To think Kate Middleton should have kept her tits in

[moogster1a]

Surely she can't be unaware that she's one of the most photographed women in the world and there are paparazzi everywhere.
I know in an ideal lovely world she should be able to skinny dip in privacy, but in the real world I think she is being a bit naiive to go topless and then be so upset when the pictures are published

There has been a media effort to project a certain image of Kate. Like a virgin Mary, decorous and caring of little children and tirelessly 'helping' people. This is not because the media is in love with Kate, but because the monarchy wants us to think a certain way about royalty.

It is ridiculous in this day and age that Kate needs to project an image of a stepford wife rolled-in with mother Theresa. But she has played the game and the media has gone along with the narrative. Now she is realising that it is not so easy, and the intentional media is not as subservient and compliant as the British press.

These photos bring the media image so carefully cultivated, down to earth. Have to laugh

BigJess, maybe the royals of the past could afford to be indiscreet because they fulfilled a legitimate social and political role of their era?

In a democracy, a monarchy is irrelevant. Socially, we have no need for royals, there are plenty of celebs to keep us occupied.

So the monarchy has a very tenuous role in modern Britain and is in danger of being abolished sometime down the road. Hence the royals do need to be careful that they don't lose public favour and the huge public purse and privileges that come with it.

I think it's sad no one apparently has a right to privacy. I think Levenson has gone way too far and that journalism in this country is being hobbled by the bad judgement of a few, but ultimately email every human being should have a private life.

Email snuck in there.

No Flatbread, those images don't bring her media image down to earth.

People keep repeating on this thread but you seem to be ignoring it. Very few are bothered that she had her breasts on show. We are shocked that someone in a private place can be violated in such an awful way. Thats the issue. Her breasts have got nothing to do with it.

It is a violation and I am sick of women being violated and blamed for it, yes, but also, in the world we live in, this is to be expected if she in her particular position whips her tits out even on a private estate - still outdoors and still with servants presumeably.

I would rather we reserved our energy and outrage for rape victims who are made to feel violated all over again in court, and other less fortunate victims than this pampered lady.

Obviously it's wrong, obviously she has every right to go topless; so maybe she should take the big view on behalf of women that "woman has breasts" is not a story and hold her head high. Instead of mentioning in their "deeply saddened" pr the hounding to violent death in a tunnel of Diana, who didn't go into this family with her eyes wide open, btw....

'If you are part of an archaic institution, you have to live by archaic rules'

Absolutely. As a Marxist I cannot stand the sympathy for these elitist pricks. Save it for the truly oppressed hey...

As a Marxist I cannot stand the sympathy for these elitist pricks Sympathy isn't chocolate, I can produce more when I need to. I certainly wouldn't shed a tear for her and have shed many the last couple of days over the Hillsborough families. However, I still don't think any woman should be treated like this, even one who controls the means of production.

'as a marxist'
I'm laughing again hahahah. Oh the people in this thread are hilarious.

Why is it so hilarious Goldship, being against heredity wealth and elitism?

Ha, ha indeed

And why is Marxism more hilarious than say, Feminism?

In fact Marx suggested Capitalism oppressed women. If you really feel sorry for Kate, explore the forces that are at play in this event...

rubberglove I don't find Marxism hilarious. However I do find the inability to look at things through any other lens restrictive.

I don't feel sorry for her. I feel concerned that it is considered OK to photograph someone on private property and splash that around the world. Why should a pane of glass make a difference?

I wouldn't want it done to me so I don't think it should be OK to do it to her.

Who in god's name wants to see her tits anyway? The whole thing is bizarre.

YABU. Nobody should be stalked and be spied on like that, and have the photos taken and sold. It doesn't matter if she was fully clothed. Do people seriously think it is ok to be spied on and photographed without their knowledge? She was not out in public. Imagine if that were you. Reading your bank statements and items of mail on your patio. I think you'd feel differently.

it is not ok to be stalked by the paps

but its utter mindless stupidity to get your tits out in her position.

if she doesn't watch her step - liz will arrange another accident

im not bothered if she gets her flange out in public ffs kate dont shave it you'll have the rad fems taking to the gin

Ugh, the terminology and sentiment on this thread is so vile and misogynistic. Can people not think of ways to phrase things that sound slightly less like editorial from "Nuts" magazine?

I feel for KM, she must feel more vulnerable now and violated. It should never have happened. She should be able to walk around on her private holiday dressed however she wants.

BUT and I think its a big but, given that pretty much every other royal (esp female, apart from the Queen maybe) has had intrusive photos taken at some point, she and William need to be more realistic. As immoral and awful as it is, this was going to happen to her eventually, and knowing that I don't understand why she took her top off. I'm not blaming her, the photographer and the magazine are at fault completely but I don't understand why she took the risk.

Her private life should be as private as mine, but it isn't and never will be. That is the simple truth of it.

Cordrazine I love your name and am probably the only person on this thread who knows where it comes from - I will never, ever understand how a 16 year old can sound like that. An utter travesty that teenage hormones & tantrums tore them apart!

I think that calling it journalism is no defence for voyeuristic stalking.

I honestly cannot see past that.

WHAT is the rationalisation for this? It is simply not justifiable in any way.

Thanks Dolomite

As well as the "well what did she expect?" and "she should keep her clothes on" posts, I'm shocked by the number of people who have been mocking her chest size with comments like "who'd want to see such small tits?"

Is that what we're reduced to now on Mumsnet? Victim blaming and mocking a woman for her looks? Not to mention the raging inverse snobbery.

Yes, a tolerant, all-encompassing group of women here, unless someone dares to be wealthy.

Apologies for linking to the Daily Mail, and if this has already been linked to up thread, but this article purports to show the road the photos were taken from.

How silly if them to think they would not be photographed from half a mile away