To ask what Kate Middleton is really like?

[Cocopops2010]

Just that really. I know some of you will think ‘who cares?’ but I find her kind of intriguing. Always so well turned out/groomed, very poised, polite...I wonder what her real personality is? How does she manage so much scrutiny?

Of course it's not out of the ordinary as she's not 6'7. But don't be so facetious. Women in the UK are somewhere around 5'3/'5'4. The average height for men in the UK isn't even 6ft.

she's utterly wasting the opportunity and platform that she has. Whether it's because of "long term health issues" as a pp said or because she's v thick as someone else suggested, who knows - but hopefully she'll get stuck into something meaty one day (don't the mental health charities come from the brothers? Harry has been v open about his issues. I think she has done some bullying work though?)

she's utterly wasting the opportunity and platform that she has
what "opportunity" and "platform" ?
He husband's grandfather is the Monarch. She has to do the job and keep her trap shut about anything contentious.
She also has three small children who she wants to bring up to be normal sane human beings

Is it me that you are saying is being facetious? If so, I am really not. I am genuinely surprised that 5ft10 is seen as incredibly tall.

Vladimir
She is taller than average in the UK
but not much taller than average for boarding school Gels
and not much taller than average for the South West London private school mum set

@Bohbell end of what? What does that phrase even mean confused

Putting 'end of' randomly is a signal that the writer has a very high opinion of themselves, every one is entitled to agree with them. It's a written two fingered salute.

she's utterly wasting the opportunity and platform that she has

well, yes, but she has never shown signs of being interested in anything, ever. She got married when she was nearly 30, so she had plenty of time to do whatever she wanted.

I don't like people using her children as an excuse - you make it sound like working mothers cannot be treated seriously for a start. Since when having kids is stopping anyone from doing anything they want? As must as I don't recognise myself in the feminist movement, I fight for the right of a woman to be treated seriously, children or no children.

I think she's fine.

She's not an airhead, she loves her kids, has good family ties and seems to establish the right sort of relationship boundaries and guard the family's private time. I understand she was bullied as a younger school pupil and naturally that will have made her watchful and observant, probably a useful trait in her line of work

When she's out of the baby tunnel she'll be able to pursue her interests within her role, and very likely do a good job.

Personally I would fail totally at that kind of life. Media judging every day, no privacy or opportunity to really follow your dreams. Even though I'm pleased to know nothing about it, I wish success to her marriage - the circumstances alone must make it a huge challenge.

or because she's v thick

Do you often refer to people as ‘v thick’ London?

she has a nice aura and is beautiful

I’m confused. Is Kate 5’10” in heels or is that her height. Meghan seems teeny but says she is 5’9” I think they are saying their height with high heels.

Fenella private members club?

Having watched interviews/ news coverage and general snippets of Kate’s interaction with children (sick or otherwise), adults with special needs or anyone who has been through tragic circumstances I always have felt that Kate is compassionate, caring and genuinely feels empathy for others.

She clearly adores her husband and her children and I think she is one of the most approachable royals. I love that coming into the royal family, she slotted in with Harry and Will’s close relationship and has always seemed to have a relaxed and fun/ sisterly relationship with Harry.

I respect her, she seems intelligent and kind and I get the sense that she values the people in her life very much- not just family, her assistants, staff etc. William grew up with a loving and compassionate Mother, I don’t think he would choose any less than that in choosing his wife.

@dapplegrey - as I quite clearly said, I was quoting a previous poster on "v thick".
And I don't agree that her job is just to be a broodmare / smile & wave. She has a voice that I've never been aware of her using for public good; Meghan's activity at Grenfell and with the sex workers (whatever we think of motivational banana messages) has conveyed more of substance than I've ever been aware of Kate doing. Her patronage choices have been very safe / uncontroversial and ultimately not of great social benefit other than the bullying piece. My view is that since she is funded by the public she has a duty to them, and that doesn't begin and end with hemlines.

Kate CAN'T voice opinions or be too 'out there'. She is the wife of the future King. It would be completely inappropriate for her to be doing anything which courts controversy or expresses political bias. Her work for disadvantaged children and mental health is to be applauded, but she needs to be very careful about how she expresses herself. Meghan is not quite in the same position, but the RF generally have to tread a very careful line.
She's an intelligent woman who has behaved more or less immaculately . It's no easy task being in the public eye to the extent she is, always looking great, smiling, appearing interested all the time. No matter how she feels in herself. She may have many privileges but the price she has paid for them is far higher than most people could tolerate. I think she has done an amazing job in my view. She can't work in her own career, she has only got the option to support charities and support her husband.

She can't work in her own career, she has only got the option to support charities and support her husband.

but that's the point, she never had the beginning of a career! She never had an opinion or was involved in anything before getting married. She wasn't a shy 18 year old, she was a 29 year old woman on her wedding day.

Nothing was stopping her from achieving things or having a voice before the wedding, or even just having some kind of job or hobby.

disorganised
You are incredibly judgey of her
she has a job - its to be the wife of the future king, deputising for his grandmother when needed
she will not have another job
and its not a job she can easily resign from
(as her late mother in law found out)

but that's the point, she never had the beginning of a career! She never had an opinion or was involved in anything before getting married. She wasn't a shy 18 year old, she was a 29 year old woman on her wedding day.

It does leave a bit of a "stepford" impression, but there again, she was basically a "professional royal girlfriend" for years before she became a "professional royal wife". She made her life all about William from UG days onwards.

The basic problem is that a Royal bride is a pretty anachronistic thing to be, and most intelligent, ambitious women won't want that role.

Well she worked for Jigsaw (or was it Jaeger?) for a while, and her DM's business, and her main hobby is photography. I don't think that's that unusual for that set- not like either of her siblings has had a stellar career either, although god love James he's tried with his marshmallows.

It must have been very hard for her to keep a job whilst known as Prince William's girlfriend, with all the press intrusion and none of protection really. I wouldn't fancy it.

although god love James he's tried with his marshmallows

I’m sorry, I have nothing to add to the discussion as I’ve never met her and probably never will but that line has really made me laugh 😂

and her main hobby is photography

she never worked, she did waltz in jigsaw for a few hours when she felt like it and the photography is one thing they had to put to boost her cv a little bit. Her bio on the official website was so empty it was embarrassing.

TalkinPaece
It's a fact, she might have a "job" now, but my point was that she was very late in doing anything at all. She spent all her 20s and early 30s doing nothing, achieving nothing. It's embarrassing. I remember reading that the Queen herself was a bit surprised by the lack of activities of her grand-daughter in law.

No one expect Kate to suddenly send her CV to Tesco now
I don't know many people, even very very wealthy, who are happy doing nothing but shopping and partying.

She had to give up the part time job with Jigsaw because of the way she was harassed by the Press. How do you know she had no opinions Cole? Did you expect her to speak out all the time about what she thought about things before she married? Do you think William would have married her if she had? She has been extremely discrete at all times, which is absolutely what was required. William needed a woman who could keep her mouth shut and not embarrass him. She's done that. It is not the job of a Royal wife or girlfriend to shoot her mouth off .

How do you know she had no opinions Cole?

Eh?

disorganised
I remember reading that the Queen herself was a bit surprised by the lack of activities of her grand-daughter in law.
Bullshit.
One of the hangers on might have said that to the Daily Fail
but the Queen knew what had happened to Diana at the Montessori nursery

Kate and William have been a couple for a long time.
Why should she go and get a job outside her family business (where she worked in her Uni holidays etc) when the press were hassling her every step.

Have you actually met her in a non official setting
I have
Your skewed perception does not match the reality

With a camera costing over £2500 I should hope that she does get good photos - most photographers should. I'd like to see any photographer with one of those cameras go out and take a photo with an old Instamatic camera and see how they get on.