'Meghan Markle's setting the bar too high for ordinary mums-to-be'

Watch the full episode 17 of Yahoo UK’s show ‘The Royal Box,‘ here.

The Duchess of Sussex has shown no sign of slowing down during the latter stages of her pregnancy.

Meghan, 37, who is due to give birth in April, has still been carrying out engagements since the start of the new year for her four new patronages as well an undertaking an overseas visit to Morocco.

She also flew to New York on a private trip to celebrate her baby shower with close friends last month.

While most women begin to wind down and start their maternity leave in their last few weeks of pregnancy, it’s been reported that the duchess aims to work right up to the birth.

READ MORE: How much maternity leave royal women take

But veteran broadcaster and commentator Vanessa Feltz thinks Meghan is setting the bar too high for “normal” pregnant women.

She spoke about her own expectant daughter, who is due at around the same time as the duchess, on Yahoo UK‘s ‘The Royal Box.’

“If she had to appear and roll herself out for public display, and also for public deconstruction. How does she look? What shoes is she wearing? What girdle is she wearing? And all that kind of thing.

“It would be absolutely impossible torture for my daughter and most normal pregnant women.

“I mean I think she is putting in a supersonic performance here, which makes life absolutely unattainable for all other pregnant women. She’s setting the bar so high, much too high.”

As an avowedly feminist public figure, Meghan is often touted as the most relatable and modern member of the Royal Family.

But having kept up a polished public appearance at every engagement, has the duchess given in to the expectations placed on royal women?

Last year, actress Keira Knightley wrote an essay for Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (And Other Lies) in which she spoke about her own experiences of childbirth and the pressure on women to look good after labour.

She referred to the Duchess of Cambridge’s pristine post-labour appearances outside the Lindo Wing each time after giving birth to her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Princess Charlotte was born on May 2, 2015, around the same time as Knightley’s daughter and she recalled the moment she watched Kate depart from the hospital.

She wrote in the essay: “She [Middleton] was out of hospital seven hours later with her face made up and high heels on. The face the world wants to see.

“Hide. Hide our pain, our bodies splitting, our breasts leaking, our hormones raging. Look beautiful. Look stylish, don’t show your battleground, Kate.”

It has not been confirmed by Kensington Palace where Meghan will give birth to her first child or if there will even be a photo opportunity for the world’s press.

If the duchess decides to do things differently, it’ll be a refreshing change.

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