Kate Middleton joins The Sisterhood
It sounds like a religious order. It may even be a secret society. But a group of nuns it certainly isn’t. Self-denying ordinances are no part of this deal.
Kate Middleton rowing with The Sisterhood
I refer, of course, to The Sisterhood, a gang of doughty — even hearty — females set to challenge a throng of even heartier males in a cross-channel rowing race on August 25.
Kate Middleton was apparently persuaded to join the crew by Sisterhood member Alicia Fox-Pitt, a friend from their schooldays at Marlborough College.
Although Kate is a qualified sailor, Prince William’s girlfriend still had to earn her place in the team. Crew leader Emma Sayle remarked, “I had recruited friends from school and university. One of those was Alicia who suggested that Kate would be perfect. She was sporty at school. But it wasn’t a question of ‘Oh, she’s Kate Middleton so she makes the team’. She has had to prove herself. We launched the challenge in November, and Kate joined in April. Our coach said she could join only if she was up to it.”
The picture proves that if nothing else.
Love the photograph!
By Gigi on July 26th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
It’s terrific, isn’t it. And doesn’t Kate look the business?
By John on July 26th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
She does indeed!
We shall have to have a Royal Anecdotes Rowing Celebration Tea on the day of the race, especially if The Sisterhood wins!
By Gigi on July 26th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Bring it on!
By John on July 26th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
And everyone wonders why she has lost some weight!!!. Kate not only looks up to the challenge but looks like her crew will be the winners. Long Island Iced tea anyone?
By Trudie on July 26th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
She’s so photogenic, looks wonderful, absolutely splendid.
By Alicia on July 27th, 2007 at 4:11 am
does this girl ever have a bad day, am getting sick of seeing that bloody smile,
By kelly on July 27th, 2007 at 9:37 am
And if she had a sour or glum face, that’s what everybody would be talking about.
By John on July 27th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Does anyone know when she is supposed to be going to this family wedding with William as her +1? Many had written 21st July - surely it couldn’t have been then because of Camilla’s do? And surely they couldn’t have attended already and it not been photographed! Any ideas? When’s the Teapot cottage holiday planned?
By SuffolkSim on July 27th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
The wedding is on August 21, I believe, and the Teapot Cottage break somewhere around August 12 — the Glorious 12th (grouse shooting season in Scotland). So I imagine they’ll travel back together for the wedding.
I’m guessing, of course — but that’s what I’d do.
By John on July 27th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
It simply seems fishy to me that these stories about Kate on this rowing team have been circulating for around 3 months, and, suddenly, when there is an unflattering story about the team, the VERY next day the photogs somehow find out where Kate is, and not only is she part of the team, but she has on full make-up, her hair fixed to perfection (and not pulled back like everyone else’s, as you would expect someone who is rowing to have her hair…), and she is towering above everyone else as the tiller…all at 7 in the morning, after partying.
This simply screams photo op.
She does, however, look lovely
By Elizabeth on July 27th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
There are photos of her rowing hard, too, Elizabeth. I saw two of them yesterday. I am not sure she is wearing makeup. I think she has that enviable skin that looks perfect without makeup and, of course, she has just returned from holiday with a lovely tan. The photos I saw of Kate rowing, she has her hair pulled back and is wearing a cap.
I agree, she looks simply wonderful.
By Gigi on July 27th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Kate looked lovely, and I didn’t see makeup, it would running or streaking and I would be able to tell. There should have been a photo op, it’s for a good cause. Lastly, why not shut up the “nattering nabobs of negativity” with a few photos of her getting up, helping out a friend and joining in to do something for a worthy cause.
By Positive on July 28th, 2007 at 1:19 am
You’re not sure she’s wearing makeup? Does this help?
Link to pic
Her skin is perfect without makeup? Not quite.
Link to pic
It’s absolutely amazing what can be accomplished with a few clicks of the mouse. I think the photo editors have been enhancing Kate’s photos a bit.
The rowing pictures are some of the best I’ve ever seen taken of Kate, but they’re most certainly planned and posed.
By Jasper on July 28th, 2007 at 1:38 am
LOL Positive! I had all but forgotten that expression coined by Spiro T. Agnew when he was VP!
Well said, as usual.
By Gigi on July 28th, 2007 at 3:20 am
Great pics, Jasper, but could you make long links text ones? In some browsers they break the sidebar.
The first shot shows her at her best, but the second reveals some sun damage — or so I’m told by our resident expert on women’s skin.
By John on July 28th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Gigi, that one was for you, my yellow rose of Texas friend.
Here’s to memories, good and otherwise. LOL 
Feel free to return the favor and mix in a few quips from your “homeboy,” LBJ, certainly even more a character than Agnew. LMAO
By Positive on July 28th, 2007 at 11:16 am
LBJ and Spiro Agnew eh? Don’t forget Dan Quayle. Now that’s real American Royalty.
By John on July 28th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Sorry John, I don’t know how to make text links. Thank you for modifying my original message.
Spiro T. Agnew? Man never said anything worth repeating. That quote comes from William Saffire. Besides, the quote doesn’t really apply. It’s more like calling “a spade a spade”. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see this was a staged photo op.
And no, John, that’s not sun damage, that will show up later. Those are acne scars. No big deal. Just don’t try and tell me she has perfect skin, when she does not.
Here’s another pic from the “event”. Could you please work your magic, John?
Link to picture
By Jasper on July 28th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Jasper, John didn’t say Kate had perfect skin, I said that I think she has that enviable skin that looks perfect without makeup. Also, anyone who spends time in the sunshine is going to get freckles, sunspots and pitting. Your close-up photos show that she had no make-up on and the redness you see is flushing from the exposure to the sun. Had she been wearing make-up, it would have been running off her face after a short while on the water. Rowing is a sport that generates a lot of perspiration!
Spiro T. Agnew, whom I did not admire, did indeed say the “nattering nabobs” quote, and on national television, too. It may be that he was quoting William Safire, but if so, that is an oddly sophomoric phrase to originate with Safire. Positive, right now I can’t think of any memorable LBJ quotes! I was not a fan of LBJ, although I thought the world of his wonderful wife, Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson, who was known as “Lady Bird.” We have recently lost this lovely woman. The city council here has renamed Town Lake (which is what the Lower Colorado River is called where it runs through Austin) Lady Bird Lake. It is a very popular decision!
By Gigi on July 28th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips is to marry his girlfriend, Autumn Kelly, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Peter, 29, is the only son of Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips.
Rugby player Peter lives with his Canadian girlfriend Autumn, 31, in a cottage on his mother’s Gloucestershire estate, Gatcombe Park.
The low-profile couple first met each other at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in 2003.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are pleased to announce the engagement of their son Peter Phillips to Autumn, daughter of Mr Brian and Mrs Kitty Kelly.”
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Very nice, Congrats to them. I felt Autumn would marry Peter Phillips, she attended the summer cruise with the royals last year and was photographed happily chatting with the Queen, it looked as if she got on with the family well.
By mandy on July 29th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Hot diggity dog!! A Royal Wedding at last!! Mandy, where did you read that? Also, did you hear when the wedding is to be?
By Gigi on July 29th, 2007 at 2:26 am
We’re right in there together Gigi. Spiro Agnew made that phrase popular, I don’t care who coined it first. I’m no fan of William Safire or Agnew. But LBJ, he was, let’s say, complicated. One of the greatest Senate Majority Leaders of the 20th century. And his wife Lady Bird was indeed a saint for putting up with what she did. He treated her extremely poorly at times.
Anyway, one of my favorite LBJ quotes: “I may not know much, but I know chicken s***t from chicken salad.” It might not be an exact quote, but he said it. And much more. Hilarious.
As for Peter & Autumn, hooray for them. They seem to be such a lovely couple.
By Positive on July 29th, 2007 at 3:50 am
There’s certainly been a lot happening while I’ve been Saturdaying in idleness. I’ll have to get my Sunday skates on.
By John on July 29th, 2007 at 9:38 am
William Safire : wasn’t he the author who wrote the Nixon book?
By John on July 29th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Mandy, the wedding of Peter Phillips is not a Royal wedding as he is not Royal (no HRH) — despite being the Queen’s grandson.
We’ll be covering the wedding over on our other site, Aristocracy Anecdotes.
By John on July 29th, 2007 at 11:47 am
John, re your question about William Safire, yes. He wrote for the NY Times for many years as a political columnist and before he retired, most recently as an apologist for the Bush the son administration, but I digress. Before joining the Times he was a speeach writer for Nixon, among other things. Ugh.
By Positive on July 29th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Thanks, Pos. You have a great knowledge of American politics. Do I remember rightly that you work for the Government in Washington DC?
By John on July 29th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
John, Mandy did not say that the Peter Phillips-Autumn Kelly was a Royal wedding, I did.
And of course, technically, you are right, but as far as I am concerned, any wedding of a grandchild of the reigning Monarch is a Royal wedding. 
But, if you insist on making me view Aristocracy Anecdotes in order to see the coverage of Peter Phillips’ wedding, I shall oblige. 
On the day of the wedding, we shall have Aristocracy Anecdotes Gala Tea to honor the Phillips-Kelly wedding. 
By Gigi on July 29th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Gigi, you shame me into submission. I shall transfer coverage to this site tomorrow morning. Peter is hereby declared an honorary Royal.
By John on July 29th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
From the Observer:
“Oh no, we’re intruding on Kate again
We are lucky to see so much of Kate Middleton, now she’s purely a private citizen. So yesterday we were treated to photos of her in sequined mini-dress displaying more leg than Asda’s pork counter. This followed staged photos of her looking windswept and wistful while rowing with her ladies-in-waiting. Which includes, if the Daily Mail is to be believed, an organiser of swinging parties, podium dancer, marketer of sex toys, masseuse and habituate of fetish parties. Lively, I imagine, if she marries William, and presents the gals at court. But I’m flummoxed by that culture select committee fulminating about press intrusion into the private life of The One Who Wants To Be Alone. For Middleton is clearly marginally more hooked on publicity than Pete Doherty is on smack. And as such her future is assured. For she could wind up wearing a tiara in Buck House or sipping milk in the Big Brother House. Either way she will be happy, because she will have an audience.”
See, even journalists are not quite so blind to Miss Middleton’s PR campaign. A MAN no less called her out for her posed photos. And please, ANYONE who has had a look at Kate’s rowing pictures and thinks she is not wearing make-up, get your screen checked or your eyes. You can clearly see more eye makeup than I wear when I am going out.
By Elizabeth on July 29th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Who is she hurting by wearing eye makeup or not? Who is she hurting if she is “posing” for the cameras, which she is not.
Please don’t run this place down by Kate Middleton bitterness. It’s pointless. And it rings on deaf ears here, thankfully.
By Positive on July 30th, 2007 at 2:14 am
Thanks, Pos. You have a great knowledge of American politics. Do I remember rightly that you work for the Government in Washington DC?
By John on July 29th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
John, if I told you I’d have to kill you!!! LOL
Seriously, there are too many eyes on this site to reveal personal info. I’ll email you to answer you properly.
By Positive on July 30th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Thanks, John! I appreciate your flexibility!
I am excited about the wedding!!
By Gigi on July 30th, 2007 at 5:05 am
I suppose if she now has doubts about marrying William she’s making sure Brand Kate has a solid base in the public eye.
I agree though that those skimpy nightclub shots are not doing her much good. As for the rowing ones, I believe a lot of these complaining gals are just jealous they can’t look like that while heaving on an oar.
By John on July 30th, 2007 at 8:31 am
I think she is a very lovely young lady, just being herself, which is always the wisest course. She need not march to the beat of any drummer save herself.
By Gigi on July 30th, 2007 at 1:06 pm