August 8, 2012 3,234

Kate Middleton Combats Criticism at the Olympics

By in Kate Critic

While acting as an ambassador for the 2012 London Olympics, Kate Middleton has contradicted some of the criticism which has befallen her in recent months. Some instances appear to be genuine steps forward for the Duchess, while others seem too convenient or blown out of proportion by the press.

Criticism: The £49,000 Necklace

Although her outfits have cost about £100,000 annually, Kate has been deemed “thrifty” by the press for wearing many of her clothes more than once (1). With that, it was no surprise that the media zeroed in on the unusually expensive £49,000 white, yellow and rose gold Cartier rings necklace she wore to the opening of the Road to 2012 exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. It is not unusual for a high-ranking Royal to embellish herself with pricey jewelry, but due to her reputation, the extravagant piece jeopardized Kate’s frugal image.

Possible Redemption: The £35 Dress

With her outfit recycling habits, it appears Kate is conscious that she needs to appear economically sensitive – at least in between her splurges on bespoke Alexander McQueen and Emilia Wickstead get-ups. For quite some time, I have suspected that she recycles outfits to make up for her frequent fashion indulgences (and leisurely lifestyle, as if to convey, “Sure, I don’t work as much as I could, but I don’t spend as much as I could either.”). And last week, I felt her £35 Hobbs dress served the same purpose. In my opinion, it was probably not a coincidence that she selected such an inexpensive dress – possibly the least expensive one she’s worn since becoming engaged – right after her extravagant jewelry took center stage and chipped away at her “thrifty” image. Whatever the case, I think it is great whenever she opts for affordable fashion and re-wears her pieces. Of course, her practices do not make the media’s incessant worship over the latter and claims that Kate “thrifty” any less than absurd.

Criticism: The honeymoon phase is over

Throughout the past several months, William and Kate seemed increasingly distant, giving the impression that their “honeymoon phase” had ended. Most noticeably, he appeared to ignore or look annoyed by her during many of their public appearances (as discussed in Royally Snubbed Part I). Additionally, Kate was caught seemingly flirting with Prince Harry as she and William ignored each other during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Needless to say, the behavior did not inspire confidence in the royal couple’s happiness together. Soon after, a report stated the pair hadn’t had sex in months (2). Another claimed William’s late night partying in London without Kate revealed he regretted being chained to her for so many years, and hence, missing the chance to have relationships -and naughty fun – with other women (3). Whether or not those stories were true, the rigorously peddled fairy tale love story was challenged from multiple angles. When the couple attended Wimbledon together last month, the apparent trouble in paradise was noted yet again, as the royal couple gave the impression they were disinterested in each other’s company.

Possible Redemption: William and Kate hug at the Olympics

When Team GB won the gold medal in track cycling this week, William and Kate cheered with the crowd and shared a celebratory hug. As photos of the ecstatic couple in a mutual-looking embrace spread, the brief PDA swiftly became the subject of headlines all over the web. However, in my opinion, the hug has been subtly twisted and exaggerated by several sources to seem more romantic and affectionate than it actually was. Also, photos can be misleading. View a video of the hug to keep in mind here (thanks to Rose for the video link).

For instance, Radar Online posted this:

Prince William isn’t winning any gold medals at the Olympics but he did win a huge hug from his beautiful wife Kate Middleton and RadarOnline.com has the photos of their affectionate embrace…

The public display of affection was a rare glimpse into the love the newlyweds have for each other, and they both had huge smiles as they celebrated the gold medal win,” (4).

A “huge hug”? It looked rather brief to me. An “affectionate embrace”? A “rare glimpse into the love the newlyweds have for each other”? William grabbed onto the side of Kate, who was mid-cheer with her arms in the air and did not even turn toward and acknowledge him. Clearly excited, she just kept cheering! Of course, she did put her arms around him in return, but it would have been extremely awkward if she’d kept her arms straight up in the air through it all. -My point is, it looked more like a reflex than the reciprocation of a loving gesture. They were obviously having a great time and William gave Kate a friendly, enthusiastic hug in celebration of the win – that is all. It was fine as it was. The suggestion that it was a touching and romantic demonstration of their love was an unnecessary stretch of the obvious.

STV posted:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were so overcome with joy as they watched the Scotsman lead the men’s spring cycling team to a gold medal, that they hugged and kissed each other in front of the world’s media, who snapped furiously at the rare sight.

Normally the Royals maintain a stiff upper lip in public, showing little emotion. But Kate and Wills have become known for their fresh, youthful attitude, injecting a new lease of life into the monarchy,” (5).

Obviously, William and Kate did not kiss each other. In reality, the pair never even faced one other in the moment. I don’t know whether this mistake was honest, but it seems awfully convenient that the error reinforces the media’s constant (and often unsupported) speculation that they are madly in love. Also, I cannot imagine that an inaccurate account of one of their rare PDAs would make it to print if the pair were mistakenly portrayed as less affectionate than they actually were.

In the second paragraph, STV should have ended it after the first sentence. In my opinion, William and Kate are not exceptions to the inexpressive tradition: It was just headline news that they hugged because their show of affection in public is so extremely rare! Even publications that champion them acknowledged the infrequency of their PDAs.

On a final note, it seems it is Harry and Kate, not William and Kate, who are showing the world their chemistry and affection. I am not at all suggesting their could be a forbidden romance between them. However, based on photos from the Olympics, it appears Kate is still uncomfortably very fond of Harry.

Criticism: The prediction that Kate and her outfits would steal the show at the 2012 London Olympics

Kate is the center of attention at nearly every event she attends, and the attention is added to whenever she debuts a flashy new fashion ensemble. While she re-wears clothes from time to time, in the past she has typically had high fashion garments custom-made for special events. She clearly likes to buy new clothes, dress up, look her best, and be noticed and praised for what she wears, so it seemed logical that she would strut around in a variety of showy new couture pieces during the Olympics. It would have been unfortunate and disrespectful to run such a distraction though, as the true stars of the games are the athletes.

Possible Redemption: A (mostly) low-key wardrobe

With only one custom piece so far, Kate has been keeping a surprisingly low fashion profile since her Olympic duties began. First, she has “recycled” a couple of pieces, including the blue Stella McCartney dress (July 19 and August 2) and navy Smythe blazer (One year ago in Canada, July 3031 and August 2). Second, she has sported casual polo tees, jackets, and athletic shoes in patriotic Team GB colors multiple times. Primarily, her clothes have been blue and white with the only loud, busy exception being the bright red Zara blazer and polka dot top she wore on day seven. -Even that was an improvement since whenever she wears red, it usually makes up her entire outfit. Now if only she could pry herself away from those hideously unflattering skinny jeans… For a look at everything Kate has worn to the Olympics, visit What Kate Wore.

Criticism: The prediction that the Middleton family would have VIP seats at Olympic events.

In recent months, Michael, Carole, Pippa and James Middleton have relied on their royal connection to acquire preferential access to special events. Namely, they each sat in the royal box at Wimbledon, all cruised down the Themes in the Diamond Jubilee river pageant, and Michael and Carole joined the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in the royal box and carriage procession at Royal Ascot. As the Middletons are members of the general public, their inclusion in these events was received as unfitting, awkward, and intrusive by some of their peers. With the family’s persistent pace toward a royal-like lifestyle, it seemed inevitable that the trend would continue during the Olympics. After scoring special seating at Wimbledon and Royal Ascot, why wouldn’t they sit alongside William and Kate in the VIP sections at the Games?

By inviting the Middletons into their social circle, treating them like peers, and granting them special privileges, the Royals seemed to be granting the reputed social climbers a free pass into high society. But there are greater problems with their inclusion than the fostering of their apparent social ambitions. First, William married Kate - not her family. The status and peerage title Kate acquired through marriage does not entitle her parents and siblings – who will never have royal duties – to comparable social raises or any perks that might accompany them.  Second, the more the Middletons associate with the Royals, the more potentially advantageous their royal connection becomes for their business ventures. Any time the family is seen out with the Royals, the press reports it, publishes their photos, and often references their sources of income. It all promotes them – the Middleton brand - and hence, promotes their party supply business, Pippa’s upcoming book, and James’ cake business. It is a possible abuse of their royal affiliation for the Middletons to purposefully share in the Royals’ publicity.

To avoid strengthening ties with a family that is not popular with the public and any potential exploitation, the Royals should only invite the Middleton family to events which specifically center on William or Kate. -And that does not include the Olympics. As the Middletons are members of the general public whose presence is not required at the games, it is only fitting that they procure their own means of access if they wish to be there.

Possible Redemption: Where oh where have the Middletons gone?

The Middleton family has yet to be spotted in VIP seating at the London Olympic Games – or in attendance at all! The reason behind their surprising absence remains a mystery.

There is a chance the Middletons were invited to the Olympics but turned down the opportunity. However, I highly suspect they would have happily attended if they had been. Based on their recent history, they appear to embrace their fame, relish special access to grand, royal-related events, and be excited to publicly support Kate in her new royal role.

The more likely and attractive possibility is that the Royals denied the Middleton family VIP tickets to the games. If that is the case, it would suggest the Royals have finally gotten the message that overall, the public does not wish to embrace the Middletons as part of the extended Royal Family. I certainly hope that is the true reason. It would be about time!

Sources
(1) Jones, Liz. “£105,000, the TRUE bill for Kate’s clothes: But she’s worth every penny, says LIZ JONES.” Daily Mail. 6/26/2012.
(2) Star Magazine via Cele|bitchy: Kaiser. “Duchess Kate allegedly stopped having sex with William months ago.” Cele|bitchy. 7/11/2012.
(3) Star Magazine via Cele|bitchy: Kaiser. “Star: Prince William ‘regrets missing out on so much because he was tied to Kate.’” Cele|bitchy. 7/13/2012.
(4) Tereszcuk, Alexis. “Right Royal PDA! Kate Middleton Gives Prince William An Olympic Sized Hug.” Radar Online. 8/2/2012.
(5) “Kiss me Kate! Duchess Catherine and Prince William’s Olympic joy.” STV. 8/3/2012.

July 28, 2012 593

Kate Middleton’s Pre-Olympics Shockers: Vulgar Jeans and Tattered Tootsies!

By in Kate Critic, Mini Post

During pre-Olympics outings alongside Princes William and Harry yesterday, Kate Middleton played table tennis (ping pong), wore a $55 (£35) dress with her $225+ (£144+) per week hairstyle, welcomed the Olympic torch to London, and made the ghastliest revelation of her royal life to date (1;2). As she helped launch Coach Core, an organization aimed at helping underprivileged athletes become sports coaches, it was apparent that regular stiletto wear has taken a horrible toll on the Duchess of Cambridge’s feet (3).

Brace yourself, these aren’t the pedicured beauties expected of the (usually) immaculately groomed future queen consort. From a distance, they’re not so bad. They just look unpolished and irritated from a day in too-tight heels. However, the close up is truly shocking (Thanks to “just a serf” at Royal Dish for revealing the close-up and to arlie for bringing it to light here at Enclave 24).

Was the Duchess Unprepared?

Two major elements define the public side of the Duchess of Cambridge: Her marriage, and her physical appearance. She is highly image conscious when it comes to her looks, so it is incredibly unlikely she would have forwent the extensive pedicure her feet needed if she knew there was a chance she’d be photographed barefoot. Was this mortifying display a consequence of Kate’s failure to research her potential activities ahead of time? It would not be surprising if it was. She has seemed unprepared for charity involvement before: not knowing what activities she might encounter, being relatively unfamiliar with the cause, and even sounding clueless about the purpose of her own participation (A major example: Missteps of 2011 Part II, the UNICEF interview). If she takes as much pride in her looks as she seems to, it only makes sense that she did not expect to be prompted to remove her shoes and participate in such an activity. There is a chance she had no way of foreseeing the need to kick off her wedges; but if she could (and should) have known, hopefully this humiliation has taught her once and for all how important it is to be ready for anything through cognizance.

Kate has company: Other heels-obsessed celebrities have feet in far worse shape than hers, as shown in this bunion-full article on the Mail Online (Warning: strong stomach needed!). Among the foul photos is an example of Kate’s dogs in pedicured form, along with a not-so-flattering shot of them in 2007.

Has Kate found her calling?

Aside from Kate’s barefoot bombshell, the visit to Coach Core appeared to be her best charity visit to date. She is known for her affinity for sports, and yesterday, it looked like she was in her element. She hasn’t seemed very enthusiastic or sincerely interested in other types of charity involvement, but she gave a different impression in this instance. For one thing, she was visibly comfortable and delighted and was abnormally hands-on. She kicked a ball around in a dress and wedge heels (not something expected from one of the UK’s most high-maintenance women), and despite the gnarly condition of her tootsies, did not flat out refuse to kick off her shoes and help judge a judo match from the mats (assuming she could have if she was desperate enough).

Perhaps it would be a good choice for Kate to make one or more of her next charity patronages sports-related. Athletics and fitness are genuine interests of hers, areas she is experienced and likely knowledgeable in, and potentially beneficial to children and adults from all walks of life. There are many possibilities like charities for promoting sport and active lifestyles for disadvantaged youth in the UK and abroad, supporting athleticism among those with special needs, and encouraging the involvement of women and girls in sports and fitness programs. Kate has been very hesitant to dive into charity work – presumably because it doesn’t interest her – but she doesn’t have to limit herself to helping the homeless, addicted, or terminally ill if those causes are not good fits for her. No one expects her to be a clone of Diana, and if following her own personal hobbies is what it takes to turn her on to charity work, then she should definitely run with it. -And leave the art gallery nonsense behind (Does anyone still honestly believe she studied art history for any reason but to cross paths with William?).

Kate’s skinny jeans revealed… too much information!

Following the Coach Core visit, William, Harry and Kate welcomed the arrival of the Olympic torch at Buckingham Palace. Through color-coordination, Kate attempted to blend in with the many present Team GB coaches and athletes, yet managed to stand out anyway because of her towering platform wedges and second-skin jeans. It was a new level of tacky and unflattering inappropriateness for the Duchess. The Zara “Satinhose“ were so tight that they vulgarly revealed every inch of her derriere - much like her nude hosiery in her “Marilyn Monroe moment” in Canada last year. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter whether her dress flew up over her head or her jeans were too tight, because the result has been the same: Kate’s body was revealed in an offensive amount of detail. The important difference is that the Canada incident was an accident, and these figure-clenching leggings were deliberate. What makes her think the world wants to be so well-acquainted with her rear or that this type of attire is even remotely appropriate for a future queen consort? And furthermore, why wear pants at all when all but a precious few lower body features can be seen anyway? The pants may as well have been opaque, footless tights. Overall, this woman-child has a lot of growing up to do before she becomes the Princess of Wales – and a higher level of taste to develop at that.

Sources
(1) English, Rebecca. “Cut-price Kate sports a £35 dress from Hobbs as she joins the country in countdown to Olympic games.” Daily Mail. 7/26/2012.
(2) Finlayson, Ariana. “Kate Middleton Gets Blowouts Three Times a Week!” US Magazine. 6/19/2012.
(3) Braswell, Molly. “Royal Trio William, Kate and Harry Launch “Coach Core” Program.” All Media NY. 7/26/2012.

 

July 22, 2012 235

Should Pippa Follow Kate Middleton’s Book Tour Advice?

By in Kate Critic, Pippa Critic

Reportedly, Kate Middleton is giving her little sister, Pippa Middleton, heaps of advice for the latter’s upcoming US book tour to promote her party planning guide, Celebrate (1). What about? Fashion? Hairstyles? How to pair nude pumps with everything she owns? Apparently, there are other relevant areas in which the Duchess feels adept enough to offer tips. According to EntertainmentWise, “[Kate] is supporting her sister as much as possible by given [sic] her loads of tips and advice on working in the US and on boosting her image” (1). For Pippa’s sake, I hope she takes her sister’s recommendations with a grain of salt.

If Kate has valuable guidance to extend on working (and in the USA no less) and enhancing a public image, I wonder how she acquired the information and why she doesn’t appear to be applying it herself.

First, the 30 year old duchess’ work experience is extremely limited. She worked a light three to four day per week job as a fashion “accessories buyer” for just eleven months; later, she allegedly worked for her parents party supply business taking photos and updating their website for a couple of years (although there is no sufficient evidence that she did any more than help out occasionally); and now, she “works” about one half day per week as a royal. Additionally, Kate has no basis for giving advice on how to live or work in the States just because she mingled with celebrities in L.A. for a few days. Pippa would probably be better off drawing from her own experiences than following what her amateurish sister has to say. Unlike Kate, she does have a solid, verifiable work history. Perhaps she could even give Kate a few pointers about work in general!

Second, Kate’s image isn’t exactly sterling these days. And with the exception of the hype surrounding her engagement and the royal wedding, it never has been. Just as she is now, she was criticized for being lazy and work-shy while she dated Prince William. She was also known as a hardcore party girl. She regularly stumbled out of nightclubs looking drunk in the wee hours of the morning and provided the paparazzi with “crotch shots” multiple times. She has been successful at shedding the party girl image, but it was hardly due to a stroke of genius. It couldn’t be more straightforward that if a person completely stops going clubbing like Kate has, she won’t be known as an excessive partier anymore (two plus two equals…). It’s something Pippa isn’t likely to need spelled out for her. Also, Kate’s popularity appears to have sharply declined since the royal wedding. She continually avoids a fuller work schedule and seems to be almost exclusively concerned with her hair, makeup, clothes, physique and beauty regimen. She hasn’t exactly wowed the world and has been fittingly labelled a “clothes horse.” She could use some advice on image boosting herself!

Pippa’s New Approach

According to All Voices,

[Pippa] reportedly upset the royals and [Kate] by hitting headlines regularly with her partying, love life and the infamous ‘gun incident’ in Paris earlier this year, where she was pictured seated next to a friend flashing a gun as they drove through Paris streets in April.

Now Magazine reports… ‘[Pippa is now] back in the Royal fold after reaching a pact with her sister …She’s acknowledged she put Kate in a difficult position and has agreed to abide by some rules,’ claimed a source.

Pippa Middleton is also said to have agreed to allow Palace officials to guide and ‘advise’ her on future boyfriends. This was especially so after she infuriated the royals by dressing as a burlesque dancer, freaking out at French aristocrat Arthur de Soultrait’s themed birthday party, earlier this year [A video of the party can be seen here]…

Meanwhile, Pippa’s party planning book ‘Celebrate’ and upcoming US tour has come under scrutiny from the palace. Royal insiders claim, the brunette has agreed to submit herself to training from Palace aides on how to behave during the tour. A source said recently: ”She would normally be expected to appear on every chat show under the sun. I know she won’t do anything that she hasn’t run by the duchess’ advisers, but it is still a very tricky situation’ (2).

I think it’s great that Pippa is willing to clean up her act a bit, especially since she attends events in association with the Royals and is depending on her royal connection to sell her upcoming book. I don’t think her behavior has been totally outrageous (*thinks of Uncle Gary* In my opinion, she’s doing better than Kate was independently at her age), but the gun incident was a bit much, and polishing some rough edges couldn’t hurt. Not to mention, I imagine she would be taken more seriously as an event planner if she started showing off her party planning skills rather than simply attending parties so much.

It sounds incredibly odd that Palace officials will be advising Pippa on her love life. Will the suggestions include who is acceptable or unacceptable for Pippa to date? Favorable and unfavorable dating activities? How to snag a royally approved boyfriend and keep him? Whatever the case, it seems a bit creepy. As long as Pippa cleans up her behavior in general, her actions in her romantic life and standards about the company she keeps should follow suit. And if it’s just a wealthy, well-connected guy she’s looking to hook onto, who better to get tips from than the mother of all seasoned pros? Working in America and image elevating are not Kate’s fortes, but scoring a proposal from a rich man with a title is an area where I’m sure she can offer expert advice!

Finally, it is somewhat troubling that Pippa may receive instruction from Palace aides on how to conduct herself and will be seeking approval from Kate’s advisers for her book tour activities. On one hand, it could help her avoid unknowingly embarrassing herself or the Royal Family. But on the other, if these are the same aides and advisers who taught Kate how to behave as a royal (Missteps of 2011 Part I & 2 for starters), Pippa may be caught in a few behavioral fiascos of her own as she promotes her book.

Sources
(1) Bastidas, Lina. “Kate Middleton Coaches Sister Pippa Ahead Of Her US Book Tour.” EntertainmentWise. 7/21/2012.
(2) Rai, Nina. “Kate Middleton’s tips to Pippa on her party-planning book’s US launch.” All Voices. 7/21/2012.

July 13, 2012 334

Kate Middleton’s Family: The Controversy of their Royal-Like Lifestyle

By in Middletons

Since Kate Middleton married Prince William 14 months ago, her family’s life has changed tremendously. -And it’s making some a bit uneasy. In a frank piece, Amanda Platell of the Daily Mail expresses concern about the degree to which the middle class Middletons ride their royal daughter’s coat tails (1). Giving many examples, she charges that ”The Middletons are starting to act uncomfortably like Royalty” and questions whether they believe they actually are Royalty (1). But Roz Zurko of Examiner.com emphatically disagrees with Platell’s points (2). In her review of the article, she ardently defends the Middletons, discussing how the media has victimized and vilified them (2). The debate is on: Are the Middletons exploiting their royal connection and trying to become the “Uppertons” (1), or are they simply trying to cope with a series of disadvantages and hardships forced on them by their royal link?

Platell

Why, for example, were Pippa and her brother James in the royal box at Wimbledon last week? Not because of their party-planning and cake-baking credentials, that’s for sure (1).

Zurko

…other people besides royalty have graced that box before. This is not a valid indication that her family believes they are royalty (2).

Zurko is absolutely correct, but her piece neglects certain details which may explain why Platell and others find this particular situation unfitting. Pippa and James may be Kate’s siblings, but they are not Royals, and are certainly not the type of accomplished, societally-significant non-Royals one would expect to be offered seats in the royal box (as Platell implied). -And unaccompanied at that! In my view, there wouldn’t be an issue if they had joined William or Kate as guests; but on that day they didn’t. It feels inappropriate and intrusive if they are independently entitled to special treatment and royal resources like William, Kate, and the rest of the Royals. The same is true for Mike and Carole Middleton who also enjoyed the luxury of the royal box all on their own last week.

Every single member of the Middleton Family has sat in the royal box at Wimbledon this year. Yet I did not ever see Camilla’s children, any of Sophie, Countess of Wessex’s family, or the family of Zara Phillips’ husband (Please correct me if I missed them somehow!). Sure, maybe they had prior engagements or don’t care for tennis, but this isn’t just about Wimbledon. In fact, unlike the Middletons, those consort families are very rarely seen at events where they consequently remind the public of their royal connection. (I would guess many of you don’t even know what the members of those families look like! -Or what they do for a living, or even their names.). Aside from Sophie’s father at Ascot (who appropriately joined her, and unlike Kate’s parents, was not there independently) where were they during the Royal Ascot the Middletons attended, or the Diamond Jubilee river pageant the Middletons participated in? Were they not invited (implying Kate’s family is on a pedestal for some reason), or are they simply disinterested in being in the public eye?

Platell
Regarding Pippa’s $620,000 (£400,000) book deal for her upcoming guide to etiquette and party planning:

If it wasn’t for the royal connection, she’d be lucky to be writing recipes for the Bucklebury parish magazine (1).

Zurko

The Middleton’s were thrust into this position, which isn’t a lifestyle they might have picked for themselves… Pippa, who has the right to live her life anyway she pleases, is under a microscope and anything that she does that’s considered un-royal-like falls back on Kate in the media (2).

Platell’s words could not be truer. The Royals’ positions, privileges, fame and wealth are not merit-based, and thanks to her connection to them, it appears that largely, Pippa’s aren’t either. She’s making out like a bandit by taking advantage of her royal connection, but as Zurko points out, she may be making a few sacrifices for her sister too.

I agree with Zurko, that Pippa is under a media-operated microscope when it comes to her behavior, and her disagreeable actions have reflected on Kate. Mostly, I think it’s because the way Pippa conducts herself gives clues about the way Kate was raised and the kind of family she originates from. However, it is not something the press can be fully blamed for. Pippa appears to enjoy and seek media attention on a regular basis. For one thing, she’s choosing to release a book – which, as Platell points out, she only has the opportunity to do because she’s linked to the Royals - which will undeniably get her even more attention from the press. Clearly, the success of the book is largely reliant on her self promotion, which is evident by the fact that her face appears on its collage-style cover five times. Also, she often places herself in the spotlight while attending events where she knows she could be photographed. For instance, she was clearly not on the sidelines incognito and hidden among the crowds during the Jubilee river pageant. Pippa may be under a microscope, but it doesn’t look like the costs outweigh the benefits for her.

Zurko also makes a good point that Pippa has the right to live as she sees fit. She didn’t choose to marry royalty, after all, and undoubtedly encounters burdens she did not ask for as a result of Kate’s position. However, it’s not as simple as that.

Where I disagree with Zurko is that she appears to paint Pippa as nothing but a victim of circumstance while conveniently overlooking her immeasurable benefits. For instance, it seems utterly hypocritical that she feels it is fitting for Pippa to enjoy special and publicized privileges like sitting in the royal box at Wimbledon, yet takes issue with her behavior being scrutinized by the media and held to a “royal-like” high standard. I think that if Pippa is going to continue doing things which publicly flaunt her tie her to the Royal Family (which is to her advantage), then she needs to respectfully represent them – and everyone they represent – by behaving impeccably and avoiding missteps. Responsibilities and sacrifices should accompany privileges, and Kate and her family are not sympathy-worthy victims just because they can’t have their cake and eat it too.

Zurko

This level of recognition in the world is probably one that Carole and Michael Middleton would rather do without, but their daughter married the man she loved and this came along with it.

The Middleton’s were thrust into this position, which isn’t a lifestyle they might have picked for themselves. They are the constant target of the paparazzi and analyzed in the media for anything they do (2).

Platell

Carole now wears a regal signet ring on the little finger of her left hand, bearing the new family crest. The modest country home is to be replaced by a £4.7 million pile in Berkshire.

A string of racehorses is being planned. And there have been the appearances of Carole and Michael in the royal carriage procession at Ascot, in the Jubilee flotilla, at the Order of the Garter ceremony and, this week, in the Wimbledon royal box as well. I wonder whether we’ll soon be expected to curtsey to them? (1)

I can’t help but wonder what on earth gives Zurko the impression that Mike and Carole would likely prefer less fame and that they could be dissatisfied with their new lifestyle. In my opinion, their behavior, including Platell’s examples, indicates the complete opposite.

It is not bothersome that the Middletons dare to show their faces at any royal events. Rather, it is off-putting that they always seem to take center stage during these occasions. Why was it necessary for them to be in the river pageant or part of the carriage procession at Ascot? Is simply attending beneath them or not attention-granting enough? And furthermore, if they dislike their prominence, why did they accept invitations to be in such highly noticeable positions at those events and at Wimbledon? They didn’t have to put themselves in the most visible circumstances possible on those occasions, but they chose to. They actually didn’t have to attend at all, but they chose to. They have choices in these matters, just like the other consort families who choose to avoid flaunting and taking obvious advantage of their links to the Royals. If the Middletons feel more burdened than blessed by the media attention, I would expect they’d be doing everything in their power to be as inconspicuous as possible. But obviously, they aren’t.

Another issue is that they are constantly tagging along with the Royals lately. It appears that they rarely or never turn down a royal invitation and are eager to be included whenever possible. All of it suggests they are actually very happy to embrace their lifestyle and royal connection. (Plus, Kate dated William for 9 years before marrying him. With everything considered, the Middletons weren’t “thrust” into anything.) The circumstances also fail to shatter their reputations as opportunistic social climbers. First, there is no reason why they can’t opt to give Kate their full support from behind the scenes in more instances. It’s understandable that they’re proud of her and excited by her new position, but it isn’t necessary that they shout it from the highest rooftop. If they truly dislike their fame, then it’s incredibly odd that they choose to demonstrate their support in public so often. Second, their presence can be awkward and only seems natural at certain events. For instance, although Platell used it as one of her examples, I found nothing wrong with Carole attending the Order of the Garter ceremony for William. He’s her son-in-law, they are said to have a close relationship, and acknowledging an honor is a suitable way for a mother to take part in her daughter and son-in-law’s life. In contrast, it was peculiar that Mike and Carole joined the Queen and other Royals at Ascot. They are not in the Royals’ typical social circle and the occasion had nothing to do with William or Kate, who were not even there. Yet there they were, riding in the carriage procession among the Royals, picking their horses from the royal box, and rubbing elbows with the Duke of Edinburgh on the royal balcony. If the press’ interest in them is such a burden, one would think the famously wealthy pair would have found a much lower-key way to view the races. And who can forget Carole’s tacky, head-to-toe, “Look at me!!!” red getup (clearly a ghastly trademark of the women in that family)?

Would the Middletons be so keen to spend time with their son-in-law’s extended family if they were commoners who couldn’t provide any luxuries? Kate’s family may have lost some of their privacy, but I can’t believe they aren’t enjoying the perks of their new connections – premium and prestigious seats at sporting events included.

Now, onto Platell’s comments: There is no denying that the Middletons’ lifestyles have been thoroughly upgraded, and Platell’s examples show just that. They also include instances that suggest an elevation beyond increased wealth. The family has not been raised into the peerage like Kate has, yet they participate in regal events and sometimes receive special treatment as though they have been. They are definitely blurring the lines around their true place in society, and it is easily uncomfortable to the many who suspect the family of being a parasitical pack of scheming social-climbers.

For the most part, Platell questioning whether the public will have to curtsy and show reverence to the Middletons seems like a deliberately dramatic point. I don’t think they will be given peerage titles or that anyone will ever have to curtsy to them. However, William appears to be incredibly fond of them, and may reward them handsomely when he is King. Actually, I shudder to think of what William and Kate will bestow on the Middletons when they are King and Queen. It’s only a potential issue that probably won’t surface for decades; but now that I think of it, maybe Platell’s point isn’t so far-fetched after all.

One Crazy Read

The rest of Platell’s article was mostly spot on, although I disagree with her that William and Kate have excelled at their royal duties as they carelessly leave so much to be desired. However, the remainder of Zurko’s was very puzzling.

First, she claimed that to avoid embarrassing Kate, the Middletons can’t offer a large selection of Royal Family-themed party supplies at their business like their competitors can. -Not comfortably, at least. I wonder if she has actually visited the Middletons’ online store, because not long ago, I spotted an ample variety of royal-related products highlighted, front and center on their homepage.

She went on to state that when the family does dare to offer such products, they are criticized in the press. That, of course, is absolutely true. However, flattering or not, the reports serve as massive free promotion for their business. So far, it has made international headlines repeatedly and many of the articles featured descriptions and photos of their products and website. Being criticized by the media must be difficult; but in this matter, I strongly suspect they had resulting boosts in sales which greatly rewarded them for any suffering. It’s only fair to view the situation as a trade-off.

After discussing the perceived product limitations and media criticism the Middletons face, she stated, “Taking this into consideration, their business appears actually hampered by their new affiliation with royalty” (2). What a downright crazy statement! The Middletons’ business has reportedly skyrocketed from the massive exposure they gained from Kate’s affiliation with William. I would not have known that party supplier existed if it were not for Kate dating and marrying William – and the same is true for millions of others around the world. Globally, it’s probably the most recognized business of its kind right now! It absolutely blows my mind to think that anyone could truly believe that a small potential limitation on a single type of products is more powerful at inhibiting their sales than the inconceivably enormous exposure is at boosting them through the roof. But then, Zurko also believes Mike and Carole most likely don’t want to upgrade their home to the $7.3 million (£4.7 million) Berkshire estate (which is strongly rumored to be funded by Prince William), and are only proceeding because they probably have to (2). Pardon me if I don’t tear up for that poor, poor family being forced into the lap of luxury against their will.

The Wrap Up

Although Platell is concerned that the Middletons might believe they are royalty, I think there is a greater point to be made about their actions. It is not their “air of snootiness” that should worry so much, but rather their seemingly opportunistic tendencies. These are the people who the future Queen consort learned her values from, and who the future King is very close with. If they appear to be shamelessly promoting themselves and exploiting their royal ties for privileges and profits, then there could be some major bumps in the road for the future Monarchy – and everyone else who’s along for the ride.

Sources
(1) Platell, Amanda. “I worry the Middletons really do believe they are royalty.” Daily Mail. 7/6/2012.
(2) Zurko, Roz. “Kate Middleton’s family accused of having an ‘air of snootiness’ lately.” Examiner. 7/7/2012.

July 2, 2012 567

Kate Middleton: Royally Snubbed Part II

By in Kate Critic

The Queen has found it necessary to abandon traditional Royal protocol concerning whom will show reverence to whom among the Royal women. Recently, she has ensured that no princess of Royal blood, including Anne, Princess Royal, and Princesses Alexandra, Beatrice and Eugenie, will have to curtsy or show reverence to Kate Middleton (1). In fact, despite being the future Queen Consort, Kate will now have to walk behind and bow down to them when Prince William is not present (1).

The last time Her Majesty took the trouble to alter the order of precedence was when she prevented Anne, Princess Royal, and Princess Alexandra from having to curtsey to the scandalous Camilla Parker Bowles upon her marriage to Prince Charles (2). It seemed highly appropriate considering Camilla was adulterous with Charles throughout his marriage to the beloved Princess Diana, and a horribly unpopular woman who helped bring irreparable shame and embarrassment on the Royal Family. With that in mind, it is highly interesting – incredibly telling even – that the Queen was compelled to extend the dishonoring rules of Court she applied to Camilla to Kate.

If the reports are accurate, the Queen has lowered Kate a greater distance in the pecking order than Camilla: Though Camilla would traditionally be the second highest ranking lady in the Royal Household (if she were the Princess of Wales, befitting her status as Charles’ wife), she has been deemed the fourth, and is required to show reverence to the Queen, Princess Royal, and Princess Alexandra (Princess Diana was third, beneath only the Queen and Queen Mother) (2). Based on the order of succession, Kate would be the third highest without any of the Queen’s interventions (The Queen, Camilla, then Kate). Or, she could even be second if the Queen were solely singling out Camilla for her past conduct. But she is not even the fifth highest: just below Camilla’s non-traditionally low position. The Queen has designated Kate as no higher than seventh under all the princesses of Royal blood. She’s married to the future King, yet in her level of the peerage, almost couldn’t be reduced any further! Some may think it is evidence of the Queen’s snobbery – that she refuses to allow “Common Kate” her due respect and precedence based on her position. But I think not.

After a year of Kate’s substandard performance as a Royal, the Queen’s action comes across as bold evidence that the Royal Family is tremendously displeased – and rightly so – with their newest member. The press diligently promotes the idea that the Queen adores her, but it’s unfathomable that she would have arranged the Order of Precedence this way if that were even remotely true. The way the Duchess has been accounted for suggests that at the very least, the Queen is not impressed with her, is perhaps even embarrassed by her, and astutely recognizes her failures and defining lack of value to the Royal Family, citizens of the Commonwealth, and people throughout the world.

Awkward! The “Closeness” Between Kate and the Queen

The Queen is always highly composed and deeply serious about her duties, but she appears incredibly personable and friendly with others – whether they are everyday people or other monarchs. In public, she can often be seen expressing happiness and love toward those she truly adores and whose company she genuinely enjoys: Example 1Example 2Example 3Example 4Example 5Example 6. In those examples, and endless others, it’s easy to see how her face lights up and conveys the authenticity of her enjoyment. But she has never been documented looking that way at Kate (not to my knowledge, at least). Typically, when she interacts with Kate, her look of genuine happiness vanishes. As poised as she is, at times, even she cannot hide her true feelings. -Despite the Duchess’ famously incessant grinning, it seems they are written all over her face.

As members of the press speculate that the Queen absolutely loves her granddaughter-in-law, they often present images of the two chatting or “laughing together” as feeble and misleading evidence. What most of the photos actually show is the Queen amused by something in her surroundings, and Kate laughing at - not with – her, looking like an outcast desperate to be in on the joke. Either that, or Kate is seen talking to the Queen. The Queen, however, is rarely seen making eye contact with her, initiating conversation with her or reciprocating in any way. Photos like this one, which show the Queen visibly acknowledging Kate, are very rare. And like that photo, none of them indicate a closeness or friendship between the two ladies – only that the Queen is polite and personable to those who speak to her.

The Sun published a great example of the media’s sly twist on the relationship between the Sovereign and Social-Climber. Their article features a photo of them sitting next to each other and laughing in Nottingham last month. Just after the image, it says, “The Queen and Duchess of Cambridge shared a joke as they enjoyed a visit to the East Midlands today,” (3). Also, “Kate and Her [Majesty] laughed out loud together after descending on Nottingham…” (3). That makes it sound like the two are incredibly comfortable together, get along very well, enjoy each others’ company, and have similar senses of humor. However, if the photo is any indication, none of that appears to be true. To say that the two women “shared a joke” and “laughed out loud together” implies that there was some type of pleasurable social exchange between them. -But no exchange appears to have taken place. It is true that they were both laughing at something while sitting next to each other. But many do that with complete strangers while viewing comedies in movie theaters/cinemas, and it doesn’t mean anyone is sharing anything or laughing together.

The Queen, who undertook 444 engagements in 2010 at age 83-84, is strongly adherent to the motto she is associated with: “Duty before self,” (6). And prominently, the work-shy, extravagant, and fashion-happy Duchess of Cambridge has demonstrated that her personal values are in stark contrast to that conviction. Unless the Queen is a woman with alarmingly low standards and a complete lack of pride in all that she and the other Royals represent – which she couldn’t be further from – there is no logical reason why she would adore Kate or even view her as a minimally acceptable addition to the Royal Family. -Honestly, the insinuation that she favors her at all is incredibly insulting. The only instance when the Queen openly accepted Kate was when she provided written approval for Prince William and “Trusty Catherine” to marry (4). Her consent was necessary for the marriage to be legal. However, she likely had little choice in the matter: There is a largely overlooked, unknown, and unexplored situation which may have soured the Queen’s opinion of Kate from the day the engagement was announced…

Did Kate Force her way into the Royal Family?

The long-standing rumor that William and Kate kept their engagement a secret from the Royal Family until just before the press announced it to the world was recently confirmed as true (5). (Recall that if their Kenya engagement story is true, they were engaged for about a month before the public – and the Royals – found out about it). Popular belief among those who know of this is that the couple knew the Queen and Prince Charles would not approve (Why would they?), so they only told them after the press had been alerted and the engagement could not have been revoked without severely embarrassing the Establishment. Clearly, it was not the element of a wonderful emotional surprise they were after, as they were not concerned with keeping the secret from Kate’s family (who William is demonstrably very fond of): In the engagement interview, William confessed he told Kate’s father about their plans to marry soon after he proposed. It seems very telling that they were not hesitant to inform those who would enthusiastically favor the engagement. Undoubtedly, they had their reasons for withholding their marriage plans from the others.

As mentioned before, for their marriage to be legal, the Queen had to officially consent to it, which she did. But what choice did she have after the press was informed of the engagement? If she hadn’t complied, she’d probably have been crucified by the media for being a cold elitist and trying to keep a commoner out of the Royal Family at all cost (Because what else could the Queen possibly have against a woman as press-proclaimed perfect as Kate Middleton? *sarcasm*). -And that’s only one of a million other horrible possibilities the Kate-worshiping press could have concocted.

Overall, the revelation implies that the Royal Couple likely forced Kate on the Royal Family. For both William and Kate, but especially for Kate, it would have taken a lot of nerve to disrespectfully and deceptively corner the Queen in that way. -To go behind her back and above her head in such a life-altering matter. The Queen should have had time to consider the proposition carefully and uninhibited freedom to make the right choice for the Royal Family and the people. If the implications are true, they could help explain why she often appears to give Kate the cold shoulder, and why Kate now stands so low in the Order of Precedence (Not to mention, the secretive engagement situation – the possible lack of the Queen’s approval without entrapment – may also partially explain why the couple had such an abnormally lengthy relationship before announcing an engagement. Was a trap their last and most desperate resort to get Kate’s foot in the Royal door?).

Of course, if Kate had entered the Royal Family and exceeded expectations (which couldn’t have been very high considering her unproductive past) by proving herself as even a somewhat hardworking, respectful, protocol-proficient, and eager-to-learn member, there is no doubt she could have largely made up for her initial social maneuvering. Alas, that has not been the case for the hair-obsessed, quasi fashion icon with her sparse schedule of Royal Duties and growing range of missteps.

The impression given by Prince William, that he is unhappy with his newly-acquired wife (discussed in Part I), is a negative blow for the Royal Family. But the feeling that Her Majesty is unhappy with her is actually quite redeeming. The Queen demoting Kate in the Order of Precedence was not an act of revenge for the secret engagement or an attempt to keep a former commoner in a lowly position. Following Kate’s economically-insensitive, incompetent (0:10), and parasitical example this past year, it was the right thing to do. Along with her plummeting popularity, the Duchess should consider the downgrade a courtesy wake-up-call.

There will almost certainly be a Part III in this “Royally Snubbed” series. Royals besides the Queen and Prince William have appeared to snub Kate, and there are deep potential reasons for those instances. All of them warrant exploration, so there will most likely be a Part III popping up in the near future.

I will leave you with a blast from the near-past: One year ago, princessdianafriend offered her wisdom on another potential-snub by the Queen. It was a beautifully rare and thought-provoking find when it was released, but is even more interesting with all that has transpired since. View it here.

Sources:
(1) Eden, Richard. “The Queen tells the Duchess of Cambridge to curtsy to the ‘blood princesses.’” The Telegraph. 6/24/2012.
(2) Lewis, Jason. “Camilla: Britain’s Fourth Lady…” Daily Mail. 6/12/2005.
(3) Millard, Neil. “Queen and Kate all smiles as rain shoves orf in Nottingham.” 6/13/2012.
(4) “Queen consents to royal wedding.” National Post. 4/21/2011.
(5)  Whitelocks, Sadie. “Prince William: 30 things you may not know about the Duke as he marks his 30th birthday.” Daily Mail. 6/21/2012.
(6) Mail on Sunday Reporter. “The Queen’s appetite for work reigns supreme at the age 84 as she increases public engagements.” Daily Mail. 1/1/2011.

© Enclave 24, July 2, 2012

June 23, 2012 470

The Astonishing Cost of Kate Middleton’s Beauty Regimen

By in Kate Critic, Mini Post

Mini Post:
Shine from Yahoo! has estimated that the beauty routine of Kate Middleton costs $37,728 (£24,205) per year (1). The estimate includes Kate’s makeup, spray tans, hair treatments, manicures and more, but does not include her clothes, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories and personal care items (see the entire breakdown here). The article stems from the revelation by US Weekly that she visits a luxury hair salon in Chelsea three times each week – 156 times per year – for pricey blowouts (2;1). While the estimate may not be the exact amount that she spends, it provides a realistic picture of how much the barely-working Duchess is likely splurging on her physical appearance.

It’s a good thing Prince William isn’t an average RAF search and rescue pilot, because his annual salary of $57,937 (£37,170) would be incredibly insufficient to fund his non-earning wife’s extravagant personal upkeep (3). In the UK, the average annual household income with two adults working is $62,350 (£40,000) before taxes (4). The average salary for one full-time worker is $40,907 (£26,244) (5). With that in mind, the thought of Kate – who doesn’t earn any income – using nearly all of that just on beauty products and services is astounding.

Since Kate is a member of the British Royal family now, and an extremely wealthy woman, it’s expected that she will spend far more than most on beauty and fashion  products (and everything else). However, it is also expected that members of the Royal Family – especially those in line for the throne and their consorts – will set admirable examples with their lifestyles and make strong, frequent contributions to society. But aside from this past weekend and the Jubilee celebrations, Kate usually only makes a single appearance toward Royal duties per week. Additionally, she can hardly be seen as authentic and credible when she prances around in one McQueen outfit after another after she and William asked average citizens to donate whatever they could to UNICEF despite the tough economic times (Besides, how many unfortunate children could be fed from the proceeds of auctioning off just one of Kate’s dresses, which she obviously prefers to “recycle”?). -The Royal couple are not likely to be convincing in the future. For those reasons and many others, clearly, she does not meet the latter expectation.

It’s understandable that Kate wants to look her best as she’s in the global spotlight. But there is too great of an imbalance between her apparent desire to be revered as breathtakingly beautiful and her lack of care to demonstrate that she is hardworking, compassionate, and dedicated to anyone’s well being but her own. With the regular spray tans, manicures, hair treatments, outfit planning and shopping, facials, pedicures, and whatever else the Duchess presumably does to transform herself, it’s no wonder her schedule of charitable participation is so sparse. Obviously, she is a very busy woman.

Sources:
(1) Douglas, Joanna. “The Cost of Kate Middleton’s Beauty Routine.” Shine. 6/21/2012.
(2) Finlayson, Ariana. “Kate Middleton Gets Blowouts Three Times a Week!”
(3) Butterworth, Myra. “Prince William and Kate Middleton could afford to buy ‘just a caravan’.” The Telegraph. 3/17/2011.
(4) Cronin, Frances. “Is £40,000 really a livable income for families in the UK?” BBC News Magazine. 11/30/2011.
(5) Ball, James. “UK Incomes Fall 3.5% in Real Terms, ONS Reveals.” The Guardian. 11/23/2011.

© Enclave 24, June 23, 2012

June 19, 2012 278

Kate Middleton: Royally Snubbed Part I

By in Kate Critic

Prince William has been spotted publicly kissing his dog, Lupo, the same number of times he has been seen kissing his wife, Kate Middleton. And the pecks he gave his puppy were candid and heartfelt, unlike the rehearsed dry smooches he gave his bride atop Buckingham Palace’s balcony in a display of contrived affection. The Royal couple have never been known for abundant PDA’s, and in the past, it was presumed they kept their distance to behave appropriately and avoid offending the Queen. But recent events suggest there may be more behind their chilly, detached brand of public coexistence.

A Couple in Love: Seeing Would Be Believing

At a charity polo match on Sunday, Prince William looked quite adorable as he nuzzled Lupo and held him like a baby. It was refreshing to see his warmer side again, since it has largely been in hiding in recent years. It was also heartwarming to see Zara Philips and Mike Tindall hugging and expressing their mutual adoration on the sidelines. It looked like a fun and casual event for all the Royals in attendance, including Prince Harry, and Peter and Autumn Philips with their young children. The photos show the youthful energy and playful love among the  young Royals and their budding families – but Kate appeared awkward and excluded, like a stranger walking by with a dog that the children wanted to play with (Thanks to DOY for the links!).

She also looked like a single woman who was there alone. Without the knowledge that William is her husband and was present, who would guess that the loner walking the dog was romantically attached to anyone there? It’s clear that Zara and Mike are in love, because they behave like they are. William and Kate’s behavior, however, is cause to doubt that there is any romantic love between them. Even if they prefer not to act lovingly in public, wouldn’t a prying paparazzi capture them in a touching unguarded moment every now and then? They’ve been together for a decade, and are still practically newlyweds. Yet they’ve only been captured showing the slightest physical affection and amorous body language a small hand full of times. And they’ve never looked as relaxed, content, and blissful to be together as Zara and Mike did on Sunday. -Not when they were sober, at least. In this instance, and nearly all others, no signs of affection between the two were documented: They did not hold hands, hug, put their arms around one another, socialize much, or show even the subtlest signs that there is chemistry between them and they are in love. When William wasn’t playing polo, he chose to spend his time holding, cuddling, and kissing his cute little puppy - not his wife. Apparently, he didn’t have enough love to go around. That seems very telling about the quality of the Royal couple’s true relationship.

A Royal Mess at the Jubilee

During the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the ever-present elephant in the room – William and Kate’s absence of affection – was more noticeable than ever. Through the river pageant, concert, Thanksgiving service, balcony scene, and closing service, William appeared mostly indifferent to his wife’s presence, and the pair were visibly disconnected. That’s practically normal for these two, but a couple that’s usually more detectably loving would appear to be in the trenches of a major marital dispute. William and Kate didn’t look angry or miserable when they spoke, and appeared very friendly and positive when they did. However, they seemed to interact so rarely – so briefly, and not with much enthusiastic joy or adoration. Largely, it appeared to be due to William: Through much of the celebration, it looked like he preferred others’ company to his wife’s and callously shunned her at times.

A notable example occurred when William and Kate sat beside the ecstatic Prince Harry at the Diamond Jubilee Concert. It was curious that in many of the released photos, William couldn’t have appeared more oblivious to Kate’s existence as he enjoyed the event with his brother. In some of them, she looked like a rejected third wheel as she sang along and waved her miniature flag.

The Royal Family’s appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace was powerful and incredibly meaningful, but William and Kate detracted from the message. The Queen boldly and deliberately chose to appear exclusively with members of the future monarchy (plus Prince Harry of course): The future Kings, Charles and William with their two future Queen Consorts (or so Camilla and Kate must hope). It gave the entire world a visual image of what the people of England and the commonwealth nations have to look forward to in future generations – the family affair that will represent them and provide their heads of state. But embarrassingly, William and Kate’s behavior showed anything but solidarity and a strong separation from the Royal Family’s history of marital dysfunctions. The public saw their future King barely interacting with his wife, and at times, standing an awkward arm’s length away from her. Meanwhile, she often stood close to Prince Harry and giggled tirelessly at his banter (whether he was speaking to her or not). Frankly, the entire situation – especially the abundance and duration of Kate’s attention to Harry – was puzzling and uncomfortable to witness. It was sweet of Harry to entertain Kate through her husband’s inattentiveness. However, by zeroing in on Harry so much, and acting like she was having the time of her life with him, she irresponsibly magnified the potentially dispassionate state of her marriage, demonstrated that she still does not know how to behave properly, and illuminated the possibility that it is in her nature to be adulterous – or at least, deeply conniving.

Seeking Attention Where It’s Lacking

Despite the flirtatious photos of Kate and Harry, it’s not at all likely that she would jeopardize her pampered life of fame and fashion by actually cheating on William. However, that doesn’t mean she’s above pretending to have an amazing time with another guy as though she couldn’t care less about William ignoring her – right where he is sure to observe it, and for the sake of getting his attention, making him jealous, and showing him what he’s missing. That may sound like a boldly speculative idea, but when Kate repeatedly courted the tabloids by going clubbing with William’s friends after he dumped her in 2007, it appeared she was doing just that. As painfully boring as she is, she seems to have a history of perfectly-timed pursuits of the most advantageous types of attention – the types that could have had a large hand in raising the mediocre Middleton girl to a most exceptional social position. Kate is no stunning beauty, nor is she accomplished for her age, highly intelligent, charitable, eloquent, especially talented, or from an upper class background comparable to William’s. She couldn’t be less special if she tried, and some would say she had to rely on playing these types of manipulative attention games to keep the Prince interested in her through the years. Apparently, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do. Could it be that she still has use for such ploys?

Kate’s flamboyant, body-skimming red dress captured the attention of the media around the world and thousands of onlookers as she floated down the Thames in the Jubilee river pageant. It was one of her best – and most attention-grabbing – looks of the year, and as usual, she appeared to have spent an enormous amount of time primping for the event. It may depend on how attention-hungry she is, but the idea that she would wear something so loud to get the attention of the media and public seems odd – because she already has so much of it. What would be more logical is that she was hoping to catch the eye of someone whose attention she didn’t have.

There is a possibility that Kate’s inappropriately flashy (yet hilariously upholstery-matching) McQueen dress was a cry for William’s attention. Not only would it make perfect sense, given his growing disregard for her in public, but it wouldn’t be the first time she’s appeared to use head-turning fashion choices to intrigue him. Unfortunately for her, if it was her intention, it didn’t appear to work. It’s impossible to know what he thought, but he seemed far less in awe of her in her fiery ensemble than the onlookers, fashion critics, reporters and journalists, and her many fans. If she took his breath away, he certainly didn’t show it at the pageant. It’s expected that when a woman has spent endless hours making herself up and is wearing a showy, body-hugging, custom-made dress, the man in love with her will be visibly captivated and smitten. But William wasn’t. As usual, he often directed and walked ahead of her, did’t look her in the eye much (if at all), and appeared anything but enamored and affectionate.

Overall, the couple’s displays at the Jubilee celebrations and Sunday’s polo match deeply contradict the press-produced image that Kate is living a fantasy love story with her Prince. For one thing, when William is so distant with her in public, it suggests he’s not in love in the least and has had enough of her at home already. Kate’s behavior is less than loving too though. While she usually appears to be the rejected one, she is not often seen attempting to be affectionate with William either. It’s also difficult to imagine that behavior like wearing a distracting outfit on the Queen’s day or providing negative fuel to tabloids by appearing to flirt with Harry would please William. The situation is a problem the image-dependent couple needs to face and fix if they are to avoid giving the impression that their marriage is one of convenience and based on friendship instead of romantic love. Because right now, that’s exactly what it looks like.

There is more to come in Part II.

© Enclave 24, June 19, 2012

June 8, 2012 353

Was Kate Middleton Caught Adjusting her Hair Extensions?

By in Kate Critic, Mini Post

During the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee river pageant, Kate Middleton was seen making a very peculiar adjustment to her hair. While aboard the Royal barge, she candidly grabbed and moved the hair at her scalp between  the lower crown of her head and upper nape of her neck. View the Duchess’ move by visiting ITN News Source, clicking on “Watch Preview” under the video titled, “Diamond Jubilee End of Pageant Onboard Spirit of Chartwell,” and paying particular attention to the footage between 2:54 and 2:58.

UPDATE: The video has either been moved or deleted from the ITN website (I have not been able to locate it). However, MatildaSoBlue of YouTube has uploaded a portion of the clip and made a commentary. The portion of interest is at 0:24.

Kate’s hair was down and loose in the area where she pinched and moved it, so what on earth could have been there for her to adjust? She did not appear to be scratching her scalp or casually running her fingers through her hair, playing with it, or brushing it to a more comfortable position (away from her face, etc.). It looks as though she gripped something near her scalp to tweak or possibly loosen it. Why else would she grab her hair there? Without extensions, her half-up hairstyle would only have required potentially irritating or unruly fastening devices higher up on her head.  Truthfully, the area where she made the adjustment is an area where hair extensions are commonly attached. Was the Duchess adjusting a bothersome hair extension attachment?

Early last year, I gave Kate the benefit of the doubt: I recognized that she likely wore hair extensions for the Royal Wedding, but still thought there was a slight possibility she did not wear them on a regular basis – that her enormous increase in hair care resources and the careful positioning of her hair during photo ops could explain why her hair appeared thicker. Now, after reviewing many before and after photos, there is no doubt in my mind that she wears extensions on a nearly constant basis. Not to mention, when the typically silent Palace combated rumors that she wears them by claiming a line on her scalp is actually a scar, the entire subject came off as a touchy one for her.

The before and after photos are highly convincing:

Before: Average Thickness
After: Mop Head
(1) Thanks to HoustonGrl on Cele|bitchy for this excellent comparison.

Before: Half Up
After: Where’d all that come from?

Before: Natural Beauty
After: Hair Curtains!

Before: Believable
After: Too Thick to be True?

The way Kate touched her hair at the Jubilee river pageant may not be a smoking gun, but like the before and after photos, it hurts the case that her amazingly thick and shiny hair is all naturally hers. It’s a sad reality, because her hair is the primary physical and all-around attribute she is praised for.

Sources
(1) Comment by HoustonGrl, 5/4/2012 at 10:49 am. Celebitchy. “Should Duchess Kate chop off her hair, or just learn how to style it?” Cele|bitchy. 5/4/2012.
(2) Special thanks to MatildaSoBlue of YouTube for bringing the video and this topic to light.

© Enclave 24, June 8, 2012

June 4, 2012 150

Kate Middleton’s Red McQueen Dress: Too Flashy for the Jubilee

By in Kate Critic

Kate Middleton wore a perfectly tailored Alexander McQueen dress in a daring shade of red to Saturday’s magnificent river pageant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. It may be the most figure flattering dress Kate has ever worn, but the fire engine-colored cry for attention was completely uncalled for and inappropriate on a day when she should have dressed deliberately and respectfully low-key. It was, after all, a day to honor and celebrate the Queen.

The Disrespectful Duchess

I have spoken out many times about the tastelessness of Kate’s excessively crimson outfits. Allow me to recap two of her most memorable offenses: Last year, she wore a bright red lace dress to another woman’s wedding. She was already Prince William’s new bride and the focus of constant attention worldwide. Did she really have to wear something so distracting on another bride’s special day? She also wore a long red coat with a shiny red animal print belt when she and William accompanied the Danish Royals to promote UNICEF in the battle against hunger in the Horn of Africa. Crown Princess Mary looked modest, elegant, and appropriately somber in a dark coat and grey slacks with her hair pulled back. She didn’t look to be using the tragic famine disaster as an opportunity to draw attention to herself and upstage the other female Royal. Kate, on the other hand, did.

Wearing outfits that compete for the spotlight with friends at their weddings or other princesses may be easy for the Duchess to get away with. But wearing an entire ensemble in the most attention-grabbing, energetic color in existence to stand beside Her Majesty as she is revered for her sixty year reign is arrogant, insolent and reckless beyond belief. Who does she think she is?

A scarlet dress and hat are the choices of a woman who wants the spotlight on her – to outshine others in her presence. With that and her attention-seeking history in mind, there are three likely possibilities which I think could explain Kate’s atrocious fashion misstep:

  1. Sneaky: She is arrogant, clueless and careless and never thought her crimson dress would be recognized as bait for attention and selfish disregard for the Queen – and every other woman in the Royal Family who followed the unspoken rules and dressed appropriately.
  2. Stupid: She is alarmingly narrow-minded and unintelligent and innocently chose an outfit she thought would compliment and draw positive attention to her without considering how it would be perceived and whether it was appropriate for the occasion.
  3. Self-Serving: She desperately needs to be the center of attention and purposefully chose this dress to stand out in the crowd of her Royal superiors – which included the woman she was there to honor: the Queen! She is vain and self-absorbed with exhibitionist tendencies that override her willingness to be humble, respectful and appropriate.

Whatever the truth is, Kate had a lot of nerve wearing that outfit. In my opinion, this instance, along with others like her raunchy fashion show appearance at St. Andrews and the distasteful partying she did after William dumped her, all demonstrate that she will do whatever it takes to be noticed. But she is noticed. She is in the spotlight. At the Jubilee river pageant, she still would have gotten masses of attention in an outfit that didn’t make her stick out like a sore thumb. The other female Royals, including Camilla, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, all wore dresses and coats that weren’t at all flashy. The Duchess should have followed suit.

Ever so Enhanced?

The color of Kate’s dress wasn’t the only attention-grabber. This McQueen number fit every inch of her like a custom-made glove. And actually, her figure looked more feminine, shapely, and curvaceous than it ever has. The silhouette gave the illusion of more voluptuous hips and disguised her broad shoulders while the high neckline and masterful tailoring did wonders for her waist and bustline. Aside from being too thin, Kate’s body looked great in this dress – better than ever. I just wish she hadn’t used such poor judgement and would have worn it in an appropriate setting.

I also wish she’d chosen a different event to debut such an enhanced-looking figure. Kate has never been a well-endowed girl, yet her assets suddenly appeared sizable in the McQueen minidress. Her dress was quite body-skimming – not bust-enhancing on its own like a top with ruffles or fabric gathered in all the right places would have been. I don’t take issue with a woman who borrows a little volume from her undergarments – which I assume Kate did – but I do think the size of feminine assets need to be as consistent as possible. This is an area where Kate has developed an ongoing problem. In some instances, she’s flat as a rail, while in others, she looks much more voluptuous. And in some shots of her at the river pageant, she almost looked like she’d had plastic surgery to augment her bust. Clearly, she hadn’t. But the point is, she needs to pick a size and stick with it. The fluctuations are another distracting element of her style, and not a flattering one.

I think this was an amazing look for the Duchess. But it was not the right time or place for her to wear a bright red dress that enhanced her figure and fit like a glove. It’s been over a year since Kate married William, and it’s high time she stopped making discourteous missteps. She is the focus of so much attention already and should never have a need to upstage other women with her fashion choices. Hopefully she will make more appropriate decisions in the future and consider that a pretty dress can be perceived as the tool of ugly intentions.

© Enclave 24, June 4, 2012

May 31, 2012 98

Kate Middleton Shopping Photos Banned in the UK: But Why?

By in Kate Critic

According to the Guardianthese photos of Kate Middleton at the supermarket, Tesco, in December 2011 were just banned from publication in the United Kingdom (1). Heat Magazine, which published one of the photos (in the UK) last year, recently apologized to Kate after her lawyers accused them of harassment and violating her privacy (2).

Why have Kate and her legal team singled out and banned this particular set of grocery run photos, while others don’t appear to bother them? It’s apparent that like Prince William, the Duchess is keen to pick and choose exactly when, where, and how she is photographed. The most striking difference between the banned set of photos and others of Kate grocery shopping is that the forbidden one shows Kate looking genuinely peeved to have spotted the photographer. But why? Why this time?

While the details of the banning procedures are a mystery, it is easy to guess why photos like these could be problematic for Kate: She was very exposed when they were taken because, unlike those of other shopping instances, her selections were sprawled out on a conveyor belt for all to see and not in bags. While there may not have been any controversial items in her cart that time, it is only logical to assume that she and the other Royals want to discourage the circulation of photos like these to avoid negative press stemming from what she purchases. For instance, considering how incredibly thin she is, catching her buying any weight loss products, or even low fat or reduced calorie foods, could cause a massive spike in eating disorder rumors.

The products Kate bought at Tesco that day don’t appear to be the slightest bit scandalous, but they may provide a glimpse into what goes on in William and Kate’s household. -Another thing the Royals probably find unacceptable. Actually, the most interesting – and possibly telling – aspect of Kate’s selections is what she didn’t buy. She is a housewife, or homemaker, and homemakers do a lot more than buy and prepare food. While some of the products are difficult to specifically identify, her conveyor belt lineup appears to primarily, if not totally, consists of food items (See all the images of Kate at the checkout here.). It looks as though she did not buy any cleaning supplies, laundry products, or toiletries, among other things. It’s a safe bet that she doesn’t purchase more “unspeakable” items like feminine hygiene products openly in public, but don’t housewives usually need a lot more than food from the supermarket? -Especially from a superstore like Tesco! Of course, this is just a look at Kate’s selections from a single shopping trip, and it’s possible that she does purchase other home necessities sometimes. Maybe she just didn’t need anything but food that time. But it’s also possible that this is typical for her, and that this so-called housewife doesn’t need cleaning supplies or other home maintenance products because she is not solely or primarily responsible for the daily upkeep of her home.

Any time she has been spotted running errands – and photographed – she has been at a supermarket. The press suggests that these instances capture a dutiful housewife who is fetching ingredients so she can lovingly prepare a romantic dinner for Prince William. But her pattern of errands suggest she isn’t much of a housewife at all. There has yet to be any photos of Kate trekking out of a hardware store, visiting the dry cleaners, pushing a cart full of large home maintenance items that don’t fit in small plastic bags, or anything else consistent with the homemaker occupation. Kate supposedly set up and decorated the new home she and William moved into in Anglesey last year. Her need to make their house into a cozy, personalized home was even offered as part of the reason why she needed so much time before taking on a fuller schedule of Royal duties and any charity commitments. Yet, she was never seen leaving a store with any home decor items, household appliances, garden or yard tools, larger cleaning supplies like mops, brooms, or a new vacuum, for instance, or any other identifiable products for decorating or housework. It’s all enough to suspect that the Royal couple had a professional decorate their home and that Kate has hired help for housework, errands, and gardening (among many other possible areas). Of course, the public does not see most of what she and William purchase, and in the case of settling in Anglesey, the couple could have already owned some supplies from their premarital cohabitation, or may have placed orders and had things discreetly delivered to their home. But regardless, it looks like the woman only goes to grocery stores, and that is unfathomable if she is actually responsible for maintaining her home. Kate might cook – but is she the one who cleans her kitchen afterwards?

Sources
Greenslade, Roy. “American sites publish ‘banned’ paparazzi photos of Duchess.” The Guardian. 5/22/2012.
Greenslade, Roy. “Heat magazine apologizes for picture of Duchess in supermarket.” The Guardian. 5/21/2012.