To say YABU if you think Kate deserves no sympathy because 'she knew what she was getting into!'

[ChipperChapper]

It sounds like the sort of people use to say (and often still do), if a younger mother dared complain if she was drained - All because 'she knew what she was getting into' when she decided to have a baby, and that 'she knew the dad probably wouldn't stick around, she knew babies aren't dolls'

^The above is no reflection of all or even most young mums! I am one.

Anyway, moving on... Isn't it quite tactless and a bit lacking in compassion to say "She knew what she was getting into!"

I don't know her personally, but Will, and her three children, are just that to her. Not Royal figures for show.

I understand she may be feeling a million dollars, though. I suffered with HG and felt like going to the Ritz after my DC's birth. Sadly, I neglected to pack a dress and was quite disappointed I was going home in leggings and a top

There was a recent book about Prince Charles that said he poaches staff from wealthy friends. Partly because said wealthy friends continue to make up the huge drop in salary they have to take to work with the royals.

Hadron where did you get that £250,000 figure from?

seeing a clip of the Queen ordering David Attenborough around the other week on some programme they did, I can imagine she's not an easy boss to have, but probably a bit easier than her son who has a butler to put toothpaste on his toothbrush ( read that somewhere too)
i can imagine the Queen doing her own colgate.

Hadron where did you get that £250,000 figure from?

Someone posted a link from a magazine back on either the last page, or the page before. I copied and pasted a bit of it.

I have to say I’d be very bitter if I was working for them and going home struggling to pay basic bills

I'd say the people they have working for them are true believers of Monarchy and feel privileged to be working for the RF in any capacity. I saw a christmas special where the staff sang christmas carols to the horses in the stable.

Paul Burrell was quizzed endlessly by Janet street porter in the jungle about why he did what he did etc. He kept saying it was an honour and a duty he loved and wouldnt everyone want to do it? err, no. ( i know he isnt a very good person to quote for many many reasons, but maybe the others all think like this too?)

Yes I heard that the status of working for the Royals mean they are expected to be paid minimum wage. Paul Burrell is probably a good example of the type of person who would do that job. Who chooses to go into 'service' these days, putting toothpaste on a grown man's toothbrush and laying out their clothes for them.

I think she set out to catch her man - she caught him - bit late to wonder how her life might change after marrying him. Not sure why she deserves my sympathy.

It’s part of being the monarchy isn’t it. It would have been her choice to have the photo op because it’s this kind of occasion that generates loads of upswing in royal popularity. If they did want an obscure life then interest in the royal family would dwindle. Simply put its self preservation on the Royals part. Do this or sink into oblivion and a republic nation. Sympathy doesn’t really come into it

I agree. I hate it when you want to whinge about the complexities of parenthood and some smart arse turns around to basically say “well you knew what you were getting yourself in for having kids!”. Actually, no one does. You can read every book in the world, watch every documentary and even have worked with children but until you have your own, you have NO idea what it’s truly like.

I feel it’s the same for Kate. She will have been warned about what she would experience but I doubt she was completely prepared for it. Luckily for her, aside from the obligatory ten minutes on the hospital stairs, she doesn’t have to do much in public after birth. It must still feel fairly shitty for her, I’m sure and I bet she gets into her pjs as soon as she gets home.

Simply put its self preservation on the Royals part. Do this or sink into oblivion and a republic nation. Sympathy doesn’t really come into it
^ This
Every decision was theirs. If she wasn’t up to it she could have stayed in longer. If she wanted to wear flat shoes she could have! She had the dress designed and made for her in advance and she probably had a few more options with her!

Mousefunky, Hadron et al...why do you think Kate (or any other woman) needs you to speak up for her?

We females didn’t all come off a conveyer belt. We are not identical & neither are our birth experiences.

When I had my son (my first & only child) I left him with the staff and walked into town to buy a car seat from Argos about 8 hours after he was born. I would have been perfectly fine with standing on a step for 90 seconds being photographed and waving.

Good thing I am not royal because I’d have been yelled at for an “unrealistic” portrayal of a post-birth body as my abdomen was almost entirely flat again within 24 hours. I also didn’t slob out in a dressing gown eating Hobnobs for a week, I just got on with things as women have been doing forever.

We are not all the same.

Kate didn’t look uncomfortable or unhappy. She’s done this twice before & I am certain that if she wanted to avoid it this time, she could have done. She didn’t. Your “sisterhood” concern is misplaced and rather silly.

She DID know the score when she married William and she signed up for a lifetime of this kind if thing so stop patronising her and let her get on with it.

I feel it’s the same for Kate. She will have been warned about what she would experience but I doubt she was completely prepared for it. Luckily for her, aside from the obligatory ten minutes on the hospital stairs, she doesn’t have to do much in public after birth. It must still feel fairly shitty for her, I’m sure and I bet she gets into her pjs as soon as she gets home.

Shitty? Why? It's fairly clear that she is very comfortable with the press and cameras and they usually leave her and the family completely alone. Maybe save your sympathy for someone who deserves it and has actually complained about their situation.

Oh and I bet she never slobs out in PJs. Hate to break it to you but she is as far from 'just one of the girls' as you can get.

She looks happy enough to me! Not sure why she needs sympathy, she's got a loving husband, 3 beautiful children, no money worries and plenty of people to support her. Yes, the press stuff must be intrusive, but other than that, life must be pretty good!

She looks happy enough and seems to take it in her stride.
i dont think she gets the grief that Diana did - she is a completely different person and handling it all so much better. She knew what it would be like and is getting on with it.
i agree that she isn't ' one of the girls' though and is probably very picky and holds her cards to her chest a lot. Shes the kind of perfect mum i usually avoided at any groups i went to as it would make me feel a bit inferior ( i have family members like this as well)

I bet she gets into her pj's as soon as she gets home
What makes you think that? I got bathed and dressed an hour after my 2nd and 3rd babies were born and I didn't get undressed again, until, wait for it, bedtime!
One woman I know gave birth in the morning and went to a Christmas party that evening. Because everyone's different and we don't all want to wear pyjamas just because we had a baby a few hours ago.

I think the key to understanding Kate is Carole her DM. What strength she has and and she passes it on to her daughters. There I said it.

who cares what she wears at home. It Doesn’t make a jot of difference to anyone else.

Hadron where did you get that £250,000 figure from? Takeabreak I should imagine.

I think I will save my sympathy!

I think the key to understanding Kate is Carole her DM. What strength she has and and she passes it on to her daughters. There I said it

This is a very good point. I do agree that Carole comes across as a very capable and strong woman, and pretty unflappable and so it seems that would have rubbed off on Kate.

I don't see how good or bad someones post birth recovery is has got to do with the principle of women not having to parade before photographers and journos, and TV camera men on the steps? In fact I found the presumption that she should because she can to be objectionable. Anyway I've 'laboured' my point enough.

What has she passed into her children? Neither parent seem to have passed on any kind of work ethic, despite having it in abundance themselves.

River - that’s a bit unfair really - Kate had to work on her grades to go to Williams university! 😀
The girls aside , at least the Middletons earned their money over the years and grafted. Unlike the Royals who stole most of the land and money centuries ago and may ‘work’ but with a lot less hassle than most people have to get to work and do their job. That’s what rankles the most ( amongst other things.)

If William wanted to he could turn his back on his inevitable succession to the throne. As he hasn't it can only be presumed that they enjoy the money / status / lifestyle. Why would anyone need to feel sorry for Kate? They surely will have discussed all of the expectations of her before they even married. She decided the regular photo calls were worth it.

Duty?

Kate looks perfectly happy. They met at a lovely university in a lovely part of the world. They had relative freedom. They even split up for a time - but got back together.

Some people are hoping she is unhappy really in order to make themselves feel happier about their own little lives.