Kate 'a plastic princess designed to breed' says Glossop author Hilary Mantel
The Duchess of Cambridge is a shop window mannequin whose only purpose is to breed, Derbyshire-born author Hilary Mantel has said.
During a lecture at the British Museum the double Booker Prize winner launched a scathing attack on the pregnant duchess, claiming she has no personality and a plastic smile.
The lecture, which took place two weeks ago, was organised by London Review of Books, a month after her latest novel Bring Up the Bodies won the Costa prize.
Entitled Royal Bodies, the lecture was on royal women in the public eye across history.
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Glossop-born Mantel, who was awarded the CBE in June 2006, contrasted Kate Middleton's appearance to Princess Diana, "whose human awkwardness and emotional incontinence showed in her every gesture".
She said the Duchess was unlike Anne Boleyn, who was "a power player, a clever and determined woman."
She said the Duchess of Cambridge "appeared to have been designed by a committee and built by craftsmen, with a perfect plastic smile and the spindles of her limbs hand-turned and gloss-varnished".
The author, who was brought up in the Derbyshire mill community of Hadfield, also said: "These days, she is a mother-to-be, and draped in another set of threadbare attributions.
"Once she gets over being sick, the press will find that she is radiant. They will find that this young woman's life until now was nothing, her only point and purpose being to give birth."
The writer, whose other works include Wolf Hall, A Place of Greater Safety and Giving Up the Ghost, said the Duchess was "as painfully thin as anyone could wish, without quirks, without oddities, without the risk of the emergence of character".
Mantel also made known her views on the private photographs taken of the pregnant duchess on holiday: "The royal body exists to be looked at," she said.
"Some people find them endearing; some pity them for their precarious situation; everybody stares at them, and however airy the enclosure they inhabit, it’s still a cage."
The duchess, who was treated for extreme morning sickness in December last year, is expected to give birth in July.
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by DoctorDeaf
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 6:33PM
“As usual, the spoon fed paparazzi story bears only a passing resemblence to what was actually said...
For any who want the truth, and not just distorted hyperbole, here's the full transcript & audio track of the "Royal Bodies" lecture - http://tinyurl.com/c7pxx87”
by Southcliffe
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 1:30PM
“Spot on Dianae:
"I wonder how many people have read all of the speech - it really isn't all that anti Kate. In fact most of it isn't really about Kate at all, it's about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, about Charles, the Queen, Prince Philip, Diana - with some Marie Antoinette thrown in.
"The remarks about Kate - she didn't call Kate a doll to hang clothes off - but said she was becoming that because of all the media coverage. And now Kate is pregnant, Hilary Mantel seemed worried about the media glare being too much for the Duchess."
There is an extraordinary irony here, that the press has purposefully mis-quoted Hilary Mantel in order to deflect criticism away from their appalling treatment of the Royals!
Bring back Leveson . . . .”
by Monsieur_Lupo
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 11:13AM
“Mr_Rational said, "I refer you to Spring_Onion's comment below - she has endometriosis and a thyroid condition and this, and the associated medication, unfortunately affects her appearance."
So? What is the relevance of that comment? Due to that she has carte blanche to comment on the appearance of others without anyone being able to do the same to her? An excuse for hypocrisy? Not a chance.”
by HateTheGame
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:28AM
“Price of bacon has gone up”
by dianae
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 10:04PM
“I wonder how many people have read all of the speech - it really isn't all that anti Kate. In fact most of it isn't really about Kate at all, it's about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, about Charles, the Queen, Prince Philip, Diana - with some Marie Antoinette thrown in.
The remarks about Kate - well, she didn't call Kate a doll to hang clothes off - but said she was becoming that because of all the media coverage. And now Kate is pregnant, Hilary Mantel seemed worried about the media glare being too much for the Duchess. She describes how the press went on about her running in high heels while pregnant - as if Kate shouldn't have. What right does the BBC have to go about that? I took the comments about Kate's weight as being concerned - a worry that perhaps she feels she has to be "perfect" (ie too thin) as she is photographed so much.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 8:33PM
“DerbyResident. Would you describe yourself as a monarchist, or at least a supporter of the monarchy in the UK? If yes to either, what do you think about members of the monarchy hunting animals, with you being a veggie animal lover and all.”
by sillynow
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 5:37PM
“Respect to you Spildabeenz, for having the energy to argue that far with the sad old fool.
You must agree he has a point about France and the USA, though. Two of the most miserable, disappointing, boring and culturally disenfranchised dumps you are ever likely to visit. I never go to either of them because neither has a monarchy. And if I did, I wouldn't spend any money for the same reason.”
by Spildabeenz
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 4:04PM
“Derby Resident
Thanks for the insults. People tend to use them when they are not in a position to articulate themselves properly.
As for the rest of your post, littered with spelling mistakes and capital letters to emphasis your point, it is so full of misleading information that I cannot be bothered to respond to any of.
Enjoy your afternoon of trolling.”
by Ksdhindsa79
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 2:29PM
“The original article in full can be read here
http://tinyurl.com/c7pxx87
Royal Bodies - Hilary Mantel”
by Rob09
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 2:22PM
“Is it too much to expect that the DT would at least investigate the story before regurgitating the nonsense spouted by the Daily Mail?
Mantel writes 5,500 words. The Mail reprints one sentence out of context and feigns outrage. What a bunch of hypocrites.
http://tinyurl.com/aezcrvb”