Kate Middleton’s Unconventional Move Turns Ugly
Kate Middleton has decided to give her critics something else to talk about, but rapidly, the conversation became sarcastic, sexist, misogynistic, and quite cruel.
The Vacation Debate
For the past few weeks, Kate Middleton and Prince William have been the subject of a major and unprecedented public debate. They have been heavily criticized for taking too many vacations and not working enough for the British public.
The Daily Beast reported that King Charles III is among the many who are frustrated by the couple’s decision to become “work-shy” and prioritize their family.
Many are also upset that they are spending too much money on their lavish lifestyles and believe their move to Adelaide Cottage was not ideal, as it makes them look privileged and as if they are wasting taxpayers’ money.
A Controversial Hair Change
Upon returning to her royal duties, Kate Middleton inadvertently shifted public attention by debuting a new blonde hair color. The change quickly became a subject of public debate, with some harsh comments on social media criticizing Princess Kate for straying from her royal pedestal and questioning whether, as a working royal, she should have altered her hair so dramatically.
According to an article that appeared in The Times, perhaps Princess Kate should have resisted the urge to be a modern and bold woman of her generation, as Queen Elizabeth II set a traditional and conservative path for royal women to follow.
The article noted: “Which may seem like no news at all. It’s usual to see celebrities reveal drastic makeovers… Kate having a few highlights shouldn’t be a shock. But our expectations of modern royals are anything but modern. Queen Elizabeth II set the expectations for a royal woman aging in the public eye: to be always and instantly recognizable to the public.”
The Daily Beast also weighed in, suggesting that the “hairgate” could be blamed on the fact that her stylist and right-hand woman, Natasha Archer, had stepped down from her post, implying that Middleton cannot style herself.
The article stated: “My hot take is that today’s less than ideal coverage of Princess Catherine’s hair — and on social media it has been vicious — might be due to the fact that this was Kate’s first official public engagement since the July departure from Kate’s household of Natasha Archer, her long-time stylist and trusted aide.”
It went on to say that with the blonde hair, “she looked like an influencer,” adding, “On Kate, it just looks a bit tacky. I hate to say it, but she looks more like an influencer than a royal.”
Public Scrutiny & Swift Reversal
Supporters responded by defending Kate Middleton’s right to make personal choices about her appearance and argued that, given her recent health struggles, she deserves to have control over her image.
This defense further illustrates the strong divide in public opinion. Despite this support, the intensity of the criticism appeared to have an impact.
According to Page Six, the Princess of Wales appeared at the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a much darker hairdo. The media outlet explained: “Days after debuting a dramatic blond makeover, Kate Middleton seems to have returned to her classic brunette style.”
The rapid change puts the spotlight on the immense pressure Kate Middleton faces from public scrutiny.
A Humiliating Reality Check
Once Kate Middleton reverted to her brunette roots, the praise returned, with The Daily Beast noting: “Saturday’s look was certainly much more elegant than Thursday’s, when Kate looked like a mouse peeking out of a haystack.”
This episode serves as a wake-up call for the royals to understand that while Princess Kate is a high — profile public figure with immense privilege, she is not allowed to truly be herself — at least not publicly. The public’s focus can easily pivot from praise to heavy scrutiny.
Many royalists view this as a form of bullying.
