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Why Do We Care if Kate Middleton Is Pregnant?

Posted: 12/01/11 09:36 AM ET

Rumours are flying and the much of the world is abuzz with the news that Kate Middleton, the recent bride of Prince William, is pregnant. Why do we care?

Of course there are the obvious reasons: a royal baby would be heir to the throne, continuing a long line of monarchy and tradition that, for generations, has kept England part of the fairy tale dreams of many a young woman. The "princess" archetype starts early for many, with companies such as Disney capitalizing on the fantasy and desire of little girls the world over who aspire to become just like Kate.

Marry a prince and live happily ever after.

Live a life of fame, fortune and fantasy.

Never have a want in the world.

Ladies-in-waiting.

Could it get any better?

Kate's recent behaviour (she declined peanut paste at a UNICEF office devoted to African famine relief) set off a flurry of speculation about her potential pregnancy status. Things were further compounded by the Duchess of Cambridge's apparent new penchant for rubbing her stomach, as well as wearing an oversized coat in public. Royal watchers are anxiously waiting for the official word on not if, but when the royal baby will make his or her debut.

The intense interest in monarchy is a curious one, considering that we on the other side of the pond left our royal roots in an effort to become a separate and independent entity in and of ourselves. Yes, we continue the relationship and some traditions of the "old country," but we've supposedly moved on. Even so, there is something within our collective consciousness that time and time again lures us back to the pomp and circumstance that is part and parcel of the royal life.

We loved Diana, Prince William's mother. We waited with bated breath for the "Diana 2.0," and rejoiced when William seemed to find her in Kate. As if part of a scripted fairy tale, we again look for the defining piece of the puzzle to continue our collective fantasy: a royal heir. The contradiction of our desire to underscore the independence of our country while embracing vestiges and events of a distant culture is not lost on many of us. Accordingly, we continue to anxiously wait for news of a new baby in Buckingham Palace.

On the outset we maintain our collective independence from Britain, but on some level do we perhaps feel a tinge of envy that we've lost out, just a little? Lost out on the revelry that comes with having an incumbent king -- or queen for that matter? Envy that our friends in England have Windsor Castle, St. Paul's Cathedral and now, apparently, a royal baby on the way. Doesn't seem fair, does it? After all, while we may respect and support our country's landmarks and traditions, it's not really the same. A palace is a palace is a palace and we don't have one, plain and simple.

Kate's clothes are baggy and she's watching what she eats. And for reasons that are very apparent, we care much more than we'd like to admit.

 

Follow Samantha Kemp-Jackson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@samkj27

Rumours are flying and the much of the world is abuzz with the news that Kate Middleton, the recent bride of Prince William, is pregnant. Why do we care? Of course there are the obvious reasons: a ro...
Rumours are flying and the much of the world is abuzz with the news that Kate Middleton, the recent bride of Prince William, is pregnant. Why do we care? Of course there are the obvious reasons: a ro...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jamster88
02:35 AM on 12/03/2011
Because her son or daughter will be the next Head of our State.

Can you grasp that? Do you realize in which country we live?

Or would your rather us concern ourselves over the homeade porno that Kim Kardashian has made, or about her oil enemas?
11:36 AM on 12/02/2011
Ms. Kemp-Jackson,

I assure you that Kate & Willie's baby rumorous are the least of my concerns. Indeed, with all that's been going on with the Kardashians - who really has the time or patience for transatlantic gossip?

But then again, it's Friday - so, perhaps I'll take it upon myself to educate myself on the latest British Royal gossip. Barbara Walters is quoted as saying: "show me someone who never gossips, and I'll show you someone who isn't interested in people.

The last thing I want to seem is misanthropic...

Addis
http://thoughtiswack.com
07:33 AM on 12/02/2011
The legacy of the British monarchy is sexist and it perpetuates sexism and sexist views within British culture. It seems the writer's notion of British monarchy is based more in Disney-esque fantasy than reality. How long ago were the women of British parliament known as "Blair's Babe's"? Hopefully, Kate will secure the throne for her first born, regardless of its sex. I am rooting their first born to be a baby girl who will ascend to the throne regardless of the number of younger brother siblings. The ascension of a princess as a ruler has traditionally been the last bloodline option and yet many of their most brilliant and notable leaders were in fact, women.
wetcoastm
Free Speech As Dictated By Our Sponsors
08:51 PM on 12/01/2011
If you want to worship them go ahead. I don't know why. The legacy of the monarchy is not princesses it is slave ships and penal transports to Virginia and Australia, or charging starving people for the salt they collect, or taking all of the best land in Ireland and exporting all of the food so everyone else can starve to death because the potato crop is rotten.

I don't know how any educated adult who has paid their way through university and had a mortgage and raised children could worship another human being.

They are no better or worst than the poorest among us and it is nonsense like this that continues the class issues in the UK and the world.

It would be interesting if she gave birth to a llama but short of that why don't we all act like grown ups and take care of ourselves and be responsible for the equitable governance of our country.
08:44 PM on 12/01/2011
I think the real question here is: If we should not care about whether Princess Kate is pregnant, why should we care about any other celebrity for whom it is not important in the least? At least given that any child of William and Kate would potentially be the reigning monarch one day, it does at least matter in the least.

Also, if " Princess Di " or " Lady Di " was an acceptable way to refer to Princess Diana in the media, I think " Princess Kate " is not doing any harm that has not already been done.
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Vapula
Failure is not an option
08:02 PM on 12/01/2011
I don't care. It's trivial and not something that is remotely important despite the fact that the media thinks otherwise.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jamster88
02:47 AM on 12/03/2011
It's not 'trivial', it's our future Head of State. What part of that do you not understand?

'The media' thinks it is important because a) of the future position her child will hold and b) because clearly it sells papers because 'people care'.

You should 'care' to the extent you consider yourself a responsible member of your community, and that the child will be at the ceremonial head of it. Of course, if you don't want to pay attention, nobody is asking you to.
06:02 PM on 12/01/2011
What a lot of Canadians do not know, is that the Queen owns the most amount of land on the earth out of everyone. The interesting part of this statement is that it is not "The Crown" or the estate of the Queendom, but the Queen herself as a regular human who has purchased ALL of the land beneath us in Canada. She owns ALL of Canada! If the British Monarchy were dissolved tomorrow, the Queen would be stripped of her title, yet she personally would continue to own Canada.

Think about those apples.

That said, why have there been no petitions sent to our absentee landlord regarding the people who have been left in charge of her great land? Why is there no interference with all of the issues we have regarding CETA bills and Omnibus bills and the constant pillaging of the resources?

To answer the headline, we need to pay attention to any new children being born into their family who could potentially take over EVERYTHING we have.

Peace,
Dr.Jay Cole
listen.to/drjaycole
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Vapula
Failure is not an option
08:06 PM on 12/01/2011
Not true. It is the 'Crown' that has ownership not the individual person who occupies the office. And there is no way that the Crown would enforce its' rights of ownership if Canada abolished the monarchy. Ultimate ownership of all land by the crown is a fiction which ensures that when someone dies without heirs the land can be easily assumed by the Government. This is no different from other countries where land reverts to the Government when it fails to be inherited.
10:03 AM on 12/02/2011
lies.
03:42 PM on 12/01/2011
"considering that we on the other side of the pond left our royal roots in an effort to become a separate and independent entity in and of ourselves."

The first provinces left because of a combination of economic beliefs and the hope that separation would stop all the Fenian attacks. Our independence came with no national mythology and most Canadians continued to think of themselves as British until the early twentieth century.

In light of that, it's not surprising that many in the country feel an ongoing affection for Britain.
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OuterBanx North12
Now with 33% MORE caffeine!
12:35 PM on 12/01/2011
It isn't so much whether we "care" if she is pregnant as how so many of us "obsess" over everything this couple does. And if that isn't ridiculous enough, her sister is endlessly stalked by paparazzi for simply being related to her.

it's not their problem that people are looking for "diana 2.0"
12:15 PM on 12/01/2011
Ok, first, she is no longer called "Kate Middleton" She is Her Royal Highness Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (or if you want, Catherine Wales, or Princess William of Wales). Middleton is her maiden name and she is now married. Please use that from now on. Second, the Royal Family of Great Britain is an important part of the history of that great nation. They are the glue that holds the whole country together. I don't think the Queen's subjects would know what to do if they got rid of the Royal Family. They tried it once (the "Glorious Revolution") and it was a big failure. Having a head of state separate from a head of government is not a bad way to run a country. It is up to the people of Great Britain, and the other 13 countries that have Queen Elizabeth as their head of state, to decide if they want to maintain the Royal Family. We, as American's made our choice (for both good and bad). I love the Royal Family for their history and what they bring to their country. A senior member of the Royal Family who has the capability to carry within herself the next king or queen is something to be celebrated, even by those of us who do not have Her Majesty as our head. It is better to celebrate Her Royal Highnesses possible pregnency than live in a dictatorship with the likes of Assad or Castro or Mugabe.
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WorkInCanada
Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid. John W
07:10 PM on 12/01/2011
Rather than Catherine Wales, her legal name is Catherine Mountbatten-Windsor. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/29/prince-william-kate-last-name_n_855333.html
The other titles you have correctly penned.
08:24 PM on 12/01/2011
Actually that is not completely correct. The ruling of the Queen was that her relatives, outside those who have the title of HRH would have the surname of Mountbatten-Windsor. "It was therefore declared in the Privy Council that The Queen's descendants, other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess, or female descendants who marry, would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor." This is why Princes William and Harry are referred to as Flight Lieutenant William Wales and Captain Harry Wales in the military. Also from the Royal Website: "The Prince is known as Flight Lieutenant Wales in the RAF". This can all be found at: http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/TheRoyalFamilyname/Overview.aspx
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
YankeeCanuck
dog
11:14 AM on 12/01/2011
We have King Stephen, and although he is not bad to look at, most of us don't care if he's preggo.
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WorkInCanada
Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid. John W
07:11 PM on 12/01/2011
ha! good one