30 Times Being Kate Middleton Is Really Kind of a Drag

Kate has to make small talk with dignitaries all the time. Those of us who aren't exactly extroverts can understand that this is a challenge. What if she runs out of things to talk about? Inevitably, it must happen — but hopefully, by now, the Princess of Wales has picked up a few tips and tricks along the way.

Kate has to shake the hands of dozens of strangers every day. Here's hoping none of them has a cold, or at least that Kate carries a healthy amount of hand sanitizer with her. This is an important part of her job — making these connections, and all — but hopefully, she can stay healthy.

Kate may be a princess, but she isn't the queen consort yet. Fortunately, it seems as if Kate and the late Queen Elizabeth had a solid relationship, and the goodwill should continue with Charles as king. But as with most families, there's probably at least a little annoyance behind the scenes — especially because working with family can be rough at times.

Kate always has to be ready for a photo op — it just comes with the gig! And fortunately, she's always dressed impeccably, and her hair usually looks fabulous. Despite that, though, there's gotta be days she wishes she didn't have to bother with the cameras.

Kate seems to enjoy a lot of her outings and engagements, but they can't all be fun. When it comes to the more serious events, we could see this duty of hers becoming a bit of a drag. She never lets on if she's somewhere she'd rather not be, though. Our Kate is a total pro.

Living in the public eye can't be easy, but Kate's been in the middle of it going back to when she and William first began dating. That means that every mistake she makes is out there forever — that's a lot of pressure. It's hard to imagine exactly how stressful that must get at times.

Just like those downer appearances, there have to be ones that are pretty boring for Kate, too — such as state dinners. If it involves socializing with strangers and being on best behavior, it's gonna be a long night! So far, though, it seems like Kate has these kinds of appearances down to a science.

Kate doesn't get the advantage of "private family moments" that the rest of us do. Being in the royal family means that her family is everyone's business — not just people in the UK, but people all over the world. That has to get exhausting!

This one doesn't just apply to Kate — it applies to all the famous moms out there. When living in the public eye, total strangers seem to think they have the right to judge her parenting choices. That must have gotten really old really fast.

Kate spends a lot of her time smiling and waving — and she's gotta keep that smile on her face, no matter what. Not only do her cheeks probably get tired, but there's a very good chance that she herself gets bored of it. After all, she might be royal, but she's human.

After delivering Prince George, her first child, Kate had to publicly present the future king (and her post-baby body) right after giving birth. Not only that, but she's also done the same for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis' arrivals, too. Can you imagine?

Just hours after Kate gave birth to her children, she gets up and starts posing for the cameras. Um, isn't she probably still wearing hospital underwear at that point? We'd love it if this lady would have the chance to get the rest and privacy she needs, but such is life as a member of the royal family. Duty calls!

A princess's life: endless events, endless parades, always in heels. Although Kate's been known to sport a stylish pair of flats now and then, most of her life is spent in heels, even when pregnant. If she has a secret to staying comfortable while wearing uncomfortable shoes, she should probably share it with the class!

Another day, another big, uncomfortable hat. It's hard to say if Kate wears so many hats because she likes them or because it's just the way a royal lady accessorizes. Whether they're comfortable or not, at least she looks good in them.

There's no popping in the car to run an errand when you're a royal. There's always an entourage — and that has to make doing even the simplest things difficult, especially with children. At least there's the added benefit of having the peace of mind that comes with a security detail?

Although it's sweet that so many people want to give the Princess of Wales gifts, how does she send a thank you note for all the silly stuff? Then again, this is Kate we're talking about — we wouldn't be shocked if she's mastered the art of just about any kind of correspondence, especially thank-you notes.

Rain or shine, a princess must be a princess — even if she doesn't want to go out in the rain. Most rainy days are perfect for cozying up with a good book or taking a nap, but it seems like that's not an option for Kate — especially when she has something already planned. She's such a good sport!

Thanks to the fact that people are watching her every move, it's not often that Kate gets the chance to let loose. She has a stressful career and three kids at home — this lady deserves the opportunity to relax. We hope she finds a way to unwind somehow.

Even in heels and a short skirt, Kate still has to be a good sport — and sometimes that means literally playing sports, even when she's not dressed for the activity. If she's not into this kind of stuff, though, we'd never be able to tell. She always looks like she's having the time of her life.

Not only is Kate famous, but her children are, too — and that means people are always watching them. On one hand, it might be nice to have those candid family photos. But on the other, much larger hand, it has to at least be a privacy concern for her.

Can't a gal have a snowball fight with her hubby without a bunch of photographers barging in on the moment? Not when she's Kate Middleton, she can't! It seems like she and William have managed to find ways to have fun together, though, whether or not the prying eyes of the public are watching.

Sure, it's nice to be chauffeured around, but sometimes Kate probably just wants to hop behind the wheel and put the pedal to the metal. Not all hope is lost, though! Queen Elizabeth still drove herself around until the end, so if Kate's interested, something could probably be arranged.

Can you even imagine what it's like to be hospitalized for days for horrendous morning sickness, only to be forced to pose for a photo after barfing? This poor woman. Hyperemesis gravidarum is absolutely no joke, but somehow, Kate managed to deal with it and fulfill her royal duties each time she was pregnant.

All eyes are always on Kate's fashion choices. Sometimes that's a good thing — but sometimes it's not. More often than not, Kate's style is on point, but if she ever makes a fashion misstep, unfortunately, it's captured forever — and total strangers are going to have something to say about it.

Under that grin, poor Kate probably just wants to kick off her heels and slip into something more comfortable. It can't be easy to look that polished all the time, but somehow, she's managed to master the art without looking too bothered about it. Good for her!

It's bad enough for regular moms when the kids melt down in public. But imagine the pressure Kate must feel as a royal mom when one of her little ones loses it. Most of the time, we see her being very sweet to her kids, but the moment does eventually come when they need to be reprimanded in front of cameras.

Nobody looks picture-perfect all the time, but poor Kate has to worry about the paparazzi capturing her every move — even the unflattering ones. The good news is that fans who love Kate tend to be very forgiving. And honestly, unflattering pics of Kate are hard to come by!

When Kate was there to support sister Pippa at her wedding, she was in charge of all of the children. Instead of being a regular bridesmaid and dancing at the reception, even then, Kate had duties to attend to, and like everything she does, she did it well. Pippa's lucky to have her!

Kate has already produced three precious little royal heirs, but at every turn, somebody is inquiring about when she'll have the next one. Must get kinda old after a while — especially since total strangers seem to think that they have the right to speculate about the status of her womb.

Have you ever heard of these two going out for dinner and a movie? Nope. Every time they're in public, it's for some sort of royal engagement. We hope that eventually, William and Kate will be able to find some private time together, for the health of their relationship. They deserve it!