Hilary Mantel makes a good point

[juneau]

She shouldn't have said it, since it's bitchy and uncalled for (and I actually find HM rather odd, if I'm honest), but after a good couple of years in the media spotlight I struggle to think of one thing the Duchess of Cambridge thinks or believes in. She never gives an opinion, she barely speaks, she just looks pretty and smiles.

I have seen the portrait and the eyes did look dead - to me anyway.

I really don't think the HM speech - which I have read in full - was anti-feminist. It was about the public pperception of royalty, which, in the case of female royals, has historically certainly not been 'feminist'. And, she was arguing I think, isn't now. Any more than the dreadful Daily Mail is!

I actually agree with Hilary Mantel..

I did understand what Mantel was doing. I, too, am capable of holding more than one point of view and of self-observation. I'll have to read the whole damn thing later, just in case you others are 'right' where I'm 'wrong' and I've missed a whole facet of her thesis.

I kind of not expecting to, though. To quote Zoe Williams, I'm trying not to get sucked into this vortex of either caring or assertively not caring.

Hilary Mantel should have zipped her lips. The Duchess has not put a foot wrong since her marriage and is a great asset to Britain. Leave William and Kate alone, Ms Mantel !!

"Hasn't put a foot wrong"

What does that actually mean?

That's a phrase that gets rolled out a lot 'The Duchess has not put a foot wrong', seems to me she hasn't done much with her pretty little feet, right or wrong.

And why the hell should Hilary Mantel (or anyone else for that matter) zip their lips on the subject? Bowing and scraping and slavish devotion suits no one. God forbid anyone should have an opinion on the monarchy that veers from the path of 'I think they're just fabulous and doesn't Kate have lovely swishy hair?'.

Personally, I would listen to Mantel's musings on any subject she chooses. She takes my breath away with the force of her talent.

Yes, because only the blandly pretty are worthy of attention. I think Hilary has a fucking amazing face!

Get it right before you start moaning about bitchy.mantel discussing media
The media representation of women,the reduction of Kate et al as brand and representation
Mantel is being misrepresented by the very media she was actually attacking

oh god even here. You idiots. :(

I agree with HM.

I also think the Duchess is a figure head for everything that is wrong with our society, women behaving like they are not actually even human, having no opinions and looking subjugated. Having a role that is essentially belonging to a more important man and producing babies. What she looks like is just a symptom of our society too. Bugs me that people can't see beyond the shit a little more

Booker Prize-winning authors Women who are not young and v.v. skinny must never ever criticise pass comment on or make observations about the youthful and lissome, coz they is just ded jell innit!!

Made my day, that has!

Let's be clear mantel is a clever talented author,self made and well observed
Kate has married well,got up nelly duff,wears inoffensive clothing
What on earth foes hasn't put foot wrong mean,married well?oh jolly good,what a fuckin triumph

Christ, there are some right thickos on here tonight.

Thick as pigshit,and as offended as hell.it's a dire combination here tonight

Same everywhere today, just shameful.

And so the attacks on Mantel's looks begin. On a website largely by women for women.

You should be ashamed.

I read the piece, and thought it was genuinely interesting and thought provoking. I didn't agree with all of it, but I enjoyed reading it.

Thoroughly depressing to see how her words have been taken out of context - but not as depressing as reading some of the truly horrible comments made on here re Mantel. Attacking her for her looks - can you not see the blazing irony of that? . Who needs men to oppress us, when there are always women queuing up to stick the knife in?

Hilary's article is well written but very very unkind in a well written way. To quote: "It is nothing personal, it is monarchy I am staring at'
Well that is the trouble , really. To my mind , Ms Mantel needs to remember that there are people behind the monarchy. I'm not a royalist. I liked Diana a lot, I thought she was a courageous lady of action. But Charles and the rest irritate me. However they would irritate me regardless of who they are because I don't like the architectural and gardening styles concerned. Kate has my every sympathy because she married into a very annoying and rather rude family. eg the Queen saying 'thats awful' to Kates wedding dress exhibition and the choice of portrait artist at the national portrait gallery and exiling Kate to Anglesey (What is that about?) and making the pair slum it in a dingy apartment at Kensington Palace (has anyone been inside- it is awful) and using her as a human shield for Camilla. Kate is not plastic to me. She is very very human. And as yet, she isn't history, so Mantel should keep her claws off her.

Personally, I would listen to Mantel's musings on any subject she chooses. She takes my breath away with the force of her talent

This ^^

I read Wolf Hall and was just blown away by it - a staggering piece of writing

Oh ease up on the women must never criticize another sista.why not?
It's the absolute lack of intellectual content,the knee-jerk oi mantel shut it
If the hard of finking had actually read and processed mantel comments they'd see she's being misrepresented

But funnyperson Mantel said she DID see the Queen as a person in that moment - the article was very much about seeing the person behind the throne, or indeed their representation in the media