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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

772 replies

sweetgrape · 18/07/2015 20:18

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.

OP posts:
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MaggieJoyBlunt · 19/07/2015 17:20

Expressing opinions of their own works out very well for them about 50% of the time. They tend to get either rhapsodised or ridiculed out of all proportion when they string a few thoughts of their own together. But I'm not sure anyone is asking for opinions from her.

noddingoff · 19/07/2015 17:47

Yep you're right about Princess Michael. Should have looked it up properly. Also you are right about the opinions. OP wanted Duchess of Cambridge to go to more memorial services, not have opinions.

EscapePea · 19/07/2015 17:50

OP @ 10.13 "I knew there'd be one." Really? Surprised, are you, that your use of a woman's married name, which it would be if she actually uses it, but she doesn't, raises an eyebrow? You're not particularly broad-minded, now, are you?

SnowBells · 19/07/2015 17:59

I know a few people who belong to the 'wealthy enough not to really work' category, mainly through them being the kids of my parents' friends... they are very different from many of those I (or my siblings) made friends with independently later in life. Sort of shows how much my siblings and I have fallen in this social hierarchy thing! Hmm My mum used to joke that my best friend when I was a child was being brought up to marry into nobility. And... guess what... she actually did.

I assume if the UK decided tomorrow that the monarchy should come to an end, then Catherine and William would become just like many of those I know. Their photos on yachts and luxury resorts, champagne glass in hand, during social 'obligations' and photoshoots for magazines, etc. flash on my Facebook all the time. They do work. But it's work they like to do and they're very natural at, and many people would not consider what they do to be work. However, they probably earn a multiple of what many people get paid for normal jobs. What they do is something not many people will ever be able to do straight out of uni (which is what they did) without the massive financial support from parents and the necessary contacts. Catherine and William will still be movers and shakers... but without all the obligations to the public. To be honest, I'd probably choose that life than the one in the public eye.

One question I do have is... why the focus on the Duchess of Cambridge? She is below Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie in the royal hierarchy as she's not a blood princess. Yet, the OP has not even asked what the blood princesses do! I see them less than Catherine at events. It's almost as if because of the Duchess of Cambridge's status of being a commoner, people are allowed to criticize her more than all the others...

MargoReadbetter · 19/07/2015 18:05

Catherine, the DoC. She's still Kate to me. I doubt she knows that, obv.

MargoReadbetter · 19/07/2015 18:08

I think the blood princesses have been written off a long time ago as a waste of space. They haven't failed in being utterly uninteresting as far as it's known in the public eye.

SnowBells · 19/07/2015 18:13

Margo - she was never 'Kate'. It was the media - tabloids, presumably - that made that up.

How would you like it being called a name that The Sun newspaper made up for you rather than the one name you've been called by friends and family all your life? Hmm

SnowBells · 19/07/2015 18:16

... although I guess it might be easier to deal with criticism if people use a different name than your own. Wink

MargoReadbetter · 19/07/2015 18:19

What do you mean, she was always called by her long name? By God she lives a dull life.

The thing is though that the chanfe to Catheribe only happened after the wedding.

SnowBells · 19/07/2015 18:37

Yes, Margo - she was always called 'Catherine', never 'Kate'.

To most people, the change to 'Catherine' only happened after the wedding because she wasn't a royal before that. The palace doesn't like to make announcements about every single girlfriend the princes have...

I have heard many people mention that though even before the wedding.

babbas · 19/07/2015 18:40

yanbu. and prince Philip dates to talk about spongers. oh the irony.....

also, knowing people who run the royal box at Wimbledon I can tell you there is much annoyance at the fact that the middletons secure 6 tickets daily and expect to be treated as royals when and if they decide to turn up. parasites the lot of them.

IPityThePontipines · 19/07/2015 18:45

YANBU and I think Gobbolino's comments are the best on this thread.

As for
"Margo - she was never 'Kate'. It was the media - tabloids, presumably - that made that up.

How would you like it being called a name that The Sun newspaper made up for you rather than the one name you've been called by friends and family all your life?"

My heart bleeeds for poor, poor Kate Catherine having to endure such trauma. Maybe she needs plenty of charitable donations from the British public to help her overcome such a horrendous ordeal. Oh wait, she receives them already. Hmm

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/07/2015 19:11

Well, it's hardly like being called "fuckface" or something, is it?

My name can be shortened to various variations. Despite always being called the long form at work, it was very often shortened by colleagues and clients. I struggled on.

MargoReadbetter · 19/07/2015 19:14

"I struggled on." Grin

keepitsimple0 · 19/07/2015 19:33

You can completely ignore them if you want.

no you can't. they take a massive chunk of tax money.

funkybuddah · 19/07/2015 19:37

I don't see how having them at a remembrance is worth anything?

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/07/2015 19:46

One of the Queen's roles is "Head of the Nation" here [[http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/HowtheMonarchyworks/theroleofthesovereign.aspx]]

Obviously she can't attend everything so the rest of the RF act as her proxies when she can't.

It's on that basis, they are subsidised.

If she or no-one on her behalf turns up, then no-one is there ceremonially representing the UK people. Most of whom do care about the people who are being remembered.

I've made various points earlier about the DofC's role but as a member of the UK general public, I would feel much more comfortable if she represented me at a memorial rather than the tennis - when she chooses to break from her maternity leave (and I've made it very clear that I do not expect her to do so.) However, if she is carrying out public engagements on our behalf - and the tennis was as was the meeting with Brad Pitt - and her time is very limited, I would like to be represented at a mix of events. Some ceremonial and some not. I think that is reasonable.

Charlie01234 · 19/07/2015 20:22

Noddingoff has summed the whole thread up perfectly - they can't win! Well done.

Imustgodowntotheseaagain · 19/07/2015 21:05

I'm sure she was Kate throughout her time at uni.

Imustgodowntotheseaagain · 19/07/2015 21:17

From the St Andrews student paper.

Shouldn't we expect just a little bit more of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Mehitabel6 · 19/07/2015 22:42

People seem overly bothered. I really couldn't care less if she is Catherine or Kate, or if and when it changed- neither do I notice what she attends or doesn't attend. I take everything written in the media with a huge pinch of salt.
She seems a perfectly pleasant, but unremarkable woman who is doing a good job. She is from an ordinary background which is all to the good.
I can't see why people have to be so unpleasant- especially as anyone else would get the same bitchy comments. You can never please everyone.

Mehitabel6 · 19/07/2015 22:44

Not exactly the same bitchy comments but different bitchy comments!

Original poster
sweetgrape · 19/07/2015 23:51

Mehitabelle
You say you would have more sympathy if you knew i got out and about while on maternity leave. That sounds like youre implying that the duchess is made of far stronger stuff than i could have been, and that its doubtful i could have been as active. Are you serious? I had 5 children and i never stopped from morning till night, The same as most women I presume. I really dont understand your point. Are you implying that Catherine is harder working than the average mother in the UK? Wow.

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Original poster
sweetgrape · 20/07/2015 00:03

Escapepea
Yes i knew there'd be one. How absolutely ridiculous to expect someone to go to the trouble of writing both names in full rather than saying Angelina and Bradd Pitt. Ridiculous and pathetic imo for anyone to be offended by that. But like i said...theres always one (or two) who will take offence. In actual fact you are more offended than her, i once read that she likes being known as Mrs Pitt. Are you this awkward in real life?

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Original poster
sweetgrape · 20/07/2015 00:15

Noddingoff
Maybe you think its irrelevant that she didnt turn up for any of the memorial services, but I can assure you that many think otherwise. If the present queen had applied the same indifference and lack of empathy for the men that died for this country, and seen by the world to put tennis matches and entertaining celebs ahead of all that it would be quite possible there would no longer be a monarchy. Her role as the wife of the future king is far more than looking pretty and mixing with celebs. She has a lot to learn. She might not give a damn, but she has to show that she does. But shes doing a great service for the republican cause.

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