The Hilary Mantel and Royal family furore

[dweomeroflight]

Has anyone else heard about Booker prize winner, Hilary Mantel's, controversial speech on Royal Bodies, presented for the London Review of Books? I saw it yesterday in my twitter feed and clicked on it out of interest. As someone coming to it as a cultural historian, as a writer and as someone who comes from a country that has little love left for

Comments

[novindalf]

I'm not fussed either way about the monarchy, but I'm slightly picky about titles, so just had to mention that she's not 'Princess Catherine' because she's not a princess in her own right. She's a princess by marriage, but that affords her the title 'Princess William of Wales' (like 'Princess Michael of Kent) :)

[dweomeroflight]

The tabloid press regularly refer to her as Princess Catherine and frankly I don't give a damn what her title is. I care that poor Mantel is being lynched for pointing out the obvious- that the voyeuristic interest in the Royal family is pretty disturbing and that the roles they play are just that... roles.

[novindalf]

Oh I agree with that, but I'm surprised they've gotten away with calling her that though.

[dweomeroflight]

You think the Royals care? As long as people like Kate and the Royal myth continues they won't give a toss. It's too dangerous to be otherwise after Diana. #cynical

[brendanpodger]

"Princess Kate" fits better on a Sun banner headline.

[dweomeroflight]

Your reason is funnier, Brendan! Also, Princess Kate fits the 'people's princess' shiz they have going better.