Would it have mattered if the picture showed her looking a bit poorly?

[Sparetoes]

Now, firstly I don't think the picture should have been put out at all , and I don't think she should have made that trip in a car without blackend windows. We were told she was having surgery and would be back after Easter and that should have been that.

For some reason they decided to put out the Mother's Day picture and manipulated it. Consensus appears to be that this was more than a minor tweak or two to make sure DC were all smiling at once or that the pimple on her nose wasn't visible. There's been significant work done, around her face.

For me, the interesting story is the way the PR's been handled. I don't understand how or why that picture was ever put out and I can't begin to think what was going through anyone's mind when they sent her out in that car. From a PR POV it has been appallingly badly handled.

However, if they'd decided they needed to put something out and it showed a woman looking a bit puffy (from steroids) or drawn (from pain) but still smiling with her DC, would that have been so terrible?

I understand of course that everyone wants to look their best, but from a PR pov, would it have mattered if an ill woman looked....ill?

Oh yeah I'd like billions of people to see me at my worst! Come on - it would put the speculation in to overdrive. I'm sure she looks fine and it was a stupid move with the photo, but they do make missteps all the time.

I'm not sure what the better word here is, over invested or obsessed 🤔
Leave the woman alone, stop berating someone who is recovering from invasive surgery. Soon enough, shell be working again and the you'll have to find something else to pick on.

It's still a beautiful mothers day portrait, even if it's photoshopped and artsy.

I got the shock of my life today looking at myself in the work toilet mirror. Greasy hair, lined face, red eyes as Im so tired.

This is how people look (sometimes). Its reality. No one walks round looking all perfect. What is wrong with society that we cant accept that.

Agree. However what interests me is that William chose a wife who was never going to be a hard worker. In the same way that Diana was chosen for Charles because of her youth, beauty and (no doubt) ability to have and raise children.

It’s as though the Royals themselves need to retain authority and power while those who marry in have to look pretty. That seems to be the deal. But it is never going to end happily is it?

Why would they? Surely it would be perfectly reasonable for her not to look too well after an operation and a longish recovery time.

Well we created this society by wanting women to look perfect. Even people on here on the other thread saying ao what I touch up my photos remove a spot, smooth a wrinkle...

Well of we keep putting out images of women looking flawless any pic that isn't is then going to invite a ton of comments.

I for one was glad when they started to show models with cellulite or not so perfect skin.

That is reality and it's refreshing to know oflh okay that's normal on people and made me feel better about having it

As has been said, it obviously mattered to Kate! 🙄

Vanity vanity

She’s a person like everyone else. I highly doubt anyone would want a photo of themselves being made public if they looked like shit, regardless of “good PR” why would she be different?

Perhaps she was having a good day in terms of her health and well being on the day it was taken?

It’s so odd that to me that people are becoming so unhinged over Catherine’s absence. They said she would be absent until Easter, Easter has not passed.

Why would her face look bad after two months of recovery from a “planned abdominal op”? She’s not in hospital so not ill. How do they know she’ll be all better by Easter? It’s only two weeks away

Yeah I’m not sure about that either. I can’t work it out why she doesn’t wish to show her face, some make up and hair done,apply a filter, which would habe been fine, the major issue was it was composite, and voila.

I wouldn't have wanted anyone taking photos of me. I can't imagine being in that state and having a photo released to the whole world and then watching it be heavily crititsed for how I looked.

Sometimes we seem to forget that these famous people are human beings with feelings.

That's a very valid opinion, however I think many women tend to project our preferences as a "average normal person" onto a very narrow slice of what life is actually like for the POW. Kate's life contains privilege beyond what any of us can imagine. Despite the obvious downsides like the current situation, she probably enjoys her life a great deal more than your everyday woman struggling with COL, work, childcare, mental load, life admin, body image etc. She has three beautiful children, loving parents & siblings, incredible homes, international respect and multiple exotic holidays every year. Yes, she may have ill health and possible marital problems but that can and does befall anyone. And in her case, she'll never have to wait around in the NHS but get taken directly by private ambulance to the best hospital & doctors in the country.

So with everything else being equal, I'm sure many, many women would agree to switch places with her if the only negative thing they have to put up with is "a lack of privacy". Think of all the problems in your current life that will disappear in an instant if you had the privileges that Kate does. You have staff on call to sort out all the things that are bothering you right now. You have unlimited funds to outsource tedious tasks like cleaning, cooking, childcare. It's almost like a game of what's your price? Would you let the press print an unflattering photo of your face if it meant wallowing in the most luxurious lifestyle and privilege that is available to any human being on earth? Fuck yes.

Any haters who are willing to "pick apart" an unedited post-surgery photo are the same people who will insult any other picture of her anyway. Every person who knowingly chooses a job in the public eye knows this is part of the package. I would argue that the current situation, which has permanently damaged the credibility of the Royal Family, is much worse than if they just bit the bullet and told people what was going on back in Jan. That would have shot down the speculation before it went viral. By definition, people can't speculate if they know what is already wrong. By not saying anything, it's mushroomed into insane theories or self-fulfilling prophecies.

The most ironic part would be if they didn't have any marital issues at all but now the entire fucking world knows about Rose Hanbury. Before this, it was a tiny speculative rumour, even on MN. Now every kid with Tiktok knows how to pronounce her last name.

Because she's the fairytale, the escapism, we don't want to see the reality that's the sad truth of it

Speak for yourself I'd rather see reality thanks

Exactly. It's not necessary about vanity. I am the least vain person I know, but steroids had such a drastic effect on me that I didn't recognise my own face and I found that devastating. It's a fairly ordinary face and I'm fine with that, but not recognising myself at all was very disorientating

I think he chose a wife who would comply and made sure she would put up with whatever he wanted to throw at her. She seemed to want it so badly that she'd put up with much more than already aristocratic women would.

I think both these comments are really quite bitchy and unfair. Of course they marry attractive women, it’s hardly something to go screaming round the living room about, most men wish to marry attractive women, they don’t deliberately go after unattractive ones who like to graft.

and they clearly do work, and I really don’t understand the whole what she puts up with, I’m fairly sure you don’t know them so are just feeling driven to make a horrible comment?

Agree. And once you present to the world a perfect image there’s only one way you can go. Down.

As @CapybaraBara says above, give me authenticity every time. It’s easier to live up to and leaves room for mistakes and humanity. The RF have created this situation because they want to portray a perfect image of themselves.

Steroids.

He left her hanging around for 10 years, while he went off with other women, his friends mocked her, he asked for her and she dropped everything to go running. If he'd married her after 5 years, she would have had 5 years of protection.

Well, this sort of obsessive stuff killed Diana, will likely kill her too at some point.
Leave the poor woman alone!

I think she puts up with a lot more than we know.

They met at uni and married in their late 20s. That's not leaving her hanging around, that's a normal timeframe. How many 23yos do you know who are getting married?!

Anything to put Kate down. Can you imagine writing such miserable and negative things about someone who has actually nothing to do with you in RL? Oddballs.

I really doubt Kate cares. She'll be queen in the not distant future and her family, parents, siblings and children are close knit. She is winning in life I say.