Calling Kate Middleton ‘Exhausted’ and ‘Perilously Thin’ Could Mean the End for ‘Society Bible’ Tatler
Kate Middleton and Prince William are looking to take down Tatler after the magazine called the Duchess “exhausted,” “trapped,” and “perilously thin.” The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are taking legal action against the society magazine in a bid to shut down the reports. With the royals mounting a serious case, could this mean the end for “Society Bible” Tatler?
Why are Kate Middleton and Prince William taking a stand against Tatler?
Tatler has been around for over a century and is a monthly publication that focuses on the upper-class. It is commonly called the “society bible” for the rich, who make up most of the magazine’s subscribers.
For the July/August issue of Tatler, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, made the cover. But instead of focusing on Kate’s many strengths, Tatler made several claims that rubbed the royals the wrong way.
In an article written by Anna Pasternak, Kate is characterized as possessing an “aura of blandness.” Pasternak goes on to argue that Kate feels “exhausted” and “trapped” in the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exit from the royal family.
That’s hardly the worse part of the article. According to The Guardian, the piece also commented on Kate’s weight and compared her struggles to Princess Diana’s eating disorders. There were also a few lines about how Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, and sister, Pippa Middleton, are trying too hard to fit in with the aristocracy.
“Kate has become perilously thin, just like – some point out – Princess Diana,” Pasternak wrote.
Kate Middleton and Prince William fire back
Kate and William will undoubtedly be required to pick up some of the slack now that the Sussexes are gone, but they took issue with the idea that Kate is not up to the task. And they also felt like the lines about her weight and family crossed the line.
According to Page Six, a source close to the situation claims that Kate and William thought the article was “disgusting,” especially the comments about her weight and the fact that Tatler mentioned Diana.
“That is such an extremely cruel and wounding barb,” a source stated. “It’s sexist and woman-shaming at its very worst.”
The insider went on to note how it is ironic that Tatler would bash Kate after it was thought to be one of the couple’s favorite magazines. But considering how Kate and William are taking legal action against the publication, it is safe to say it is no longer on their coffee table.
The move is also somewhat unprecedented for Kate and William, who usually only act against reports that are extreme. This in contrast to Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who sued several British tabloids last year for publishing personal letters she sent to her estranged father.
William and Kate have not commented on the reports surrounding their reaction to the Tatler article, but the magazine has confirmed that the couple is taking legal action.
Tatler responds to the royal backlash
Tatler released a statement this week confirming that William and Kate sent them a letter about the article. The couple requested that the magazine take down the article or face legal action. In response, the publication stood behind its reporting, claiming the Cambridges’ complaint has “no merit.”
“We can confirm we have received correspondence from lawyers acting for the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge and believe it has no merit,” the statement read.
The editor-in-chief for Tatler, Richard Dennen, also commented on the situation, Dennen revealed that they will not be taking down the article and that he fully “stands behind” Pasternak’s reporting.
Shortly after Tatler published the article, Kensington Palace released a statement condemning the reports. The palace assured royal watchers that the piece included a “swathe of inaccuracies and false misrepresentations” that were not vetted prior to publication.
Kensington Palace has not issued any comments regarding the lawsuit. Prince William and Kate Middleton are currently living at their country estate, Anmer Hall, where they have been isolating with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
