It amuses me to see how often the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s events often involve arts and crafts projects. It’s their “thing.” William and Kate are like actors who always need “business” with props – they have to be given a paintbrush or some glitter or a pair of scissors or else what’s the point of an event? So it was yesterday, when Will and Kate did an event at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. They were tasked with doing crafts with the kids, which led to some notable exchanges:
On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid a visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital in London to visit young patients and get involved in some festive activities with them. And during an arts and crafts session, Prince William and Kate Middleton helped children make some beaded bracelets, something it seems Princess Charlotte is also fond of, as Kate told the youngsters: “Charlotte would love making these.” William, meanwhile, laughed at his lack of artistic skills as he helped to make a welcome sign for the hospital’s Christmas dinner. Cutting out the letter E, William said: “My son knows I’m useless at this. Catherine in the artsy one.”
I think Kate probably is the artsy one, like her mom – she likes putting together crafting activities for kids and she seems happy when she gets to show that artistic and kid-friendly side. Which brings me to a question… why was William even there again? Kate was made the new royal patron of the hospital, and given the crafting activities, the event was planned around her and her interests. Why was William there?
Also, Hello Magazine noted that when Will and Kate were in Cyprus for the Christmas party, William was asked why he and Kate don’t bring some or all of their kids to these fun and kid-filled events. He told the person: “Because I can’t do this and look after the children.” For one, a better answer is “because Charlotte and George are in school.” Secondly, his answer just seemed… curt. And it still doesn’t make sense, why wouldn’t you want to gently expose George and Charlotte to a short engagement with lots of kids? I’ve often wondered that.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN.
Why was William there?
Couldn’t let Kate have the ‘spotlight’ or just padding the old numbers.
Its December, numbers are gonna come out lol
I wonder if Kate just doesn’t like going to events alone if she can help it?
I think Williams numbers are in good shape this year. He’s been working a decent amount. He’s no Prince Charles or Princess Anne Lol But I bet his numbers will be good this year.
Hmm, I’m not sure about that first part because they’ve often seemed more comfortable (especially Kate) on solo events. There’s often been a weird sort of tension in their joint appearances, though to their credit it hasn’t been evident in these recent engagements. I think they’re both just trying to do their typical schtick of ending the year with the illusion of being busy. And yes, perhaps the Sussexes play a part in these extra team efforts, lol.
I agree. Kate is usually better on her own because she doesn’t feel the need to let William get the spotlight and take a back seat.
I agree – in the past they often looked tense. But throughout 2018 they seemed happy and comfortable with each other.
She’s better alone. She looks more mature and less stressed out. I don’t think it’s cos he is so bad, but she sort of knows her place.
I suspect that we will see more Cambridge teaming in reaction to the Sussex teaming. It appears to me that the Cambridges are making some tweaks to their brand of late lol!
I think “his part” was with the homeless centre.
Oh I forgot about that. They did visit a homeless center after the hospital which I think Diana took William and Harry to as kids? I’m guessing he was doing that and it made more sense for him to accompany Kate to her engagement rather than joining her later. I don’t think it’s a huge deal, I think it’s nice he wanted to support his wife’s new patronage.
Why does William even get to count this as an engagement for him?
Maybe they enjoy each other’s company and spend time together when they can. Who cares really? Will was there. OMG. That’s soooo wrong!
Maybe Wills was there the same way Harry was with Meghan when she presented her cookbook to the world. Isn’t DoC presenting this as her new patronage? Maybe he was there to support his wife whilst she did something she loved and was excited about..
Wouldn’t they be doing arts and crafts because they’re with kids? It’s not like Kate pulled out her crafting Caboodle at a dinner. However, her dress doesn’t “go” with the activity – a cashmere turtleneck and skirt or trousers would have been perfect, with a blazer to take off during the kid sessions.
William seriously needs to work on his people skills.
I love your idea of a sweater and trousers to work with the kids. This outfit was kind of Christmas-y, but very old fashioned. I would love to dress Kate. She has a great body for clothes, but has such bad taste!!
I think it was nice that William went and that they discussed addiction at the second visit, also. It would be great if a famous person in the US would visit a rehab to highlight the work we do in them.
Prince Harry did a Prince’s Trust outing today with Prince Charles.
Arts & crafts are their thing. The kids probably would have enjoyed this visit. Look at the European royals. They have eased their children into royal duties by doing events such as this. It can be done and still maintain the children’s privacy.
The Swedish royals do it right (with the public exposure/interaction) with their kids, IMO. Estelle is a pro at interacting with the public, shaking hands, receiving flowers, standing for short periods of time, waving, etc. plus the regular exposure probably makes the media less desperate to get private time photos. (Even though, yes, I know the Swedish media is nothing like the U.K. media.)
And to people commenting about how wild their own young kids are, the more the royal kids are exposed to this type of engagement, the more practice they would get at behavior appropriate to a public setting. Practice makes perfect, just like people are always saying about Kate’s horrible speeches.
Not to mention that the Cambridge kids seem pretty well behaved on balcony outings, so clearly they know the difference in how to behave at private polo outings where they can run free vs “work” outings. I’ll bet they would have loved doing arts and crafts and it seems like a great opportunity to meet children from different backgrounds than themselves or to learn that sometimes kids get sick and here is a great way their mummy (Kate) is going to help.
i like what you have to say, with one exception, if I may ~ it is my understanding there is no such thing as perfection. I learnt that practice does make new habits more permanent, especially with things like, manners. So, practice makes permanent vs perfection (unattainable so immediately discouraging, is my thought).
The idea that the kids could have been there for the first 20 minutes, then released to go do their own activity (w/Nanny, likely) without cameras could have worked. Unless the kids are still in school, in which case would they get one of those letters about ‘unauthorized school absence’ letters from the school, and fined?
The Europeans run a gamut, though. The Swedes and the Monagasque royals bring their babies out as toddlers to official events. The Danes and the Norwegians have photo calls and a few very limited kid-focused events with the kids as they reach school age. And the Belgians and the Spanish really limit the kids’ public role; the Princess of the Asturias gave an official speech for the first time in the last couple of weeks and she’s what, 12? Kate and William just are not acting that differently than some of their peers. And that’s not even taking into account the way that all these other families are one generation “farther up” the ladder of succession.
I kinda get it – my kids were all over the place when they were young and needed constant attention. There’s no way I would have gotten through an event where I would have been scrutinized if I had them with me. It’s a no win situation for them, because if they had the kids there and were busy parenting, then it would be, why weren’t they doing more for the kids at the hospital? If a nanny was there, then how come they aren’t more hands on with their own kids? No matter what they do they’ll get shit on for it.
Oh my goodness, spending time with my preschool nieces feels like a marathon run through a tornado. I adore them, but there’s so much energy and exploration and approximately 700 questions in a 2 hour period. Then one is cold and the other is hungry and I’m just exhausted after they go.
They’re lovely and sweet and so smart, but man.
I was 100% that child at that age… my aunt would have to plan a million activities before picking me up for a day, and our niece now exhausts me. It’s only fair, but mannnn I don’t know how people do it and not feel drained.
I have one kid. One. Just one. One boy. Again, one. And exposed to stimulation like other kids and cameras he will turn from a boy child to the Tasmanian devil in a heart beat. I couldn’t imagine 2. They’ll get introduced to it all as they go along, I’m sure.
Or just be honest and say they dont want their kids at their young ages exposed to the media.
Yes, I could see it being more appropriate for them to take the kids to one of the events that is embargoed until after it happens. They can control the amount of media present and waiting outside that way.
I think he truly was being honest. They were there to give attention to what they were doing but with two kids that age there’s no way. You do your best and they still can act up and take away from the day. Kids are wonderful but they definitely act wild and maybe they know how their kids can act up.
If their kids were there, even with nanny in background, they would still have kept an eye on them. Their job was to make these children their priority on this visit.
I think they should adjust the kids more with events, but on Kates first visit to her new patronage her kids should stay home.
I agree. And all of the press would be about the royal kids, when the focus of the press should be on the child patients.
I totally get it. My daughter is almost 3 and it would not have been fair to put her in that position.
I completely get it. Having your kids at a work event would be a huge distraction. Most people, even those who work with children, don’t bring their own kids to work with them. There should be little expectation of the small Royal children participating in regular events. They will have a lifetime of service should they so choose. No need to over expose them anymore than they already are.
I would assume that the truth is, they don’t want to expose the kids to the fact that they are “different” yet and they would have to if they were to start involving them in stuff like this. George might know the basic facts of his situation re: the royal family but I would assume that the kids he plays with are heavily vetted and are the children of aristocrats themselves. Different story if he were to start playing with kids of regular people. They probably don’t want to explain that though.
Maybe they don’t bring the kids to events where they are not kept super close to their parents for security reasons? I know a lot of other people don’t take their kids to events where they (the kids) will be running around in a large group for that reason alone.
I can see why they don’t bring the kids to every event that is kid-oriented. Like PP h e mentioned, it is many ways a no-win for them. If they bring the kids and the kids are more with the nanny, they get criticized. If they interact with their kids and not the kids at the event, they get criticized. Etc. how many times have we seen references to the time when george reached for nanny Maria at Charlotte’s baptism and not Kate or Will? So, they are kind of stuck and to a large extent I get that.
But for an event that is more like the Christmas party at KP last week – it seems that would have been a perfect event for at least George to have attended. I know it was on a school day but surely it could have been scheduled differently. So I think the other part of the answer is that they don’t want their kids at public events, period, and try to minimize it as much as possible.
Doing that last minute crunch with the engagement numbers. I’ve seen pleasant surprise at their increase in appearances, but I’d wait for 2019 to see if things are truly different now 😉
His response in Cyprus did seem a bit odd. It’s not like they haven’t brought their kids to a small event before. Remember that little garden party with other children and balloon makers a couple years back.
That was during th Canada tour though. Instead of keeping them hidden at government house in BC the event gave the kids a reason to be with their parents. Their routine was already disturbed being in the tour.
Fair point. It’ll be interesting to see how often they bring the kids on future tours now that they have a third. I can’t see them doing a big overseas tour until 2020 at the earliest.
I had a doctor appointment a few weeks ago. My physician’s daycare had closed for some reason so she had to bring her three young children to work with her. They were in the office next door to the one we were in. It sounded like a war zone – screaming, fighting, thumping the walls, hysterical laughing, calling for mom. My doctor was completely flustered and distracted. I can see why the Cambridge’s might not want to bring their kids to work events, even if the events are child-friendly.
Lol. He’s such a dud.
ITA. Every time he makes a quip like that he comes across as rather dim and dull.
Saw both in person, neither were charismatic. Kate seemed very robotic
Very stiff
They’re still really young. I say let the kids just be kids for now. They’ll have plenty of time to ease into their adult duties later.
I feel like the people demanding that they kids be there haven’t spent that much time with small children. My kids are 5, 4 and 1 and I would have a hard time not focusing entirely on them if I brought them to my job. Even if my job was making crafts with other kids. My 4 year old is home sick today and between her and my 1 year old I haven’t had a chance to sit down til now. 1 year old napping. I finally turned on the tv for the 4 year old. Little kids are busy and even well behaved ones can cause commotion
Yep. Small children are exhausting.
Even when children that age are on their very best behavior, they’re still a massive distraction. They’re needy as hell lol.
His answer doesn’t bother me. The children at these events deserve to be the focus. I have volunteered with children befor and after becoming a mother and I much prefer events where my own kids aren’t there because they do take my attention, because I can’t turn the parent bit off and that means I am not giving as much to the children I am working with and I think that was what William was trying to say.
Exactly. People freak out all the time about Kate being “at work!”
“She can’t wear that color coat, she’s at work!”
“She can’t touch her hair, she’s AT WORK!”
“She can’t wear a skirt that short, she’s AT WOOORK!!”
::eyeroll::
William very much sees his Prince duties as a public-facing job. He feels no such obligation to make his dad life public.
Yeah, I mean he probably said it in a self-deprecated way. He kids are 5 and 3, taking them to an event with other kids sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Well said.
Why does he attend these type of events? He is a drip.
Is there a concerted effort afoot to drop Kate and move to Catherine as her public name? Even her mom used Catherine in her interviews.
It started after the whole Waity Katey nickname back during the girlfriend years.
Ever since the engagement, the palace and everything royal calls her Catherine. (It’s more regal, I guess.)
The press uses “Kate” for SEO and because that’s how the public knows her. I hope that her family, friends, and Will still call her Kate in private.
William has been referring to her as “Catherine” for a while now, I agree with the comment that it’s probably because it sounds more formal and regal (so much for the younger generation being a breath of fresh air.)
But Carole Middleton’s use was odd, because I believe in the same interview she referred to Pippa (already a nickname for Philippa) as “Pips” (which I found endearing.) I’m sure Kate has been “Kate” to Carole since she was a baby, not sure why she has to comply with whatever formality William or the Family is trying to impose.
Kate was a press invention, her family and friends have always called her Catherine. It’s stuck in the media so now we think of it as her actual name.
@mynameispearl- Her family has always called her Catherine, but it’s been Kate to her friends and how she introduced herself before becoming DoC. (So I take back my “I hope family still calls her Kate” from above.)
https://abcnews.go.com/International/Royal_Diary_Blog/kate-catherine-middleton-choose-royal-wedding/story?id=13087017
“I’m still very much Kate,” she said, The Associated Press reported.
According to the official royal wedding website, she answers to both names and has never expressed a preference. She grew up using Catherine within her family, but goes by Kate in her working life.
Thanks all! One of my favorite things about this website is well-versed comments like yours. I had forgotten a lot of these things!
How do you know what her friends and family call her in private? And I’ve heard William call her Kate plenty of times.
Is William good for anything besides bleeding the taxpayers dry? How hard is it to string beads?!
Why couldn’t their children behave? Don’t they have to behave at school?
I don’t think it’s the kid’s job to go to events. Wouldn’t they be in school? Is it christmas holidays yet in Britain?
plus it would take the focus off the kids at the event. W and K would naturally be focused on their own children and making sure they behave.
I can see exactly why they didn’t bring the kids. It doesn’t even need explaining to moms on here with little ones. All other the place is an understatement. I remember being at the grocery store with two little ones and wanted to pull my hair out and scream. My friend brought her three-year-old son to a small event after work her husband was going to. She just wanted to stop by to say good-bye to the person leaving. It was a nightmare for her. She never had a second to ever really do much except chase after her little one.
We had a memorial, casual event by the lake, for an in-law’s father, who had died the month beofre. Their three-year-old never, ever, ever, ever, ever stopped moving. My relative was exhausted.
I don’t know guys. I like seeing them together. What is the complaint? Maybe he enjoys being around the kids? He was trying to make a joke. Relax. Honestly damned if they do or damned if they don’t.
Like it or not George, especially, Charlotte and Louis are the future of the monarchy in this country. W&K should be slowly introducing them to their royal life like the Swedish royals (and I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of the Danish royal family and their little ones taking part in traditional events). Wouldn’t it be good for the new generation of royals to be introduced to ordinary children like at the RAF parties? Or are they bringing them up to be elitist? Or will we start seeing the kids in public once Harry and Meghan’s baby arrives??
Well, just like any other parents W&K have the right to decide what’s best for their family. Just because others are doing it one way doesn’t mean they have to do the same.
It would’ve been a nice gesture for them to bring their children along to meet kids whose parents are away fighting for Queen and country.
They go to school with ordinary children. My gosh, St Thomas’ in Battersea is filled with the regular upper middle class.
So their apparent wish to be a “normal” family doesn’t actually mean they want to associate their kids with “normal” kids, including children whose parents are away fighting for Queen and Country. And as if William would be “looking” after the kids at any such event?! Best laugh of the day…
My goodness, he is a snore. Did his joie de vivre dissipate when his hair did? Then again, if I was a prince I’d be bored to death at children’s hospitals, too. But hey, we all gotta pay the bills, right, Wills?
Sorry but he sound like a jerk.
He’s also useless at being a decent human being
He seems to be neither use nor ornament as my old granny used to say…
LOLOLOL!!! I love it. There’s no honesty like granny honesty.
Mine would have said, “butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.” (Meaning, cold – as a kid, it took me a moment to figure that one out.)
I’m liking William less and less. He can’t wield a pair of scissors or thread a bead on some string?? Thousands of non-royals are able (or at least attempt) to juggle children and public events – what’s his problem exactly?
He’s useless at everything. And a grumpy bugger to boot.
The couple attended 2 events yesterday because it was a 1×1
This one is more associated to Kate’s interests and was named their patron.
Evelina London
Routine care & life-saving treatment for children in south London & beyond. Part of @GSTTnhs. Your support helps make a difference to thousands of young lives.
and this one is William’s interest, just like Centrepoint…
The Passage Charity
UK’s largest Resource Centre for homeless people & provider of accommodation & homelessness preventions projects.
Both Centrepoint and The Passage are listed as 2 of the largest homelessness orgs in UK
There’s really nothing interesting about this man, is there? Even his jokes are a dud.
Also, Kate is creative and artsy? Had no idea.
Its interesting that the directorof her new patronage has said that they havent had any meetings with Kate or any discussions with her about what she plans/wants to do as their patron. We;re told she takes on few patronages because she wants to work closely with them and that she does a loads of bts work with then and yet can’t even do a simple meeting like this.
He doesn’t bring George because he’s likely bad at sharing and will brawl with other kiddos in front of the cameras 😛
Or maybe he doesn’t want his kids to mingle with peasants.
Just throwing out some other reasons.
Not a very sensible reply when others have been.
Kate reminds me a lot of my own mother, which could be part of why I’m defensive her. Seriously, Kate likes kids and arts and crafts, and isn’t a feminist dynamo (which Megan seems to be, and I’d say I have more in common personality-wise with Megan). Both of these personalities are just fine.
This was a nice thing for the two of them, W&K, to do, and I don’t blame them for not bringing their kids. For them, this is work. When I was a journalist and would cover a kid-friendly event, people would always say I should bring my young (at the time) son. I was like, “Are you kidding? I’d get nothing done.”
Is he breaking any protocol by exposing all that chest hair?
Think y’all are really judgy about a couple of people you don’t know.
Yea, we don’t know them personally but we help fund their priviledged lifestyle and they’re supposed to have a duty to “serve” the country.
The Cambridge’s are revamping the brand and Kate is getting a lesson in what it means to work…