The Pregnant Princess in a Bikini
Wednesday 13th of February 2013 | Category: Pregnancy News | Written by: Siobhan ThomasSo an Italian gossip magazine has today published photos of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge on a private holiday wearing a bikini. The invasion of their privacy has prompted anger at St. James's Palace, and inevitably the story (and that's a stretch to call it that) has attracted instant attention from media and the public around the world. She's four months pregnant and she was super slim anyway so I seriously doubt that there is much to see, but nevertheless this is 'big news' apparently.
Thick Skin on that Tiny Frame
She's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. If she voluntarily shared photos of herself in her swimwear she would be torn to shreds by women for being an exhibitionist, and it would undoubtedly (quite rightly!) be frowned upon by the palace. But by hiding that bump from the world she only puts a bigger bounty on the rare (and usually poor quality) photos that do emerge.
A quick search on the internet reveals some pretty disheartening online discussions from people who have mostly not seen the images. There are a depressing number of women out there desperate for Kate to gain lots of weight or get stretch marks - presumably to make themselves feel better about their own body image. The number of people prepared to spend their own personal time making pointless and unkind comments about her appearance or personality is a dismal reflection on women's attitudes all over the world - I stopped reading when I got to a comment from one pregnant lady who declared that the princess didn't look as pregnant as she ought to because she is too vain to gain any pregnancy weight. Forget depressing reading, these kinds of forums actually bore me - let's move on.
Royal + Pretty + Pregnant = Permanent News Story
Royal fever never really died down after Will and Kate married, they are popular amongst every generation all over the world. Their fame isn't a bad thing, they are excellent ambassadors for the UK and, as far as I see they do great things for people and charities everywhere. But being pregnant only adds weight to her celebrity status, particularly among women, because so many of us are obsessed with the issue of changing body shape during (and after) pregnancy. Kate has a body that most people envy and therefore the impact of pregnancy on it is of great interest to many women.
At this early-mid stage of pregnancy, women are often at their most self-conscious. If it is their first pregnancy, then the experience of watching or feeling their body expand in a way it never has before can be unsettling. In addition to that, this is the period in which many women report getting 'thicker' around the waist, or becoming more 'pear shaped' but there is often little suggestion of an actual bump. In 2 or 3 months when the baby is growing in a clear beach-ball of a tummy, the fact that a woman is clearly pregnant often gives them greater confidence despite the weight gain.
So I can totally understand the basis for everyone's curiosity - I'm curious too. But I can't condone the effective stalking of Catherine Middleton when she's supposed to be having a private holiday. She will be back in the UK soon enough, appearing at public events and allowing the world to see (and analyse) her pregnant appearance with high resolution close-up photos, so wait until then and give the woman a break!
About the author
Siobhan Thomas
Siobhan left the corporate world behind when she had her first daughter in 2010. After that she got involved in Mum.co.uk and became Senior Editor in 2012. She now has two little girls and loves being a mum.share this page with friends and family
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