Nevertheless, Prince William's "snobbish" acquaintances did not view her as suitable for their upper-crust, aristocratic circles, as reported by The Daily Express. (Those who recall the early 2000s will recognize this group as the "Glosse Posse.") However, the outlet reveals that Kate, even back then, exuded confidence and never allowed these judgments to perturb her.
Prince William and Kate crossed paths as freshmen at the University of St. Andrews in 2001, and within about a year, they became a couple. They dated for nearly eight years before getting engaged in 2010 and ultimately tying the knot in 2011.
During the early days of their relationship, The Daily Express reports that Prince William's friends frequently made snide remarks about Kate's background. Specifically, they commented on her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, who had both worked for British Airways.
"William's friends, I regret to say, would occasionally whisper snide comments when Kate joined them at Boujis, the nightclub they frequented in West London, saying, 'Doors to manual,'" noted royal expert Katie Nicholl on the Dynasty podcast. This jab referred to Carole's previous career as a flight attendant. "Undoubtedly, it was a bit of a put-down and a derogatory reference to Carole's career as an air hostess."
In its prime, the now-defunct Boujis was a gathering spot for aristocratic circles frequented by individuals like Prince William and celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, and Rihanna in the early 2000s. According to The Daily Express, this private members' club, with an annual fee of £500, was described as the "ultimate playground for the wealthy and famous to revel in."
Kate proved herself resilient against snobbery. Nicholl stated that she "never stooped to their level." She disregarded being dubbed "Kate Middle Class" instead of "Kate Middleton" and brushed off the "Glosse Posse" labeling her as "new money." Speaking in the documentary "William and Kate: Into the Future," Nicholl remarked on "the snobbishness of the upper classes directed at what they referred to as the 'en masse Middletons.'
" This notion implied that the Middletons would attend a social event and arrive in their immaculate Land Rover, freshly polished, alongside a brand-new Fortnum and Masons picnic hamper, replete with all the trimmings expected at an upper-class picnic. However, they would be juxtaposed with true aristocrats, holders of double baron titles, who would arrive in muddy Land Rovers with moth-eaten blankets riddled with holes. Their picnics would be oddly assembled with hard-boiled eggs, far from M&S's finest offerings.
Nicholl continued, "Carole took immense pride in her picnics. She laid out the finest spreads on beautiful linen tablecloths with silver cutlery and all the trappings. This was in stark contrast to those who were, in fact, genuinely posh. They simply didn't need to make an effort, but the Middletons did."
Shame on anyone who ever made Kate—or anyone else—feel inferior. And applause to the new Princess of Wales for steadfastly remaining true to herself. Beyond titles, tiaras, or castles, that's the essence of genuine regal stature.
