Royals Round-Up, December 4th, 2020

Kate

UNSPECIFIED, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES) In this handout video still supplied by Kensington Palace, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge reveals that she will be announcing the results of her public survey ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’ later this week in a video posted on social media, on November 23, 2020 in United Kingdom. (Photo by Kensington Palace via Getty Images)

We are truly in an era of Peak Royal Sofa Cushion Information! Also, when I first saw this snap on Instagram, for one loony moment I thought Kate had SNAPPED and was NOT WEARING A BLOUSE.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE (including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use). This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photographs when published. The photo shall not be used after December 31, 2020, without prior permission from Kensington Palace. In this handout photograph supplied by Kensington Palace, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, gives a keynote speech at the Royal Foundation's Forum on the Early Years on November 27, 2020 in London, England. The speech comes as The Duchess unveiled the findings of the biggest ever UK study on the early years, in a milestone moment for her work on the importance of early childhood in shaping the rest of our lives and broader societal outcomes. The research, commissioned by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and conducted by Ipsos MORI, reveals what the UK thinks about the early years. It includes the findings of the 5 Big Questions survey which attracted over half a million responses earlier this year, making it the biggest ever survey of its kind. (Photo by Kensington Palace via Getty Images)

In this photo, Kate "gives a keynote speech at the Royal Foundation's Forum on the Early Years...The speech comes as The Duchess unveiled the findings of the biggest ever UK study on the early years, in a milestone moment for her work on the importance of early childhood in shaping the rest of our lives and broader societal outcomes. The research, commissioned by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and conducted by Ipsos MORI, reveals what the UK thinks about the early years. It includes the findings of the 5 Big Questions survey which attracted over half a million responses earlier this year, making it the biggest ever survey of its kind." Good for Kate! Also I've decided she, like the rest of us, is definitely just wearing yoga pants from the waist down.

Kate in Gucci

LONDON, ENGLAND: NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE (including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use). This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photographs when published. The photo shall not be used after December 31, 2020, without prior permission from Kensington Palace. In this undated handout photograph supplied by Kensington Palace, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attends a Q&A sessions on the Early Years in London, England. The Duchess unveiled the findings of the biggest ever UK study on the early years, in a milestone moment for her work on the importance of early childhood in shaping the rest of our lives and broader societal outcomes. The research, commissioned by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and conducted by Ipsos MORI, reveals what the UK thinks about the early years. It includes the findings of the 5 Big Questions survey which attracted over half a million responses earlier this year, making it the biggest ever survey of its kind. (Photo by Kensington Palace via Getty Images)

"No, no! Meghan just sent me the BEST meme about Charles. I'll show you after we're done with this!"

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE (including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use). This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photographs when published. The photo shall not be used after December 31, 2020, without prior permission from Kensington Palace. In this handout photograph supplied by Kensington Palace, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, attends a briefing with Managing Director of Public Affair at Ipsos MORI, Kelly Beaver, on the data, commissioned by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and conducted by Ipsos MORI, revealing what the UK thinks about the early years, on November 24, 2020 in London, England. The publication of this research follows nine years of work by The Duchess of Cambridge in which she has looked at how difficult experiences in early childhood are often the root cause of key social challenges such as poor mental health, family breakdown, addiction and homelessness – with the cost of late intervention estimated to be around £17 billion per year in England and Wales. (Photo by Kensington Palace via Getty Images)

Informative Caption continues to say that "the publication of this research follows nine years of work by The Duchess of Cambridge in which she has looked at how difficult experiences in early childhood are often the root cause of key social challenges such as poor mental health, family breakdown, addiction and homelessness – with the cost of late intervention estimated to be around £17 billion per year in England and Wales." That is pretty amazing and she has to be really proud of all the work that's gone into this.

Christmas at Windsor Castle

We got sent a bunch of snaps of how Windsor Castle looks, all gussied up for Christmas visitors, and I thought you might want to see them. If you're in the UK, the castle is currently open for visitors although you have to pre-book tickets. It looks festive!

Christmas at Windsor Castle

Heather and I took our research trip for The Royal We to the UK during the first week of January, and all these decorations were up; they were really fun to see in person. They do this every year, so make a mental note of it for when we can all travel again.

Christmas at Windsor Castle

Lots of fun logistical info to share, too: "A magnificent 20-foot-high Christmas tree in St George's Hall, the largest room in Windsor Castle, can be enjoyed by visitors to the Castle from 3 December. The tree, a Norway spruce, is sourced from Windsor Great Park and dressed with 3,000 lights and hundreds of iridescent ornaments. Queen Charlotte, consort to George III, introduced the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle in the late 18th century, in the form of a yew branch, as was traditional in her native Germany. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were later responsible for popularising Christmas trees more widely in Britain." It takes them two days to trim the tree!

Christmas at Windsor Castle

"Royal Collection Trust curator puts the finishing touches on a special display of the silver-gilt Grand Service in the State Dining Room at Windsor Castle, which marks the bicentenary of George IV’s accession to the throne." One of my favorite things about Windsor is that there is a whole room where you can just eyeball all their china and place settings.

Christmas at Windsor Castle_m11381-1607030324

I LOVE these, and they weren't on display when we visited. Let me share what the Royal Collection Trust says about these works of art: "During the Second World War, Her Majesty The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) and her sister Princess Margaret took part in a series of Christmas pantomimes in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle to raise money for the Royal Household Wool Fund, which supplied yarn to make comforters for soldiers fighting at the Front. At the beginning of the war, the series of portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence that usually line the walls of the Waterloo Chamber were removed from their frames for safe keeping. To make the space more festive, 16 ‘pantomime pictures’ were commissioned to cover the bare walls. Teenage evacuee and part-time art student Claude Whatham was asked to recreate fairy-tale characters on rolls of wallpaper. After the war, the portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence were returned to the Waterloo Chamber, and the pantomime pictures remained hidden beneath them. They have been revealed just once since the war, following the fire of 1992. The portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence were removed earlier this year to facilitate essential maintenance work. The pantomime pictures can be seen by visitors to Windsor Castle throughout the festive period." Isn't that amazing?

Sophie Wessex

Mandatory Credit: Photo by DAVID HARTLEY/POOL/Shutterstock (11112373bt) Sophie Countess of Wessex Sophie Countess of Wessex visit to Disability Initiative, Camberley, Surrey, UK - 03 Dec 2020 Sophie Countess of Wessex, as Patron, visits Disability Initiative's Resource Centre to mark International Day of People with Disabilities. Disability Initiative is a charity for adults with disabilities that specialises in providing care and rehabilitation to help people reach their full potential. Her Royal Highness will meet Disability Initiative beneficiaries at the Centre and help bake flapjacks, before joining a Christmas decoration making session.

In which Sophs reminds us all to drink more water, and also "visits Disability Initiative's Resource Centre to mark International Day of People with Disabilities. Disability Initiative is a charity for adults with disabilities that specialises in providing care and rehabilitation to help people reach their full potential. Her Royal Highness will meet Disability Initiative beneficiaries at the Centre and help bake flapjacks, before joining a Christmas decoration making session." That is ALSO festive!

Chaz and Camz

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Eddie Mulholland/WPA Pool/Shutterstock (11111892al) Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit the 100 Club, London, UK - 03 Dec 2020 Arriving at the nightclub, their Royal Highnesses will be presented to the clubs owner and manager, Mr. Jeff Horton and co-manager, Ms. Ruby Horton. The Prince and The Duchess will meet music and industry professionals, before watching a short musical performance by singer Emily Capell.

These two were sent out to celebrate London nightlife, which honestly seems like a very intriguing thing to do during a pandemic but okay!

Chaz and Camz

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Shutterstock (11104652f) Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi view 'Self Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura)' by Artemisia Gentileschi during a visit to view the 'Artemisia' and the 'Titian: Love Desire Death' exhibitions at the National Gallery in London, on its first day of reopening following the second national coronavirus lockdown. Royal visit to 'Artemisia' and the 'Titian: Love Desire Death' exhibitions, The National Gallery, London, UK - 02 Dec 2020

They also went out to view "the 'Artemisia' and the 'Titian: Love Desire Death' exhibitions at the National Gallery in London, on its first day of reopening following the second national coronavirus lockdown." Camz looks like she's a novice nun in that dress, a bit.

Audiences at Buckingham Palace,

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Shutterstock (11156068j) Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen by videolink from Windsor Castle, where she is in residence, during a virtual audience to receive His Excellency Gil da Costa, Ambassador of Timor-Leste, who was at London's Buckingham Palace. Audiences at Buckingham Palace, London, UK - 04 Dec 2020

"Yes, I'm very pleased to receive you, Your Excellency Gil da Costa, Ambassador of Timor-Leste, but can you tilt the camera down so I can see my carpet? I really miss it."