Royal Experts Claim Princess Kate's Recent "Bold Move" Could Backfire and "Has Opened Her Up to Obvious Criticism"

"You don't work a 9-to-5 job..."

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Britain's King Charles, U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales take their seats during a State Banquet at Windsor Castle for the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Trump is in England from Sept. 16-18 on his second UK state visit, with the previous one taking place in 2019 during his first presidential term. (Photo by Phil Noble - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Earlier this month, Princess Kate published a new essay, The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World, co-written by Harvard University professor Robert Waldinger. The Princess of Wales suggested that excessive screen time was creating an "epidemic of disconnection," which would be particularly damaging to young people. Now, royal experts are weighing in on Kate Middleton's words, including whether she might receive "criticism" regarding some of her assertions.

During a new episode of Hello! magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast," several royal experts analyzed Princess Kate's essay, which encouraged readers to put down their phones and spend time with loved ones. "I hope it didn't come across as too much of a lecture, because she has opened herself up to criticism, and very obvious criticism," royal expert Hannah Furness suggested.

However, Furness also noted, "I think it did give me a bit of a nudge, and I think it will give everybody a bit of a nudge."

Kate Middleton sitting at a table in a green suit handing a little girl a rose

"She has opened herself up to criticism," one expert claimed.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

During the episode, Hello! editors Andrea Caamano and Emily Nash, and podcast guest Furness, said of Princess Kate's essay, "She's obviously going to face criticism from people saying, 'You don't work a 9-to-5 job, you don't have a demanding boss, and you don't need to constantly check your emails because someone else will tell you if there's something important.'"

Nash further called Princess Kate's decision to contribute to the essay "a bold move." Meanwhile, Furness praised the princess's choice to "stick her neck out" and support an issue that she clearly found important.

Kate Middleton wearing a green coat and Prince William in a brown blazer n Northern Ireland

Princess Kate's decision to contribute to the essay was "a bold move."

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ultimately, only readers can decide whether they want to heed Princess Kate's advice about monitoring their own screen time. Regardless, it's obvious that the Princess of Wales is hoping to influence the next generation in a positive way.

Amy Mackelden
Weekend Editor

Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.