Kate Middleton for Sandringham Christmas
There are reports that Kate Middleton has accepted a Palace invitation to spend part of the Christmas holidays at Sandringham with the Royal Family.
Clearly aware that this may be her last Christmas as a single girl, she has wisely opted to remain in the bosom of her family on Christmas Day, but will travel to Norfolk for the Boxing Day shoot.
Last year a similar situation arose but Kate chose to be in Scotland with her family for the festive season.
The ever-sensible Queen will no doubt approve of her priorities on this occasion. Reports of “snubs” to Her Majesty should be taken with a large dose of salts. Early provisional guest lists are not Royal Commands.
Well it’s only right for her to spend this last Christmas with her family. I’m sure William will spend parts of the holidays with her family, every now and then. But it’s also good to hear that she will be at Sandringham for shoot. I can’t wait for the announcement.
By Rman on June 29th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I can’t believe the Palace is already planning for Christmas. I’m still trying to decide what to cook for my July 4th Bar-B-Q.
By Arthur on June 29th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Why does this Christmas story come up every year? I think it has been pretty clear frm the lastyears that Kate prefers to spend Christmas with her own family rather than William’s. I very much doubt that HM hands out Christmas invitations by June especially since Kate alledgedly had turned them down before … I cannot see her spending Christmas with the Windsor unless she’s already engaged to William by then. Maybe HM could invite the whole Middleton family over then to make Kate feel more at home…
By Isana on June 29th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I would assume that everything the Royals do takes substantial planning, so I’m not surprised that they are planning for Christmas. Its a positive that Kate will spend part of the holiday with the Royals.
By jackie mccoy on June 29th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Isana makes a good point. The Queen doesn’t allow girlfriends to Sandringham for Christmas. So Kate couldn’t have snubbed anyone. Just more fiction from Ms. Nicholls and the DM. The Telegraph article about William is interesting. But I wonder if he’ll continue on at Clarence House or move to one of the other royal palaces next year?
By lizzy on June 29th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Well I do know that the White House start planning the Christmas themes in March of every year. There are things that takes a lot of planning. The First Lady meets with the team that makes the Christmas decorations in March and they sit and think about what this years theme will be. It’s broadcasted on HGTV in December. In Darren McGrady’s book “Eating Royally” he give an account of what the royal family do during the Christmas season. Isana that is very true that Kate will spend that time with her family and then join the royals later. Jackie, yes this a very positive thing and if they become engaged before Christmas we may see her with the royal family.
By Rman on June 29th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I think he will make St. James’s Palace his city base. lizzy, it looks like the royal christmas services is just for family but later friends and other companions can come for the traditional shooting party.
By Rman on June 29th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Thanks for the explanation about other family and friends being allowed at Sandringham for part of the Christmas holiday. I always wondered how people would work around missing out on certain relatives every year.
Is the Sandringham tradition one the Queen started or was it started long before her?
By Anne on June 29th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Lizzy and Isana, Kate is now a “Girlfriend” (cap G), so is entitled to extra privileges.
In terms of the Mail piece, many good novels have lurid covers. This is because, while the author writes the story, the marketing department designs the cover — with an eye to sales.
Katie Nicholl’s article doesn’t use the word “snub”, but the title does. This is because it was written by a sub-editor with an eye to a Sunday killer headline.
Whereas Katie led with Kate not being there on Christmas Day, I preferred the angle that she would on Boxing Day, a traditional part of Christmas.
Since Kate is not officially engaged yet, it seems only right that she splits her obligations between her own family and her future one.
By John on June 29th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Anne, I believe the Sandringham Christmas goes back to George V. It used to be at Windsor Castle.
There was talk a couple of years ago that it would be moved back again, although I’m not sure what happened to that one. Maybe cost considerations were involved in that Sandringham is owned by the Queen, while Windsor is a state asset.
By John on June 29th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Rman,
St. James’s Palace does seem like the best option. He can’t use Kensington because of his late mother. Of course he’ll need a country base as well. It would be wonderful if Prince Charles gave them Highgrove. It seems like he and Camilla don’t spend as much time there as they used to.
By lizzy on June 29th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Lizzy, it’s been said that Kate would like to buy a house rather than live in one of the Royal palaces.
Highgrove is Charles’s pride and joy. William will inherit it with the Duchy of Cornwall, but Charles is building him a country house at Harewood Park.
By John on June 30th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I agree John, I can’t see Charles handing over Highgrove, he has spent years turning into the type of home he wanted.
But I don’t get why either William or Harry can’t live in Kensington Palace just because their mother was based there.
I’m sure they have many happy memories of their childhood and life there so why not live there.
It’s not even as if the tragedy of her death occurred in KP.
I don’t consider it healthy to avoid places associated with deceased relatives, I think it helps in the grieving to carry on as normal and I think it would be an ideal place for William and Kate to set up their London residence.
By Eliza on June 30th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Exactly, Eliza. Their old apartment is now the home of a few of Charles’s charities, and there are a number of vacancies that would be suitable. It’s more commodious than St James’s Palace too.
Kate’s preference — if true — may scupper that idea though.
By John on June 30th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I can understand if Kate wants to set up home on her own terms without the prying eyes of the courtiers but I think practacalities will prevail in the end.
There are many down sides to a house outside palace walls; it would be more difficult to keep secure and privacy would be difficult with the paps permanently outside the front door.
And if Charles is going to have to pay for the bulk of it out of the Duchy of Cornwall, he may well say there are a number of perfectly good apartments in either CH or KP that they can use.
They say you should pick your battles and I don’t see Kate winning this one.
By Eliza on June 30th, 2008 at 10:12 am
What would most likely happen to Christmas with family if William and Kate become engaged before Christmas? Would Kate then spend Christmas day with William’s family? Will Chelsy spend any part of the holiday with the RF?
By kat on June 30th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Kat, yesterday’s news seems to suggest that an announcement before Christmas is unlikely.
By John on June 30th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Why in the world would Kate and William want to get engaged before Christmas? They have the rest of their lives to spend Christmas together, and they may as well enjoy it in peace this year - outside of the prying eyes of US (after all, WE are the ones that the media play to….) Also, why would Chelsy spend any part of the holiday with the RF? She’s not nearing engagement as far as anyone knows….
By Amity on June 30th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Amity
John will probably tell you more but it is very doubtful that Chelsy will spend any part of the holiday with the RF. Kate is probably on the last leg of the road to engagement & she is only spending part of the time with the RF, so it is very unlikely that Chelsy who has just begun to appear at important event would do so??
By Jackie Mccoy on June 30th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
John,
What’s the deal with foxhunting in England? Is there a complete ban? I ask because Camilla, Charles, and William used to ride with the Beaufort Hunt. But now you don’t hear anything about the royals going hunting anymore.
By Lizzy on June 30th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Lizzy, our gruesome Labvour government banned hunting with hounds a few years ago but, true to form, the ban doesn’t work. More people are hunting now than ever.
Charles and Camilla have to be careful not to be seen challenging the “law,” however. In two years a Tory government will reverse the ban and the countryside will get back to normal.
By John on June 30th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Oh dear I don’t like hunting at all. Seems a bit gruesome & cruel to me. But that’s just my opinion
By Jackie Mccoy on June 30th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
John,
I never knew you were such a labour fan! Ha ha! I don’t follow British politics closely. However, I love seeing your parliament on CSPAN. They really go at it. Tony Blair seemed pretty popular here in America for a while. But then Mrs. Thatcher was also popular too. Are the Tories similar to the Republicans in the U.S.?
By Lizzy on June 30th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Jackie, I was asking a rhetorical question. I think it’s obvious that Chelsy will not spend any part of her holidays with the RF - it was Kat who was wondering about it. With regard to Kate, I stated long ago that I believe she is already betrothed to William.
By Amity on June 30th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I also think Kate is already betrothed to William, but there aren’t many people who would agree. Kate already knows something we don’t.
By maddie on June 30th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
John, does Charles own Highgrove or is it a duchy property? I always thought it was his own personal property, like Sandringham is the Queen’s.
I picture it being Harry’s one day. William will have enough “houses” to putter around in.
By Dan on July 1st, 2008 at 2:00 am
Yes Highgrove bought by The Duchy in 1980 and Prince Charles decided to live there since it was much easier access to the city and other parts of Britain. He turned that country estate into one beautiful place. It’s one of Willaim & Harry favorite places to be and they spend a lot of time there. It also where a lot of memories of their childhood and mother is.
By Rman on July 1st, 2008 at 2:29 am
Most of Charles’s possessions are owned by the Duchy, even his fountain pen.
By John on July 1st, 2008 at 8:41 am
John,
I was surprised to learn that most of Camilla’s expenses are met by Charles, except for official trips and security. I think it’s a good idea because it allows her to have more flexibility without being accused of living off the taxpayers. Do you think we’ll see something similar with Kate?
By lizzy on July 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Lizzie, the Duchy of Cornwall income, around $32m a year, belongs to Charles and not the state. In fact, he pays tax on it in the normal way.
Apart from William’s personal fortune, which should remain more or less untouched, and the Civil List allowance he will get next year for being a fulltime Royal, everything else will come from the Duchy, which he will inherit in the future.
I would like to see the Royal Estates run in the same way to finance the Monarchy. They earn around $400m a year, while the monarchy costs $80m, so there’s a big surplus.
The Monarchy did a deal with Parliament in 1760 to hand it over to the Treasury in return for a Civil List income, which now stands at around $20m.
It appears the Queen could ditch this deal at any time and regain control of it. I doubt she will do this, though, at this stage of her reign. It’s possible a future King Charles may do this, especially if there’s a sympathetic Conservative government in power at the time. I really hope so.
By John on July 1st, 2008 at 1:19 pm
As usual, John, you are spot on. I read that the 1760 agreement with Parliament, to allow the government to manage the Royal Estates, is up for renewal when a new Monarch comes to the throne. Prince Charles has already made rumblings that he would like to review this agreement, especially the amount of money that is redistributed to the throne. Perhaps King Charles will take back control of the Royal Estates and use the entire $400 mil a year to fund the Monarchy, make repairs on the Royal castles, redecorate the Palaces, buy a private jet for the Monarch’s use and have money left over to continue paying for the grace and favor apartment of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The entire Monarchy would be self sufficient and the taxpayer will have nothing to complain about.
By Arthur on July 1st, 2008 at 1:54 pm
The DM article about William not becoming like his father made some good points. But I think it’s a little unfair to criticize Charles because he lives very well. He’s wealthy and can afford to. To me it doesn’t sound as if Prince Charles is living over the top. He’s just living the life a man of his means usually lives. But I guess in tough economic times the royal family has to be careful about these things.
By Lizzy on July 1st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
John, how is the extra money from the Royal Estates used? Is it earmarked for specific government expenses or does it just go back into exchequer?
By Eliza on July 1st, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Hypothecation, or ring-fencing, is quite rare in the British government. The excess just goes into the pot, Eliza, to be used on whatever crackpot agenda minister’s decide.
By John on July 1st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
John, you never fail to crack me up! Thank you
By Anne on July 1st, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Hello all-Not that I was likely missed, but I’m thrilled to be back to the internet world so I can check my beloved RA website. I didn’t realize how addicted I was to John’s updates until I spent 3 days in a moving truck and a week with out the internet. We just moved from South Carolina to Texas and I was going through PW and KM withdraws
Sounds like things are going well!
By dally on July 1st, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Welcome back, daily, we did, indeed, miss you! Also, welcome to Texas!
I am sorry to tell you that we are having the hottest summer so far in recorded history in the Lone Star State–not a very hospitable greeting for you, I am afraid. However, ahead of us is July 4th festivities and fireworks in the most patriotic, flag-waving state in the USA. Before you know it, UT football season begins in August with all the pageantry, hoopla, cannon fire from the Texas Cowboys and BEVO the Longhorn Steer! Good to have you here in Texas and good to have you back to RA!
By Gigi on July 1st, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I would really like to know what Katie Nicholls agenda is. Over the past few weeks all she can write about is Kate snubbing HM.
First of all I don’t see Kate as a person who would insult her monarch or her boyfriends grandmother. As everyone knows only members of the RF and their spouses spend Christmas together BF/GF usually arrive on boxing day as Diana did before her engagement was announced in February and Sarah did before her engagement was announced in March. This is just another twisted attempt by a reporter to show she has proven her mettle by writing stories totally invented and passing them off as fact.
As for where W&K will live in the future I am sure there are many suitable accomadations within the monarchy and they will choose where they want.
By Trudie on July 1st, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Hi daily and gigi I am originally from houston (spent 30 years there) and I don’t miss the hot humid summers, but it is a really great place to live. Go Longhorns!
By maddie on July 2nd, 2008 at 2:27 am
Dally, thanks for the nice words.
I hope your relocation to Texas goes well, and it’s good to have you back.
By John on July 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Trudie, as mentioned before, you have to judge Mail articles in terms of their factual content, not in relation to the headlines which are often pure tabloid invention.
The word “snub” only appeared in the headline.
By John on July 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 am
Yes but the word in the headline had to be inspired by the article and Katie Nicholl surely has an agenda against Kate.
Although I don’t personally know Kate at 26 she has shown herself to be loyal to William. Kate also has one of the greatest assets any potential royal bride can have a long courtship to ease her into all the intrinsic protocol demanded and of course her own close knit family. Whatever the future holds for her and William they totally deserve each other.
By Trudie on July 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Oops! I misread your name, Dally and typed it wrong in my answering post–so sorry! I think I need my eyes checked!
As for Katie Nicholl and the admittedly negative slant in her recent articles about Catherine Middleton, it seems to me that she is just trying to achieve market share in her field. She may believe, because of the negative sites out there, that she can score points with the reading public by printing negative stories about the Royal Family. Such tripe may sell for a while, but that usually backfires, especially when the premise proves to be untrue and unfair. The British like fair play, even in the press. If Ms. Nicholl doesn’t know this now, she will soon.
By Gigi on July 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
Richard Kay is reporting in the DM that Harry and Chelsy supposedly have problems because he rather spends his time with his army buddies than with her. However the article also states that they’d holiday together soon.
Wasn’t Harry supposed to spend some time on a charity mission with his unit in Lestho?
By Isana on July 3rd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
A very happy 4th of July to all our American contributors and readers.
By John on July 4th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Thanks John.
By Rman on July 4th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Maddie,
I believe you are correct. They are already engaged, but only close family know about it. There is something about Kate lately, a look of contentment and security that just she just can’t hide.
By Chris on July 5th, 2008 at 3:48 am
Thanks so much, John! The weather was superb, the food was great, the patriotic music was stirring and the fireworks were still going off at 3:30AM! Happy Birthday America!
By Gigi on July 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Hello all,
I have been a reader for awhile now since I ended up here from a link on another website.
I really enjoy reading everything you post and the reader comments are equally enjoyable. I have been a Royalty Watcher for a lot of years, I guess in part to my Scottish ancestry (my grandmother was born outside Dundee in 1912) and my love for most things British.
Anyhow, I just wanted to say Hi and Greetings from the South, ya’ll
Mike
New England Yankee transplant in Atlanta
By MikeH on July 9th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hi MikeH. Good of you to drop by.
Most of our contributors are American, so you won’t feel out of place here.
By John on July 10th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Welcome Mike H. I’m a transplanted New Yorker living in Massachusetts.
By Arthur on July 10th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Welcome, Mike H! Greetings to you from the Texas contingency of the RA Clan, ya’ll.
By Gigi on July 14th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Gigi, just so you know the apostrophe in y’all actually comes after the y, as it’s meant to substitute for the “ou” in you, since it is a shortened version of “you all. ”
Or at least that’s what my daughter down in Texas tells me!
A gracious RA welcome to you, Mike H!
By alsgal on July 15th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Oh dear…another typo!
Thanks for the correction, alsgal. Your daughter is right–it is a contraction of “you all” so y’all would be gramatically correct. That contraction did not originate in Texas, but in the deep South, (Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and even in Virginia), so I assume that Texans adopted it from displaced Southerners who settled in the Lone Star State during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.
By Gigi on July 15th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Afraid that, as a Canuck I’m rather ignorant about American history, and even with some of our history post-Trudeau I’m a bit fuzzy, Gigi … usually if it doesn’t involve a dog, a royal or cream filling I’m just not that interested, I must confess!
By alsgal on July 15th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
y’all is the correct spelling. I was born and raised in Texas. Though, it seems everyone uses ya’ll instead of y’all. Of course this is just my personal experience and it may be different for some Southerners.
By maddie on July 15th, 2008 at 10:44 pm