» kate middleton Kate-Book, the website for Kates, by Kates, and about Kates

The reviews are in on Kate Middleton’s portrait. Harsh or fair?

The first official portrait of Kate Middleton was unveiled on Friday at the National Portrait Gallery. And, well the reactions haven’t been so good so far. Here are some samplings:

“How [has Kate Middleton] been transformed into something unpleasant from the Twilight franchise? The first thing that strikes you about Middleton’s visage as it looms from the sepulchral gloom of her first official portrait is the dead eyes: a vampiric, malevolent glare beneath heavy lids. Then there’s the mouth: a tightly pursed, mean little lip-clench (she is, presumably, sucking in her fangs). And god knows what is going on with the washed-out cheeks: she appears to be nurturing a gobbet of gum in her lower right cheek.” [The Guardian]

“WILLIAM and Kate expressed themselves ‘delighted’ with the Duchess’s first official portrait.Really? I thought it made her look decades older, painting non-existent wrinkles and shadows under the eyes. Our future queen was portrayed in a severe blue blouse with a pussycat bow. It may have been the height of chic for Margaret Thatcher back in 1984 but it made Kate appear to be somebody’s maiden aunt.” [The Sun]

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is only worth two, and neither of them is fit for polite conversation. At least he got her hair right. As one of my friends joked on Twitter, ‘So this whole Kate Middleton thing is a Picture of Dorian Gray scenario, right?’” [Washington Post]

”She’s the most vibrant, photogenic woman in Britain, winning over even the most cynical observers with her sense of style, her broad, open smile and common touch. So artist Paul Emsley has managed quite a feat making the future Queen look like a dowdy 45-year-old. This horrible, soft-lens style painting – which the Duchess emerges from in an almost ghostly way – robs her of any of the sparkle and life she is loved for.” [The Daily Mirror]

Tagged art, celeb news, Kate Midddleton portrait, kate middleton, royalty

Jan 07 2013

Kate Middleton’s face … in jelly beans

By Kate Torgovnick

Any day now, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton‘s portrait is set to be unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery. And the Daily Mail is already poised to hate it. To stave off inevitable disappointment, the newspaper instead commissioned their own portraits of Kate, asking a variety of artists (and, well, a 4-year-old) to create their own Middleton likenesses.

The image above, created by Malcolm West is by far our favorite. Why? Because it is made of 5,000 jelly —in 20 different flavors. Pink grapefruit was apparently the artist’s favorite for capturing Middleton’s rosy visage. “It’s a fiddly, messy process,” West says of creating the portrait. “But I’m very pleased with the results.”

Us, too.

Tagged celeb news, jelly beans, kate middleton, portraits

Dec 03 2012

Kate Middleton really is pregnant; world spins off axis

By Kate Torgovnick

Kate Middleton is pregnant. No, for real this time.

St. James Palace announced the news earlier today, confirming that the Duchess of Cambridge is 8 weeks along. Tabloids have been buzzing for weeks that Middleton was pregnant, after her former roommate Jessica Hay claimed it to be true. However, it appears that Hay — who has also claimed to the press that she shared an intimate kiss with Duchess when they were teens — did not have any real insider info and was simply spreading rumors. After all, the tabloids have not been exactly trigger shy in proclaiming Middleton to be with child at the mildest of signs, from her refusing peanut butter to her tummy looking a millimeter away from flat.

So why is the royal family announcing this news before Middleton even crossed the 12 week mark? According to the Daily Mail, Middleton checked into King Edward VII Hospital last night, suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute type of morning sickness. Middleton reportedly started feeling sick this weekend while at her parents’ house. When it became clear that she was severely dehydrated, she and Prince William drove to the hospital rather than call for an ambulance. Prince William stayed at her side while she received a drip to boosts fluids and nutrients.

Doctors at the hospital assure there is “no cause for alarm,” though sources are reporting that hyperemesis gravidarum can last for months. “As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter,” St. James Palace announced.

The royal family is reportedly “delighted with the news” that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are having a baby. Before the announcement was made, there was a mad dash to inform the family, with Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth receiving the news only hours before the world did.

Meanwhile British Prime Minister David Cameron has spilled how he heard about the pregnancy. “I was handed a note in a meeting,” he said. “And I have to say, it was difficult to keep it a secret.”

The Daily News reports that website Ladbrokes has started a betting pool for the baby’s name. Elizabeth is the 8-to-1 favorite if it’s a girl, while Diana has a 12-to-1 advantage. For boys names, many are betting that the couple will go with George or David. Here’s hoping they shock everyone and pick a crazy name. Let me suggest Squeak.

Tagged celeb news, kate middleton, pregnancy, prince william

Dec 03 2012

1 Comment

Kate Middleton loves her some guinea pigs almost as much as she loves field hockey

By Kate Torgovnick

Kate Middleton spilled her guts to a group of students at St. Andrew’s, the school she attended from 1986 to 1995 and the place where she met Prince William, on Friday. One tidbit she revealed: that she loved guinea pigs when she was a kid. In fact, her family had two as pets. One was named “Pip,” after Pippa. The other one was named “Squeak,” which was apparently Kate’s nickname at the time. Yes, you heard that correctly. Pip and Squeak. At least the Middleton family has a sense of humor?

The Duchess of Cambridge also revealed that, when she was in school, she envisioned herself becoming a teacher.

“It is such a treat to be back here at St Andrew’s. I absolutely loved my time here. They were some of my happiest years,” Middleton said in a speech. “In fact, I enjoyed it so much that when I had to leave, I told my mother that I was going to come back to be a teacher. While that didn’t quite happen, I was thrilled to have been asked back today on St Andrew’s Day.”

Middleton also shared why she loved school so much. She joined a group of 12-year-olds to show off her field hockey skills, despite wearing a posh Alexander McQueen coat and high-heeled boots.

“It was while I was here at school that I realized my love of sport,” Middleton said in her speech. “Sport has been a huge part of my life, and I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had to get outside and play in such wonderful open spaces.”

She did not, however, answer the million dollar question: Why the nickname Squeak?

Tagged celeb news, field hockey, kate middleton, St. Andrew's

Nov 29 2012

Beauty Fashion, Gossip

Some advice for Kate Middleton on how to style her new bangs

By Kate Torgovnick

Kate Middleton has always been a champion of the side part. The Duchess has worn her hair the same stunning way for years—until yesterday, when she was spotted with long, center-parted bangs. Not only does she not look happy about her hair evolution, but sources say that she is truly on the fence. According to The Daily Beast, when a spectator in the crowd complimented Middleton on her hair, she replied, “I’m not sure about it.”

I have some advice. Because, essentially, Middleton now has my haircut.

First, bangs have a certain undone quality to them. Which does not play well with Middleton’s usual hair trick–curled ends. Kate, go straight! I think your bangs will look far better with dryer straightened hair or, gasp, your natural wave.

Second, don’t mess with your part. These bangs are very, very long, and the center part only calls attention to them. They will look much better with your usual side part–they’ll cut across your eye in an ultra alluring way.

Third, get your stylist to blend in that one piece that is jutting out. It needs a snip. Badly.

And step four, smile!

Try these things and then make a decision on whether to grow the bangs back out. I’m thinking they could be edgy and super cute, if styled correctly.

Tagged beauty, celeb news, hair, kate middleton

Nov 26 2012

1 Comment

The Week in Kate: Kate Middleton shares her photographs, a woman named Catarina auctions her virginity

By Kate Torgovnick

Thanksgiving week was a busy one for the Kates, Katies, Catherines, and Katys of the world. As per usual, here is your roundup of the last week and a half in name-specific news. You know, to catch you up for the days ahead.

Australian tabloid New Idea is reporting that Kate Middleton is pregnant. How do they know this? Because one of Middleton’s oldest friends, Jessica Hay, told them so. But before you get too excited, you should probably know that Hay has a long history of making up stories about the Duchess and may not even know her at all. [Fox News]
Meanwhile, Middleton has shared seven amazing photos she took while in Borneo with Prince William. The one above makes me want to get on a plane, stat. [Guardian]
And the editor of The Irish Daily Star has resigned over her decision to publish Middleton’s topless pics. [ABC News]
Rumor has it that Kate Stoltzfus of “Breaking Amish” apparently has her eyes on a spin-off. [Examiner.com]
Reviews are streaming in for Kate Earl’s new record, Stronger. This first one … isn’t so good. [NY Daily News]
A Brazilian college student named Catarina Migliorini has auctioned off her virginity for $780K. Apparently, she has done this for a good cause—to build homes for the needy in her hometown. [Fox News]
Kate Upton has landed a 60-second Mercedes-Benz ad during the Super Bowl. Page Six reported that she had booked the high profile ad even though she doesn’t have her driver’s license.
However, Upton took to Twitter to let the world know that she does. She wrote, “My mom this morning ‘did your drivers license expire?’.. No why?… ‘Because the news is reporting it did.” [Examiner.com]
Upton also posted photos of her Thanksgiving vacation, writing “Jet ski time?” [Examiner.com]
Speaking of Upton, here’s what she looks like without makeup and with her glasses on. Yep, still beautiful. [E! Online]
And here she shares a photo of herself with her equally stunning mom. [Examiner]
Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill talks about becoming a feminist icon. [A.V. Club]
MTV has picked its cast for “Teen Mom 3″ and there is a Kate on the roster—Katie Yeager of Wyoming. She explains on Facebook, “I think the show is honest and doesn’t sugar coat situations. Being a part of it has given me an opportunity to be able to show my daughter that her dad and I have struggled and made sacrifices for her simply because we have unconditional love for her.” [Starcasm]
Looks like Katy Perry might have taken Jon Mayer home for the holidays. The pair were spotted in Santa Barbara on Wednesday. [The Sun]
Love this floral dress Perry wore to the Dream Foundation Celebration. However, hate the belt. [Just Jared]
Katherine Boo talks winning the National Book Award for Behind the Beautiful Forevers. [EW]
Meanwhile, Katie Holmes went home to Ohio for the holiday. [San Francisco Chronicle]
She however did not cook. “Me in the kitchen is a comedy,” she tells Vogue. [Huffington Post]
A decade after the end of “Dawson’s Creek,” Katie Holmes say that she still isn’t able to choose between Dawson and Pacey. But she can pick her favorite movie, “Annie Hall.” [Zap2It]

Tagged celeb news, kate middleton, week in kate

Sep 18 2012

2 Comments

What I don’t get about the Kate Middleton topless photo scandal

By Kate Torgovnick

It’s the second naked royal photo scandal in a very short span of time. First Prince Harry was seen playing a game of strip billiards in Vegas. And now, Kate Middleton has been photographed topless, applying sunscreen to her posterior while on vacation in France.

The topless images of Middleton are causing quite an international flap. When the photos ran over the weekend in the French Magazine Closer, William’s St. James Palace quickly swung into action. According to the Washington Post, they filed a civil case against the French publishing group Mondadori yesterday, leaving room for French prosecutors to add criminal charges for breach of privacy. French privacy laws are some of the most strict in the world. However, the maximum punishment is a $73,000 fine and the editors of Closer no doubt figured a boost in sales would be worth far more than that.

Despite British lawyers also seeking an injunction against the Italian Chi magazine, published by none other than former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, the publication went forward with a spread of images of Middleton topless, teased by the coverline “The Queen is Nude.” The images show the Duchess of Cambridge strolling in her bikini— a printed bandeau top and a ruffled navy bottom — with a magazine. Soon, she turns around and takes off her top, revealing both her breasts and her butt, as the suit bottom is stingy on fabric. The magazine also shows Middleton getting situated in her chair and putting sunscreen on Prince William. The pair where apparently poolside at an uncle’s private chateau.

Tagged celeb news, kate middleton, royals, topless

Sep 05 2012

Katie Couric says that Kate Middleton is just “too thin”

By Kate Torgovnick

Katie Couric starts her new talk show “Katie” in T-minus six days. And in a Q&A following a test-taping for the new show, Couric was asked who her dream guest would be.

According to the Daily Beast, Couric responded, “I think it would be really interesting to interview Kate Middleton because I think she has comported herself so well since she has been thrust in the limelight. [But] I think she needs to eat more because she’s so thin.”

Yes, the Duchess of Cambridge is one extraordinarily slender woman. But so is Couric, no? I find this comment especially interesting given Kate Richlin-Zack’s Lazy Girl’s Guide to Fitness from yesterday in which she wrote of her size 16 to size 6 weight loss, “Everyone’s an effing critic! But when I was 210lbs, no one was in my face telling me, ‘Put down the donuts, because you could stand to lose a few.’ It’s a double standard — while it’s socially acceptable to tell someone they’re too thin but, it’s not okay to tell someone they’re too fat?”

So what do you think—was it okay for Couric to say that Middleton needs to eat more? And how do you think Buckingham Palace will react, given that Couric had unprecedented access to the royal family for the ABC News special “The Real Queen: By Her Own Royal Family with Katie Couric?” And finally, should one ever criticize a fellow Kate?

Tagged body image, celeb news, kate middleton, katie couric, royals

Aug 06 2012

Beauty Fashion, Gossip

Kate Middleton runs the gamut of human emotions at the Olympics

By Kate Torgovnick

On Friday, Kate Middleton bit her nails as she watched British swimming phenom Rebecca Adlington fall behind in the 800m freestyle swim. Adlington may have lost to American 15-year-old Katie Ledecky, but Middleton won in a red jacket that appeared stolen from the set of “Designing Women.” In a good way! [Us Weekly]

The day before, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shocked the world when they embraced each other ecstatically while watching the Team Great Britain cycling trials. For anyone on bump watch — which, ugh — notice her extremely flat stomach. [Styleite]

And on Sunday, Middleton wore way too much eyeliner while flying solo at the men’s gymnastics apparatus finals. She, however, makes up points for matching her navy blue warm-up jacket to her engagement ring. [Daily Mail]

Tagged celeb news, kate middleton, Olympics, royals

Jul 18 2012

Entertainment, Gossip

A Kate Middleton illustration appears on the cover of Marie Claire South Africa. So wrong?

Poor Kate Middleton. In the past two weeks, she has seen herself appear on a trifecta of completely bizarre magazine covers. First, The New Republic gave her yellowed, decaying teeth on a cover that declared, “Something’s Rotten.” Then the Australian weekly Woman’s Day opted to run a photo of Middleton and her husband, Prince William, strolling on the beach during their honeymoon — both of them in swimwear. And now Marie Claire South Africa has opted to make Middleton their covergirl. Only, because Middleton never gives up her likeness for magazines (with the exception of Scouting Magazine) the publication opted to use a photo-illustration of Middleton. In the strange image, faux Middleton stands with her hand on her hip, swathed in layer upon layer of cloth — most of them animal print.

This leads me to ask:

Jog your memory on the other covers after the jump…

Tagged celeb news, kate middleton, magazine, marie claire couth africa, new republic, royals, woman's day

Jul 13 2012

1 Comment

The Week in Kate: Kate Middleton photographically assaulted again, Katie Holmes’ divorce details revealed

By Kate Torgovnick

As per usual, it looks like the Kates, Katies, Catherines, and Katys of the world have been mighty busy this week. Here, your weekly roundup of name-specific news.

The publishing of Kate Middleton’s honeymoon photos wasn’t the only nasty photo swipe that a major magazine made at the Duchess of Cambridge this week. The New Republic turned her into the poster child for rotten teeth on their cover. [TNR]
Speaking of Middleton, she and sister Pippa giggled lots while cheering on Brit Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. Yeah,he didn’t win. [People]
Courtney Stodden challenged Kate Upton to a virtual dance-off. [Celebuzz]
Oh, and Skinny Gossip has posted a retraction of their article in which they called her “lardy” and “a fatty.” [NY Daily News]
Upton also claims she wasn’t drinking beer while at a Detroit Tigers game, cheering on her maybe new boyfriend. She is only 20 after all. [TMZ]
Catherine Zeta-Jones promised to quit smoking when her husband was diagnosed with throat cancer. But this week, she was seen puffing away. Here’s my experience of quitting, Catherine. It’s not as hard as it sounds. [Radar Online]
Kate Beckinsale couldn’t stop worrying that she might actually hurt Jessica Biel while filming “Total Recall.” Beckinsale says, “I was like, ‘Oh, my God, am I gonna be the person who breaks Jessica Biel’s nose?’ I’ve only really fought with stuntmen and hairy werewolves before.” [Us Weekly]
Wondering how to do great underwater photography? Here, tips from Katherine Gray. [USA Today]
Katherine Heigl‘s advice for stress relief? Jogging and a “good stiff cocktail.” Though maybe not at the same time. [Belfast Telegraph]
Check out Katherine Chloe Cahoon’s web series, “Pillow Talk.” [Videogum]
Katie Holmes apparently jumped through many, many hoops in order to file for divorce from Tom Cruise—including using disposable cell phones and hiring lawyers in three states. [Fox News]
But hey, she got custody of Suri Cruise. [People]
And she starts filming a new movie next week. [Washington Post]
A brilliant story highlighting the places Holmes can go now that she is no longer Mrs. Tom Cruise nor a Scientologist. For example: to mass and high heel shopping. [The Frisky]