Kate Middleton losing Palace support
The Sunday Times (London) yesterday ran an article about Kate Middleton’s relationship with Prince William and, in particular, the shenanigans around the boat race and the nude photoshoot. #
It is understood that both Clarence House and the Queen had applied pressure because of the media attention that her role as the boat’s helmswoman was attracting.
None of the material was particularly new, but what has changed is the tone of voice in the general attitude toward Kate. One can almost hear the grumbling of Palace insiders and friends of the Queen.
The Times commented, “The Palace’s reported intervention is also thought to be a further sign that the Queen is ‘puzzled and dismayed’ by the apparent resumption of a relationship between her grandson and Middleton.”
One aide is quoted as saying, “This is a rerun of Diana at her most provocative — Royal Family beware!â€
Another friend of the Royals said: “There is genuine nervousness at this moment of making another big Royal marriage mistake.â€
Kate is creating quite a few enemies out there, some close to the Queen. Even Prince Harry seems to have turned against her. She needs to repair this damage without delay or she could find herself outlawed yet again.
Phew! Thank you John! Now I know that I wasnt that crazy!
I think Kate went too far by partying just 2 or 3 days after announcing she cancelled her participation in the Sisterhood thing. I remember an article in the Daily Mail called “Kate Middleton puts boat race drama behind her with a return to what she does best”. It really didnt help her. I think this time they were tired of this behavior. She should have stayed at home, really, I dont know what she was thinking at that time. I even began to be tired myself, I remember I wrote it here. If Wills has planned to marry her then I suggest him to make an engagement now so she could have some protection and advices for her image. Because the poor girl is getting nowhere. I dont very like the quote they have made about Diana though. Afterall, she was the future king’s mother and after 10 years, deserves some respect. But since this sentence is from them then it means a lot about their feelings about Kate . I feel a point of no return. But I may be wrong.
By Lilyfromfrance on August 13th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
You’re right, Lily. If only she’d followed RA’s advice in our Ten tips for the girl who would be Queen post.
By John on August 13th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I think the Place Guard needs to be careful. Prince William does not like to be managed by anyone and he strongly resists being pushed to do anything. The surest way to push a fellow his age into the arms of a girl is to criticize the suitability of the girl. Furthermore, Prince William has no patience with the media and for good reason. If the Palace wants to send Prince William a message, presumably from the Queen, the message needs to be delivered by the Queen, personally, to Prince William, not published in the press. These people just keep making the same mistakes, over and over again.
By Gigi on August 13th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Gigi, I feel that you have made an excellent point. Prince William has been known to be very stubborn, although he seems to temper his refusals with a smile. If they are pushing him in one direction and he doesn’t wish to go that way, he very well might go in the other direction simply because he doesn’t want to be pushed into anything.
I also agree that if his grandmother wants to send him a message, she is more than capable of doing so in private. Prince William isn’t fond of the media, and I seriously doubt if his own grandmother has to resort to the tabloids, the newspapers or any other type of publication to give him an important message.
By mapleleaf on August 13th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Gigi, the Palace doesnt need to send a message to Wills thanks to the newspapers. Do check the Court Circular. They all are at Balmoral, they have disappeared, and they have let Kate all alone in London. So if the Queen wants to say something to him, then she can do it whenever she wants. Why they begin to let little sentences out since few days? Because remember the circus after the split. Kate was seen as the victim of a mean family. Wills was seen as a cad or a poor guy who couldnt see how much he was lucky. Everybody was surprised or even shocked when they broke up, so if the royal counsellors and etc are preparing people to this eventuality again, then people would not blame the RF again. Just think about Kate’s image. It’s completely lousy since 1 month. Infact, it seems that they have let her down just after the night after the concert for Diana. The sisterhood thing was a complete fiasco, the Queen has intervened and Kate didnt help herself by partying just 2 days after dropping it. Like you, I would like these 2 getting married but I can feel that the opposite is actually happening right now. I wont be surprised if Wills wont be there at the wedding of a Kate’s relative. The Times is not a tabloid, I dont know why it couldnt be trusted. I dont know why suddenly the Queen would let her and her friends’ thoughts about Kate being printed since 2 weeks if nothing wasnt true. But ofcourse, I can be wrong.
By Lilyfromfrance on August 13th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Kate needs to be very very careful. She is playing with fire. Appereances in such high levels are extremely important. It looks like if Kate was defying purposely the canons, maybe as a revenge because she was asked to quit the girl’s team. Provocation can be used only when you are quite sure about your assets. Is she so sure about Wills to dare to defy his whole family and the establishment?
Certainly, placing limits is not a piece of cake. She is still single and theretically, she can do what she wants. The point is that all these actions (partying all night long, friend choices and defying the opinion of his possibly future in-laws) do not give a good impression and may cause unnecessary future tensions. Wills will stand by her just to certain extend. He is not going to marry a girl who may represent a continous source of conflicts that may affect his relation to the Queen, Royalty and his personal image.
Absolute positions are used only when you are decided to win or to loose everything. She is getting close to that point. She needs to focus on benefits for both sides. If she wants to marry Wills, she needs to accept that her life will be like being in a golden fishbowl. And it seems to be that she is already there. Hopefully she may find charities or other activities/hobbies where she could bring her best as person and improve her public image.
By Claudia on August 13th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I understand all you say, Lily, but I lost any trust I had in any newspaper years ago. The Times is the same as the rest, interested only in circulation, market share and money. As for Kate “being careful” I would say to her “you can’t please everyone, so you gotta please yourself,” a line from “Garden Party,” a song Rick Nelson wrote and recorded years ago. Ironically, the song was inspired by his feelings of disillusionment when the bleating crowd at Madison Square Garden booed his performance of new material at an oldies concert years ago. He got tired of meeting everyone’s expectations. Maybe Kate should do the same. Kate needs to be happy with who she is and if the Palace and Prince William are not happy with the true Kate, then she needs to find someone else more worthy and more genuine, less shallow and less superficial, with whom to share her life.
By Gigi on August 13th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
I’ve been on holidays for the last while and completely out of touch with what was going on with our lovebirds and when i logged on to catch up I was shocked and saddened by the change in tone of the posts and comments. Everybody was upbeat when i left and when i came back even the most pro Kate were humming and hawing about her behaviour.
Something has definitely happened in the state of Denmark.
Kate is either grasping at straws to get her man to commit, hence all the photo ops or someone is out to get her coz the press are certainly after her.
I think Lily is right, the scene is being set for Kate to be dumped and when it happens the only response from the press and the public will be good riddance rather than the previous reaction when William was blamed and Kate was seen as the victim.
It is all very sad and if there is any hope for them as a couple then William must come out and acknowledge her as his girlfriend without delay.
Everyday without even the status of a girlfriend lessens the possibility of her ever becoming one.
For a girl that never put a foot wrong she has made some serious blunders and the only way back is for William to openly protect her if he doesn’t think that highly of her she is lost. I know it’s a bit extreme to feel that she will become the fallen woman ousted from society but i think a modern equivalent is happening.
By Eliza on August 13th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
“[...] and when it happens the only response from the press and the public will be good riddance rather than the previous reaction when William was blamed and Kate was seen as the victim”. Exactly, Eliza.
but it’s just my instinct. It’s just that I feel some changes, but I dont want to log here tomorrow and see 400 comments blaming Kate! 
The royals played a very “clever” game, very slowly. They’ve never made any hint that Kate was back with Wills again, even if we were all aware, and then, they have let her down. Wills was advised to not being photographed with any other girl nor to go partying somewhere. Actually, how many photos, (except the ones from the concert) have you seen since the split? For my part I didnt see any. And while Wills was the perfection Kate was partying again and again and again. No one has told her to stop it. She was photographed with other men, going out from clubs. Whatever they were Will’s pals, it maybe was a trap. They have let her making her own downfall. Being involved with the Sisterhood was her bigger mistake. For my part I didnt believe that Wills has offered his support in this involvement. Since when Wills like to “offer” his girlfriends to the paps? Now the RF cant make any self reproach. The public and the press will blame Kate only by saying that she wasnt doing nothing than partying. Kate is trapped because she cant talk. If she does, then she will be hated. Eliza it’s nice to say that Im right (because it’s always good for the ego
By Lilyfromfrance on August 13th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
You guys are crazy to continue to commenting on these rubbish stories. Don’t waist your time.
By Claudius on August 14th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Lilyfromfrance,
I agree with you. The Royal Family is leaking negative information about Kate to “prepare” the public for the final break-up announcement.
They never leaked information about the Queen being displeased with her clubbing or lack of work ethic before. She was always a party girl — just like the princes are party boys — that’s not the reason the Palace dislikes her.
They dislike her because 1.) She doesn’t have the aristocratic background to be the mother of future kings; 2) she’s got star quality – and they’d prefer a horsey-faced, dim-witted aristo.
As for poor Kate, she was used and abused by that horrible Emma Sawyer. She never put a foot wrong before she got entangled with her. I don’t think she ever had Palace support. They are just pouncing on the Emma Sawyer mistake and making the most of it.
By Alicia on August 14th, 2007 at 3:09 am
I am sorry – Emma Sayle. For some reason, I got confused.
By Alicia on August 14th, 2007 at 3:49 am
I’m pretty surprised to be reading how so many people are
displeased with Kate’s behavior. I haven’t been around my
computer for a few days. I was expecting conversations about
Will and Kate’s romantic Teapot Cottage gateaway. Before she
got caught up with this whole boat racing idea, Kate was always
given gold stars for her impeccable behavior. She seems like a lovely woman who genuinly wants to be with William because she
loves and cares about him (at least I hope she does). Kate looks like a smart and savy girl, once she can distance herself from her
so-called-friends I’m sure she can put herself back into good royal graces.
By Jean on August 14th, 2007 at 5:36 am
Whatever the situation is, it is the reason why I always remained
neutral about Kate and William. I never understood the people who wanted to chase them down the isle, just as I could not
understand the people who wanted to put an ocean between them. I believe that if they decide to get married then great, it’s probably for the best and if they decide to not marry and go their separate ways then that is probably for the best as well. At that time they could each go out and find someone who truely makes their hearts flutter.
While being a royal or being in the running to become a royal requires the highest standards, Kate is only a human being who up until now has shown herself to be a decent young woman. I just feel as though that for some reason people have placed superhuman expectations on this girl and now that she has made some human errors people are ready to eat her alive. Setting
a person up on a pedastel that is too high only makes their fall much harder and I think that is what is happening to Kate and
unfortunately there still doesn’t appear to be anyone brave enough to catch her.
Now can anyone explain to me what Kate’s behavior has been
like to cause so many of her supporters to be displeased with
her?
By Jean on August 14th, 2007 at 6:15 am
“There is genuine nervousness at this moment of making another big Royal marriage mistake” and “This is a rerun of Diana at her most provacative-Royal family beware” as quoted by aides and a family friend. This is not a message being sent by the Queen it is a Message sent by CH. Attacking Diana and comparing her and Kate could only come from C&C. Obviously if William and Kate marry attention will be taken away from them. Especially the carefully orchestrated press to make Camilla acceptable to the public. This has nothing to do with Kate’s behavior the fawning aides of C&C are doing their best to curry favor as they expect that as the Queen is now 81 he will ascend possibility within the next 5 to 10 years. and the Big Royal Marriage Mistake was allowing C&C to marry.
By Trudie on August 14th, 2007 at 6:44 am
Lily: keep your ego feeling good !!! your instinct is right on the mark. For someone so young you have a good insight and your right that William wouldn’t offer her up to the paps and she is trapped as talking is a very big NO NO. For the RF self preservation is the key and as you said this time they are making sure it is Kate who takes the fall. But as you said if HM wants to send William a message they are all at Balmoral she can tell him herself. I still feel that this is coming from C&C.
By Trudie on August 14th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Those quotes are easily obtained, although I believe they do show a change of mood in the wider Royal Family and its associates.
August is a slow news month generally. The old journalist’s trick is to make up a story about a senior figure then ring them up about it :
“Do you deny the rumours that you have 27 mistresses?”
“What rumours? I haven’t heard them. Of course I deny it. It’s totally false.”
Next day’s headline : Senior figure denies he has 27 mistresses.
There’s no smoke without fire … The story will last for a few days at least.
Many people close to the Royal Family are naive when it comes to the kind of tactic used by the underpress. Sophie fell hook, line and stinker for the fake sheik set up by the News of the World.
But I agree, the William / Kate thing does really need to be clarified or the press will go on speculating.
By John on August 14th, 2007 at 8:24 am
John, you left out something from that Sunday Times piece.
“She never planned to strip off with her crewmates”
And someone else has already mentioned that in the Hello article, Emma stated that Kate was not doing the calendar. Now we know Emma gave an authorized interview to Hello, but you want to go with a red top.
Your previous comment about Kate being a “babe in arms” when it comes to publicity had me spewing my latte. Mr. Mark Bolland, former head of the Press Compliants Commission and former spinner for the POW doesn’t agree with you either, but hey, what would he know about such things.
LINK
Gigi is right. The surest way to send this rather immature boy into Kate’s arms is to let him know she’s completely unsuitable. The whole “they’re at Balmoral and can easily talk to each other” line doesn’t really work with the royals. You see, that presupposes that they actually do “talk” to each other (beyond banalities), and they don’t. Also, it would be totally unlike the Queen to confront this issue head on.
I sincerely doubt William has any intention of clarifiying anything. He’s liking things just the way they are right now, with everything as clear as mud.
By Jasper on August 14th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Miss Middleton is a professional PR, and we should never forget it. From linked article.
Jasper, good knockabout stuff.
But there’s a big difference between getting press coverage on the one hand and actually furthering your cause. Being a pro PR is not just showing up at a camera shoot, it’s successfully manipulating the audience.
Kate “is a babe in arms” because all this has been monumentally counter productive for her (see my latest post) and has earned the disrespect of the Queen.
I never believed she would strip off for the calendar, as I wrote at the time. But the fact that she seemed to be associated with it spooked the Palace big time.
Bad PR! I won’t use the name of Diana again because she’s a great favourite with our loyal readers. But you’ll know what I mean.
By John on August 14th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Jasper, as for “going with a red top”, do you think the Mirror made up the quote from Emma Sayle that Kate was seriously considering the calendar shoot and that the crew were leaning on her?
I don’t think she was considering it — maybe just being polite — but Emma leaked that to a Sunday red top, indicating how naive Kate is to let even a whisper of something like that out of the bag.
As for Mark Bolland admiring Kate’s PR skills, I think Alastair Campbell would mark her down for not being effective.
By John on August 14th, 2007 at 10:49 am
I must say, “I TOLD YOU So”.
By mandy on August 15th, 2007 at 1:10 am
It’s not over till the fat lady sings, Mandy.
By John on August 15th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Fie, John! I sang this morning but that did not mean to imply that it was over!
By Gigi on August 15th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I am beginning to get a bad feeling about all this. If Prince William is truly in love with Kate, and if the Palace is coercing him to give her up, this could very easily result in another situation like Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor) or Charles, where they were angry and disgrunted and either rejected any appropriate partis (Edward) or waited and waited to marry with dreadful results (Charles. ) I see dark storm clouds gathering over Britain and they have dynastic disaster and dissolution of the monarchy hovering in the firmament.
By Gigi on August 15th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Sweet Gigi must be comforted!
Dont worry, the monarchy is not going to disappear and whirl in a dark sky with ravens with some Wagner’s apocalyptic music in the background, because Wills has not a clear and happy love life now!
I even dont think that he is going to marry at the age of 28-30. I think he will marry after 30 and before 35, with a young woman with “the right” background. And they will have some blue eyed children and you will see, you will be happy, Gigi.
By Lilyfromfrance on August 15th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
to get married, not marry. sorry. If only this forum was in French or in German….
The British Royal Family is a mix between the French and the German after all….
By Lilyfromfrance on August 15th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
If you mean ancestry, it is actually a mix of French, German, Prussian, Danish, Spanish, and Russian if we count the former Duchess of Edinburgh who was the daughter of Tsar Alexander II. Queen Victoria was called the “Grandmother of Europe” for good reason!
As for Prince William marrying at the age of 28-30 to a young woman of the “right background” and having blue-eyed children, that will only make me happy if it is a true love match. There have been too many loveless marriages in the British Royal family and they are rife with collateral damage.
By Gigi on August 15th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
But I trust William’s feelings on the relationship, He supposedly told the Queen and Pr. Phillip, during the first breakup “I don’t love Kate enough ” for marriage, when they had the sit down about William wanting to end it. So IF he doesn’t love her ENOUGH He should not be forced into anything Just because the press likes her and wants her. I think he knows what he feels inside , no one is blocking him from Kate, he would marry her or get engaged to her like Auntumn and Peter, Pr. Edward and Sophie, both commoners, one Catholic,I think William would marry Kate if he truly wanted to, the press is “with” the union, that is the difference, Camilla would not have had the press with her, even if Pr. Charles married her before Diana came along. Camilla was never a good golden girl, glamorous cover girl for the press. The press likes Kate, I think the Queen would have approved it IF William was sure about her. He is not sure about Kate, but the press is so in love with her, they can’t fathom that William just might not Love Her Enough to marry her.
By mandy on August 15th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Since we are relying on newspapers to tell us Prince William’s feelings, I doubt seriously that we truly know what he is sure of, what he is feeling, or what he said to whom and when. Maybe Prince William doesn’t know for sure how he feels yet. Time will tell.
By Gigi on August 16th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Yes, Gigi, I believe the story printed in TABLOIDS was that the prince was alleged to have said to his grandparents that He WAS NOT SURE HE LOVED KATE ENOUGH. Not that I believed that crock of it then or now. Kate Middleton hasn’t done anything wrong at all, except associate herself with this Emma forSayles and her sketchy rowing caper. With friends like that who needs enemies. She should drop this chick like a hot potato, though I’m sure that’s already happened.
As someone above wisely said, William doesn’t have to nor will he clarify anything about his relationship to Kate, especially to his favorite people: the press, and idle pontificators on the internet who specialize in ripping his girlfriend’s every move to shreds.
By Positive on August 17th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Prince William is shrewd enough to know that the price of silence is very damaging to Kate, who appears to be in limbo right now and will gain sympathy from it. William will trash his own reputation as his mother’s son if he leaves her dangling.
I believe he should heed his grandfather’s advice : “Marry the girl, or let her go”.
By John on August 18th, 2007 at 9:04 am
He should not give in to pressure from the press. If he does that now, with this important decision, he’ll do it when he reigns. Bad business. Kate should continue to duck the press and take a vacation from the clubs and continue to not be photographed with him in public. Her comings and goings described as shopping, she can’t control. But she can control falling out of the club every week at 2am, especially since she is not photographed going to work — unless the press figures photos of her walking into an office building aren’t as valuable as her falling out of the club.
I say leave them alone to make their own decision in their own time. I think William is at least three years away from walking down anybody’s aisle with anyone. He is not ready. He has his military duty to complete, and he is still young enough to be carefree and to not yet worry about marriage. Hell, he doesn’t really have to have kids until he’s in his 40s with some young thing for a wife.
But if Kate is pressuring him, she’s making a grave mistake.
By Positive on August 18th, 2007 at 10:47 am