Kate Middleton

[WILKO9]

AIBU to find Kate Middleton really annoying ? It's probably just me but I find her so smug. Anyway feel much better for getting that off my chest !!!

I also think they're planning a holiday soon - she's been out twice this week doing good works (not counting the rugby).

I love her!

I agree with you riverwalk - that her only obligation is to produce kids is preposterous. Whether or not it's a valid choice for women to be a SAHM or not, it's not in Kate's case. She's supposed to be working until she dies. It's just that so far there's been very little so far. I could understand William not wanting her to overdo it initially after his mother but this is too far the other way. That's why I think the Palace works hard at changing the public perception of her but it's too obvious - i.e. line up a few jobs before a holiday. They've done it a few times. The Palace realises the importance that she's not seen as lazy. It's very borderline though. She's just about getting away with it as she's had kids.

Unfortunately you are wrong River.
The aim of the royal family is to continue the royal line and maintain the constitution. None of them have any obligation to do anything more. They all do a lot more than say the wives of Henry 8th did- though they didn't live long enough mainly.

The idea that the Royals should somehow 'do' something is a modern construct. You may feel it's wrong by your moral code or whatever, but it's how it is. You can't have some hybrid 'republican royalty' which is what you seem to want.

You seem to forget that being royal is entirely different to you or me. It's not about privilege, it's about duty. One day Wills be king. he will serve until he dies and she will support him in that. His life- like the Queen's at almost 90 - will never be his own like yours.

The money is merely a trapping and I bet many of them would rather live a normal life than be on show for the rest of their lives- and the fodder for forums like this- than have all the money in the world.

If you envy them then I think you lack imagination as to what their lives are like. I wouldn't want it at all.

Haha, it may be a modern construct but let's see what happens if they disappeared from public life and weren't seen to be doing anything at all to help the general public. I think a lot more would say "why the fuck do we have them then". The royal family also know they can't do this. So times change and I think they are now obliged to show some semblance of doing some work as they know they can't get away with what Henry VIII did. They need the support of the public to be where they are, now more than ever.

They need to be seen, but also safe ie not another Diana. So it will be their public face and bland.

Why do we call him "Wills"?

@pinkfrocks. Maybe we should free the royal family from the prison of duty and start electing a Head of State?

Who is "we" 30somethingm? Odd question.

Kate went into it eyes wide open. She's a social climber and in her opinion she got the ultimate prize.

Diamondo If you listen to Kate's speeches then I think it's painfully clear just how very nervous she is doing them.

I agree, however I think that's possibly related to the fact that despite having a degree, she has never experienced degree-level employment. Or even pre-degree level employment, e.g. in an art gallery, where she would have to speak to strangers about the quality of the work.

I don't think anyone is objecting to her maternity leave or mainly SAHM status now that she has young children. Its the gap in any meaningful activity for years between graduating and getting married.

All the young woman who are out there struggling to get their first "proper" job, working hard, dealing with career challenges and so on in their twenties - how are they meant to look up to someone like Kate?

Kate and Pippa weren't called the Wysteria Sisters at uni for nothing. Their contacts list and socialising abilities with a certain class are where their real talents lie. Its hard to forget that and Kate will have to work very hard if she wants people who are a bit sceptical about this background to admire her. Many Royals have worked hard in the past, but at the moment, Kate gives off the impression that she doesn't really care what people think of her, she has achieved her goals and is simply interested in enjoying her life.

Exactly annie. So many seem to see that as a bit distasteful though. Why is that? I don't get it.

Would we rather have another Diana? Seemingly unprepared, going through the royal mill and consequently struggling genuine mental anguish with the pressure?

That's not quite right pinkfrocks

The role of the Queen is split into constitutional and representative duties. here

The example I gave above about Remembrance Sunday is one example of representative duties which are carried out on behalf of the nation. Essentially, no other members of the RF can carry out the constitutional duties but they can carry out representational duties on behalf of the Queen. As can Lord lieutenants and their deputies.

Obviously the Queen can't accept every representational invitation she receives so she is reliant on help with this. If members of the RF don't want to assist. That's fine. But, they can't and shouldn't take advantage of any royal privilege attached. if they do want to assist, they should ensure that they carry out a decent mix of duties representing different areas of interest and not just pitch up for the "fun" stuff. I think it's here that W&K could do with some guidance

He's not of much interest any more because he's a bloke, whereas Catherine is young, female and attractive, perhaps?

I just did a keyword search for thread titles containing Prince Andrew. I got ten since 2010. Two of those were by GabbyLoggon and one was an AIBU entitled "To ask why it seems quiet on here regarding Prince Andrew and underage sex slave claims"(reaching 177 posts). Interesting question, that MNer!

This thread is a bit mad TBH.

It started with someone posting a very silly comment about someone she's never even met, and has now developed into a spat about republicanism v monarchy.

The Queen represents that UK and the Commonwealth. Her duties and her faith take up her time. Beyond that if she and the rest of the family want to sit and eat cake all day, they could.

Clearly, they don't.

I just wonder if all the people here talking about how little K does, would like her role.

It seems as if people who are basically materialistic, envy her- because all the arguments here are over how much she 'has' versus how much she 'does' to earn it.

I've said it before and will say it again- given that William lost his mother - in many senses- partly due to overexposure (by herself a lot of the time) it's hardly any wonder he is keeping K under wraps and guarding these few years when they don't have a huge amount to do re. duties, so they can live a normal life and not suffer what his own mother did.

If K did a lot, people would be just as quick to say she was flaunting herself, trying to be another Diana, neglecting her children, enjoying the limelight, and more.

She can't win, whatever she does.

I've found one report TheIncomparable that shows Andrew did 367 engagements in 2014. Most unreported, as are Anne's at 528. Edward did 426. There's about 4 royals - the Gloucesters and the Kents - that do double what Kate does and they're in their 70s if not 80s.

It's not like they work every day. They often fit in more than one engagement a day so in terms of months a year even those seen to have higher numbers are probably only working a quarter of the year.

Can I put my name down for the life of a wife of someone very rich who isn't particularly in the public eye? Then I'd have Kate's life without the drawbacks!

I'd love her role. I'd work my socks off as I'd realise how privileged it was and I'd enjoy meeting and helping people and doing things anyway. She wanted the role, it's not like she was under any illusions. The problem with keeping her under wraps it's starting to backfire a little and she's ended up being seen as lazy. I don't think anyone is jealous or envious of her cushy number. There are expectations and obligations on them. Let's see if she fulfils them. There's no real signs so far.

What about earning your own money TheIncomparable? Sad that women in this day and age still just want to be a rich man's wife. Maybe you're joking but it partly doesn't sound it.

Yes, the Kents do a lot. (I rather like Princess Michael.) Presumably they enjoy good health, but you sidestep the issue that the Cambridges may rather prefer to spend time with their young children, and not be gallivanting over the country unveiling plaques.

It may be a wonderful pastime for extroverts, but we aren't all extroverts.
If we want to talk about getting value for money from the Royals, I'd look at senior Royals' travel costs to engagements

Sidestep the issue? She chose to marry him knowing that that role included serving the country, which she isn't yet. To say they'd prefer to spend time with their young family is sidestepping the issue. They don't have a choice to do nothing. It's their duty to serve the country! She can't choose to be a SAHM forever, no matter how rich they are. At some point she's going to have to work.

"We" refers to the general public, media etc AnneLouise. I don't know why we pluralise his name - innocent, simple question.

What about earning your own money TheIncomparable? Sad that women in this day and age still just want to be a rich man's wife. Maybe you're joking but it partly doesn't sound it.

Let's deal with this seriously, if you want to go down that route. On this very thread, Kate has been lambasted for not providing a role model for people in their twenties. She is a rich man's wife! Why should we be looking up to her?

Stop trying to have it both ways.

And now onto the other point. Oh, the joys of earning your own pittance. Yes, across the country men and women on zero hours contracts are saying to themselves, "at least I'm not a rich man's spouse and I work for my own money". The working poor trudge down to Brighthouse to replace their washing machines at hugely inflated prices (due to lack of cashflow) and they take glorious amounts of pleasure in saying "that's my money that I earned going out in the direct debit. I'm so glad I didn't marry rich."

"Earning your own money is so extraordinarily fulfilling, isn't it? I have paroxysms of delight every Monday," they say to each other at break times.

And thus you perpetuate the received wisdom that women are passive creatures waiting for men to react to them.

Nah not 'women'. Just Kate.

But 30somethingm - who calls him Wills? I don't. I think his dad might do, perhaps affectionately, or the press to save space in a headline. Quite easy to work it out, why ask? Has anyone on here called him that?