The British royal family has gone through a complicated period this year, with Kate Middleton, 42, at the center of some difficult situations.
She recently underwent surgery and announced that she is facing a battle with cancer. In addition, she has again had to deal with persistent rumors of infidelity on the part of her husband, Prince William, also 42.
Kate Middleton’s Challenges
These rumors, which began in 2019, suggest a possible affair between William and Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
Although Hanbury categorically denied any relationship through her lawyers, speculation continues on social media about this and other dramas in Kate’s life.
According to the media ‘The List’, Kate’s problems with William’s social circle are not new. In fact, they date back to the beginning of their relationship.
In the documentary Prince William & Catherine: A Royal Love Story, the editor of Heat magazine, Lucie Cave, tells how Kate was teased by William’s friends because of her mother’s business, Carole Middleton.
Carole had founded a party supplies company called Party Pieces, which ultimately failed and was sold in 2023.
According to Cave, William’s friends criticized her from the beginning. When they all went out together to nightclubs, some of them would make snide remarks about his mother, who had worked as a flight attendant.
Despite these alleged taunts, Kate didn’t let them affect her relationship or her self-esteem. Katie Nicholl, royal correspondent for Vanity Fair and host of the podcast Dynasty, noted in one of her episodes that Kate has always ignored the mean-spirited comments, maintaining her composure and dignity.
Although some friends of the Prince of Wales have called these rumors “urban myths,” the book William and Catherine by Andrew Morton, published in 2011, documents the perception that Kate did not belong to a social class high enough to marry the future king.
According to Yahoo! Lifestyle, some in the royal circle felt that William should have fallen in love with someone of noble lineage, underestimating Kate even though her family enjoyed a well-to-do life.
Class differences were not the only challenge for Kate. From an early age, she also had to face the relentless attention of the tabloid press.
According to the Sunday Times, the media pressure was so intense that Kate was forced to quit her first job after college at the fashion label Jigsaw, as paparazzi were constantly following her.
She then began working for the family business, but the media dubbed her “Waity Katie,” insinuating that she was patiently waiting to get engaged to William and criticizing her for not having a “solid” career, even though it was media pressure itself that led her to leave her previous job.
Even now, as an official princess, Kate has had to face criticism, including comments suggesting that she works “part-time” as a royal, prioritizing her family over official engagements.
However, what has always distinguished Kate is her ability to maintain a smile, even in the most difficult moments, such as her recent illness.
Many of her followers hope to see her fully recovered and resuming her official schedule with the same grace that has characterized her so far.