Royal style and gossip: photo calls and tennis balls

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Everyone ready for a joint Wimbledon Duchessing?

How cute is this?
Simona Halep being excited about meeting the Duchesses

Curly I think Meghan is beautiful, Kate is attractive but Pippa is a bit plain.

@CurlyWurlyTwirly that's very sweet!

I am not surprised at the suspicions on timed pap-shots of the York girls. It's a very PR thing to do, and works well - give the people what they want! Andrew has been out a lot doing RF work over the past year, and thanks to instagram and twitter we have seen a lot more of it. It's sound tactica.

@Chewbacca - I agree. I have seen her when she wasn't.

"I wonder if anyone actually read my post. My whole point was they they are the shape they are through current circumstance, which is likely to change, and therefore neither of them ought to be judged negatively for it."

So what if it doesn't change?. What we think of how the two ladies look is irrelevant. It shouldn't even be up for discussion.

I’ve been thinking about the weight thing. The Middletons I think must have good genes - I’ve a friend who eats for England (way way more than me & she’s an amazing cook & her cakes ) & she’s a rake. She walks her dog for a couple of hours a day- that’s it. I on the other hand just have to look at food to put weight on. I do the same exercise as her - we walk the dogs together. It’s definitely partly genes!

Chuckling at the memory of Jamie Oliver’s '30 minute meals' and the scenes of utter devastation in the kitchen.

Really loving the 40s style on KM, and that colour. Love the pleated skirt on MM - the shirt not so much. She could have worn navy. Pippa's dress looked so summery. They all seemed to be getting along like a house on fire.

The Express has an article about how Kate was working harder than the tennis players...and reminding us about Meghan “clutching” her baby awkwardly and him not wearing socks or a hat.........

Thanks for the Halep meeting Kate link, that is lovely, Halep was lovely.

Just an important reminder... whether anyone is very slender or very curvy or allllll the possibilities in between... everyone has beautiful bodies and lets just celebrate those and that we even have healthy bodies :) My body changed a lot from my 20s to my 30s (from slim to...less slim :) ) and I loved it - if I stay like MM looks now I’ll be chuffed! Being very slender is nice (easy to dress I guess), but some curves are lovely (boobs! Finally have boobs!). Would I love more curves and swerves? Yes!!

Anyway I find it a bit sad sometimes when the implication is that slender is best, because everyone has great bods Hope you all give yourselves a sexy wink and a phoar today :)

Late again,about Wimbledon I think it was a bit of a disappointment ,didn’t like Kate dress, I actually hate , hate Dolce and have no idea why Kate loves them .
Meghan, really needs a good stylist to dress her body shape, she didn’t look good.

And I must be the only one who doesn’t share the love for peppa’s dress?

Not everyone I know has a chief that prepares meals for them or Personal trainers, but they are fit and slim. I really hate this notion that you need a lot of help to lose weight /stay slim.

I thought Meghan looked fabulous until I saw her bottom half! I loved that really simple pared down look.

I thought it was lovely to see the Duchesses interacting in such a positive way. Great Pippa was there too. All of them have baby boys born within a short time of each other, so will have lots in common.

I hated all the outfits I'm afraid. Kate's dressing like she's in the 1940's does nothing for me. I didn't like anything about that dress, the colour , fit or style. She looked ridiculously thin and it was weird around the bust, like a lot of her outfits. Pippa's dress again not at all special and a bit frumpy really. Hated Meghan's outfit. It didn't suit her figure at all. She is short waisted and carrying a bit of extra weight, it looked all wrong. It cut her in half and made her look bulky. White does nothing for her either in my opinion. I wish she would lose the shirt look and wear more simple summer dresses, she seems to be stuck in a sort of warp where she keeps reverting to shirts . I thought she looked very happy and fresh though.
I also think DOC is great. She comes across as kind , interested and involved in everything she does. She seemed to be making a real effort to make Meghan feel included. There is never any sense of ego with her, she is what she is.
Looking forward to seeing what today brings!

Also I'm sure that Kate has the figure she does through a LOT of hard work. Watching everything she eats, personal trainer. She was much more normal sized before her wedding, and I thought she looked much better. Being too thin makes her face look drawn and lined at times. Carol, Pippa and Kate were all on the Dukan diet for ages, and now Carol is a vegan. I suspect they all make watching their weight a bit of a religion, but clearly have good genes and an athletic build in any case.

DH has radio 5 live on yesterday before the women's final and they were interviewing a previous winner who had been invited to join the Duchess of Cambridge for lunch yesterday. The person being interviewed said that you weren't allowed to ask the DoC any questions and then either she or the interviewer commented on just how many questions the DoC must have up her sleeve if she is the one who has to keep the conversation flowing.
Can you imagine? That must be such hard work. I wonder in what circumstances the other person is allowed to ask a question. At a state banquet for example?
I can see how it is easier to have that as a blanket rule as it means the DoC can't be dragged into topics they don't want to discuss - whether politics or childcare arrangements - but it must be really odd for the conversation to be so one sided.

I absolutely adore that post baby glow Meghan has! She looks absolutely radiant - not a big fan of that word but can't think of a better word to describe it. A dark blue fitted cap sleeve top would have worked well with that skirt but I think she looked great. Not a massive fan of the dark green of Kate's dress but yes she looked very polished.

About the not asking questions: i wonder what happens if you do? Once in a flow of convo it would be easy to suddenly ask an innocent question. Especially if you've got kids of similar ages. Does she answer politely but then you get taken away slapped about the head?! You.Asked.A.Bloody.Question. slap slap slap (i'm picturing Basil Faulty and Manuel)

DofC must be well used to throwing the focus back on who ever she's talking to. It's a trick advised if you're socially awkward as well. I know someone who asks constant questions all the time when you chat with her. I notice it every time and desperately try to get one in myself occasionally.

I didn't like Meghans outfit yesterday- it made her look a little plump, with no waist.
It wasn't flattering.

Well apparently the Queen has a nice little repertoire of bland questions. One is supposedly "have you come far?"

I don't think it would be taxing at all. For example I'm a nurse and "have you come far?" is one of my questions. I have to do a hell of a lot of small talk, whilst basically being the driver of the entire conversation as I need to find out X, Y and Z about their medical background. You do get good at it over the years.

Frankly if that's as hard as their jobs get, then it's not that taxing.

Elspeth hats off to you for wording that so kindly :) imagine your busiest days are quite something!

Was trying to find alternative outfits both ladies could have worn (both looked fine though!) - it’s very tricky! Hard to find very smart day wear. Equally as Kate is Wimbledon royalty wonder if she could make it a bit less formal, at least in the games before the final. Thought maybe she’d be told off for it...

Anyway here are some things I’d offer up to the ladies :)

Adds to list of reasons I’d be shit at being royal 🤣

Kate...

A boring LK Bennett but at least it’s a summery colour. Plus two drop-waist dresses - and topshop and warehouse so cheap(er)!

Megs... these are all pricey.. budget options to follow :)

Megs and budget options.. yumi, warehouse and Topshop. Not sure the first is smart enough for the final, but nice for another more relaxed setting :) she’s very glowy so can carry off dark colours in summer :)

Actually that last polka dot one is a drop waist so tricky, but MM would suit a small polka dot pattern.

Plus would love to see both ladies rock better sunnies :)