General Chat

Chris.
I saw the cartoon & thought it was very apt. I agree that the portrait wasn´t very good. Didn´t think it did her justice, but I´ve never seen her live, just in photos so it´s difficult to say.
I just hope for her sake she doesn´t spend her life being hounded & analysed like Diana was.

Don't we need a Queen (if Catherine becomes Queen) who is a power player, clever and determined? Far rather that than some wimp.

Overall, I'd take Hilary Mantel's comments with a pinch of salt.

Read the book but it bears no relation to the rantings. Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Vilify royal dissenters.

Wisechild - there is a very good cartoon in Daily Mail of Hilary looking into a mirror and her 'reflection' is lovely Kate!

There is only one thing I would agree with Hilary on and that is the portrait of Kate - it is awful and her eyes and mouth just wrong.

She is a brilliant writer and I loved her books. I am sure she regrets saying what she did and the way it has been misquoted and received but I am quite sure it wont affect the sales of her books. You don't win two Booker prizes for being a dullard! :-D

My personal Opinion, It helps to sell her books. However I just took one look at her Photo (Before I threw up) It says it all, Pity I have,nt got shares in Pollyfilla and curtain material.But Lets say she,s a good advert for why in some cases Burkas should be made compulsory. :-D :-|

What a load of old tripe by Hilary Mantel !!!

Yep - she's no oil painting :-D

My reaction was "have you looked in the mirror dear?"
Didn´t like her book anyway. :-P

I'm with The Guardian on this.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/19/hilary-mantel-duchess-cambridge-scandal

The whole article is worth reading for some perspective but I particularly like the closing paragraph -

"Mantel was discussing how the royal family and the media manipulate women; it is of little surprise that the media would attack her back. But this nonsense highlights how it is still, apparently, impossible to be a woman and put forth a measured opinion about one of your own without it being twisted into some kind of screed-ish, unsisterly attack. As Mantel has learnt to her cost today, it's not only royal women who are expected to stay quiet."

Or more importantly a little girl :-D

OH was shouting at tv - found out it was Hilary Mantel. Kate is doing fine, she has had a long apprenticeship and that young couple will be a credit to this country (they are already).

I have wondered with the rush to change the accession through for either sex, by any chance is Kate carrying a little lad?

I feel like that about the entire media Sheila...if they tell me the sky is blue i'll go out and check for myself...so I totally understand. lol.

On this occasion I can see where the Mail were coming from...but I started out hoping not to lol

Sorry, didn't mean to sound bolshy (although I am at the mo!!) just that I HATE HATE HATE the Daily Mail and its ilk, and wish some people would sometimes read something more before deciding. If you still think Hilary Mantel is a jumped-up harridan, fine :-D. No comment on that from me, just to say that I'd rather have Hilary to my dinner party than the Duchess ;-)

In answer to Sue, checking the link Sheila gives, the D Telegraph says it is taken out of context :-)

Just read your link Sheila (sorry was reading article before so I didn't see your post until after I'd posted)

I really didn't read her article as the Telegraph have spun it tbh..and I REALLY wanted to because I dislike folk who make assumptions without reading the context but much of what she said was nastiness...though I concede that the historical aspects were interesting......it read in the main like a full on slag off fest........if she didn't mean it that way then as a writer she's not as good as she thinks she is as she really didn't make that plain enough...the only bit that backs the Telegraphs ascertains is a little paragraph at the end which bore no relation to the rest of the article ..and read to me like a get out of jail paragraph that she could quote should any one criticise her for her article.

What's up Sheila?

I give up

Forgot to say......I think Kate is a very positive addition to the Royal Family.

I wonder how much work Ms Mantel does for charity???? for the country????