Kate looks stunning in that color. Harry's body language is interesting. It's like you are seeing the shift in him in real time. I think Harry also has some resentment towards Kate. I got the impression from Spare that he felt Kate should have done more for Meghan. Either way I don't think we will ever see William and Kate looking so cheerful in Harry's presence ever again. He betrayed their trust so badly.
I think you’re right. The resentment of Kate didn’t do enough for Meghan. Wonder what they were expecting. Wasn’t Kate pregnant or just had a newborn Louis? Plus has 2 older children to look after. She already has her hands full!
Was this also during the time that James Middleton was really struggling with depression? I've read that at times the entire Middleton family, including Catherine, was involved in some of his therapy sessions. If that was during the same period, it was one more stressful concern that Catherine was dealing with.
One thing that Meghan did not seem to understand or accept was that patience is a virtue. She seemed to want to rush in and just have everything all at once. She wanted to have power and influence in the Royal Family at once. She wanted a close friendship with Catherine at once. But she never realized she needed to earn these things, that it takes time, that she had to be willing to learn, willing to be a team player, and to demonstrate that she could be a trustworthy friend and family member (we know how that turned out!). Although Catherine and Meghan do have very different personalities and that might have always made a close friendship a challenge.
Harry seems to be angry that Kate "sided" with William in their (extremely one-sided) feud. He basically admits this in Spare, saying that Kate was great fun when she first joined the family but then became cold and stiff and "just like Willy." He doesn't grasp why a wife would defend and protect her husband, which says maybe not-great things about his marriage to Meghan. He also doesn't understand that people change and mature as they grow older, because he's the same petulant teenager he's always been.
I'm in the minority, as I've never liked this coat/dress in any of its iterations. The waist is too high for where Kate's actual waist is, there's a horizontal seam below that that's just unnecessary, and the proportions always look off to me. It pulls at the waist and doesn't lie flat, which is surprising for such an expensive garment. She always looks comfortable in its many incarnations, though, so she obviously doesn't share my reservations about the fit!
I’ve always thought these outfits were too high waisted for her figure as well, so you’re not alone. I give her a pass on the slight gape, as she was still getting her figure back post baby.
This is one of my least favorite of her coat dresses. I really dislike the hat and think it brings down the whole look. The pale yellow version is much better, I think because the hat is much better. The earrings are fantastic. I wish she would wear them more often. I do think the jewelry really makes clear the difference in Kate and Meghan's positions in the royal family hierarchy. Kate is wearing gorgeous diamonds loaned by the queen, including the large RAF brooch. Meghan is wearing some very modest earrings (I can't even tell what they are). Clearly, apart from her wedding tiara, Meghan did not have access to the royal jewelry vaults. I'm sure that really bothered her. Of course, Kate didn't have access to the vaults for quite some time and she still doesn't get first dibs on things (that honor goes to Camilla). But Meghan probably chalked it all up to racism.
And it was just one more false grievance to fan the flames with Harry.
This is my least favorite of the 3 colors of this coat/dress. I think the creamier, warmer shades look better on her. I wonder if Meghan ever intended or tried to adjust her life to Harry's, or if she knew from the outset she wasn't staying in the royal family. If it's the latter, maybe Kate sensed that and never trusted Meghan enough to try to be her friend. As a more reserved person myself, if I encounter someone very outgoing or brash, it makes me pull into my shell more. Maybe Kate is the same. At any rate, Meghan hardly gave it enough time for a friendship to develop between her and Kate before they left England.
Thank you for this post! The coat dress is so beautiful with that extravagant pin and I loved seeing the BRF at this event. It made me so happy at the time. I was excited for more of these events showing off these two young couples who seemed to have such important missions in front of them and so much opportunity to good in the world. I am sad that H and M squandered that so badly and in such ham-handed fashion. Your point about dissecting the smiles and gazes of the couples in this series of photos is very interesting.
The Waleses and Sussexes could have been such a dynamic team. It's a shame that Harry and Meghan were too resentful (Harry) and ambitious (Meghan) to be team players.
I can never see moments of the 4 walking together without noticing how H&M insisted on walking with them rather than behind them (although I think they would be arriving ahead as after William ia Charles and after Charles, The Queen.
I think this was almost a uniform for her for a while. Any thoughts about if she will wear any of the Sarah Burton Givenchy clothes. Burtons partnership with the Pow is really iconic now.
There is a new Uk Scouts video out today featuring kids hiking together with Catherine. Very sweet. With her famous cap on.I hope she is out and about more maybe for Easter this year as she feels better. The focus is really her listening to others talk about scouting.
Family estrangement in such a public way must be incredibly painful for everyone. I wish it had not gone the way it has. So much of the PPOWs life is not public outside of their work. Being unable to rely on any discretion from a family member must be very unnerving. The pictures of them on vacation are the first in a very long time.
It really must have been awful to be so resentful and dissatisfied with their lot in the Royal Family life. Their inability to relax and "go with the flow" is quite evident in these pics...especially on Harry's part. I dislike Meghan but have to admit Harry's resentment and apparent jealousy must have been a major influence in how things turned out. Catherine looked beautiful each time she wore this coat, no matter what the color.
Adding to what everyone wrote already, I think, in addition to the radically different personalities of Kate & Meghan, I see two additional things that doomed the relationship. First, Catherine already had 2 small children and was pregnant with her third. They were in dramatically different stages of life, one which can be hard to overcome in long term friendships, and certainly would not give rise to a new friendship at this time. Catherine was deeply involved with her family, including her family of origin, as well as royal duties; Meghan was perhaps looking for an in, one that Catherine would never have had the time or energy to help with more than in the most cursory way.
Second, Meghan knew nothing about upper crust British life and the structure of the royal family. I'm convinced she saw herself as equal or superior to Kate. Just wouldn't fly for Kate, who had fully embraced her and her children's future. BTW, remember the whole incident with the lip gloss at the "Fab Four" event? Meghan said it was what girlfriends in America do. Nonsense. (Maybe in California but not where I live!) It was a power move, pure and simple, one that Kate perceived and rejected.
I love the ice blue on her and the style is a hit with her figure.
Also the earrings were beautiful.
This may be my favorite iteration of the coat (color wise)! Would love to see this again!
Kate looks stunning in that color. Harry's body language is interesting. It's like you are seeing the shift in him in real time. I think Harry also has some resentment towards Kate. I got the impression from Spare that he felt Kate should have done more for Meghan. Either way I don't think we will ever see William and Kate looking so cheerful in Harry's presence ever again. He betrayed their trust so badly.
I think you’re right. The resentment of Kate didn’t do enough for Meghan. Wonder what they were expecting. Wasn’t Kate pregnant or just had a newborn Louis? Plus has 2 older children to look after. She already has her hands full!
Was this also during the time that James Middleton was really struggling with depression? I've read that at times the entire Middleton family, including Catherine, was involved in some of his therapy sessions. If that was during the same period, it was one more stressful concern that Catherine was dealing with.
One thing that Meghan did not seem to understand or accept was that patience is a virtue. She seemed to want to rush in and just have everything all at once. She wanted to have power and influence in the Royal Family at once. She wanted a close friendship with Catherine at once. But she never realized she needed to earn these things, that it takes time, that she had to be willing to learn, willing to be a team player, and to demonstrate that she could be a trustworthy friend and family member (we know how that turned out!). Although Catherine and Meghan do have very different personalities and that might have always made a close friendship a challenge.
Harry seems to be angry that Kate "sided" with William in their (extremely one-sided) feud. He basically admits this in Spare, saying that Kate was great fun when she first joined the family but then became cold and stiff and "just like Willy." He doesn't grasp why a wife would defend and protect her husband, which says maybe not-great things about his marriage to Meghan. He also doesn't understand that people change and mature as they grow older, because he's the same petulant teenager he's always been.
I'm in the minority, as I've never liked this coat/dress in any of its iterations. The waist is too high for where Kate's actual waist is, there's a horizontal seam below that that's just unnecessary, and the proportions always look off to me. It pulls at the waist and doesn't lie flat, which is surprising for such an expensive garment. She always looks comfortable in its many incarnations, though, so she obviously doesn't share my reservations about the fit!
I’ve always thought these outfits were too high waisted for her figure as well, so you’re not alone. I give her a pass on the slight gape, as she was still getting her figure back post baby.
This is one of my least favorite of her coat dresses. I really dislike the hat and think it brings down the whole look. The pale yellow version is much better, I think because the hat is much better. The earrings are fantastic. I wish she would wear them more often. I do think the jewelry really makes clear the difference in Kate and Meghan's positions in the royal family hierarchy. Kate is wearing gorgeous diamonds loaned by the queen, including the large RAF brooch. Meghan is wearing some very modest earrings (I can't even tell what they are). Clearly, apart from her wedding tiara, Meghan did not have access to the royal jewelry vaults. I'm sure that really bothered her. Of course, Kate didn't have access to the vaults for quite some time and she still doesn't get first dibs on things (that honor goes to Camilla). But Meghan probably chalked it all up to racism.
And it was just one more false grievance to fan the flames with Harry.
This is my least favorite of the 3 colors of this coat/dress. I think the creamier, warmer shades look better on her. I wonder if Meghan ever intended or tried to adjust her life to Harry's, or if she knew from the outset she wasn't staying in the royal family. If it's the latter, maybe Kate sensed that and never trusted Meghan enough to try to be her friend. As a more reserved person myself, if I encounter someone very outgoing or brash, it makes me pull into my shell more. Maybe Kate is the same. At any rate, Meghan hardly gave it enough time for a friendship to develop between her and Kate before they left England.
Your comment about the benefit of time is right on - one wonders what would have happened if the Sussexes had stayed longer.
Thank you for this post! The coat dress is so beautiful with that extravagant pin and I loved seeing the BRF at this event. It made me so happy at the time. I was excited for more of these events showing off these two young couples who seemed to have such important missions in front of them and so much opportunity to good in the world. I am sad that H and M squandered that so badly and in such ham-handed fashion. Your point about dissecting the smiles and gazes of the couples in this series of photos is very interesting.
The Waleses and Sussexes could have been such a dynamic team. It's a shame that Harry and Meghan were too resentful (Harry) and ambitious (Meghan) to be team players.
I can never see moments of the 4 walking together without noticing how H&M insisted on walking with them rather than behind them (although I think they would be arriving ahead as after William ia Charles and after Charles, The Queen.
I think this was almost a uniform for her for a while. Any thoughts about if she will wear any of the Sarah Burton Givenchy clothes. Burtons partnership with the Pow is really iconic now.
There is a new Uk Scouts video out today featuring kids hiking together with Catherine. Very sweet. With her famous cap on.I hope she is out and about more maybe for Easter this year as she feels better. The focus is really her listening to others talk about scouting.
Family estrangement in such a public way must be incredibly painful for everyone. I wish it had not gone the way it has. So much of the PPOWs life is not public outside of their work. Being unable to rely on any discretion from a family member must be very unnerving. The pictures of them on vacation are the first in a very long time.
It really must have been awful to be so resentful and dissatisfied with their lot in the Royal Family life. Their inability to relax and "go with the flow" is quite evident in these pics...especially on Harry's part. I dislike Meghan but have to admit Harry's resentment and apparent jealousy must have been a major influence in how things turned out. Catherine looked beautiful each time she wore this coat, no matter what the color.
Adding to what everyone wrote already, I think, in addition to the radically different personalities of Kate & Meghan, I see two additional things that doomed the relationship. First, Catherine already had 2 small children and was pregnant with her third. They were in dramatically different stages of life, one which can be hard to overcome in long term friendships, and certainly would not give rise to a new friendship at this time. Catherine was deeply involved with her family, including her family of origin, as well as royal duties; Meghan was perhaps looking for an in, one that Catherine would never have had the time or energy to help with more than in the most cursory way.
Second, Meghan knew nothing about upper crust British life and the structure of the royal family. I'm convinced she saw herself as equal or superior to Kate. Just wouldn't fly for Kate, who had fully embraced her and her children's future. BTW, remember the whole incident with the lip gloss at the "Fab Four" event? Meghan said it was what girlfriends in America do. Nonsense. (Maybe in California but not where I live!) It was a power move, pure and simple, one that Kate perceived and rejected.
I was thinking about the lip gloss incident too. Even reading about it, I was thinking "Ewww."
Definitely not in California either!
Slight conversation detour:
Do we think Kate will wear more Givenchy now that Sarah Burton is there instead of McQueen?