The Duchess of Cambridge has attracted further criticism this week after pulling out last minute of presenting St Patrick’s Day shamrocks to the Irish Guards.
By doing so she breaks a 115 year old tradition where a senior female member of the royal family has always had the duty of presenting the shamrocks to the guards since Queen Alexandra first did so in 1901.
The Queen Mother undertook the duty for many years, as did Princess Anne who presented the shamrocks up until 2012 when Kate took over.
As the 34 year old has now pulled out of the event, her husband, Prince William will make the presentations, ending over a century of tradition.
It is understood that the Duchess wanted to stay at home to look after her two young children in Norfolk.
The news comes at a bad time for the Cambridge family after the British press started using adjectives such as “workshy” and “lazy” to describe their lack of work currently undertaken.
Last year, 94-year-old Prince Philip undertook more engagements than William, Kate and Prince Harry combined leaving many royal commentators questioning who will continue to carry out these important engagement once the older generation can no longer continue at such a pace.
Royal Historian, author, and the publisher of Royal Musings, Marlene Eilers Koenig, says that the Duchess should be taking part in more public engagements.
“I do think that the Duchess of Cambridge should be stepping up the number of engagements and patronages as she is a senior royal. Yes, it can be said that the Duke of Cambridge is only second in line and does not have a constitutional role. But the majority of working royals are senior citizens so there does need to be a move toward the younger couple stepping up their duties.”
She continued: “However, I do not think Catherine should be tarred and feathered for missing this one event. The presenting of the shamrock began in 1901 with Queen Alexandra, and most of the presentations have been made by female members of the royal family, including the Princess Royal (Mary), Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (first as the Duchess of York), the present Princess Royal. But the presentations have not taken place during wars (World War I and II,for example).
“Previously, he late Princess Royal was unable to attend the presentation so in 1929 and 1933; so the Countess Roberts represented her. The Earl of Cavan also represented the Princess several times, including 1931 and 1940.In 1941 and 1942, the Princess Royal had shamrocks delivered to the Irish Guards. In 1950, George VI, accompanied by the Queen Mother, and Princess Elizabeth, made the presentation.
The Earl of Cavan, presented the Shamrocks on behalf of the Princess Royal, several times, including 1931 and 1940.
“In 1989, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, who joined the British Guards as a volunteer in the Irish Guards in 1942, traveled to Belize to make the presentation. The Queen Mother was unable to travel to Belize, where the Battalion was stationed at the time. The Duke of Cambridge will be making the presentation this year but I hope this is a one-off, and is not repeated next year.”
Aides have said that the Duchess will take on the role again in the future.
A spokesperson said: “The Duchess has very much enjoyed the occasions when she has been able to attend, but the Duke is the Colonel of the Regiment and is looking forward to presenting the Irish Guards with their Shamrock.
“She won’t do it every year but the Duchess looks forward to marking St Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards many times in the future.”
I’m beginning to think that the Duchess of Cambridge at least needs to get herself in gear and get out into the public eye. Most working mothers don’t have the option to stay home this long after giving birth and the bonds they have with their children are stong. I can see that the Duke has a job in the private sector but there’s no reason why his wife should be staying home. They have plenty of staff to care for the children. Catherine needs to step it up.
I am highly disappointed in Kate’s decision and have lost a great deal of respect for her over the past few weeks. I would love to stay at home with my kids instead of going to work however I do not have that luxury. Kate and Will have always tried to connect with todays people and young parents, but these actions greatly distance them from the real world. She seems to ‘cherry pick’ what she wants to do and not do while being paid and living a extravagant lifestyle on tax payers dollars. She is beginning to come across as a tad bit spoiled and stubborn about having things her way. And not to mention the extremely inappropriate timing when she just returned from a luxurious vacation with her family with an army of people to help them out. I no longer see William and Kate as ‘grounded’ ‘connected’ people that I can relate to. It’s very disappointing as I really had high hopes for them however since they have had children they have greatly distanced and isolated themselves in a very stand offish way which I find offensive and unnecessary. People were naturally interested in them and seeing George and Charlotte change and grow up, but they seem to want to control and stage ‘everything’ which is very unnatural and unwelcoming. I am loosing interest fast, and respect.
I wouldn’t be surprised if her majesty stepped in to ale her place. Her sense of duty is unmatched.
If you had read the article you would have seen that Prince William stepped in.
I did. I am making a point that her majesty never lets her people down and cancels.
The fact that Her Majesty never “cancels” has led to the current heir to the throne being emotionally stunted, which, to one degree or another, his siblings also are. The Duchess of Cambridge is doing exactly what her late mother in law did, which is why the Duke is as emotionally healthy as he is, unlike his father, aunt, and uncles.
Here, here!
Spot on……Just look at poor Prince Andrew. He is very emotionally sick.
Actually this is Williams event and NOT Kates. He is not stepping in… he is doing the job. Kate has just accompanied him the last 4 years .
Not sure why everyone assumes to know all about them. Kate has attended whIle pregnant x2. It seems that maybe there is something they are not perhaps sharing? Maybe one of children are sick? We don’t know.
Even the papers have twisted words from press releases. They are all crying because they got left out of the ski trip. Ridiculous.
I do however feel that they both need to step up their game soon. But I refuse to place blame and make comments about her or them when I don’t know them nor do I know the entire story. JMHO
Perhaps you have a point. Well stated. It could be mis information.
Well the children couldn’t have been sick today as Kate was out and about – but in Norfolk.
Look I don’t know why you folk are having a go at me I for one am a big fan of all the Royals & don’t mind what they do or don’t do or when they chose to do it. I agree with all that is being said in favour of them. Maybe its because I’m new to the site!
No you are wrong. A senior female royal has always (well 100years or so give or take) It was Kate’s duty and William was accompanying her
.
Actually sound more like she stepped aside so her hubby could have the pleasure.
And WOW leave the parents alone! Their children are only little for a short time and this is the time they will build strong relationships with them. Time enough down the road when they are both in school to be out there for YOUR touchable moments, SSHEESH grow up why don’t you!
Actually I am grown up and didn’t have to resort to name calling to make my point. In fact, I’ll call up my employer, tell them I am taking the day off work tomorrow, with pay, so I can spend some bonding time with my kids before they head off to school. That sounds responsible. I think we may live in different realities and perhaps have different outlooks on the meaning of work ethic and responsibilities.
You don’t have a “point,” Debra. Stop trying to imagine what you’d do in her place. You’re not in her place. When a royal Duke marries you, and when your circumstances change, you’ll be able to more accurately criticize her. Until then, be quiet.
ANDDDD??????????this has what to do with the Duchess of Cambridge, taking time to be home with her chldren??and letting the Duke of Cambridge who requested the honor of going get on with it?
Is it any of our business? are any of us employed by the Queen to do the scheduling for these events?????????? Do I give a darn if you take time off to be with your kids. ARE YOU in line for the throne, under constant surveilance, and constant critisism for just trying to live your life in quite circumscribed circumstances because o who your husband is?
ARE you really grown up? because this all sounds so childish and highschool cliqueish to me. Totally creepy in fact!
Lazy mothers need to get off their fat behinds and work to support their chldren. The taxpayer is tired of supporting women who think the world owes them a living. And in Kate’s case, she is barren, so she isn’t even a true mother. haha.
So now moms who don’t stay home to raise those kids are lazy, and the moms who go to work from necessity or not, are suddenly responsible?
I’m not even going to touch your idiocy calling the Duchess of Cambridge barren.
You sound a little barren yourself.
I have to words for you, you prat..FU
CP I agree I really don’t know why you appear to be having a go at me!.. I think they should be able to get on with their lives while the children are small!
But he should not have had to do so. I believe they were both present last year. The soldiers, it seems would rather have seen Catherine
Does’t really matter?The men looked happy enough to see their Colonel !
@ Debra……How can you be so sure that her kids weren’t sick?
Oh, give it a rest, you pompous ass.
What if Duchess Kate wants to be the carer of the children, and not delegate it to flotillas of staff?
Catherine just finished an away tour on her own a few weeks ago. Where do you get the idea that she doesn’t do anything.
Either these two want to be royals or they don’t. It seems they want the perks and trappings but not the work
. William has only carried out four engagements so far this year and two of those involved football. His 95 year old grandfather has done more. Shape up Catherine and Wills or ship out!
With the number of older royals wanting to get out and about, they are giving these two an opportunity they didn’t have, to love and hold their own children in those precious years before they go off to school, before there own lives are dragged before the OH SO Critical Royal Followers who don’t seem to have lives of their own, Just creepy. It has been that long since Prince William left full time employment when his job was privatised.
By the way they don’t have a choice to be Royals they just are, maybe you could just get over yourself?
It seems that with these two the ‘oldies’ will have to work until they drop before they pull their fingers out!
I respect her commitment to her children. This is a duty first to family, that is the major responsibility of motherhood.
Actually, with the Royals, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, especially, it is DUTY first.
Not her children – and by a lot of accounts, she’s a very unmaternal, neglectful, and poor one. I guess this happens when your children were conceived in a petri dish.
I don’t blame her for wanting to be at home with her children. I would hate to leave my 2 year old to return to work as I would mis out on precious time with her at such a vital stage.
She is hardly ‘leaving’ them to attend one engagement of perhaps an hour.
If only it was one hour, what about travelling time from Norfolk to London?
You think she goes by bus?
Who knows the children may be sick! And I agree her children should come first.
She doesn’t have children, the surrogates did.
What is it with this guy? Mental!
Bollocks, you wally.
Oh for pitys sake. Let the woman spend this precious years with her children. They will grow to be better people because of it
And these years when they are so young are indeed precious. First steps, first words…
Maybe she’s pregnant again! Or she just wants to be with her kiddos she is a mommy. Maybe the press is just too much. Who knows just back off and let her be she wants to raise her kiddos not the nannies. God Bless her!!
She is incapable of being pregnant. God Bless decent, working women, not this cheap creature.
Leave her alone…maybe she had her reasons.
She cheated in college, using it as a stepping stone to stalk a rich meal ticket, plus spend her 20’s as a knickerless, drunken booty call. She’s a parasite – no wonder people don’t like her. A lazy, barren one, too.
Sounds like a little jealousy…
She’s got 2 kids, what do you mean, “barren”?
kicked you in the crotch when you tried it on did she? Good for her! Get over yourself before someone cites you.
You poor blighter. She graduated at the top of her class. She is very intelligent and by the way, she is not barren.
Where the bloody hell do you get the idea that she is barren?
Nick
What a thoroughly unpleasant person you are Lee.
This Lee fellow sounds like he’s mental. I’d keep an eye on this one.
I fully support Kate’s giving priority to either herself (she might not be quite well) or to her children (who might also not be quite well). Perhaps the nanny is not available for her own reasons, and Kate’s Mom for her own reasons. There could be any scenario playing out which she is under no obligation to spell out. Kate is a fine wife and mother. She lives to support her husband now and for the difficulties that lie ahead, and to remain close to her children in order to give them the freedom and fun or childhood before grooming them to be different from others. This way, the family will remain stable and strong, and fit for their duties.
I think some women need to get off their lazy behinds if they have children – I am tired of supporting these lazy, weak women who live off a man and use their children as an excuse. Besides, she never gave birth – those children don’t even have Windsor blood.
Are you totally deranged?
Are you, sugar? Unlike your idol Kate I am not a lazy cheater who used University as a stepping stone to bedding rich males, and oh I am not barren and didn’t fake two pregnancies. Guess I have too much class and intelligence to worship a barren skank. Deranged? Not your pitiful excuse for a mother, housewife.
Kate is a nutter, and certainly not my idol. Where on earth did you get that idea?
Where the bloody hell are you getting these ridiculous ideas?! Those babies sure as hell are hers and Prince Williams. Dear Gd, all you have to do is look at them! Not Windsors, MY FOOT!
you all know how to make something out of nothing, Taking care of two young children is exhausting.
Children she never gave birth to – that is obvious. Green eyes and blue eyes don’t give you children with dark chocolate eyes. They are an excuse used by two selfish, arrogant, and self-serving phonies. And nannies raise those completely non-royal children anyways.
Man you are SOOOO wrong! My brothers eyes are hazel and the mother of his children’s are blue, all three boys have brown eyes, and brown hair.
I have murky brown eyes, my husbands are blue, of our five children three have blue, one has blue green and one had blue gray.
My aunty and Uncle both had black hair, brown eyes, One child has gray eyes, one has blue, one has brown Hair colours range form black to caramel blonde. Where did you say you got your degree in genetics?
I agree it would be for you and for me. But I presume that, like me you didn’t have two Nannies, a nurse and a live-in mother and you probably also did your own washing cooking and cleaning!
For the round of nannies, I am sure raising the two fake heirs is exhausting – all that photoshopping and lying to the public can be tiring.
Give her a break. Looking after kids is hard work – and it IS work – even with full-time help.
Please – never gave birth to them and has the taxpayer supporting them. Lazy women need to get off their buns and work.
I find this criticism nonsense. There is an entire generation of “Senior Royals” between HM and the Cambridge family. They are all quite capable of sharing the burden of a 90 year-old Queen, should she require support.
Allowing Kate and William time to be a family and to have privacy may, in fact be the most important gift given to this couple: To allow them to build strong foundations for the time when they WILL be the next in line for the Throne… and will not have the luxury of time to themselves.
The Cambridges have proven themselves loyal and willing to undertake royal duties. It is unlikely that Kate would have simply chosen to withdraw unless she had a solid reason that was supported by Buckingham Palace as well as Clarence House. If it was absolutely imperative to have a female royal, calendars could have been been shuffled to send Camilla, Anne, or Sophie. Or, in a pinch, Beatrice or Eugenie, who are Princesses by birth.
Please – they are both fake, shiftless, lazy, arrogant, and out of touch. Those children were born to surrogates – no royal blood in either of them. Just another burden for the poor taxpayer.
Workshy? Get a life. Who else provided a heir and backup heir to the throne? Also, she does her best (as Diana did) to raise them and care for them when they are sick.
Where is Camilla – we don’t hear of HER doing anything???
Oh poppycock, leave the young Mother alone! There will be plenty of time for such engagements in the future. Can’t believe they wasted the ink printing this stuff.
i think that kate should consider changing a few of the old traditions ….to her , her children are very important to her…..there are other royals who do not have children and are just as apt to do the job and carry some of the other responsibilities……kate is the mother of the next king and she should be able to take time to be with her children if she wants …..its time some traditions were changed …..we love kate and respect the fact that she wants to be a mother to her children not just a figure head like other royals ….this was one of dianas problems also ….she wanted to spend time with her children and the royal family didnt like that ….but diana and kate are right ….let her be a mother first , then only if she pleases can she be a socialite ….for the royal family ….only if she wants to ….kate you are royalty now and you have the right to change things …you are the next king of England’s mother …..we love and respect kate and william