Kate Middleton has become one of the most popular members of the Royal Family. The Princess of Wales is now next in line to become Queen. She and her husband, Prince William, recently made their first US trip in eight years.
Yet though Kate is indisputably popular, she’s also been criticized and dragged into her fair share of controversies over the years. Unsurprisingly, the British tabloid press take every possible chance to smear her name.
Of course, there’s little room for slip-ups when you’re a royal. On her journey to becoming a fully-fledged member of arguably the world’s most famous family, Kate Middleton has encountered bumps in the road that she has taken in her stride.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the “controversial” moments Kate Middleton has been involved in during her life as a royal. Moreover, how she’s shown that, though she’s often portrayed as an immeasurably kind and innocent figure, Kate can also be a very tough woman.
Kate became the subject of intense media fascination all over the UK when she started seeing William. After all, she was dating a future king. At the same time, of course, that’s no excuse for the media to dig deep into her private life.
Kate Middleton – early royal life
She was only 19 when she and William started dating, but that didn’t matter to those seeking information on her.
Despite coming from a middle-class background – her parents made millions through their company – Kate was labeled “a commoner.”
Before the couple announced their engagement in 2010, Kate was nicknamed “Waity Katie” and “Lazy Katie.” According to Buckingham Palace officials, it was a reference to the fact that Middleton had recently quit her job to “prepare for her future life.”
One can only imagine what it’s like to prepare for a life as a royal. It’s no understatement to say that there probably exists no more extensive change in lifestyle – and publicity– in the world. But Kate Middleton managed, thanks to the help of “The Firm” and her then-fiancée, William.
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, William made sure to – in private – help Kate prepare for life as a royal.
“It was very sensible in the circumstances for William and Kate to get to know each other over the length of time that they felt appropriate. But it can be hurtful seeing those headlines and obviously very stressful,” he said.
Even so, the paparazzi gave Kate cruel nicknames and dug deep in her family tree to try and find nasty things to write about her.
The most significant outrage of invading the Princess’ privacy came to light in 2013. The former royal editor of the scandalous tabloid News of the World, Clive Goodman, revealed that he had hacked Kate Middleton’s phone 155 times, beginning during the 2005 Christmas holidays.
William and Kate’s 2007 split sparked rumors
Goodman hacked her voicemails on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and added that he had also hacked the phones of Prince William 35 times and Prince Harry nine times.
On April 29, 2011, William and Kate tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London. But years earlier, in 2007, it seemed like the love story had ended – it was even reported that William and Kate had split for good. Fortunately, they found each other again.
“We did split up for a bit,” William admitted in their engagement interview. “But that was just, we were both very young, it was at university, we were both finding ourselves and such, and being different characters and such.”
“I think I at the time wasn’t very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person,” Kate added.
“You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn’t realized. Or I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you’re younger. I really valued that time for me as well although I didn’t think it at the time, looking back on it.”
Naturally, being British royalty means always having media present. Serving the crown isn’t a 9-5 gig: Kate and the rest of the family are always on duty. It can’t be easy being at your absolute best all times – minor mistakes or slip-ups are bound to occur.
Kate Middleton was “desperately upset” with Wiliam
Now, it’s important to remember that the royals are just people like you and me. The difference is their literal every step will be reported on – something Kate Middleton knows only too well.
Her mishaps have been heavily reported in the media through the years. Admittedly, most of them were relatively minor things, but still, as a royal, the tabloid press will always make a mountain out of a mole hill.
When Kate first appeared in the media, she was given evil nicknames. Media interest surrounding her became even more extensive when she and William split. The couple claimed it was about “finding ourselves,” but it didn’t take long before rumors about what happened reached the British paparazzi press.
The gossip surrounding William and Kate’s relationship wasn’t pretty. In 2007, the Mail published a story claiming that William was roaming around London nightclubs. It apparently left Kate “desperately upset,” as she felt it cheapened her image.
Moreover, royal correspondents Laura Collins, Katie Nicholl, and Ian Gallagher claimed William decided to split from his girlfriend because he felt the “fun” had disappeared from the relationship.
Later, reports regarding what led to the split appeared, with one even accusing Camilla, now-Queen Consort, of being behind William and Kate’s split. It was also reported that Kate realized that her life would change forever if she became royalty and so had reservations at first.
“She might have realized the awful burden she would have taken on. It’s a life sentence marrying a royal,” former royal correspondent Judy Wade said.
Kate Middleton’s ‘controversial’ skirt incidents
Kate has now been royalty for little more than eleven years. Given William’s position in the line of succession, she’ll be a queen one day. But while one might think that the royals can do pretty much what they want, there are many things they simply can’t or shouldn’t do.
Some of the royal rules are strict and absolutely cannot be broken. Others aren’t set in stone but are more guidelines as to how a Royal Family member is supposed to act in certain situations.
The royal rulebook differs from when the average person and their friends go for dinner. When it comes to royals performing their daily duties, a particular clothing style is expected.
Dressing accordingly has always been vital for the royals. Kate Middleton has proven herself to be a princess of the people – this is reflected in her popularity. Perhaps that’s why she has breached royal protocol regarding her clothes several times.
In any case, this reportedly left the Queen “fed up” with Kate on occasion. Several times, Kate’s skirt was said to have flown up while in the process of performing her royal duties.
It happened once in 2016, while she was laying down a wreath at the India Gate in the Indian capital of New Delhi. Then again in 2019, while she was doing archery in Bhutan.
Dispute with Queen Elizabeth over royal duty
Kate’s dress had reportedly flown up several times during the trip to Bhutan. Apparently, the Queen had always used the clever trick of having curtain weights underneath her skirt to prevent it from happening
What’s more, Her Majesty had told Kate about the secret weapon. Reports, however, suggested Kate hadn’t listened – and the Queen was frustrated as a result.
“The Queen is fed up that Kate hasn’t heeded advice to have her hems weighted to prevent her skirts flying up,” a Buckingham Palace insider said.
It’s not the only time Kate and the Queen had disputes over royal life and how to act. On April 23, 2018, Kate gave birth to her and William’s third child, Prince Louis. During the pregnancy, she wanted to permanently scale back on her royal duties, something Prince William proposed to Queen Elizabeth. Sadly, the monarch didn’t take kindly to the idea, and a dispute ensued.
“Kate wants her public appearances kept to a minimum, and he’s 100 percent behind her,” a source told Life & Style at the time, adding that the conversation between William, Kate, and Queen Elizabeth was “quite icy.”
When someone removes their engagement ring, it’s often a bad sign. As a result, one can only imagine the rumors if a royal does it – especially if that person is in line to become Queen. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Kate Middleton was seen without her engagement ring several times while out on royal duty.
Kate Middleton ditched her engagement ring
She ditched the ring for visits during the entire pandemic – even when the lockdown was over, she still didn’t wear the ring. It sparked rumors about a possible rift in William and Kate’s relationship. However, it turned out there was a perfectly acceptable reason as to why she ditched the ring.
Public health advice at the time was to wash hands regularly and thoroughly. As per reports, that was the reason why Kate removed her ring.
In 2018, Georgia State University released a study that concluded that “rings provide a protected area in which bacteria can flourish.”
Moreover, the CDC added: “Some studies have shown that skin underneath rings contains more germs than comparable areas of skin on fingers without rings.”
The organization concluded: “Further studies are needed to determine if wearing rings results in an increased spread of potentially deadly germs.”
The feud between the royals and Harry and Meghan has been ongoing for years. At the time of writing it hardly looks like things will be taking a turn for the better anytime soon after the first episodes of the Sussexes’ new documentary series were released on Netflix earlier this week.
Kate Middleton – “sharp-elbowed tactic” toward Harry and Meghan
When Harry and Megan spoke negatively about members of the Royal Family – Meghan revealed things about Kate and what happened at that the infamous dress rehearsal for her wedding – William and Kate decided they’d had enough.
Kate might seem like the sweetest, most innocent woman in the world, but she also reportedly has a strong side to her. Latest reports suggest that both she and William have decided to use “sharp-elbowed tactics” to keep Harry and Meghan in line. That’s according to royal historian Robert Lacey who, in a piece for the Daily Mail, writes that friends of the two brothers argued that William and Kate aren’t as docile as people might think.
“Friends of William and Kate are willing to concede the jealousy the Cambridges once felt at being overshadowed by the megawatt younger brother and his wife,” Lacey wrote.
“History will reveal, they agree, how their friends William and Kate were guilty of some ‘sharp-elbowed’ tactics in seeking to keep Harry and Meghan in their place.”
Only time will tell how William and Kate will respond to Harry and Meghan’s documentary series. Some claim they won’t watch it at all, while others report that William is already furious.
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