What would it be like to have our ‘normal’ mum moments snapped and reported every day? Ask the Duchess – Kate makes headlines for wiping dribble on her dress.
Prince George drooled the other day. Did you see it?
His three teeth poking through his gummy little mouth were obviously not enough to contain that royal saliva and out it came. His loving Mum tried in vain to wipe it away but it kept coming out.
He also (gasp) threw his new toy bilby on the ground. Dad tried to cover up the Royal faux pas by laughing and saying he really does like it.
But it was pretty shocking wasn’t it?
Kind of like the time Princess Diana was photographed taking her young sons to school, or to (yes, you read this right) McDonalds! Just a regular Mum kind of activity, right?
But can you ever have a regular Mum moment when you are a Royal Mum? Every appearance is a potential magazine cover, every glimpse an insight into the future of the monarchy.
It must be hard to stage-manage these human moments because let’s face it, no one can control the actions of an eight-month old boy can they? Even in film and TV they usually employ twins as actors as a back up for just one baby.
As envious of the young Royal family as we are, it’s honestly not a life many of us would really want. Not really. The Duchess desperately wiping baby George’s face to keep him picture perfect? The pressure of going away for a night and leaving him with a Nanny discussed and analysed throughout the world. Those ever-present cameras.
From Day One there was scrutiny and criticism. Every minute micro-managed, every appearance coordinated and carefully staged.
The first appearance with Prince George, when the Duchess made a touching ode to Diana in her maternity dress, made us smile. But only hours later the tut-tutting began with the 'incorrectly' fitted car seat scandal. Prince George created headlines when his parents placed him in his capsule still swaddled in his blanket.
The Duke and Duchess have stated that they wish to be hands-on parents, and until now have resisted hiring a royal nanny – instead relying on Kate’s mother Carole Middleton to assist.
But when she's in the spotlight like this, how hands-on can a Royal Mum really be?
Can you imagine the Duchess strolling the aisles of her local supermarket with George in the trolley, wailing for a Caramello Koala? There’s no way she could politely discipline him (aka scream loudly at the top of her lungs for him to STOP ASKING NOW.)
And when she actually did give in and buy him one only to realise she didn’t have any baby wipes left in her bag, how on earth could she get away with spitting on a tissue and wiping his little choccy smeared cheeks without the world’s press photographing her?
And the other Mum-moments we regulars take for granted? The mindless eating of our kids’ leftovers, the quick-as-a-flash nappy change on the grass at the park, the three-second food-dropping rule, the quick nose wipe with the back of your hand when you have no tissues left?
There’s no way a royal baby could be subjected to that without bloggers and columnists and morning TV lighting up in disgust.
I am a little ashamed to admit that my first thought at viewing the controversial “day-off footage” of Kate and George playing in the park was “why isn’t that baby wearing a hat”? I quickly gave myself a virtual slap and remembered my four-year old running shoeless through a shopping centre just that morning.
But I am torn about my feelings on the Royal family. On one hand I want to look as effortlessly glamorous in skinny jeans and a jumper while pushing a pram but then I don’t know how I could suffer the indignity of the world’s eyes and ears on my child’s every drool and sniffle.
My delightful three-year old has just learnt that saying “poo poo bum bum fart fart” will make any older child laugh in delight. Imagine the scandal when Prince George is captured on camera saying that!
As the Royal tour comes to an end you have to wonder how much they will sigh with relief when their job is done and they can return to their slightly less intrusive lives behind the palace gates, where baby George can crawl and drool and cry as much as any regular baby does.
What does your child do that you would be mortified if it ever got onto the cover of a magazine?
Click through this gallery to check out Kate and Will in their pre-George years.
Sweet Newlyweds
With the grand ceremony behind them, the young royals
Presidential Moment
Getting right work! In their first royal duty
Fit for a Queen
Quite the familiar scene!
Family Duty
Only six weeks after their big day, William and Kate joine
Military Chic
Paying tribute to Irish Guards in Windsor, England, Kate
Courtside Love
Tennis, anyone?
Royal Blues
Shortly after landing on Canadian soil on June 30, 2011,&n
Fascinating Day
O Canada!
Harmonious Pair
Sailing BySailing By
With the maple-leaf flag swaying beside the royal couple on
Friendly CompetitionFriendly Competition
Truce! Kate and William embrace after <
Carriage RideCarriage Ride
Bedecked in Alexander McQueen and riding in a horse-draw
Hot ShotHot Shot
Embracing his competitive spirit, Prince William picks up a h
Caribou KingSuiting Up
Suiting Up
What a gentleman!
Bright HorizonBright Horizon
Maybe it's the effect from Kate's lemon-coulere
Wild WestWild West
During one of their final Canadian engagements on July 7, 20
Fond FarewellA Fond Farewell
William and his crimson queen bid adieu to Canada on J
California DreamingCalifornia Dreaming
Sans any signs of weariness, Kate and William land
Warm WelcomeWarm Welcome
Red Carpet ReadyRed Carpet Ready
The stars weren't the only ones glittering in L.A
Prince William and Kate Middleton Getting HandsyGetting Handsy
They may not have been at Hollywood's Grauman's
Prince William and Kate Middleton Laughing MatterLaughing Matter
Kate recycles outfits!
Royal Wedding ReduxRoyal Wedding Redux
There may have been another royal wedding to celeb
Prince William and Kate Middleton Black Tie AffairBlack-Tie Affair
A tuxedo-clad William takes a moment to pose next to
Headstrong DuoHeadstrong Duo
Prince William and Kate Middleton are so polished, they
Social SceneSocial Scene
Opting for a beautifully draped, Grecian-inspired gown, K
Fancy AffairFancy Affair
The Duchess of Cambridge is all decked out! Kate Mid
Charitable Couple