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Original poster

Kate and Pippa Middleton

493 replies

hellosally · 10/07/2022 07:42

I'm reading about Pippa's new £15 million home and another pregnancy. I am sure both sisters are lovely people but looking at their lives, it seems like neither ever had any intention of working and used school and university to get themselves mixing in affluent circles to bag a wealthy man to fund their lifestyles.
Do people like this still really exist? I know we all have choices but at times in my life when I have mixed in more affluent circles in university and London, men would spot gold diggers and women who would need to be financially supported a mile off and would not contemplate taking them seriously. I dont know any women who havent have some kind of career or any men that want someone who hasnt worked.
is there anyone bringing up their daughters(or sons) like this in this day and age? would you bankroll them if it all went wrong? just curious.

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 10/07/2022 07:45

I don't know about Pippa but Catherine seems like she has a lot of work she has to do.

RoseAndRose · 10/07/2022 07:47

I don't think you're being fair about those two. The press intrusion into one was massive (severely limiting choices) and the other did work before her marriage

user1494050295 · 10/07/2022 07:50

I work for an RG uni and meet a lot of the students who are all pretty ambitious. I don’t get a vibe from the female ones they are there to bag a rich husband but to make their own money and secure financial independence

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The royal family
Arewerelated · 10/07/2022 07:52

When I was younger I was told by one parent to consider marrying well instead of bothering with concentrating on work. Basically because I was pretty and good at small talk/making friends I would make a lovely business wife.
Obviously I thought that was a very bad idea and cracked on with my own independent life.
With hindsight my life would have been far easier if I had been a good little trophy wife, never would have been hungry or had problems with bailiffs or sitting in the dark because the electric had run out. Could have just bided my time until I got dumped for a 25 year old and got a sweet payout by 40

IglesiasPiggl · 10/07/2022 07:53

They both have jobs, maybe just not ones you approve of for some bizarre reason. How can you possibly think that the Duchess of Cambridge isn't working at the moment?! Pippa is on mat leave.

Arewerelated · 10/07/2022 07:53

** things are way better for me now and I do very well for myself but it was a very very tough 10 years or so

BMW6 · 10/07/2022 07:54

How are you privy to their intentions? People meet within their social circle, and with their family wealth, their education and connections they were very likely to marry similar.

Are you not just plain jealous?

Original poster
hellosally · 10/07/2022 07:59

Of course I appreciate Kate is doing royal duties(extremely well) but this was not a career she carved out before marriage,I know they have helped the parents business etc. but if the business was not very successful and the family had not had much money and they had married low earning men, they would be struggling to pay the bills. my point was that I have never met any men that want a wife who hasnt worked.

OP posts:
Iwonder08 · 10/07/2022 08:00

I don't know anything about the other sister, but Kate's job is just to wear pretty dresses, wave and smile. There is no personal responsibility.

rocketfromthecrypt · 10/07/2022 08:03

I'd kill for Pippa's life. I don't think she does have a job or that she's on Mat leave. She's fabulously wealthy and has nothing to do but work out, go on holiday and waft around her giant houses. I couldn't be arsed with Kate's life, not because she works hard (she absolutely doesn't - she'd fall apart if she had to do a proper 40 hour week) but because she has no space for spontaneity.

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 10/07/2022 08:03

Catherine sent a lovely letter to my friends parents after he died this year, they were at school together. So I love her just for that.

My mum seemed to think that when I was planning to go to uni (to study nursing) it was with the sole intention of meeting a nice Dr/student Dr. Hmm

3amAndImStillAwake · 10/07/2022 08:07

rocketfromthecrypt · 10/07/2022 08:03

I'd kill for Pippa's life. I don't think she does have a job or that she's on Mat leave. She's fabulously wealthy and has nothing to do but work out, go on holiday and waft around her giant houses. I couldn't be arsed with Kate's life, not because she works hard (she absolutely doesn't - she'd fall apart if she had to do a proper 40 hour week) but because she has no space for spontaneity.

I agree. I'd hate to be a royal but Pippa is just insanely rich and can lead a pretty private life. I like working, but probably wouldn't have a job if I was married to him either. And I definitely wouldn't have one while I had two small children and another on the way.

LadyWithLapdog · 10/07/2022 08:11

Are you saying they’re like Love Island contestants but in a higher-class setting? I like Kate, or at least her public persona. I don’t see much of her sister to form an opinion.

BTW has anyone else notices Kate’s smile in some photos is similar to Priti Patel’s? I wish I hadn’t noticed, as I like Kate.

parenthood1989 · 10/07/2022 08:14

Do people like this still really exist?

Well yes, you have just given Catherine as a perfect example. She was sent to St Andrews
University specifically to meet William.

would you bankroll them if it all went wrong?

If they didn't meet a rich person to marry? They could use their degree to get a job.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 10/07/2022 08:14

i think Kate does a lot, there’s a lot of conditioning and expectations that come with their wealth- Pippa has all the perks and non of the work!

WITL · 10/07/2022 08:16

Most rich men want an intelligent wife - thick rich royal toffs tend to marry other thick rich royal toffs

Penguinsaregreat · 10/07/2022 08:17

I see plenty of men who like a trophy wife. Plenty who would prefer to let wifey do the vast majority ( if not all ) of the childcare. Plenty who prefer their wife to be available to do the cooking/ cleaning/household chores.

Ravenclawdropout · 10/07/2022 08:17

Both Catherine and Pippa went to university right? Also they were hardly "Golddiggers" as their dad Michael has a large legacy trust fund and their mum Carol became a very successful entrepeneur and business owner. Both girls attended Malborough. Its the same narrative that Diana was a "commoner" when her dad was an Earl and the Spencers are a older aristocratic family in the UK than the Windsors.

UrsulaPandress · 10/07/2022 08:17

Each to their own. I stopped serious working as soon as the opportunity arose. And we aren’t rich. I wafted with dogs and horses and my DD. Now I waft with voluntary work and my adult DD.

I am however contemplating getting a job now the crunch has caused me to turn the Aga down.

SummerPuddings · 10/07/2022 08:18

Penguinsaregreat · 10/07/2022 08:17

I see plenty of men who like a trophy wife. Plenty who would prefer to let wifey do the vast majority ( if not all ) of the childcare. Plenty who prefer their wife to be available to do the cooking/ cleaning/household chores.

I doubt Kate does chores 😂

kittensinthekitchen · 10/07/2022 08:20

"Do these people ive just described actually exist?" Confused

daretodenim · 10/07/2022 08:21

Not talking about the Middletons here because I think they're a bit different situation due to the marriage of one.

But generally are there parents who bring their children up to have a certain lifestyle which includes marrying someone with an "acceptable" type of job. The best way to do that is to study the right thing at the right uni. I see it as a game. They girls are subtley encouraged to study certain things to meet the right men and then start a career in it. They are usually very smart and can be competitive. But if they could, many of these parents would have them married by the end of uni with the same career for a few year before GC come along and then say things like a "oh poor DD she's been really suffering trying to keep her career going and be there for the children all the time. It's just not the same with a nanny so they've decided she takes a few years off because DH can't what with travelling for work and they're only young for such a short time. She go back to work again later".

Without a doubt.

It's not spoken about but it's part and parcel of a certain part of society. Think of people who would not be happy if their daughter married a fireman or policeman or (male) nurse. All very respectable jobs but not "what they hoped for for their daughter". Or who have the idea still if "marrying beneath oneself". Inherent in there is very often the idea that she shouldn't need to work.

I was brought up like that too. Sadly didn't realise until after I was married that I'd been "groomed" since childhood to follow certain pathways with the express goal of marrying "well". It felt and feels like a massive betrayal. But hey, I don't need to work (I'm also stuck in a marriage with someone who won't let me, but that's another thread). I have nothing like the Middleton's wealth btw. Point is I recognise this far more now that I know the signs than I did before I realised it had happened to me. My mother was actively upset at me when I was in second year Uni because I didn't have a wealthy boyfriend! Honestly makes me 🤢. Similarly only time she told me she was proud of me was on my wedding day. Stuck in my mind because I was completely confused about why she'd be proud of me on my wedding day..until a few years later it all made sense. I still shudder.

My own DD and DS are being brought up to be financially independent, aware of what what career options mean re lifestyles and then to do what makes them happy. And to be very clear about what they want re a partner stopping work with kids or - better - each to be prepared to reduce hours with their partners doing the same so nobody loses more than the other and both are expected to work.

Antarcticant · 10/07/2022 08:22

Don't forget Pippa wrote the wonderful book, 'Celebrate'. The book for you if you're stuck for ideas of what to serve at Christmas and hadn't thought of turkey, and a great introduction to the process of storing things in air-tight containers to stop them going off.

Spencerfig · 10/07/2022 08:25

It's called social capital... Even more important than cultural & economic capital... Personally I think the middleton parents & the girls extremely smart... They used all their assets to climb up the ladder & who wouldn't given the opportunity... Would love to know Carol's secrets, hopefully she'll write a book one day!

Palamon · 10/07/2022 08:25

I know 2 young women exactly like this.

Private school, both went to one of the best unis. All for networking. No intention or interest in a career as they will both marry well.

I think this was always the intention for Kate and Pippa, although Pippa has done better. She’s hugely wealthy without any of the bollocks that comes with marrying into the RF.