No One Wants to Be Kate Middleton

Photo Newsweek Europe

While most little girls fantasize about being a princess one day, yet the reality as an adult is much different. In a survey commissioned by Newsweek Europe and published by YouGov, only one percent of British women wished that they could be Kate Middleton. And, even more shockingly, 89 percent wouldn’t even want to be the Duchess of Cambridge for just one day. She performs charity work as her part-time job, is married to an heir to the throne and mother to another future King of England, has a closet full of beautiful designer clothes, travels around the world, lives in palaces, and probably has a pony — she’s living the childhood dream but it seems to be a grown up nightmare.

Despite the fact that Middleton holds the least envious position in the United Kingdom, the poll revealed that 49 percent of respondents believe her to be intelligent, 65 percent view her as a positive role model, and a majority, 64 percent said she’s an integral member of the royal family. “The most insidious and virulent aspect of [Kate’s] position – the clothes horse side of things — means she cannot strike a blow for women except for the most ironic way,” writer and historian Marina Warner told the magazine in this week’s cover story, “The Duchess of Cambridge: How Britain Stopped Believing in the Royal Fairytale.”

In the U.S. where the Duchess of Cambridge is ogled and followed for her fashion choices and 14-month-old son Prince George, just six percent of Brits are interested in her views on clothing, one percent on her make up routine, and 13 percent on parenthood. Perhaps it’s Americans’ distance from the 32-year-old that intensifies our fascination with the pregnant mother. She’s not the face of our government and historical dynasty, rather she makes public appearances in designer dresses and holds a prestigious position that only exists in books, movies, and television shows in the states.

But this theory might not hold up. First Lady Michele Obama makes headlines every time she steps out in Jason Wu or J.Crew yet her “Let’s Move” campaign and other political and charitable contributions rarely receive the same level media coverage and social media chatter. One thing’s for sure, I know that I would switch roles with either women for one day (but probably not any longer).