Kate Middleton’s stint as a royal hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Even though her story of going from a commoner to the Princess of Wales is a fairytale, not every moment of her story has been.
The royal has gone through her fair share of troubles and struggles before and after being welcomed into the royal family. From battling cancer after his diagnosis to being in the middle of the media storms during the news of William’s alleged affair, Kate has endured a lot.
Catherine Was Bullied During Her Childhood
The Princess of Wales was bullied as a child. The author of the book ‘Kate: The Future Queen,’ Katie Nicholl, writes about how the royal even left a boarding school when the bullying got bad.
Kate began attending Downe House, an all-girls school, at the age of 13. She felt out of place in the school from the beginning. Most students in the school started attending it when they were 11, but Kate, on the other hand, joined it much later.
Catherine Middleton attending the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park. 6 Aug 2005. pic.twitter.com/soHCcAubzF
— BRF: Portraits (@MelanieKR65) December 28, 2023
Unlike the other students who lived in the boarding school, the royal decided to live with her family while being enrolled in the school. This became another point that set her apart from the other girls. Emma Sayle, who also went to the same school but was 4 years senior to Kate, spoke about the “cliquey school.”
While talking to the author, Sayle noted how all the girls in the school wanted to be the best, which created a highly competitive environment. “The girls were all high achievers. Everyone wanted to be the best, the fittest, the prettiest. I think Kate was miserable from the start,” the alum notes. Gemma Williamson, who was Catherine’s roommate in college, revealed that the princess had “very little confidence” when she arrived at college.
Prince Harry’s Claims About Kate in His Memoir
Prince Harry made enemies out of more than one royal family member with his memoir ‘Spare.’ The Prince’s part autobiography, part memoir, made headlines for the heavy accusations he made against his family.
The Duke of Sussex delved into Kate’s alleged mistreatment of Meghan Markle in the 2023 book. He also claimed that the idea to make him wear a Nazi costume to the 2005 Halloween party was in fact Prince William’s and Kate’s idea. The moment is infamous in history because of the widespread public outrage that it caused.
The ongoing feud between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton has captivated the public, marked by allegations and conflicting accounts over a bridesmaid dress debate. Insights suggest both were emotional, with insiders noting they cried amid the disagreements. pic.twitter.com/9zzqJfRYVJ
— Nyra Kraal (@NyraKraal) May 14, 2025
Harry also addressed the famous rumor that claimed Markle made the Princess of Wales cry before their wedding. The Prince claimed that the narrative was flipped, and it was Catherine who made his wife cry instead.
Harry also wrote about a moment that made Kate’s dislike towards Meghan apparent. The Duke recalled how his wife had once asked Kate if she could borrow lip gloss from her, which led to her being “taken aback.” Katherine then “reluctantly” offered the lip gloss to Meghan.
“Meg squeezed some onto her finger and applied it to her lips. Kate grimaced. Small clash of styles, maybe? Something we should’ve been able to laugh about soon after. But it left a little mark,” Harry wrote.
William and Harry’s Animosity Left Kate Heartbroken
Katherine, William, and Harry used to be a close-knit group for decades. Things seemed to change right before the Sussexes decided to step down as working royals in January 2020. There have been plenty of reports noting the tension between Harry and the couple ever since.
The Royal Trio: Prince Harry, William & Kate enjoying #RWC2015 #ENG v #WAL (via @GaKaTaN) pic.twitter.com/xWlDvPkczD
— British Royals (@britishroyals) September 26, 2015
Matters only escalated with the release of his memoir, where he made accusations against his brother, too. A source close to the royals spoke to Radar to reveal how Katherine had taken the rift between the brothers to heart.
“Kate’s deeply upset with Harry, but she’s also frustrated that William and the rest of the family have allowed things to deteriorate this badly,” the insider noted. They also shared that the Princess has been “heartbreaking” for the Princess to see the royal family divided.
