But I don’t think they do try and pretend they’re just like us? I think that’s something certain people have projected and it’s stuck.
I think they’ve tried to combat the accusation that they’re lazy by disclosing a bit more about their lives. And somehow that’s been twisted to be “oh look at them, pretending to be just like us.”
Take this oft-repeated thing about Catherine and William being lazy. To start with, she’s had three periods of maternity leave, including one with hyperemesis gravidarum. She has three children at home. While they do of course have extra home help - she’s not there scrubbing the loo in her Marigolds! - they do their own parenting and don’t fob them off to an army of nannies. And she works - more than this accusation of one afternoon a week.
I looked at the pre-COVID figures just now to compare figures. Because if I’m wrong, fair enough. Catherine had an engagement every three days in 2019. In 2018 she gave birth. And while she certainly has researchers, she clearly does work in between those engagements too. She always knows her stuff and is well-informed - she’d have been torn to pieces if that wasn’t the case.
And also, if you look at the figures for Meghan and Catherine they’re not vastly different. And Catherine had three small children. Lots of very unpleasant things have been said about Meghan - but she hasn’t had the same accusation of being lazy. When she was in the RF, no one described her as being lazy and workshy. It’s a tag that’s stuck on Catherine and it’s not borne out by the facts.
Catherine does other types of engagements too but the ones that hit the news are the glamorous ones. And that adds to this idea that she’s sat at home painting her nails and just wafting in to film premieres.
But there are just people out there determined to slate her. Take this Wimbledon, for example. She took Charlotte to the Women’s Final, one of her patronages. And got absolutely slaughtered for it. The woman is having chemo, still recovering from cancer and attended an event where she could sit down for most of it. She wasn’t on her feet, she wasn’t having to constantly interact. There are few events that are less demanding. It’s also outdoors, so fewer germs etc.
If anyone has cancer and having chemo and has to work because of financial reasons then I’m truly sorry. It must been really shitty. My dad had cancer and I know he was just permanently exhausted - whereas normally you couldn’t keep him in his seat! Ideally no one should have to work when recovering from cancer. But if a mother has the money not to work while she’s still having treatment and recovering then absolutely good for her. It’s just yet another unfathomable stick to beat Catherine with.
Women on this board are supported when they have young children. Even women on here who use nannies and have home help. And even, shock, wealthy mothers that don’t work at all! But the same consideration isn’t extended to Catherine. Whatever she does, it’s wrong. Oh, and just for good measure, she’s ageing badly, is too thin, has boring dress sense, and is a woman who only knows how to nod politely.
I don’t really care if people don’t like her. It’s the unfair comments or unequal levels of criticism she attracts that I think is unfair. People make up stuff about her because there’s little valid reason to genuinely criticise.