Kate Middleton given brutal ranking when she was still at school
The shy and slender Kate, still dealing with the emotional toll of her past experiences, didn’t instantly stand out - despite being on her way to becoming a global beauty icon, Kate wasn’t immediately noticed by her male peers at school
by Mariam Khan · The MirrorMarlborough College, is one of the country’s most prestigious public schools, with a rich history of educating poets, artists, and now, a future queen.
In 1996, 14-year-old Kate Middleton arrived at Marlborough, having left her previous school, Downe House, after alleged bullying. Marlborough became her new home, and it gave Kate a chance to build up her confidence and friendship circle up again. However, settling into her new school wasn’t a breeze. The shy and slender Kate, still dealing with the emotional toll of her past experiences and didn’t instantly stand out. Kate’s roommate Gemma Williamson described her as “thin and pale” upon arrival and according to Kate’s house tutor, Joan Gall, stress had caused her eczema to flare up, the Daily Mail reports.
Today, Kate is a fashion and beauty trendsetter, anything she wears instantly causes the “Kate effect” with clothing and make-up brands having to deal with an influx of new customers wanting to be and dress just like her. Despite being on her way to becoming a global beauty icon, Kate wasn’t immediately noticed by her male peers at school.
In fact, boys at Marlborough would rate the girls as they passed by, and Kate was harshly given a score of just two out of 10 -something that would no doubt surprise those who now admire her poise and elegance. It didn’t much matter though, as time passed, Kate blossomed into a confident, accomplished young woman. She excelled at hockey, becoming co-captain of the tennis team, and grew into a social figure who was very well-liked by her peers.
It was after a hockey tour to Argentina, friends recall – followed by a family trip to the Caribbean - that a then 16-year-old Kate returned to the school's sixth firm newly transformed. She had changed from a lanky shy girl to someone admired by both male and female classmates alike. Gemma Williamson noted that boys began to “fancy her [Kate] rotten” during her later years at school.
Kate had a brief romance with rugby captain Harry Blakelock, which ended when he left school, reportedly leaving behind a heartbroken Kate. But despite the attention, Kate was known to be a model student among her friends even as her friends snuck out to party in Reading by night, Kate stayed behind and her sister Pippa who was much more boisterous in their schooling days closely followed in her footsteps also keeping out of trouble too.