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

but i'd argue that a woman's right to total privacy, before, during and after birth should trump employee obligations

She didn’t appear on an episode of One Born Every Minute - she stood on a step for about 90 seconds. And she did do willingly.

And don’t you think it’s a trifle offensive to attempt to do Kate’s thinking for her? How do you know those 90 seconds weren’t the highlight of her year? Because they wouldn’t be for you?

It would be a security nightmare for her to stay in hospital for any length of time - remember Prince George and the receptionist who spoke to the radio presenter? There are also all of the other women giving birth there to consider.

I have it on very good authority that Kate is a very hands on mother and that often the nanny is not working / sent home early.

As someone above said the photcalls are agreed with the press in return for privacy at other times. I don’t envy her having to comply with this hours after giving birth. I was still naked wrapped up in a sheet with my baby at that stage. However her stylist and hairdresser will have helped her get ready and she really only had to step out of the door and have a photograph and then go home. I sort of think they must give her some good painkillers because even if no stitches and an easy birth you usually walk pretty slowly / like John Wayne. But again, she only had to keep it together for a few steps and to be honest she looked a little bit unsteady so I do think she was trying hard to keep it all together.

The judgement on here is awful. So is the ‘there are homeless people sleeping rough’ type comments in response to William’s ‘thrice worry’ - fgs there are nutters trying to break into his son’s school so to say he has no right to worry is churlish. He is no different to any other father. He is very privileged and comfortable but hell aren’t we all in comparison to many. There are always people worse and better off than you are.

"i'd argue that a woman's right to total privacy, before, during and after birth should trump employee obligations."

Well, I assume that if she wasn't well enough to do it physically or mentally, she wouldn't have- her doctor must have said it was OK. And if your "job" consists of a very limited number of jollies then yes, I reckon 5 minutes standing on a step holding a baby is the least you can do!

"I have it on very good authority that Kate is a very hands on mother and that often the nanny is not working / sent home early"

All these indiscreet insiders popping up everywhere!

I reckon 5 minutes standing on a step holding a baby is the least you can do!

It was, literally, a minute and a half.

I’m not an insider! But that is from a reliable source.

Yeah- I agree with that Tabby.

I wonder if it's some sort of inverse jealously? People can't cope with the idea that she's living her best life of choice*, so they have to tell themselves that she's secretly dying underneath- or is just too thick to decid for herself how terrible her life must be.

*also- to whoever criticised William's looks; if you're as old as me, you'd remember that he was the good-looking one of the two back in his heyday. Ageing's a bitch.

Mumsnet does a very bizarre competitive "I felt infinitely worse than you did" thing about birth. And it is obsessed by leakage. It's very odd.

I'd say Kate did know what she was getting herself into, she was dating William for a long time before she became part of the Royal family. I don't think she has too difficult a life though.

For the moment at least they have a fair amount of privacy, they release photos of the children a few times a year and make a couple of official engagements a week. I've no idea how much behind the scenes work goes into these engagements but I can't imagine it's more than your average full time job.

I've given birth twice, I don't think a couple of minutes standing around whilst photos are taken of a baby is too much hardship. She looked quite blissful during yesterday's photo op. I imagine she was proud to be showing off her new baby.

She's now safely tucked away at home with all the support she could possibly need around her to look after herself, her home and her family.

It's not such a bad life.

William looked a bit annoyed. I'm sure he would prefer to just go home with his wife and child but he knows part of the role is to share some moments with the public.

In the grand scheme of things... As long as all is well it's not such a huge imposition. They exposed themselves for minutes and can now disappear behind the gates for months... Slob out, relax... And do everything normal parents do. And it's partly because of those few moments they continue to be given the privileges and trappings of royalty in the UK.

X post chicken.

William will have drilled her about the press after watching his mum hounding

She had a lot of press attention when she was just a girlfriend herself. I believe her parents paid out for private security when she didn't have the full protection of the Royal family.

Nowadays she has less press hounding than say her sister who seems to be being papped at the gym everyday.

I wonder if it's some sort of inverse jealously? People can't cope with the idea that she's living her best life of choice, so they have to tell themselves that she's secretly dying underneath- or is just too thick to decid for herself how terrible her life must be*

I think she has the life of riley in many ways, and is a very clever woman, or she couldn't do the 'job' she does.

I happen to believe there are things you shouldn't have to do to just maintain that life of riley, and comparisons with those who are less privileged doesn't justify intrusions into privacy of children, who have zero choice and post-pregnant women. I think a lot people sound resentful of their privilege and so overlook/turn a blind eye to things they are required to do that would concerns us or elicit sympathy if they were happening to joe blogs.

Someone upthread compared them to celebs. Celebs are often happy to parade themselves and their kids around out of narcissim or for cash.

But some hate the effect it has on their children. I remember Charlotte Church saying she rejected a 6 figure sum in order to protect her childrens privacy.

George, and Charlotte have no choice, and neither did K.

I suppose the choice is to step out of the Royal family.

George, and Charlotte have no choice, and neither did K

George, Charlotte, New Baby, William, Harry, Charles, Anne, Edward, Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie have no choice. True.

Kate, Diana, Fergie, Philip and now Meghan most certainly did have the choice...and they made it.

It’s absurd to pretend that Kate has no choice in the matter at all. And really, what are we talking about....a few snaps of her baby? You’re carrying on as if we’re being treated to gynae shots.

Of COURSE the royals have a choice. Do you seriously think for one minute despite their grumblings about the press that any of the ‘younger’ ones would even contemplate stepping away from their life of privilege? Absolutely not.

If they were ‘ordinary’ people, they would go behind closed doors, rub their hands with glee and congratulate themselves on their good fortune. In reality as in keeping in how they are treated by us ‘comminers’, they are self entitled and presume they are vastly superior to us poor mortals.

The baby who was born yesterday is no better than any other baby born yesterday.

After DS1 I was in hospital for several days recovering and couldn't have stood outside for 90 seconds without crying if you'd paid me.

After DS2 I came home that afternoon and by 7pm was sat on the sofa entertaining guests post-shower and hair done looking very much as though I'd not just had a baby.

Every birth is different, every woman is different. Of course it's possible to go outside in a dress and show off your newborn for a moment or two to the public who, mostly, are cheering and happy to celebrate the arrival of a baby with them. As much as the Royal family have no bearing on my life, I actually think Kate has handled her situation with grace; she looks happy, her babies look cherished and loved by their own parents and as far as lives go, she seems to be living a great one. Some women wouldn't choose it, couldn't live that life. That doesn't mean it's any way inferior or any indication of low intelligence.

Do you seriously think for one minute despite their grumblings about the press that any of the ‘younger’ ones would even contemplate stepping away from their life of privilege?

What do you think would happen if Harry said tomorrow...”Fuck this...I want to go and be a car mechanic in Rhyl”? Everyone would leave him alone?

He’d still be in the press, still have his life picked over and, as the grandson of the Queen, he’d probably still need some level of protection.

No...if you are born royal, you don’t really have a choice. And that is my biggest problem with the entire issue of “royalty” - not a single one of them chose this. It’s wrong.

That bothers me far more than their privilege because, frankly, if I was forced to live in the public eye under constant threat of assassination or kidnap thanks to my DNA, I’d fucking expect a palace or two as well.

Kate, Diana, Fergie, Philip and now Meghan most certainly did have the choice...and they made it.

Yup, Chelsy Davy for instance was really not interested in that kind of life, so stepped away from it even though that meant splitting with Harry. But then again, Chelsy seems to have much more of a work ethic and has two degrees, is a qualified solicitor and now runs a business. It's completely astounding that Kate had no job whatsoever other than a brief internship before marrying when she was nearly 30 and starting her very light Royal duties. Diana worked (in a very ordinary job), Sophie R-J did, Meghan did. How can someone justify basically sitting on their butt for 8 years after graduation?

I love the royal family and especially love will and Kate . She looked stunning yesterday and did amazingly well .

I’m not an insider! But that is from a reliable source.

Sure it is. Even if it were true (which I doubt), does she want some sort of medal for sometimes sending her nanny home early? She has no job, has household staff so zero chores, has chauffeurs and a range of other assistants. Is it some sort of miracle that sometimes she kicks back and watches Shrek with her kids without the hired help on standby? I doubt she's doing the laundry while trying not to burn the fish fingers.

The royals have to give a little to their public who pay for their very privileged lifestyles to avoid the public and media backlash. They rely on keeping them 'sweet' to a certain extent. I think they play the game. I'm a bit cynical and think Kate actually had her baby sooner (than yesterday) in secret and has a public 'kate is in labour' and post birth public introduction to the public. Just like with the media speculating about kate and baby attending the wedding. It is being held within the palace grounds and paid for by the public royals so the public will only know what the media claim to be or the royals choose to say happens. The public are the annoying terms & conditions for the royals so they can continue living off public money.

Your name Carole, OP?

I believe Kate worked in her family business as well. Like loads of people do.

They would not have ‘ordinary’ jobs if they stepped away. They live in a different world to you and I. They were educated and surrounded by people who are similar. Most likely they wouldn’t ever hold down jobs at all.

About six months ago,, I followed Chelsy Davy on Instagram as she holidayed in the Bahamas. She left the Bahamas to travel to Florida, she left Florida to go to visit friends in Capetown, she left there so exhausted she went to a yacht for a few weeks. In all her photographs she is surrounded by young, wealthy, partying people. She isn’t ‘famous’, she has a wealthy backgtound and lives a very happy life if her Instagram is even one quarter accurate.