Kate and William wow in Wales
And they even arrived by train
It was all smiles on Wednesday, as William and Kate took a trip to Wales to celebrate St David’s Day.
The pair arrived in Cardiff by commuter train, which seemed like a good idea, except it was delayed an hour (welcome to our life). They then headed to Pontypridd, which has been devastated by flooding, and had a go at making welsh cakes at The Welsh Cake Shop. Showing themselves good sports, Prince William quipped, “Well I don’t know, my stunning baker skills, Mary Berry taught me everything I need to know.”
They visited Meadow Street Community Garden and met with local businesses and residents who have been affected by flooding and greeted the crowds who turned out to see them.
Local, Lisa Maunder, 46, told the BBC she was, “really proud to have them come to Pontypridd. It lifts the spirits of everyone,” adding Pontypridd, “is a bit of a dying town so I think it’s a nice thing to have people come here, spend money and look after all the businesses.”
“A pleasure to be back in Wales, in the lead up to St David’s Day this weekend! Thank you to the lovely people of Pontypridd for the warm welcome,” William and Kate posted on Instagram.
It was lovely to see the couple looking so happy and while Catherine is no longer releasing details of her outfits, fashion-spotters would be familiar with her smart red Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat, a perfect nod to the Welsh dragon, with what looked to be a Gucci plaid skirt from 2019 and a 2007 Ralph Lauren jacket. It’s great to see the princess taking a more sustainable approach and re-wearing clothes.
On Saturday, William delivered a message in Welsh for the first time in a video marking St David’s Day. The pre-recorded 34-second clip comes after the Prince previously revealed he was using the Duolingo app to lean some conversational Welsh.
Meghan shares clip of new show
An excited Duchess of Sussex posted never-before-seen footage from her With Love, Meghan show, which included Harry and beagle Guy (RIP), plus a dance. Meghan is clearly revving up for the show’s Tuesday release date, captioning her post, “Six more days until our show launches on Netflix. Celebrating the crew and everyone who helped make this happen! The countdown begins.”
With Love, Meghan, will see her and her guests, “roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same”, according to the blurb, plus launch her new brand, As Ever, which last week, Meghan explained was the new name for American Riviera Orchard, which had failed its trademark application.
With only days to go, the show has, (of course, it’s Meghan), attracted critics. Journalist and podcaster Marina Hyde had thoughts on her The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, which she co-hosts with polymath Richard Osman. “The TV they [Meghan and Netflix] have made is the TV they think people should be watching, rather than what people want to watch,” said Marina. “The story is themselves, and that is all it ever has been. But they can’t continue to complain about their terrible treatment at the hands of the Royal Family because they don’t appear to have any contact with them to speak of.”
Charles and Camilla get on board the Darjeeling Express
It was the the beginning of Ramadan on Friday, so their Majesties celebrated with a visit to London’s Darjeeling Express, an Indian restaurant, to honour the creativity and contribution of Muslim women. Opened in 2017 , Darjeeling Express is run as an all-female team and during Ramadan, donates the restaurant’s proceeds to charity and sends food packages to hospitals. Charles and Camilla proved a dab hand at packing dates, which are traditionally eaten to break the fast at sunset.
Sophie joins the Mothers’ Union
The Duchess of Edinburgh has become patron of the Mothers’ Union, following in the footsteps of the late Queen and Queen Mother. On Thursday, Sophie visited the Christian organisation, which is marking its 150th anniversary next year, in Chelmsford, Essex, to hear about its English for Women project. The initiative aims to reduce the isolation of women who speak little or no English after fleeing conflict or challenging situations. This echoes Sophie’s work supporting women in conflict zones. Kathleen Snow, worldwide president of the union, said, “As a woman-led movement, we also greatly welcome the duchess’s commitment to promoting the development of women into leadership.”
Camilla’s pup idol
On a visit to Canterbury on Tuesday, Camilla revealed she has adopted an eight-week-old rescue puppy called Moley, because it “looks just like a mole”. When asked what breed it was, she joked: “You may well ask. A bit of everything. It’s a rescue dog.” Camilla was “heartbroken” after the death of Beth, her 13-year-old Jack Russell, last November. She adopted Moley from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where Beth also came from, and Camilla has been patron since 2016. Moley will be a playmate for Bluebell, Camilla’s other beloved Jack Russell rescue dog.
Charles is also said to be “besotted” with his own new pooch, his first in more than 20 years - a Lagotto Romagnolo spaniel called Snuff. His last dog, a Jack Russell named Tigga, died in 2002.