so. The press and public have called them out. This must unnerve the BRF; they don’t change unless forced to. May as well pack in the events to shore up numbers. I hope people at the reception won’t be wearing their ‘fancy dress’.

       2. I think they are in “reputation salvage” mode at this point. I definitely think HM or Charles came to their senses and put the squeeze on W&K.

          1. Of course it is.
             Pictures of Harry meeting with charities involved in earthquake relief work in preparation for his tour to Nepal were published so naturally William and Kate must be seen to do something before their own tour. I think the reception- rather than a simple meeting a la Harry – is being held due to their inflated egos and self-importance.

             1. Wouldn’t it be nice to put them both in a locked room and read comments posted about them by the public from newspapers and various blogs, and not stop until they lost the ‘tude.

             2. Ella, it could also be that they’d rather cruise through a room having vague chit chat that being sat down at a table with people who know what they are talking about and being asked to retain actual facts. Harry took his tour seriously and went it prepared for what he would see. William and Kate are doing the tour lite version and despite what is being said by KP it’s a sightseeing tour for them.

                Jen is there a list to sign up for the comments reading? I’d like to request a few shifts.

             3. There’s a surprisingly long wait list, but we’ll sneak you in!

    2. Who is giving the reception? Shouldn’t it be the Dolittles?

37. Sorry to thread jack but my situation is getting worse. Charlotte at HRH Duchess Kate was kind enough to allow me to call out the anonymous poster and now that anonymous poster has posted my entire comment from here on the HRH Duchess Kate site. I have asked Charlotte to remove that post as it’s not mine but now it appears as though someone has a bit of a vendetta against me. What a nightmare!!! I think that from now on I just won’t look at the comment section of that particular site.

    Thanks for letting me vent, there really isn’t anyone else I can share this with as most people have no idea about my royal obsession 🙂 Also, since this person seems to have it in for me, if something appears on this site with my name on it and it seems “off” please disregard as it’s probably be this other person.

    1. omg Lauri this is supposed to be a bit of fun and escapism for us all. So sorry to hear of your experience. Why do people take things so seriously. Baskets of happiness and feel free to vent here any time ( hope that’s ok KMR?) cyber world is vile sometimes. Not sure if it is too early in CA but here I’m raising a glass to you. Hugs.

    2. I am so appalled. That is just outrageous. I am illiterate when it comes to social media so I have no advice, only support to offer.

    3. Do you go by the same name on that other blog? I’m just looking now.

       1. Well I did in my reply to the anonymous that “stole” my words and then the second reply (which is the same one I posted here) is one more “stolen” one. I hate to post as “anonymous”, I just think I should stand behind my words if I’m going to write them.

          1. Lauri, if the person is posting with the moniker ‘anonymous’, there will still be an email attached to that comment, known to the moderator. Can you ask that person to not publish comments coming from that email address? In effect, a ban. Perhaps also monitor comments from ‘new’ addresses.
             Sorry, not up with more of this type of thing. Sending you virtual baskets of good thoughts.

             1. Also, IP addresses can be handled and banned or handled manually.
                So even if that person changes their email if they use the same wifi or device it gets noticed.

          2. Also, anything you post here under your name and email address will have the same avatar which looks like a light green quilt pattern on my monitor. If someone else uses your name, they’d have to have the same email address to get that avatar. Don’t worry about it. They might just love the fact that they’ve got you worried about it.

    4. Lauri I am so sorry! I don’t get why this person has it out for you. Especially since they don’t gain anything by just reposting your comment. The good new is on this site, if anyone tries to post under your name, the colored box next to it will be different. So, if a “Lauri from CA” post and it is not a gold/yellow box, we will know it is not you 🙂

    5. What is this person’s point in quoting you verbatim at a fan site, and of all people, why you? Is HRH a sugar site so your comments stand out?

       1. Well, they do stand out a bit, but it’s being used out of context, the anon is using my post in reply to a comment where it doesn’t make any sense, at worst it’s a bit baiting.

    6. Can someone link me the specific comments? I don’t want to have to wade through all the comments over there.

       Lauri, if a someone tries to post as you over here, their comment will come through moderation since while it may have your name it won’t have your specific email address. And if a comment comes through with your name and not your email address, I won’t approve it since you’ve said you’re having problems with a commenter on another site.

       1. Thanks so much KMR! I don’t know what I did to upset this person, I guess confronting him/her on the HRH Duchess Kate site might not have been a wise move:(
          I have emailed Charlotte and asked that she not approve any posts with my name on them as they won’t be from me.

          1. Oh Lauri that is terrible. you poor thing.

             1. Hi Lauri
                I’m sorry to hear what has happened to you.

                You know you are with friends here 🙂

          2. You unwittingly trip trapped over an occupied bridge! No worries, we all appreciate your thoughts and opinions at KMR. Try not to let this bother you too much

          3. Plagiarism at its creepiest.

    7. Could this be another attempt by a sugar to stir things up at KMR? First, you mention someone is stealing your words and KMR has mentioned the same has happened to her. I think the couple of attempts to stir things up did not work and this may be another tactic.

38. Greetings Everyone,

    Hang in there my friends…. have internet for about and half an hour or so before I head out of range again. Even with the latest Satnav (for ships) it is only by a matter of degrees that I can get coverage.

    Snakey Katie – comes from the original attitude that Madam exhibited in the early stages of clearing out the “non suitable” people that billy boy was associating with while she was hunting him down and clinging onto him for dear life at night clubs etc… this put her off side with both his long term male friends and ANY ladies that he even came into contact with.

    An excellent account of this control, sneaky, calculating side of her was written about in a book early in the piece, shortly after their marriage and I think it was just called “Kate” – it was brutal. I will try and locate the correct source but it was published not long after the wedding. Trust me – she was not portrayed as the “sweetness and light” saviour of the BRF as the c@@@ that was spouted for years.

    Prince Harry also started “seeing through her” very early on as well – the Christmas of 2014 was pretty appalling. There is a youtube clip that was remarked on many times for the complete disregard that b&k were extremely disrespectful to Her Majesty and turned their backs on her when HM was leaving the Church at Sandringham that year (madam was wearing that brown coat) – Prince Harry indicated to bill that The Queen was departing and both b&K totally blanked Prince Harry then ignored The Queen. That did them not favours and rang more warning bells than a siren going off. Prince Harry looked horrified. He stood to attention, bowed his head to his Sovereign and Grandmother but looked mortified at the disrespect and arrogance shown by his brother.

    As a result of that instance and the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign – I actually hand wrote a letter to Prince Harry about that. Commending him on the respect and composure that he showed that day. I did receive a reply thanking me. I also wrote to Her Majesty to let her know that she made the right choice in having Prince Harry and Prince Charles represent her at Chunuk Bair Dawn Service and the ANZAC Commemoration (which ran in tandem). That Christmas dismissal and absolute dislike was completely evident way back then.

    Following this – on the recent Commonwealth Day debacle, where madam fronted up she made a joke of not being able to find a certain page or place in the printed programme when a specific part of the service was being conducted. She was giggling, smirking and making a show of herself. The look on Her Majesty face was like stone. Prince Harry was absolutely mortified again and it looked as if he was trying to contain an idiot of monumental proportions. Billy boy just stood there, looked bored and it was obvious that the clueless pair couldn’t have given a toss.

    This Indian Tour etc – is a taking the p@@@ exercise at the tax payers (India’s Government and the UK’s expense). It is already being slammed to the max…

    Also if you take a look at a lot of the photographs which (KP or madam herself wants airbrushed out) – the pure venom on her face towards members of the BRF (Blood Royal including Her Majesty as well as “other in laws”) is evident.

    There is one other issue – which I have seen raised in the “hijacking thread” I think someone called it – sorry my connection is a bit tough to deal with so I cannot get to the name of the Commenter on KMR but like you, my words have been used on DM and other sites, I have been abused, told to go kill myself, told that the BRF have nothing to do with me, that I have no right to say anything about the two layabouts and had my comments blocked when it suits the various publications. So much to the point that I filed an official complaint. I have been bullied off the DM website many times however it is obvious to see that many, many people are now seeing these two dimwits for what they are.

    Vapid, vain, self centred, self promoting, shutting down anyone who speaks against them, and having seen that Documentary it is obvious that they are shouting out loud and clear to all those who would DARE to critique them that they do not give a damn and that they will be running an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY if they ever get near the throne.

    It is so bad now that many are saying that this tour is a fashion show – and reads like a brochure only to quote someone ” that reading the brochure maybe too much of a stretch for those two…” or words to that effect.

    Trust me – if you dare to speak out against them and the voices are getting louder then you are hounded into the ground.

    The Bully Brigade are the ones who are defending these two leeches. The arrows are manipulated if it does not suit the Bully Brigade, comments which are straight to the point and not offensive but well reasoned arguments are complained about and are removed… obviously billy boy and snakey Katie have an agenda, theirs –

    It really hurts my heart to even have had to write this – however I cannot defend the indefensible.

    This tour is going to be a show pony exercise, the engagements they do together are to put up a front that all is well and that they are “in love” etc – quite obvious now that the fairytale is tarnished, their attitudes have destroyed the goodwill that was there.

    At 34 and 33 yrs respectively – no chance of change. Their selfishness is ingrained and will continue to be reinforced as long as they are able to get away with it.

    Deep down – I wonder looking at Her Majesty if she already knows that the House of Windsor will not survive unless Prince Harry gets to the throne. It is possible – history teaches us that nothing is impossible.

    Her Majesty looks sad sometimes, her smile does not reach her eyes when she is with b&k around, you actually see her putting distance between herself and them. There is no closeness there however Prince Harry gets it. Duty and Service… Prince Charles will hopefully see out some sort of reign the rest is not going to be pretty.

    As I said – it hurts my heart to even think enough about this to write it down however my instinct screams that there will be anarchy because of the lethargy of the cambridges.

    Did not mean to ramble on so long however wanted to send all my best thoughts to you and hope you understand where my train of thought comes from.

    Stand up for something – stand up against the bullies who want to silence the “thinking people”. Look for the good, hope for the two show ponies to grow up, halt the decline and stop playing games with a legacy that stands or falls on the good will of the people.

    Madam trampled over people to get to billy boy – that is not forgotten. Her high heels are so she forces people to look up to her. It is all a front with these two, they are united by their own selfishness and no good will come of it.

    When the Taj Mahal photos are taken it will be of simpering, gazing into the eyes syrup however it will be just another opportunity to remind and force feed everyone in knowing who billy boy’s mother was, that snakey katey wears the ring of doom, and without substance nothing lasts.

    On that note, I must away –

    Look after yourselves and each other, google the book if you want that I mentioned (it was hardback and parts of it were brutal).

    A basket full of happiness to you all.

    The Wild Rose

    1. ❤️❤️

       Loved this whole post!

       1. Agreed!!

    2. Wild Rose, excellent comments and take care of yourself! I’m definitely looking for those books.

    3. I agree. I think the high heels are to look down on other people. Also, it makes it easier for the photographers to get a good shot of her.

       People say she is shaken, but I think she has a huge ego. Her voice has gotten softer in order to hide her mistakes and make it easier for her to put on the fake accent.

39. Greetings again everyone,

    Quick note: I think the book was “Kate: The Future Queen” by Katie Nicholl and “Kate: A Biography” by Marcia Moody. The first one – was described as a syrup job etc… and the Biography had the breaking up of the billy boy and madam by telephone while she was in a car park.

    Either way – the passages in these reveal the character of kate and if everyone really thinks it is Scarole totally (she is a big part of it) however it is the “dependency and neediness” of billy boy and kate that feed into an unhealthy structure. Somehow I wonder if the children actually get a look in. It is very much like the Edward and Wallis cloistered world – to the exclusion of everything else. Unhealthy dependency. In my humble opinion of course….

    Have a read for yourselves if you can stand it – it may take a while.

    Keep well and happy – my thoughts are will you all. Smiles for miles….

    The Wild Rose
    (will check in again, when I cross the next nautical point – love the honest discussions from you all)

40. I agree that Kate needs to do solo engagement during this tour. I started reading Kate blogs because I was initially by her. But as time flies, all I feel is disappoint. It is so hard to be Kate fan these days. I can absolutely find no reason to love her. For someone in her position, the lost opportunities to speak up and make a difference because she can. A lot of people loved her and she could have been a great role model. She still can, but she needs to work twice as hard now.

41. So, if her clothes are the only thing that gets attention these days. I really want to see her repeat this dress:

    https://stylerightthere.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/kate_middleton_3548_635x.jpg

    I think it is such a pretty dress! It is one of the few of hers I would want for myself :). Plus, her hair looks really great here! The up-do looks great with the added pearls that compliment the dress. This is what she should be doing more of!

    1. She is beautiful in that picture.

    2. Yes I love that dress too.

    3. I don’t know why she hasn’t worn that since the tour. It’s beautiful, it would fit and she actually looks like a Duchess in it especially with the updo. Royally appropriate!

    4. She looks beautiful here. This is one of my favorite dresses she has worn. She has so many pretty ones (cocktail/gowns) that should get a repeat performance.

42. Sorry to comment again, but I was looking at old photos and it made me curious. Has anyone on this site seen Kate in person? I am curious, is she prettier in person? Some people are more photogenic and vice-versa, so I wanted to know :). ( and I don’t believe any ‘new’ commenter on this).

    Also, I have never really believed that Kate puts extensions in her hair, but I was looking at old photos which shows her hair ‘growth’
    How does a woman go from this:
    http://imalbum.aufeminin.com/album/D20101126/727138_1BDDU1WLNGIWX7RQPAPS8WAOV3HZCY_kate-middleton-9_H164832_L.jpg

    To this:
    http://tophairstyletips.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/kate-middleton-hair-tutorial.jpg

    Most people’s hair thin as they get older, not thicker. So, I honestly want other’s opinions. Is there a chance it is not hair extensions that cause this much change? Can products/combined with blow-outs make that much of a change? I have fine hair and would love more volume, since it looks like Kate doesn’t naturally have volume. How is that achieved?

    1. I have fine hair too, without much natural volume. I also have family members who are professional hair stylists and let me tell you:

       There is *no way* for Kate to achieve that level of volume and thickness without utilizing extensions/hairpieces/wiglets/falls. Since her engagement and marriage, she uses these to get her look. I’ve seen lots of photos of her where one can quite obviously see where the “fake” hair begins.

       Of course, anyone’s hair can look better by having a professional at your beck and call and getting blow-outs with top of the line products – but the difference in Kate’s hair is waaaaaay more than that.

       In the past, I’ve bought some hair products that gave me good volume – but they were super expensive and, ultimately, not magic, so I stopped using them.

       1. Thanks for the info. I am actually glad to have pro hairstylists opinions. Thanks. I just have a hard time telling where the extensions/wiglet are put into her hair

          1. Here’s a good photo where it’s easy to see her wiglet, the 2nd pic (she’s in the black dress in NZ, I think) – look at the line on the top of her head. The wiglet is clearly resting on her real hair.

             http://www.celebitchy.com/478224/prince_william_kate_had_an_audience_with_the_queen_on_monday_interesting/

             1. Thanks LizB 🙂

    2. It’s extensions or a wiglet. That’s the point of the extensions: it provides fullness and volune. The problem is that hair hairstylist does a horrid job of not blending them well. And they use too many of them. You can see a distinct “bump” when she has them in.

       1. See I have a hard time seeing it. Maybe just because I don’t know what it looks like. No one I know has ever used extensions or a wiglet, so I am not sure hot the tell-tale signs of them.

    3. I don’t know much about extensions either. A blowout can help, but she went from average girl hair to Disney princess life-of-their-own tresses. Well hidden back combing? But I guess most likely added hair.

       If she wasn’t a high profile royal with access to the primp brigade and you passed her in the aisle at the grocery store, she wouldn’t stand out to you as a stunner. She would be another nice looking woman who takes care of herself who also has a lot of healthy expensive food in her cart. You might feel like throwing in a bag of cookies when she’s got her back turned. Other than that, girl next door (and there is nothing wrong with that!)

    4. I think her hair looks much better in the first photo.

    5. I know that hair can become much fuller and thicker during and immediately after pregnancy, after which it starts to thin out again. But since the second photo was taken well before she was pregnant with George, I’m voting for some type of hair piece coupled with lots of product and professionally styled.

       1. Her hair is another victim of her lack of working. When they got engaged the media really had nothing to talk about with regards to Kate beyond what she wore and her hair. There was no previous work history or charities or even hobbies or things she liked other than shopping. So the mania became the hair, she began to believe her PR and in an effort to keep that “top” honor she went to great lengths to accentuate her hair. I think she had some kind of hair pieces in for the wedding. I’m not knocking that because I’ve seen brides do it time and again for their special day. Nothing wrong with it. I know her stylist is a genius with blowouts, but no one is that good. Kate went from Carole/Pippa hair (which William thought was just fine) to hair color commercial hair practically overnight.

          If she had come out of the gate or “hit the ground running” as she proclaimed in her engagement interview, the focus on her hair wouldn’t have been so great. It would have been about her work with her charities, etc. But again she gave no one anything else to write about.

          The world saw her real hair shortly after having George when she hit the trolley with the middle part and the gray roots. It was back on par very quickly after that. I’ve heard it said that carrying girls can take more out of a woman. I don’t know if that’s just an old wives tale or what, but her pregnancy with Charlotte definitely affected her in some way. I don’t doubt for a second that once the hormones went back to normal levels her hair headed back to it’s normal (and maybe even a lighter) thickness. That’s when we saw the wiglets and extensions truly come into play. And there are photos where you can undeniably tell there are additions. Being underweight will affect hair growth. The body needs nutrition to maintain things. Deny it and little things like your hair getting thinner and falling out start to happen. I learned that one personally, my body wasn’t getting the nutrition it needed because of a medical condition and after I had surgery to correct it my hair started growing like crazy. I think she believes that as long as she keeps the weight down and the myth about the hair going she’s golden when all we ask for is actual work to earn the money she’s spending on maintaining that mane. No one would probably think twice about the wiglets (okay if they’re really bad and obvious we will) if she did something of substance.

          1. “So the mania became the hair, she began to believe her PR and in an effort to keep that “top” honor she went to great lengths to accentuate her hair. I think she had some kind of hair pieces in for the wedding.”

             SO TRUE it’s as clear as day.

    6. I’ve seen a cell phone photo a friend took within the 1st year of marriage. She stood behind the fence as Kate went down the line. It was the same as when Kate gave her hand and then took it back like 1 of the ladies might have touched the engagement ring.

       Anyway, She snapped a non-blurry photo and Kate did not look like Kate. Her hair was broken and friend. The makeup was visibly caked on and heavy for daytime. She had deep, deep wrinkles in her forehead and her lips were horribly chapped. To add she was shocklingly thin. To have seen that photo and then the publication versions was amazing. They were not the same person.

       And no shocker Kate more than likely has extensions. Loads of people do. It’s not uncommon.

       1. Thanks for the info! I had a feeling that Kate looked different in person. Her makeup looks fine in photos, but in person it must look so caked on. She wears it for the cameras and not for real life-like stage makeup

       2. RunawaySnarker Hi 🙂 I had to go and see if I could find a candid shot of Kate as your comment sparked my interest. I see what you mean if this pic is similar to your description. I had no idea she was so grey or looked so sun damaged . Is she always that exhausted or is it due to her diet I wonder?

          http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00007X2Jje1qmbU/s/860/860/NEWSPIX0251505a-KATE-Middleton-Ageing.jpg

          While I was looking I found this one showing what looks like under eye tightener serum that has not been covered with makeup?

          http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/02/08/00/30FA7CF000000578-0-image-a-37_1454893060279.jpg

43. I haven’t had a chance to go through all of the new comments yet so if anyone has mentioned this I apologize for the double posting. Apparently there is a two part documentary about William and Kate’s five years together coming out in April. A documentary of what is my question. Here’s a link for further information.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kate-middleton-prince-william-documentary_us_56faaae9e4b0143a9b4951a6?l97k5n3ycagpynwmi&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

    1. Seriously?

       1. 2 parts? With what info will they fill it? Wow…

    2. I wonder if there will be private moments in Amner Hall.
       Propaganda : the come back. That makes me think of the documentary about Diana, Charles, Harry and William (when they play piano) which showed there were not an issue of the wedding (which was not the case)

       I think that these subjects will be mentionned :
       – a magnific loving story : overcome the breaks, happiness…
       – William saving lifes in his helico
       – William and Kate caring about charities
       – Importance of the family : proximity with the others royals.

       1. I have a feeling with the station that is producing it that it is not an official Royal documentary.

44. Are they going to produce a Seven Year Itch documentary, too?
    Geez, the PR machine is on overdrive.
    And, heads up, Lauri. The photo in the article referenced, shows a rocky start to the entry into Westminister. Kate’s poor posture is apparent. She is leaning so far to her right and away from her Dad, who is assisting her into the church. Not a very polished look! Maybe, once she has hired a vocal coach and an acting coach to help her seem more relaxed and polished, she can get a posture guru to work with her. Just a thought, thanks to Lauri of CA, who thanks to her, I have taken to monitoring my own posture.

45. William’s people are aware the Taj Mahal was not merely a backdrop for Diana’s photo right? Talk about a great example of how they view the Commonweath, and former colonies. Costumes and entertainment.

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