Former classmates have revealed that Kate Middleton was forced to change high schools as a teenager because of relentless bullying.
The Sun reports that Kate’s parents pulled her out of the prestigious all-girls boarding school Downe House after the 13-year-old became an “emotional wreck”.
“She was picked on because she was perfect, well turned-out and lovely,” school friend Jessica Hay told the publication, adding that the Duchess of Cambridge was left so traumatised by years of teasing she developed eczema due to stress.
After starting at Marlborough College, Kate “had very little confidence” ex-classmate Gemma Williamson, told the Daily Mail.
But evidently, the move was a successful one as Kate went on to become a prefect, head of house and voted by her peers as “most likely to be loved by all”.
In a touching gesture, Kate and William went on the request that guests at their 2011 wedding donate to charity Beatbullying in lieu of gifts.