Shouldn't we expect just a little bit more of the Duchess of Cambridge.

[sweetgrape]

Never turned up for one single memorial service for the armed forces, but there at Center Court, Wimbledon, rubbing shoulders with a load of celebs,and entertaining Brad and Angelina Pitt at Kensington Palace. Is this what her royal life boils down to.

How can other women compare their own maternity leave with hers?! Come on, it's not like she had to traipse off to work everyday on the tube or bus, work 9-5 and navigate the rush hour to get home via the supermarket to pick something up for dinner.

sweetgrape - of course they can't bow out!

Mat leave is mat leave whether you work full time or part time or freelance or anything else. I'm not sure why anyone thinks she specifically should be any different, she's perfectly entitled to refuse or to pick and choose official duties. Why should she not be entitled to her maternity leave?

On maternity leave haha that's a good one. Cough nanny cough

While lots of us are comparing our experience as new mums with hers, we need to remember we didn't have the world's press camped outside the hospital when we were giving birth! I thought they both handled that very graciously.

On maternity leave haha that's a good one. Cough nanny cough

I have 3 nannies, I have cooks,cleaners,carers,some woman who loiters lots and I'm never quite sure what she does but when ever she's on AL everything goes tits up so she's obviously very important.

I still take ML just the same as every other mum does

The cattiness in this thread is incredible. Again, I have no time for the royal family or the way sections of society fawn over them and their offspring as if they're somehow more, but the pissiness is nuts.

I agree lem73. I'm thinking also about the reaction when she was in hospital 'just' for morning sickness, the furore over the fact she still had a bump the day after her baby was born, the never ending scrutiny. I don't care for any 'she signed up for it' argument, she's still a woman who had a baby and there are trade offs for every single one of us.

I suspect Kate doesn't actually get much say in what she does at all - the royal engagements are decided at meetings by advisors and others (Prince William for instance), and diaries are written months in advance. Probably at the time the diary was written, they didn't know how she would be after the birth of Charlotte, and it was deemed inappropriate for her to attend for whatever reason. I guess she will get more of a voice about what she does as she gets more experienced as a 'royal'.

No doubt those 'advisors' read all the press reports and will learn from things like any adverse comments about her not attending certain events, and up her appearances at these sorts of things in the future.

Mehitabelle
So by your reckoning unless you do loads of stuff yourself you cannot judge others in a higher position, so we mustn't state our opinions on anyone in government then, , just because we are not in similar positions? Wow, sounds a bit like living under Kim Jong un. Tbh I find your reasoning strange. Why would you want to know what it is I do? it's totally irrelevant. I don't have to account to anyone. Like it or lump it members of the royal family do.
Some of the posts on here are crazy,to infer that someone is bitter and jealous because of criticisms of the royal family is childish but very predictable, and to say that the thread is horrible because it is critical of the royal family is childish too. The Royal family will always be under scrutiny and rightly so. I find it quite sad that there are so many who will blindly and unquestionly accept anything royal and attack any of us who dare to question it see it in all its wrongness.

TheHormonalHooker - Prince William was indeed in the Army, and he later transferred to the RAF.

I am from a Services background too - Navy, although admittedly years ago. My mother was not expected to work, indeed couldn't have done as we were abroad a lot of the time. The higher ranks had lot of help around the house too. (So similar to Kate!)

I see them as a soap opera. Especially since the Fergie/Diana years.

Doc had nine years to think about this. From what little I know of her she seems to have slipped quietly into being as - dignified is all that I can think of.

When I went to Windsor Castle a few years ago (no postcards of Diana), I had the impression in a number of different zoos.

Yes to the poster who said that they must cringe when high achievers faun over them. And to the poster who pointed out that there is no retirement.

I find the village fete a bore and a chore. I put in a tea shift and wander round the stalls and guess the price of the cake. The Royal Family must have acting lessons to do that more than once a year, smiling.

Fawn?

Hilarious! So unless we say what a fab job Kate is doing...We are all jealous birches hey?! Stop tugging your forelock at these privileged pampered lot...its truly pathetic.

Birches....

I wouldn't describe her as being on maternity leave. As others have said, leave from what?

However, she does have a very young baby, and a toddler to boot. I know when I was in her situation, I felt I had done well to get out of the house each day (if I did).

So what that she doesn't 'work'? I don't 'work'. My youngest is now 12. Many women don't 'work'. The difference between her and me is that I may never work again (through choice, not necessity) whereas she will undoubtedly have to work ( when the Queen and then Charles die) and will presumably do so until either her own death or that of William. I don't begrudge her some time to enjoy life now.

However, she does have a very young baby, and a toddler to boot. I know when I was in her situation, I felt I had done well to get out of the house each day (if I did).

Did you have a nanny and a team of staff? I'd imagine it's not so hard to get out of the house when you do.

Kate's doing an absolutely fantastic job for the Republicans. I'm extremely grateful for that.

I know someone who went to school with her who said she was deadly dull. A friend spent ages with Kate, William and Harry recently. William and Harry are apparently lovely guys, really cared about the event they were at, asking loads of questions, having a laugh etc., Kate was wooden, disinterested and kept giving tight, get-me-out-of-here 'smiles' to everyone.

I'm no fan of the royal family.

Camel she's hard as nails with the skin of a rhino, in my opinion. She won't give a shit about what a few women on MN think.

She is a bit of a Stepford Princess I must say. At least she hasn't been photographed doing a Nazi salute.

I really hope she's not reading this

seriously?, are you actually concerned that her feelings might be hurt? , give over, she won't give a tiny toss.

Yeah I don't have her down as a MNer

Holiday It shows your experience of the Forces was years ago. I am actually laughing at you thinking the senior ranks have help similar to Kate! Spouses aren't expected to get a job, most of them just do!