PM: Novelist 'wrong' about Kate

The Duchess of Cambridge, back on official duty, visited an addiction treatment centre in south London today.

But her appearance was overshadowed by comments from author Hilary Mantel, who has compared Kate Middleton to a "shop-window mannequin".

ITV News’ Nina Nannar reports:

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David Cameron has criticised author Hilary Mantel for describing the Duchess of Cambridge as being a "shop-window mannequin".

Speaking in India, the Prime Minister said: "While I think she has written some great books, I think this is totally wrong and misguided."

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The Politics Home editor Paul Waugh is reporting that the Labour leader Ed Miliband has echoed David Cameron's condemnation of author Hilary Mantel **after her **comments about the Duchess of Cambridge:

Now EdMiliband weighs in on Kate Middleton row:"These are pretty offensive remarks. I don't agree with them" #mantelpiece

From @paulwaugh on Twitter: ( 4:40 pm, Tue 19 Feb 2013)

More Miliband: "Kate Middleton is doing a brilliant job in a difficult role. She's a huge asset to the country. She deserves our support"

From @paulwaugh on Twitter: ( 4:56 pm, Tue 19 Feb 2013)

Read: Duchess of Cambridge visits London treatment centre

Read: Double Booker Prize-winning author attacks 'shop-window mannequin' Kate

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The London Review of Books has attempted to clarify comments made by Hilary Mantel about the Duchess of Cambridge, saying the author was actually criticising the media.

What Mantel really wrote is about how the media make the royals suffer: 'I’m asking us to back off and not be brutes.'http://t.co/ZG8Rms8u

From @LRB on Twitter: (12:31 pm, Tue 19 Feb 2013)

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Prime Minister David Cameron has described novelist Hilary Mantel's comments about the Duchess of Cambridge as "completely misguided and completely wrong".

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The Duchess of Cambridge, as Patron of Action on Addiction, is visiting the charity's Hope House treatment centre in Clapham, south London.

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The Duchess of Cambridge has been defended by a charity chief executive after a scathing attack by novelist Hilary Mantel.

Nick Barton, who heads Action on Addiction, which Kate supports as patron, described her as an "intelligent" woman genuinely interested in the work of his organisation.

During a lecture, Mantel, the double Booker Prize winner, said Kate appeared to have been "gloss-varnished" with a perfect plastic smile, in contrast to Princess Diana, who she described as awkward and emotionally incontinent.

Kate is currently touring the addiction charity's Hope House treatment centre in Clapham, south London.

Asked for his reaction to Mantel's criticisms, Mr Barton said: "I don't think it's for me to comment on that kind of stuff. I speak of what I know - somebody who wants to help, is helpful and genuinely interested and is intelligent.

"I can only speak (of) what I know. I've met her several times and I found her to be engaging, I found her very natural, I found her actually genuinely interested in the subject."

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The Duchess of Cambridge, as Patron of Action on Addiction, is visiting the charity's Hope House treatment centre in Clapham, south London this morning.

Hope House offers a safe, secure and comfortable place for women to recover from substance dependence and receive additional support for other compulsive disorders.

It is the first time Kate has been seen in public after photographs of her on holiday in Mustique were published by foreign media.

Read: Novelist attacks Duchess as 'shop-window mannequin'

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