Kate Middleton tipped for Melbourne Cup
I’ve been watching this story for some time without wishing to comment on it.
However, it’s still in the news in Australia so here it is.
The Melbourne Herald Sun — “Australia’s biggest-selling daily newspaper” — is tipping Kate Middleton to be the main draw at the Melbourne Cup Handicap in November (spring, down under). The Cup is Oz’s top horse race.
The paper says :
PRINCE William’s girl Kate Middleton is still on top of the VRC and Channel 7’s list to be the big international name at the Spring Racing Carnival. … If she says yes, the publicity around her first trip to Australia will be enormous.
Middleton arriving in the Birdcage at Flemington would guarantee overseas coverage. Another big name likely to be at the Melbourne Cup is Justin Timberlake, who is in town at the same time touring.
Royal Anecdotes’ guess?
She won’t go.
What an odd story! Why would Kate travel such a long way (and such an expensive trip) to Australia in November? There is, I am assuming, no one competing that she especially wishes to cheer on. She wouldn’t be representing the Royal Family because she isn’t a member of the Royal Family. Where have the press gotten the notion that she is going?
By Gigi on September 14th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I don’t think she will go because now she is trying to keep a low profile. Of course we will see her at certain events but this would too much for the media. It really does seem that William & Kate has worked something out. The relationship has been kicked up a notch and we are clearly seeing that. If she does go, I think that would be a offical statement. But again, too much press coverage.
By Claudius on September 14th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
It sounds like the Australians have invited her. I would guess Prince William would not be available for such a big trip, with his military commitments. How does the timing square with celebrations for the Queen & Prince Philip’s 60th anniversary? If William & Kate are engaged by then, they should both be with the Queen. If they aren’t engaged by then, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Kate to go as a celebrity.
By Evelyn on September 14th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I think this is something similar to the dragon boat race. Someone asked her a long while ago, and she thought about it. Now, though, to travel there by herself, in the middle of the Queen’s Diamond Wedding celebrations, would be totally cranky.
I’m going to email a few people I know in Melbourne to ask what they think.
By John on September 14th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
I agree, John. November is completely booked with the Diamond Wedding Anniversary celebrations for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. It would be bad form for Kate to go anywhere or do anything that would attract media attention and detract from the focus on the Anniversary.
By Gigi on September 14th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
I do think that Kate will go to the party that William & Harry have been planning for The Queen & Prince Philip but as for going to the Cup, this is very unlikely. That will be too much attention. It really does sound like people are trying to drive her to make all the wrong moves but since she is keeping a low profile, I highly doubt that she will accept the invitation. But that was nice for them to ask her.
By Claudius on September 14th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Maybe they asked Kate to visit Melbourne when she and William were (supposedly) a non-couple, last spring. I’d guess Kate is now being advised by those who know proper protocol.
By Evelyn on September 14th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I wonder how this stuff gets out?. If Kate were invited it most likely was by a friend of hers and William. Kate most likely will not go as she know it will attract unwanted attention and during HM and PP’s anniversary month she probably will keep an even lower profile.
By Trudie on September 15th, 2007 at 12:06 am
It took the Queen 81 years to made it to the Kentucky Derby. Kate has plenty of time before she needs to put in an appearance at the Melbourne Cup. Having said that, Kate definitely would draw bigger crowds than Justin Timberlake! (:
By Arthur on September 15th, 2007 at 12:07 am
I think she will go.
By Mary on September 15th, 2007 at 1:06 am
Come on now you are really stretching it to say KM would draw
a bigger crowd then JT. She is not all that…….when it comes to JT
By Judy on September 15th, 2007 at 2:33 am
This story has been running for a while. The newspaper clip was from yesterday’s edition and yet it still says, “If she says yes …”. Which means she hasn’t agreed to this. Combine that with her new ploy of remaining in Purdah, and it’s very unlikely she would go.
It would though generate huge crowds in Oz. She will, after all, be their Queen too at some stage, and the Aussies love a gorgeous girl. Just about everyone came out for Diana, just after her marriage.
By John on September 15th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Maybe William & Kate will include Australia on their honeymoon tour, too. Right after some time in the Seychelles?
By Evelyn on September 15th, 2007 at 11:57 am
I wouldn’t walk across the street to see Justin Timberlake. I’d fly to England to see Kate Middleton!
By Gigi on September 15th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Darren Rowse “Mr Problogger” has emailed me from Melbourne to say the whole race meeting is in doubt because of an epidemic of equine ‘flu. He hadn’t heard Kate was supposedly coming anyway.
So there you have it. Straight from the horse’s mouth — so to speak.
By John on September 16th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
So the answer is, “Neigh, Kate is not going to Australia?” LOL However, poor horsies.
If your source in Melbourne had not even heard the rumor about Kate’s possible attendance, where did the British tabs get the story, do you suppose, John? Was this creative journalism? 
Here in my little corner of Texas we are happy the TEXAS LONGHORNS won yesterday and ready to cheer on the STEELERS and later, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR!!!
By Gigi on September 16th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
LOL, Gigi! You’re so punny!
By Evelyn on September 16th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
What is going on in her Majesty’s realm? First, there is foot and mouth disease around Windsor Castle, thus no horseback riding on weekends. Now equine flu in the land of Qz! It appears the Empire is going to the dogs (corgis)!
By Arthur on September 16th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Thanks, Evelyn.
I am told, by those who profess expertise in these matters, that my sense of humor, at best, is “corny.” 
I shall not say them nay, or even neigh! 
By Gigi on September 17th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Horses and puns seem to go together, don’t they? I don’t suppose Zara is feeling very punny this morning after Toytown crashed through a fence reducing her to 6th place in the European Championship. At least GB won the team Gold.
By John on September 17th, 2007 at 9:22 am
By Gigi on September 17th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Toytown is fine, Gigi. It was a show-jumping fence, not a cross-country one, but it was a hairy moment. At 14, though, I wonder if he’s up to the 2008 Olympics. Let’s hope so.
By John on September 17th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Poor Toytown. I smell glue!
By Arthur on September 17th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I would HOPE that someone who is a member of the Royal Family would retire a horse and allow him to live out the rest of his life on their estate lands, as wealthy horse owners do here in America. No decent horseman or horsewoman would abandon their elderly horses to a glue factory.
By Gigi on September 17th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
That would be a sticky end, Gigi.
By John on September 17th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
LOL The puns are flying thick and fast here today.
When my daughter’s Appaloosa contracted moonblindess at age 2 1/2, we retired him to a ranch where he was safe and well-cared for. When he died, we buried him there. If they bury the Queen’s dogs at Balmoral and other Royal residences, as indeed they do, I would hope the Royal horses would get the same humane and compassionate consideration.
By Gigi on September 17th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Gigi, I’m sure Toytown will be well cared for by Zara after he’s finished his career. I believe it’s normal for retired horses to be used as hacks for riding around the estate. Alternatively he might make a stud horse. Either way he should enjoy himself.
By John on September 18th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Oh good, John, I feel much better.
I couldn’t imagine that Mark Phillips would allow his daughter to mistreat a horse. I recall that while he and Princess Anne were still married, he spent a large sum of money to put in a heated footbath for their horses. Clearly, he cares deeply for his animals.
By Gigi on September 18th, 2007 at 5:18 pm