Doing the dishes and riding the subway? Why the royals keep trying to look relatable - CBC

It all seemed a bit prosaic, really, chatting about doing the dishes with her husband or riding on the subway with her daughter. But there was Catherine, Princess of Wales, telling seniors how she and Prince William share the washing-up duties, and a few days later, taking a trip on the London Underground with Princess Charlotte. Beyond that glimpse into their everyday lives, though, these recent moments reflect an attempt to deal with a longstanding and more fundamental challenge that is a priority for the monarchy: how to appear relatable to a public that lives far beyond royal walls. "The monarchy isn't trying to convince us that William and Catherine are ordinary people," royal historian Justin Vovk said in an interview. "It's about trying to convince us that despite extraordinary circumstances, they experience the same human concerns as everybody else. "Efforts to do that convincing have long been a priority for monarchies throughout Europe. Catherine, Princess of Wales, right, sits with residents onboard a West Sussex Minibus, a volunteer-led community transport group, during a visit to Pulborough, southern England, on Sept. 30. (Arthur Edwards/AFP/Getty Images)"Since …