There is always two sides of a coin: the rose coloured and the pewter side
On the rose coloured we have a madly in love couple, he a Prince, second in line to a rather lonely throne, she a commoner that wasn't allowed to marry into this monarchic family. Had he married her, he would have lost his place in the succession, leaving the swedish monarchy hanging on a sole thread named Carl Gustav. (The ridiculous rules btw made it possible for a king to marry a commoner, since he can't lose his place in the succession, he is already on top...)
Because they choose duty above their personal happiness, it is oh so tragic.
Years and continuing devotion later, the king now has his own breed to follow the succession, Bertil is no longer necessary and can marry. From then on she is considered more than his housekeeper by his family.
CG and his sisters (were they not eligible for the throne?) once said, that as children, they never had an inkling, never were told about Lilian. So she wasn't the lovely "Aunt Lilli" to the family, she was indeed hidden and ignored well.
The pewter coloured side mentions the ignore above, and seriously asks why a woman would stick to a man, accepting this horrid treatment, the fact she would never have children on her own (a very very big issue for her and him, apparently since I remember him mentioning this at their wedding) and probably experience a lot of arrogant and patronising behaviour by the so-called elite.
Where was her pride?
And you see, there I have answered my own question: While Kate or her likes might occassionally have to swallow a tiny bit of pride (though I guess they don't have that), they get to enjoy almost all other perks: limelight and admiration by the press, great clothes to party with, no sorrows or financial concerns, a jetsetting lifestye mingling with the royals and the celebs.
If they get to marry the price (oops prince) sometime, great, if not, well was worth the while.
Lillian, could have a great life without Bertil: she was very pretty, apparently quite smart and lovely to talk to, she could have married a very nice well off guy and have a sufficiently satisfying life. But she apparently loved her man more than anything else and accepted all this hardship to only be with him.
So romantic...
Poor her she simply lived in the wrong generation....
ITA agree with you Fairy, just imagine the snake married in the same family! Nonsense
