Reaction: Was Hilary Mantel's ‘attack’ on Kate Middleton really so venomous?

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The Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel is used to judging royals from the 16th century. Yesterday, she weighed in on their contemporary successors, with controversial results...

@Rebecca_Omonirai: Hilary Mantel's beautifully written essay on royal bodies. More layers to it than suggested by Daily Mail.

@TomChivers: Before having a go at Hilary Mantel, it's worth reading her piece in full. "Mannequin" ref is about public perception

@BenedictBrogan: Hilary Mantel describes D of Cambridge as 'mannequin' and 'without character' in LRB. Time was, heads would roll

@TomPeck: Excellent to see Hillary Mantel having such a well delivered pop at the Duchess of Pointless

Loveandgarbage: If I understand twitter correctly Hilary Mantel has called for the young royals to be imprisoned in the Tower and then callously murdered.

@SeanSmithCeleb: Well done Hilary Mantel for a fascinating look at royalty and image. Hysterical reaction of some media proves her point well made

@Bonn1eGreer: Her new novel -"Bring Up the Bodies". Her piece -a meditation on royal bodies & the craziness of royal-gazing. And it is crazy.

@HylandIan: I'm not saying Kate Middleton is thick, but since Wills warned her "not to look at the Mantel piece" today she's been avoiding fireplaces.