Kate Middleton recently had a video chat and virtual visit to her patronage Action on Addiction. She also discussed the importance of receiving addiction treatment amid the coronavirus lockdown with some members of the facility's Cloud House.
The Duchess of Cambridge apparently learned in a recent study that there has been an uptick of addictive behaviors because people have been confined indoors for more than three months. Thus, the Duchess of Cambridge's message was simple and clear: addicts need to receive continued treatment despite the current public health crisis.
Her statements, however, drew some furious backlash on Twitter. Some called the Duchess of Cambridge "out of touch" for her approach, as she urged those struggling with addiction to get help.
One social media user, reportedly, said that a lot of services for those seeking help have shut down due to the coronavirus. Because they haven't been receiving funding, some agencies that are supposed to assist the addicts don't have enough resources to even function remotely.
Another said that addictive behaviors have been present even before the pandemic. For the commenter, this is apparently just another PR spin for the royals who have been talking about mental health in this pandemic without an idea of the real struggles of families, with or without a public health issue looming over their lives.
Worse, the media was more focused on accessories than her work. The Duchess of Cambridge was, reportedly, wearing $500 gold Maxi Cupid hoop earrings during her call to the Cloud House.
A commenter said that this was another "tone deaf" choice from the wife of Prince William. With Britain's unemployment and opioid crisis rising, some royal followers think it was a mistake for the Duchess of Cambridge to put on expensive earrings when she's reaching out to the disadvantaged.
Last month, however, Kate, as well as Prince William, received praises for their dedication to their royal work despite doing everything virtually since actual in-person engagements are still prohibited. The Duchess of Cambridge was commended for her frequent Zoom calls to touch bases with charities she supports.
Kate was praised for doing this on top of her parenting duties and homeschooling goals with Prince George and Princess Charlotte. She was also hailed for showing her true nature in the regular conference calls thus it's a wonder why there's a sudden shift in perception for the Duchess of Cambridge.
