Royal style and gossip: photo calls and tennis balls

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Everyone ready for a joint Wimbledon Duchessing?

Going back to Kate’s blue dress - I disliked the first photo I saw very much. But then I saw it from other angles and actually, I now think it was quite pretty. I liked the shoes as well, they looked better than spiky heels for walking on grass but more elegant than wedges (I don’t actually dislike her much maligned espadrilles but they would have been a bit too casual for the occasion).

I agree it was a pretty dress it just didn’t look perfect at the front from all angles. But really- who does ever 😃

The blue dress was pretty.
I dislike ankle straps as they make even the longest legs look shorter but the block heel was sensible for the grass. - I cant believe she wore Aldo shoes- are all their shoes synthetic and sweaty ?
Aldo have some great looking shoes and bags but they all seem to be made of synthetic materials.
Could someone post a picture of Max at Ascot in the Queens carriage please - that was an awesome hat she wore.

No their shoes aren’t all plastic. They do plenty of leather too.

I like ankle straps and I long ago gave up listening to the tyranny of fashion and whether or not I should be ‘allowed’ (or give myself permission) to wear a strappy sandal in case my legs (which are perfectly good legs no matter how long or short they are) look shorter or my ankles look thicker or whatever. I wear what I like and what makes me feel good.

I don’t want to have to be perfect in order to have fun with clothing/shoes and enjoy myself, and I don’t expect perfection from any other woman either, no matter who she is. I think it’s great that Kate stays true to herself (even if I do think she could mix it up a little here and there) and I think Meghan is navigating her weight gain and post-pregnancy body brilliantly. The level of scrutiny is insane.

Oh hmmm maybe they have gone downhill then? I bought a great pair of leather boots from them some years ago...

@Ninkaninus great post. I feel much the same since turning 40, and I'm trying hard to dress just for me, and keep remembering that the ultimate job of clothes is not to make me look thinner. Frankly, if I like something I'll wear it, fuck it if someone thinks it makes me ankles look chubby or whatever. If I was MM I'd probably be an absolute hermit by now, the undue scrutiny is hitting quite a ridiculous peak.

On the school thing, I think one of the reasons everyone was amazed by their choice of Battersea for George (and now Charlotte) is because it's NOT one of those schools filled with other royals and celebs etc. Yes, it's private and there probably are lots of wealthy children and possibly a few celebs and foreign business people etc, but it isn't one of those schools that's known for that. Personally, I always thought that was one of the reasons they chose it - they wanted a more "normal" school. The other campus of St Thomas' is more in line with the celeb/royal style though so I guess the school has basic experience.

I don't usually buy into the workshop argument with Kate and William, but even I'm finding it hard to reconcile them being off now until September except for the regatta.

Just popping in to say I don't have a problem at all with the royals being off til September. (Just like teachers!) They are under insane levels of scrutiny for the rest of the year. Hope K and W (and M and H) get to spend a lovely summer with their young family. Without being papped.

I agree Fly.

I agree. Teachers, MPs, royals, Italians 🤣 loads of people don’t work in August!

Charles and Camilla are still working. Their Cornwall trip looks like fun!
Here’s Camilla making a Cornish pasty

Camilla always gives the media a story or a picture; I think that also plays a big part in her rehabilitation of the last 20 years. She understands the press and helps them do their job without being manipulative.
Everyone talks about Kate being the future queen; but let’s face it; Camilla is next. Although if they are wise; she will just be Princess Consort.

Charles fistbumping!

Camilla is always spot on with her clothes, the person that chooses them for her knows their client well.

She is a game person, never putting a foot wrong with a sense, gawd knows what she sees in her husband sometimes. I would have to hang onto my own home there. The most famous LAT in the UK

But it's not August? I'd have no problem with them taking the whole of August off. But we're still only half way through July!

Camilla gets all the fun engagements - eating pasties, pulling pints, whisky tasting etc etc!

I doubt they're taking all of the time off, as it not dealing with any communications/phone calls etc. from their charities or organisations. Just not on parade.

It's like the Queen disappearing from months - which at 93 I reckon she's entitled to do! - she still has her red boxes every day. Never a complete shutdown.

we met a family on holiday whose daughter was at nursery in Norfolk with Prince George. Her mum asked the daughter 'what's George Cambridge like?' and she said 'huggy'! Apparently K was very hands on, dropped him off etc. but there were protection officers around which made it a bit weird.

Anyway they didn't mention an NDA or playdates but obviously this was at a much younger age.

I guess the young ones will take off on holiday for a bit a break for them and the children. To be honest Scotland with the midges is not somewhere I would like to be holed up for weeks on end.

Yup, I'd sooner be in Norfolk I think!

I think Camilla looks like she'd be good fun, she doesn't seem to take herself too seriously.

The Cambridges will probably head off to Mustique.
I think Eden Roc (owned by Pippa’sin laws) is too public.

Balmoral won't have many midges at all. You get them most on the west coast.

I understand that the Royal Family have a team of retired servicemen known as the “meanbh-chuileag suivant” one of whom
walks naked next to each member to act as a midge decoy. It is a highly sought after post- but each “McS” as they are known can only serve for a short time as they midges lose interest and they have to be replaced on a weekly basis....

What’s happened to Mr Markle? He seems to have gone quiet, do we think he’s been paid off?