Kate & The Middletons

[Tabbytiger122]

I am currently reading Russsll Myers Catherine & William. Enjoying it but one thing that stands out is how the Middletons have never put a foot wrong.
Carole was not from an aristocratic background nor was Michael but they raised their kids not to put a step wrong. Kate also had embarrassing family members (Uncle Gary) but she still invited him to the wedding which was the right thing to do & it nipped the media scandal in the bud & took the wind out of any sails.. Meghan invited none of her extended family or her dad & it caused massive media speculation.
Kate was born for royal life & is a natural. Very proud of our future queen. Her parents did an amazing job.

As each year goes by and Charles becomes frailer William will increase his public engagements,

There is no sign at all that this is or will become the case. On the contrary W has indicated his intention to cut down the ribbon cutting and focus on his pet projects.

Along with overseeing the smooth running of his personal cash machine too of course.

Diana’s children went to boarding school from the age of 8. She had a lot of time on her hands. And once she separated from Charles she only had 50/50 custody in the holidays. So it’s a bit apples and pears to compare them.

How many children do you know who have both parents almost always there? I don’t think that’s even close to normal…..

Being Royal isn't the norm though either is it....

No, of course not. But saying that W and C work so little because that TLQ wanted their children to have a normal childhood is a pretty bizarre thing to say……

and Catherine must have a lot of time on her hands, nanny, flexi boarding, full boarding now, cook, cleaner, drivers

was Diana doing royal engagements when she divorced and had her sons 50/50? I thought that all stopped

C has 3 children, D only had 2.

Do we know how many days are flexi boarding? Sometimes it can be several days sometimes it’s just when there are sports fixtures.

Anyway the Wales children were all home at weekends with C & W up until this month (& the younger 2 still are) which Harry and William weren’t during term time from the age of 8! The family situations are completely different. Harry & William had nannie’s, cleaners - probably more than C & W because times have changed - even in the aristocracy and with boarding schools over the last 30 years.

It is very difficult to do a fair comparison between what Diana did or didn’t do compared to C. There is a significant lack of reliable data.

It is well documented though that C and D were living largely separate lives for many years before their official separation and then their divorce. Sometimes the children were with one parent sometimes with the other, much more than in a regular family who are not divorced.

I think D spent a lot less time with her children than C does with her children, during term time, at weekends and in the holidays - throughout her marriage and after her divorce. That’s sad.

And re engagements after she divorced… the PP I was responding to was complaining that Catherine did fewer engagements than Diana per year, so once Diana stopped all her royal engagements I’m not sure how that is relevant to the discussion (because obviously Catherine does more royal engagements than when Diana dropped to doing zero royal engagements - even 1 wld be more than Diana!)

The data for calculating which royal does the most engagements is taken from the Court Circular. Diana’s engagements continued to be listed on CC after her separation but stopped after her divorce (the separation was 4 years).

It was you that brought up about after the divorce, I didn't know if it was relevant or not as id presumed once the divorce took place the royal engagements stopped

I did not bring up after the divorce, I said after they were separated - see my earlier post. W and H were 10 and 8 at the time they separated.

The Wales’s were separated for 4 years during the time when W and H were already at boarding school.

During that time D saw her children at most 50% of the time they were not in school. As they were full boarding, the reality is that she saw them very little.

Even before the official separation, D and C were living separate lives - pursuing and prioritising their own love interests, as well as lots of time to clock up charitable visits.

It is not a pretty history and certainly not one that put their children first.

It is certainly not something to be held up on high as an accolade to be replicated.

I think it's a more targeted workload with Catherine choosing to choose less patronage but dedicate much more time to each rather than dedicating herself to dozens

I never said she was "supporting her parents". I said she was a daughter to parents in their 70s. She is extremely close to her parents & obviously will want to spend time with them in their golden year's.

Is this the latest excuse for not working? Before it was kids, but we know the middle two are at boarding school.

Sonis it now going to be, oh Catherine still can't do much as she will be spending time with her parents in their golden years?

It's all a bit pathetic.

Understood. Having parents in "their golden years" (your words ewww!) means you have reduced capacity for work. I must tell my DCs that as I am probably in my "golden years", we are extremely close too, which means they might be able to get some extra paid for holidays off! They will be delighted!

(On a serious note - as far as excuses - I think I've heard it all now!)

Katie is doing more than enough. She is recovering from cancer, is a good daughter, a mother to three children & family is the most important thing in life. Her & William have their priorities right. Family is everything.

Catherine (she is not called Katie), announced her cancer was in remission on January 2025.
George is full boarding at Eton and William said Charlotte boards.
They do zero engagements during school holidays except fun ones like Wimbledon.

It's a strange decision to send your children to boarding school if you prioritise family so much that you can barely work.
And outside school holidays they have Louis and a nanny. Apparently takes both parents and a nanny to look after one eight year old boy. An eight year old boy who spends most of his day in school and no doubt does extra curricular activities like sports.

Rather than 50 engagements a year, Catherine (and William) could increase their numbers by doing engagements whilst Louis is at school. I wonder what they both do all day?

Whatever you say but personally I think Catherine is doing a great job, she is a great mother, daughter & asset to the royal family.

Look at the dysfunctional mess the Sussexes are in comparison , not speaking to any family. Thomas Markle has his leg amputated & no contact from his daughter. Erratically pulling their kids out of school after two days. Peddling their dirty laundry all over the place Oprah ,Netflix, Spotify to cash in on the royal family.
And now they are demanding the taxpayers pay for their security. They have earned more than enough selling out the rf to pay for their own.

Kate is doing plenty & so is William. I am happy to see them place such a massive value on family & extended family. As I have said already family is everything & the Wales family have their priorities in order.

They do what any rich aristocrat does I presume.

The Wales's could double their engagements, if only to support 77 year old ill Charles. But they won't. They will leave him doing all the work. They set their low work schedules a long time ago, that isn't going to change I bet. And when William gets the top job it will just be official engagements I imagine. The but they are bringing up children! is wearing thin!

OP you seem to know a lot about the extended family, the Middletons. Do you know why Kate and Pippa appear to be somewhat estranged? I am assuming you are in the know so I am interested what you actually do know, as you seem to think Kate is seeing her 'golden years' parents a lot, which is preventing work engagements...

Yes it's so strange that Charles has cancer and does way more engagements than them.

I too a.m interested in what has happened between Catherine and Pippa.

I think it's interesting that one of the reason Ham came back to the UK is that King Charles has cancer & they want to "build bridges "
BUT
Poor Thomas Markle is also very sick, had a leg amputated but never heard a word from Ham they couldn't care less about him. Why are they not trying to build bridges with poor Thomas?
Will Archie & Lili not want to know about their other grandfather & why they never met him? All their family on the Markle side?
All their cousins on Harry's side who they won't be able to associate with like The Wales Children, Zara Philips, Peter Philips.

I was so so happy to see Peter not inviting Ham to his wedding. Sending them a strong message , they are not welcome or part of this family.
Ham were apparently upset to not be invited now they know how the Markles & Dorias side felt when Ham invited none of them . Karma.

😂 Do explain your personal experience?

I give up. As I said before you just want to ramble on about Harry & Meghan, your last post is absolutely nothing to do with Kate, William and the Middletons. I have asked you questions about Kate/Pippa, as has another poster, and you just ignore that and launch a tirade against Harry & Meghan
Perhaps it is just best if you talk to yourself and launch all your attacks about them on your own.

We had "Poor Doria" and now we have "Poor Thomas Markle" 😅😅😅😅
Poor Thomas lol

Your thread is a ridiculous hot mess

I don't think you can judge. How do you know what she does behind closed doors? Leave her be. I'm sure all this negativity and judgement would not help her cancer recovery/staying in remission!

Can't stand H&M. They are a disgrace. And yes poor Thomas Markle. What a nasty daughter he has.

Totally agree