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.

She thought very hard about it, which is probably why she and William split up for a while.

the one I couldn't stand was the one who said 'I want privacy and to retire from public life' and then did lots of things as mentioned in the OP!

Oh I think their "blandness" is massively contrived. I suspect it is entirely deliberate after Diana's shenanigans we get to see barely a glimpse of personality from her.

I like her but saying she's "on maternity leave" I think is ridiculous. Leave from what?

She just had a baby, cut the girl a bit of slack!

Going out on a social occasion while on Maternity Leave? Fine! Going to work (and that's what those memorial services and other public appearances are) while on Maternity Leave? Of course not!

Sheesh! I managed a couple of outings sans baby while on ML. Did I go to work? Did I heck!

There are 6 members of the few left in Britain....the RAF fighter pilots who were described so by Winston Churchill," the few, to whom so many owed so much". She should have been there, even 94 year old Prince Philip managed it. But the wife of the future head of the armed forces thought Wimbledon more important.

By the time she was Kate's age Diana had made some big waves, including holding hands with AIDS patients at a time when people thought that meant you too would catch HIV. She campaigned against land mines and took her sons to Centrepoint to show them how privileged their lives were. Though I suppose that didn't end well for her, did it.

I think her PR people could probably help her out a bit on this

Either she's in mat leave and out of the public eye or she's back off mat leave. The issue is it can appear that she's on mat leave when it suits but happy to come off it to turn up at Wimbledon and meet Brad Pitt

I do know that, if she were employed/self-employed, she would get 10 KIT days she could use so perhaps she looks on it a bit like that. That's fine and reasonable. But again, presentationally, it probably would look better if she did a mix of activities.

I know that there is a school of thought that she should be able to do whatever she wants. I think that's not the case when it's to do with public duties. I don't think she's been well served by the people who run her office and give guidance (or should) on what invitations to accept.

I don't expect her to be scrubbing the floor of a soup kitchen on her hands and knees but perhaps she could have also fitted in a hospital or charity visit on the Wimbledon/Brad days. So nothing too onerous or that would require her to be away too long from her children - just a couple of hours on the same day. I thinkmthatvwoukd do a lot to help public perception - which, unfortunately in her role, is important

Like what. She's produced the next heirs so has done her job. I've no time for the royals I'm afraid.

Couldn't give a shit.

She doesn't have to work for money. She doesn't want to. Presumably her husband is ok with that too. So she doesn't.

Pingu how is it work? She managed the Christening of her baby. A memorial service would have been no more arduous than than that.

Cant be arsed to get up enough energy to be bothered about these privileged parasites .. must stop beating around bush

FFS leave her alone. She's taken on a role that not many would want whatever anyone says on here. Let her enjoy her DCs.

She can't just roll up to memorial services and not be photographed continually.

Keep it to yourself,, but she's actually Wonder Woman in disguise. The clues are all there, long dark hair, wearing bright red at Wimbledon...come on people she saving the world!

The royal family should be axed. All of them.

Then Eatshitderek might be in with a shot at Harry.

That's not the only reason, obvs..

Yes, if she did endless charity work, she'd be accused of 'copying Diana'.

I cannot understand this obsession with the royals.

It tends to be one extreme or the other. People either love them or loathe them.

People who claim that they are just parasites whose days are numbered are particularly amusing.

They are our Royal Family. Whether you/we/me like it or not, they have always been there and always be. They're not going anywhere so get over yourselves.

Why would you even care and get her up about this sort of stuff?

And criticising another woman's eyeliner? Fucking hell, the day I notice or begin to care what another woman is wearing will be a sad day indeed.

God leave the poor woman alone. She's produced the next heirs, which was her first priority, now let her enjoy them a bit.

Ooh an AIBU about the Royal Family, how lovely.

Yeah I was just sitting here thinking how annoying it is she doesn't turn up for more memorial services. Some people eh. And when she has a nanny and everything. You can't get the Duchesses these days.

She can do what she wants. Just because you don't like it, OP, there's no need to be bitchy and start a thread (that always have the same replies, nasty comments, etc. etc. on them. If you want to know what people feel, just read the old threads.)

Eww op you sound bitter

Fuck me, some very bitchy un-MN responses on this thread

I don't envy her one bit - she'll be in the public eye until she dies.

I agree it's probably deliberate, cunty - nobody can truly be so absolutely devoid of any interesting personality quirks. She actually rather reminds me of those obvious blank slate projection characters in certain types of novels. Twilight, I'm looking at you!

On a side note: several years later and I still hate Twilight!

How many memorial services do you attend each year OP?

Agree with other posters: leave the Duchess of Cambridge alone. Tbh I think she is navigating an extraordinarily difficult public role with aplomb. She has two tiny DC. I think she has every reason to pick and choose her public appearances according to her own tastes.