To think the Duchess of Cambridge has no place in sports personality of the year

[Nishky]

Martina Navratilova made a moving speech about female role models so who do they roll out to present it?

Aha... Michelle Obama did it once in her lunch hour?? For a photo opportunity and promoting some shies she was wearing!!

Lol flatbread ! Haha. Hilarious

*shoes!

TOughas unless your friend/family member worked for Kate and William it seems extremely irrelevant and irrational to transfer your prejudice to them. Like me saying that a cyclist hit me while cycling on a pavement ergo I don't like Bradley Wiggins. It's quite a big family.

My husband was turned down for a good job by a very, very senior Royal back in the summer. He manages not to transfer that bitter disappointment to every other member of the tribe. Even though getting that job would have radically improved our fortunes and happiness.

Pagwatch pretty much said how I feel about this.
I don't think she's a role model and I don't have a daughter.
She is just another woman though, and doesn't deserve some of the remarks on here.

Said on the other thread that I did myself work closely with some royals, this was a while ago. But as an outside agency. I found them fine. Tho looking back the responsibility I had was rather too much for my role I think!

Tough, it wasnt a 'personal attack' against Flatbread or Yellowtip. It was a (admittedly sarcastic) observation that whenever there is a post regarding the Royal Family both those posters arrive and proceed to be scathing, bitchy and nasty. Both poster managed to turn threads about Jacintha Saldana into horrible rants against the royal family.

I believe in and support the Royal Family. I understand and accept that other people do not. I have no problem with these people. I have a problem with people that use the Royal Family to blame them for all societies ills.

All Kate Middleton did last night was present an award. All she did was do a 'job' she was asked to do. Why was that 'wrong' enough to deserve a thread against her?

I am quite supportive of arguments against the royal family as an institution.

I am just pretty unimpressed at the sheer volume of threads attacking a young woman. The threads and comments criticising Kate massively outnumber those criticising Prince William. I don't really understand that.

If people are genuinely opposed simply to her because of her 'status' why are there so many more about her than about male or less attractive royal family members? On a website primarily for women. And I rarely read 'prince William. What is he doing with his hair?'
It just looks a bit like she is such an easy target primarily because she is young and beautiful. Maybe I just miss all the anti royal threads that don't mention her hair or her shoes or her appearance.

Kate would never be a role model for my dd.

And I do think that there is aggression and bad language from those on both sides of the argument here. However, if people express surprise at Kate being at the event that that is their opinion.

Well maybe we see what suits our underlying views Tough

I am pretty sure that I saw several nasty threads about her sickness. And then the nurses suicide. And one about her fringe. And that was just in the last couple of weeks.

But I haven't been on much in the last few weeks. So maybe I am wrong.

Slhilly,

I agree that there are lots of inequalities in sports funding and other areas that need to be rectified.

Then why not have someone who is actually working in these areas, give out the awards? For example, a soccer coach in an underprivileged area would be more inspiring, a role model and relevant to a sports award.

Kungfu, we don't know if Kate is pleasant or rude. Hard working or vacuous and lazy. All we know is that she has achieved nothing that anyone should admire. Not getting drunk and falling out of clubs is not an achievement, no matter how hard you try to grasp at straws

Kate hasn't had a successful career, like Michelle Obama. Nor has she worked hard at any charity causes. Nothing. So why show her any public importance at all?

I just hope she has a safe pregnancy and enjoys her child really.
Like I would wish on every mother on here.
As for William, as long as the majority of the British public support the institution of having a Royal Family, then I suppose all he can do is carry on.
And yes he is prematurely bald, so what?
I bet a lot of MNers partners are too.
But it is very rarely mentioned on threads like these, we just attack the woman.
Sisterhood?
Pah.

I wasn't being sarcastic either Tough.
I meant that. If we flit on here maybe we click on stuff that we notice because of our views/irritations/interests

For example, a soccer coach in an underprivileged area would be more inspiring, a role model and relevant to a sports award

But only to the people in that area. Not on a national level. And maybe the sports personalities are supporters of the royal family and glad to see her there.

Nor has she worked hard at any charity causes. Nothing

Unless she chose not to publicise it. None of us know what she does in private.

What js wrong with being on threads about the monarchy? Are these only meant to be a royal love-fest?

I do think the royal apologists are bonkers. Deference to hereditary head of states is passé everywhere, except perhaps North Korea. And some sections of mumsnet who feel 'protective' of their royalty because they are so 'brave' and 'work so hard'

I was pleased to see her actually stood on the stage with Beckham, and looking fine. She's been through it a bit with the sickness alongside the nurse's suicide - and expect she'll be haunted by it. So good to see her looking alright.

What is a 'Royal Apologist'?

I don't have daughters, but no, I would not like DoC as a role model for any girl. That does not mean that I mean her ill - HG is crap, she has a role that she has to accept whether she likes it or not. Yes, a hugely privileged life, but still, I'd've run a mile...
I am not a royalist, I am not even British (or even from a Commonwealth country if that makes a difference) and I do think the British Royalty as an institution is obsolete and I feel offended on all your behalf that your Head of State is not an elected person. However, that does not mean that the current Royals are going to disappear any time soon and they will appear at all sorts of occasions.

Btw, Jessica Ennis' arse was so much nicer than Kate's who does not have one. And therefore makes a good clothes horse. But really, not all that important, so chill, folks .

I wasn't clutching at straws. Those weren't supposed to be achievements - they were examples of things that could be considered the "antithesis" of a role model.

I don't consider her either a good or poor role model. Her life is utterly irrelevant to mine and to the lives of most women I know. But not being an active role model in any particular field doesn't make someone the antithesis of one. Just because she hasn't yet achieved anything to admire doesn't mean she deserves to be lambasted.

Many people go through their lives never achieving anything that other people admire. That doesn't make them targets for spite.

She presented an award. What a cowbag!

Eve, look in the mirror and you will see one

I don't understand why people in the public eye are often being manoevered into being role models. Surely whatever they have done to be there they do for lots of personal reasons but I doubt whether first on the list of those reasons is to be a role model.

The only example I want my dc to follow (and if there's no-one famous about to copy it's of little importance, I'd like them to do it anyway) is to be kind, respect others and have a bit of integrity. Other than that the rest is up to them.

Kate Middleton could never please everyone so I hope first and foremost she pleases primarily herself and those she loves. As many of us quietly aspire to do.