Kate Middleton Was Bullied At School For Being 'Perfect': Report
Kate Middleton had a challenging time when she was still studying at Downe House, according to several sources.
An unnamed insider claimed that the Princess of Wales was bullied at her first secondary school because she was too perfect. The anonymous source, who was a friend of Middleton, detailed the abuse, alleging that the other girls called the royal names and would even steal from her.
"She hated it, absolutely hated it. Some of the girls there were horrible. She was picked on because she was perfect -- well turned out and a lovely person. She was not the type to stick up for herself," the tipster said, Express reported.
"She said that there was a group of girls that called her names, and they stole her books and stuff -- little things like that. They rounded up on her a bit because she was quite a soft and nice person. When she used to go to lunch, she would sit down with people, and they all used to get up and sit on another table."
Middleton eventually left the boarding school halfway through the term and moved to Marlborough College. Downe House's former headmistress, Susan Cameron, denied having any knowledge about the alleged bullying toward Middleton.
Per Daily Mail, headmaster Edward Gould was aware that she left Downe House because she was unhappy there.
"Apparently, she had been bullied very badly, and she certainly looked thin and pale. She had very little confidence," one student, Gemma Williamson, claimed.
Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent and author of "Elizabeth: A Celebration in Photographs of Elizabeth II's Life and Reign," claimed that Middleton's experience at school prompted her not to send her children away to boarding school.
"The Prince and Princess of Wales have made it clear that their young family will, as far as possible, come first and that includes sending all three to day school rather than having them as boarders away from home," Bond told OK! Magazine.
"Catherine had a very unhappy time at Downe House in her first two terms and was bullied quite badly before she left and moved to Marlborough College. This has completely influenced the way she wants her children to be educated, coupled with her belief and research into early years development," the expert added.
Bond noted that Prince William and Prince Harry attended boarding school when they hit primary age. However, the Prince and Princess of Wales agreed to send their children -- Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 -- as day pupils at Lambrook, which offers a "happy and nurturing environment."
