Duchesses on walkabout, 7000km apart
The Duchess of Cambridge yesterday gave a lesson in the royal art of keeping calm and carrying on after a turbulent week for the House of Windsor.
The mother of three, who turned 38 last Thursday, was pictured laughing and joking with Prince William at a series of engagements in Bradford, where she hugged well-wishers and even drank a milkshake. Dressed in a long, military-style khaki coat by Alexander McQueen, the British designer, over a black and white tartan pussy-bow dress from Zara, the Duchess looked cheery – even when she and her husband were faced with shouts about their in-laws during a walkabout.
They remained silent as they were asked ‘‘How was the summit at Sandringham?’’ and ‘‘Can I just ask about your brother?’’
The Duke, 37, did appear to make a subtle reference to the Royal family’s troubles, saying it was essential to acknowledge problems to deal with them, rather than ‘‘pretend they don’t happen, which is no good’’.
Speaking of dealing with challenges head-on to avoid ‘‘paralysis and ‘‘move forward’’, he reiterated the importance of bringing people together.
The visit, their first official joint engagement since their Christmas break, follows days of negotiations within the Royal family about the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who hope to carve out a ‘‘financially independent’’ future in North America.
Prince Harry, who today was due to undertake a public engagement of his own, remains in Britain as palace aides draw up a blueprint, while his wife is in Canada with Archie, their son.
The Queen, who led ‘‘very constructive discussions’’ on Monday, has said she will support the couple’s decision, despite wishing they had stayed as fulltime working members of her family.
The so-called Sandringham Summit was the culmination of rising tensions within the Royal households, as Prince William and Prince Harry make their way down ‘‘different paths’’.
During a lively visit to the West Yorkshire city, the Cambridges embraced children, made mango kulfi milkshakes, and spent time with the ‘‘most vulnerable members of the community’’ during a workshop with the Near Neighbours community project.
Meanwhile, 7000km away in Canada, the Duchess of Sussex undertook a makeshift engagement of her own, revealed in a photograph posted on social media.
After a seven-week holiday, the duchess, 38, visited a women’s centre in Vancouver to discuss ‘‘issues affecting women in the community’’, with staff sharing a team photo on Facebook with the words: ‘‘Look who we had tea with today!’’
Travelling by seaplane, and photographed for the first time since she arrived in Canada, the Duchess appeared in good spirits.
The one-hour visit was organised with one day’s notice, leaving staff ‘‘star-struck’’ according to Kate Gibson, the acting executive director.
‘‘She’s just a normal person, I thought. I really liked her ... she hugged me when she left! She’s lovely.’’
While it is not yet known how much, if any, public work they will undertake in the UK, the Sussexes are expected to continue with the charity causes closest to their hearts. Yesterday, the Duke announced the next Invictus Games would be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2022.
– Telegraph Group