The one thing we’ve learned from the Kate photo scandal? There’s no such thing as a fairytale life | Zoe Williams

They're trapped in a deal they can't uphold, scrutinised by a nation of trolls who demand they live perfect, trouble-free lives

Kensington Palace, which remains in its private quarters the London residence of Prince William and Kate (for ever to be known as) Middleton, currently has an exhibition in its public rooms of Untold Lives", a medley of royal servants. If any of the tourists walking round on Thursday felt the piquancy of treading so close to a home Kate Middleton may or may not be in (for the first time since her marriage, probably, nobody can say for sure where she is), that didn't show on their politely interested faces.

The opening portrait is of Bridget Holmes: 96 years old, carrying a mop in comedic representation of her role as a necessary woman" to monarchs all the way from Charles I to William III. Taking into account the different conception of childhood in the 1590s, when she was born, we can reasonably assume Holmes spent about 90 continuous years shovelling shit, her life remaining untold so that the story of kings could be told.