To be a bit disappointed in Kate Middleton?

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When visiting Fortnums, apparently she talked about what a struggle it is to make tea properly with "dried tea leaves". For someone who has not ever worked full time, had dependents or any particular constraints apart from media interest, I thought she might be a bit more interesting and competent. She still seems to spend her time giggline and hair flicking and being generally self conscious.

The best way to make tea from loose tea bags is by using a cafetierre (sp?). It allows the tea leaves to infuse in the water rather than in say a teabag or infuser which then mixes infused tea with water ala squash. Some cafetierres even advertise this method.

I'm fussy about tea, hence why I found this out. Not surprised KM didn't know this. As a tea obsessed person I feel the question was very poignant and astute...

firstly why did it take all three of em to visit fortnums and it looked cringeworthy when they were al peering at their hampers lined up. buts, also i don't think Kate is as sparky as Diana was. she was always very giggly. bit like harry is now i spose

I am not disappointed in KM. But then I have never had any expectations either.

She is a reasonably attractive, albeit extremely thin, young woman who married a bloke, albeit a prince, that she met at university.

She has never had a proper career apart from a bit of work experience here and there.

She studied History of Art or somesuch so not exactly qualified to do anything much.

She is a pretty picture but not anyone I particularly admire or wish to emulate.

Yep. She's worked very hard at being posh and quite boring. Admittedly she has now done very well at it, and has the top Being Posh And Quite Boring job, but really I would want something more in life. (Which is just as well, really )

I think she is a robot and gets plugged in to a charger once she gets home.

Give the girl a break! She's doing her best - not upsetting anyone and looking pretty.

She might not have worked hard in the traditional sense, but her family obviously have - and good for them!

YABVU.

Hers is not a life I would envy. She cannot say anything in public without it being controversial and analysed to death. Look at the amount of grief that Prince Charles gets for interferring. Even the Queen, she uttered immortal words like "Why didn't anyone see it coming?" about the global financial crisis and it has been often repeated and seen as critical of the banks. And yes Joe Public can slag off the banks to their hearts content but that rather pertinent/innocent remark was seen as controversial.

In my working life, I have to talk to the media and I promise you, nothing is scarier than having focused attention on you, you say something, you can barely remember what you said and the next morning you open the newspaper with only half an eye open, shitting yourself that something you said can be taken the wrong way and you have inadvertently created a damaging story because you were careless with your words. I know if it were me, I would rather talk about tea at Fortnums (of all places!) than create a media shitstorm around me and talk about anything serious.

You are disappointed that a member of the Royal family went for tea and made uncontroversial location-appropriate small-talk?

I think you need to revise your expectations or you'll be in line for rather a lot of disappointment.

I do like the idea that she is quietly saying to herself I'll wear as much eyeliner as I like so you can all fuck off

Novice: she chose that job. She didn't have to do it. And speaking as a former press officer and current journalist, talking to 'the media' is quite manageable in any case. (I handled all the media relations for one of the major charities after Diana's death: I do know whereof I speak!)

she's a trophy bird for brand royal
don't expect clever,incisive,or gravitas

It was a comment about tea in a shop that sells and serves tea. Yeah..lwhat a disappointment, not sure how you'll get over it.

I have no idea what to do with loose tea and I have a few degrees

it must be awful to have your expectations of someone dashed like that :|

Actually penguin.... I'm a loose tea amateur too. Yet very well educated. How disappointed my parents must be. And the op too.

motherinferior - see I see it that she chose the man and the job came with it. But that's not my point. The point is that she is there is to represent the Royal Family or the UK or whatever and not get bad press. So in her case she sensibly chooses small talk rather than anything controversial. Wouldn't that be your advice to her if you were doing media relationshions for her?

I am not saying that speaking to the media isn't manageable, but your perspective is that of a journalist/PR, mine is that of someone on the other side of the coin....it is important for my job (which I choose to do) that I say something interesting so my point of view is in the papers, but it is also important that I don't say anything too controversial. I can see the similarities.

she doesn't disappoint as I have limited expectation of her
other than
patron of something to do with
sick children or some such cause
open a few fete
graciously accept bouquets with a moist eye
get up the duff to her husband
have her weight and her ability to accessorise discussed ad nauseum

Good lord, it was inconsequential small talk. At least she managed nt to insult anyone.

YABU - relevant small talk, I reckon.

Very interested in the tea leaves in cafetiere method .

I was on your side of the 'coin' - I was a press officer. I ran the communications for a major charity. I was the person putting forward that point of view and/or briefing my loudmouth chief executive.

And if I were doing her meeja relations I would suggest she resign, dramatically, as a republican gesture

Oh come on! It's hardly

"I like blinking, I do"

is it.

Ahhh, poor love. Someone send her one of those tea leaf egg thingys.

If you've never made tea with leaves then it is tricky - what quantity, brewing time, amount of water... Its not like pouring some water on a bag in a mug.

Is it the same though? Sorry for probably being really offensive but if there was a horrible news story, would you have your name quoted or be the target of further news stories or would it have been your ceo or in this case Kate? (Just that when I see it at work, it is rare for the press folks to be quoted.)