Prince William and Kate celebrate their anniversary amid scrutiny

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Ian Vogler - Pool/Getty Images)

On Friday it’ll be the Cambridges’ Wooden Wedding Anniversary – that’s right, a whole five years since Kate wowed the world in her white satin-and-lace Alexander McQueen dress.

Much has happened since. For instance there’s been small matter of two babies, two homes and five overseas tours, culminating in this month’s visit to India and Bhutan.

But William and Kate have begun to get more flak from the media than anyone thought possible back in 2011.

William even took the relatively unusual Royal step of defending himself last week in an interview broadcast on the BBC.

It all began in the New Year after a tally of last year’s royal engagements showed The Queen – who has just turned 90, of course – had carried out more official duties than William, Kate and Harry put together.

Kate of course had baby Charlotte last year and William joined the Air Ambulance in East Anglia.

It was revealed in January though that William only works a 20-hour week as a pilot. Plenty of time, it was claimed, to help his hard-working granny out with her duties.

Instead, by February he had only carried out two public engagements, and was a no-show at this year’s BAFTAs – despite being the Academy’s President.

Finally Kate was said to have upset the Irish Guards by breaking with a 115-year-old tradition of a royal lady presenting ‘the Micks’ with Shamrock on St Patrick’s Day.

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by a newspaper to write a piece that was to be highly critical of the couple. I didn’t on the grounds that it’s only fair to give a balanced account.

Here’s what I would have said looking at both sides of the argument. Firstly, the critical.

William is not as straightforward a character as Harry. He can be sly, and has inherited his mother’s ability to throw a spanner in the Royal works.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Arthur Edwards/The Sun)

A few years ago it was announced he would leave the army to concentrate on his future as a working Royal, learning the job on several fact-finding missions.

Then his office suddenly announced he was going to work with Search and Rescue on Anglesey, as he’d clearly changed his mind.

The prince has a dislike of the media, blaming the paparazzi for the death of his mother in 1997.

But let’s look at the case for the defence of the Cambridges, too. William recalls starting school watched by a media pack of 200 shouting his name.

He was traumatised by the photocalls on the ski slopes with his parents so it’s no wonder he wants to protect George and Charlotte at all costs.

Newspapers never let the truth get in the way of a good story. The criticism that Kate broke with the tradition of presenting the shamrock to the Irish Guards is wide of the mark. Queen Alexandra and other royal ladies presented the iconic plant, but not actually personally.

In other words they despatched it to the regiment rather than handing it out in person.

What the Cambridges appear to be doing is supporting causes they have a passion for, such as anti-bullying campaigns, children’s hospices and helping the homeless.

Wills and Kate in some ways are right to concentrate on family life while his grandmother is still reigning and active.

“Duty can weigh you down at a very early age,” were the words William used this week to defend himself from accusations of being work-shy. Having come to the throne at the age of only 25, these are words the Queen will know only too well.

However what I would say is that the British admire self-sacrifice in their royals.

The morale-boosting visits to bombed cities by George VI and Queen Elizabeth in the Second World War cemented the nation’s affection for this couple.

Of the modern royals, William and Kate could do no better than look at Princess Anne’s transformation from HRH Sourpuss in the 1970s to the straight-talking, no-nonsense – but widely-respected – Windsor legend of today thanks to her adoption of causes such as the Save the Children Fund.

As William himself admits. “The Queen is someone, who’s been there, done it, bought the T-shirt.”

Perhaps it would be a good idea if she lent it to him.

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