Kate Middleton has long fulfilled the traditional, if not archaic, expectations of her role as the future Queen Consort: keeping her head down, remaining poised, raising her children, and serving as a devoted wife and supporter of the monarchy.
For more than two decades, the Princess of Wales has maintained a dignified silence amid a relentless stream of hurtful rumors — allegations of cheating, quarrels, divorce, and other debauchery-inspired scandals that have targeted both her and Prince William.
According to numerous reports, early in her marriage, Kate Middleton maintained her composure and looked the other way when Queen Elizabeth II critiqued her lack of a career prior to her life as a royal.
She was reportedly later mocked by Queen Camilla for her middle-class background. Additionally, it has been reported that the controversial Prince Andrew made disparaging remarks about her as she was adjusting to life within the Royal Family.
In later years, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle publicly criticized her, which added to the scrutiny. During her battle with cancer, Princess Catherine took time off to focus on her health. When she returned to public engagements, she chose to speak about her experience, hoping to support others facing similar challenges.
Now, Princess Catherine faces renewed criticism regarding her fulfillment of royal responsibilities. She and Prince William are even being labeled as failures by some royal commentators, and writer Liz Jones of the Daily Mail, a normally diehard royalist, has unleashed a scathing critique that seeks to dismantle — or at the very least question — the reputation of Kate Middleton as the most beloved member of the Royal Family.
In her piece, Jones listed various criticisms of the Princess of Wales regarding her contributions to the Royal Family, both this year and in the past.
She began: “It seems to some of us that William and Kate want the privileges of their position – the on-board chef, the freedom of never having to take out a mortgage or apply for a Capital One card. But not the tedium the job so often entails – or the scrutiny.”
She went on to criticize the pair for becoming less engaged with work and more reclusive, even as they continue to benefit from their royal status, such as taking vacations and owning high-value properties.
She wrote: “And cruising round the Greek Islands aboard a $450million (£334million) superyacht owned by an Abu Dhabi prince. The Waleses’ recent Mediterranean sojourn is just one of at least four or five vacations they’ve taken in 2024 so far. Shame there was no time for the Prince and Princess of Wales to attend last week’s VJ Day ceremonies. William, remember, will be head of the Armed Forces in the not-too-distant future. Yet, all the couple did to mark the moment – the 80th anniversary of the end. But a February jolly to the Caribbean Island of Mustique meant the Waleses missed the annual ceremony. of the Second World War – was posted on social media. Of course, I have some sympathy for Kate. She has undergone major surgery. She is in remission from cancer.But the Waleses, both 43, are still young.Up until June in 2025, William had performed 71 engagements, Kate nine. They conducted 22 jointly. Yet King Charles, who is 76, and Camilla were even shipped off on an exhausting official visit to Australia last year. My goodness, the Gloucesters, in their 70s and 80s, managed to visit Norwich and Suffolk on the same day! Kate and William tend to stick closer to home.”
Catherine, Princess of Wales‘s decision to prioritize motherhood and the well-being of her three children was painted as a shortcoming and an underachievement when compared to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The article said: “After their wedding in 2011, Kate took extended breaks following the births of her children. Kate prioritised being at home with Prince George and Princess Charlotte when they were very young. The late Queen Elizabeth went back to work weeks after giving birth, as do most women in this country. She undertook 201 official engagements at the age of 96. One leading commentator suggested recently that Kate is ‘at that age where you start to see clearly the difference between duty and loyalty and pointless b******s’ foisted on you in the name of good form, etiquette, and keeping other people happy. ‘She will care less and care more about having a balanced life.’ If that is true, it does not augur well. “
Reports suggest that Kate Middleton and Prince William were taken aback by the negative coverage. Accustomed to criticism from Prince Harry, they were surprised their own supporters also turned against them.
Prince William is reportedly angered by the damaging report, while Princess Catherine feels personally hurt and troubled that her commitment and loyalty are now under scrutiny.
Kate Middleton is caught between a rock and a hard place. She is torn between her desire to do more for the monarchy and her need to preserve her health and give her children a sense of normalcy.
Her defense is that she is only human and will do what she deems is best, despite the outpouring of criticism and attacks leveled against her.
