Names and faces
■ Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, turned 40 on Sunday, having emerged as Britain’s reliable royal. After Prince Harry and Meghan’s stormy departure to California in 2020, the death of Prince Philip last year and now sex abuse allegations against Prince Andrew, the former Kate Middleton remains in the public eye as the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children’s hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert. “This is the woman who was the commoner who married into the royal family and who has not tripped up, not caused any embarrassment,” said Katie Nicholl, author of “Kate: The Future Queen.” “It’s not been an easy year, and yet somehow Kate seems to be a bit of a beacon in all of this.” At a moment when the House of Windsor is facing more than its share of controversy, Prince William’s spouse has won accolades for her commitment to early education, art and music. The charities she supports gush about her willingness to get involved in their causes, including the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. During 11 years under the royal microscope, Kate has largely avoided criticism by adopting the royal maxim “Never complain, never explain.” Biographer Nicholl, who has watched Kate for years, described her as gutsy and self-assured — a person aware of her strengths.
■ Alec Baldwin said Saturday that any suggestion he’s not cooperating with the investigation into last fall’s deadly shooting on a New Mexico film set is a lie. At issue is a search warrant for Baldwin’s cellphone, which authorities hope can provide information helpful in the probe. Baldwin was holding a revolver during a rehearsal for his movie “Rust” when it fired, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding the director. Authorities still don’t have the actor’s phone. Baldwin said in an Instagram message that New Mexico has to go through New York law enforcement and the process of specifying exactly what is needed takes time. “They can’t just go through your phone and take your photos, or your love letters to your wife, or what have you,” he said. However, “Any suggestion that I am not complying with requests or orders or demands or search warrants about my phone, that’s bull****, that’s a lie,” Baldwin said.