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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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5
MythicalKings · 18/07/2015 20:42

I'd rather go to Wimbledon that a memorial service as well.

She isn't answerable to you, OP, so mind your own business.

pasturesgreen · 18/07/2015 20:43

YANBU, at all.

I'm a staunch monarchist, but can't stand the woman. I think she has a lot to learn from the Queen's work ethic.

Putting in an appearance here and there wouldn't harm her, and I don't much care for all this maternity leave thing either. It's not as though she doesn't have plenty of help.

MurielWoods · 18/07/2015 20:44

Me too Mythical Kings Grin

Perhaps she should have okayed it with sweetsourgrapes first though?

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2015 20:44

What's wrong with her eyeliner Confused

Now off to google

saturnvista · 18/07/2015 20:46

YABU

It's obviously 'work' in her mind and she's on holiday from work. Plenty of women in Britain didn't go to a memorial service.

I actually quite like her. Horrible things have been written about her but she's never gone about glowering or looking elaborately pensive. She seems to enjoy her personal life and not really need anything from the British public, other than that they admire her taste in clothes - which shows a canny understanding of her role, more than anything. Given what William saw his mum go through and the way she has allowed him to 'teach' her how to be a royal, she seems to realise that being royal is a job and having a family life is private. We're used to celebrities who make their private lives grist for the mill - but we'd all hate her for doing that, too. Why should she have to be perfect when no one else is (especially royalty)?

Regardless of who she married, she was always going to be a wealthy girl having a good time with her primary focus on being a good wife and mother. Personally I'm glad that there is a stable family life in the public eye for our little girls to observe alongside the Kerry Kantona claptrap. As it happens, many careers outside the home would be utterly closed to her now. She's also very genuinely interested in the people she meets when she's working.

saturnvista · 18/07/2015 20:47

Why does it never smudge?

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 18/07/2015 20:47

I like her. She is elegant & dignified. She does her job which is to support William, bring up the kids and cut ribbons at daycare centres.

Crownjewel · 18/07/2015 20:48

You can just imaging the AIBU:

I have a nearly-2 year old and a just-3 month old. DH has just taken on a new full-time job. AIBU to take a trip out to socialise at a posh sports event without the kids for the day, because several people seem to think IABVVVVU indeed!"

Poor woman.

Too much like Diana, not enough like Diana... too many public appearances, too few public appearances... Wrong choice of pram for the new baby and wrong choice of clothes for her other child at the christening... She's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't.

MrsGentlyBenevolent · 18/07/2015 20:48

I'm in two minds about her. On the one hand I feel sorry for anyone who's life is reduced to being a walking mannequin. On the other, the fact she seems to have 'made sure' she ended up being Will-nice-but-dim's wife has led me to believe that under all that 'naice facade' she's actually Lady Macbeth.

I'm not a royalist, can you tell Grin.

FreudiansSlipper · 18/07/2015 20:48

what she on maternity leave from Confused

she has an extremely privileged role and she could use this and have so much influence as the future queen and mother to the future king she could do so much more she is not there just to look good and have babies the role is wasted on her

CombineBananaFister · 18/07/2015 20:48

YABU - she's damned if she does, she's does damned if she doesn't, there will be many reasons why no doubt she didn't do certain duties- the male partners don't come under such intense criticism . Could anybody here say they would be happy with that level of scrutiny and intrusiveness? I also think the blandness is her being reigned in. Jesus, I know she chose this and she has money so no financial worries but seems to me she's had to sacrifice a LOT in other areas - personalty, privacy?. I wouldn't swap. And I'm really not Royalist.

saturnvista · 18/07/2015 20:50

What specifically would you like her to do, FreudiansSlipper? And how do you suggest she works this in with what other royals are already doing, given that she's the new girl and William is in charge?

RonaldMcDonald · 18/07/2015 20:50

i don't care
i think she and he are both utterly beige

i would have no interest in kowtowing to her or noting her prescence at important matters of state...she' just some bird who banged and royal

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 18/07/2015 20:53

She's not on my radar unless a thread pops up on here about her .

Who really gives it headspace about what she actually does , does it affect your daily life?

Let the bitterness go.

littlejohnnydory · 18/07/2015 20:54

Who cares? And why would they care?

saturnvista · 18/07/2015 20:55

I don't understand people who think she's bland and reigned in (ha!). Surely the majority of women get on with life and find fulfillment without being edgy, making headlines, spraying themselves with silver paint and having pictures taken? Doesn't make them repressed. In an age where everyone is gasping for their 15 minutes of fame, could it be we're assume there's something wrong with her because she doesn't seem to need anything from us beyond 'what a nice dress?' (and in fact she doesn't seem much led by public opinion in terms of outfits either).

GeraldineFangedVagine · 18/07/2015 20:56

The idea that that the royals add anything to memorial events baffles me. They basically do nothing and have immense wealth stolen over the centuries from the poor. I wish we could be rid of them for good and stop doffing our caps and tugging our forelocks to this bunch of inbred parasites.

5YearsTime · 18/07/2015 20:57

Why are we ripping apart another woman? Especially one with a small baby.

sunbathe · 18/07/2015 21:00

Jealousy?

FreudiansSlipper · 18/07/2015 21:02

well Diana used her influence and that is still a legacy today nearly 20 years after she died, so has Charles

sadly we have no choice in having a royal family but they do represent our country that is why i care and that is a role of great privilege

Roussette · 18/07/2015 21:05

saturnvista you put it so much better than I could ever have done.

fishboneschokus · 18/07/2015 21:06

I agreed with cunty but can't remember why. Diana.
And with others and with Saturn.

lem73 · 18/07/2015 21:07

If I were in her place I would have gone to the 7/7 memorial with my dh. If she could find time for Wimbledon, she could have gone to the memorial. The fact that she went to Wimbledon the very next day just really irritated me.

paddymcgintysmum · 18/07/2015 21:07

Can't stand the lazy mare or her "want's to live a normal life along with her husband and his brother."

Costs me a penny a week or something?

Everyone give me a penny a week then. I can live!

Petridish · 18/07/2015 21:11

I think it is the system that I don't like - the privilege and the fact that women who marry into the royal family seem to see themselves as fashion plates, wearing designer clothes and looking glamorous at all times.

The privilege is absurd - front row seats at Winbledon etc