The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, has been a beloved royal figure, fashion icon and general favorite to many ever since she stepped into the public eye, and her highly publicized pregnancy with Prince William has made her all the more relatable as the "Every Woman," according to the Montreal Gazette.
From the start of her pregnancy announcement following severe morning sickness, too her walking the streets in mainstream, everyday maternity wear and familiar mama-to-be rituals like preparing a nursery and taking cooking lessons, Middleton is one of the most down-to-earth and lovable royal celebrities that seemingly all mothers can relate to on some level.
Canadian gossip-hound Elaine Lui said to the Gazette hat Middleton's widespread appeal is largely rooted in her relatability. "This is somebody who's taken care to not be super-remarkable but not be uber-boring," said Lui, founder of Lainey Gossip and a commentator on CTV's eTalk. "Kate's not going to give birth in a bathtub with, like, incense burning. It's going to be pretty conventional."
The Duchess shops at Gap and Top Shop, re-wears outfits, and warmly shakes people's hands at events in favor of a traditional stiff wave. She is an attractive woman, but not threateningly so, and has a seemingly "just right" baby bump that is not too big or too small.
"People love to see a famous person - especially a royal we all love - doing the same things we're doing," said Hilary Hagerman, associate lifestyle editor of Yahoo! Canada. "A lot of women are really looking to see what choices she's making in her pregnancy."
And Middleton's choices have been fairly common. The Duchess was photographed buying a knock-off Moses baby planet at a supermarket sale, and a simple polka dot dress she wore at a public appearance sold out within hours of her pictures hitting the web. Due to give birth within two months, Middleton's royal baby also adds to the media and fan fervor.
"The combination of the royal identity with the pregnancy - particularly at the current temperature we're at culturally - is explosive," said Lui. "Parenthood has become all about the parent now, as opposed to about the child."
Middleton has been juxtaposed with other celebs like Kim Kardashian and Jessica Simpson, who are routinely criticized for their curvy frames and pregnancy weight gains, yet as Yahoo!'s Hagerman said, this stands as an example of how Middleton's experience relates to ordinary women and other expectant mothers, as her and other celebrities' bodies have come to be viewed as public property.
"Everyone thinks it's their place to comment," said Hagerman. "Things like that should be off limits when you're pregnant. If you're not gaining a lot of weight, that's fine; if you are, that's fine, too. But that's not how the public treats it."
What do you love the most about Kate Middleton? Do you find her to be relatable? Share below in the comments!
