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

Hilary Mantel has called the Duchess of Cambridge a bland, personality free mannequin princess (Getty Images)

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.