Royal Watch News

Duchess Catherine defended by charity head

Feb 20, 2013, 16:02 GMT

Duchess Catherine

Duchess Catherine has been defended by the head of one of her charities.

The pregnant royal came under fire when she was described as a 'shop window mannequin with no personality' and a 'plastic princess' in a speech by Hilary Mantel, but Nick Barton - chief executive of Action on Addiction, the charity she visited yesterday (19.02.13) - has stood up for her.

He said: 'I can only speak of what I know, and having met the Duchess several times I find her to be engaging, natural and genuinely interested in the subject.

'You can tell a lot about someone from the questions they ask and she asks really good questions, the questions of someone who wants to learn.

'She is also an intelligent woman. Having her as Patron of the charity draws attention to the cause of addiction as a whole, which is not always an easy subject

'She is doing an enormous amount to reduce the stigma of addiction and increase understanding of it.'

Meanwhile some claim Booker prize wining author Hilary's words have been taken in the wrong context.

Kate Williams, a royal historian, explained: 'It was nothing to do with Catherine Middleton herself. It was an intellectual conversation, about portraits of the monarchy.'

Others have pointed out Hilary's speech was centered around how the royal family and the media manipulate women, rather than about the Duchess herself. A spokesperson for the author insisted the lecture was not a criticism but a 'remarkably sympathetic' piece about royal women as victims.