It’s been reported that at a very young age, 14, Kate Middleton had a very hard decision to make.

It was reported that Kate, Princess of Wales, had to leave her school Downe House because of bullying. She started fresh at Marlborough College, arriving at the prestigious boarding school in 1996. During the beginning of her time at her new school, Kate was described as shy and awkward, but this is where the royal we know and love truly began to enjoy her life. At Marlborough, she came into her own finding the confident woman who will be the future Queen of England.

Marlborough, with its historic setting in the charming Wiltshire countryside, had already established itself as a top school, educating the likes of poets, artists, and even comedians like Jack Whitehall. Although she came into her own, Kate’s transition wasn’t smooth sailing, according to her dormmate Gemma Williamson, who claimed Kate was ‘thin and pale,’ having lost confidence after her time at Downe House reports the Daily Mail.

Kate posing with the Marlborough College Under 15 Hockey Team ( 
Image:
Adam Sorenson)
Kate’s house tutor, Joan Gall, even recalled the young Kate suffered from stress-induced eczema. However, after tough times come something better and for the princess and Marlborough would prove to be the turning point. The school was known for its tight-knit, family-like atmosphere and Miss Gall remembered it fondly, saying they spent time baking cakes and watching videos, helping Kate to adjust and find her feet.

Kate soon began to bloom and she thrived both academically and socially, excelling at sports like hockey and tennis, and was even co-captain of the tennis team. Kate lived in the cosy all-girls boarding house, Elmhurst, and many of her friends remember being a model student.

Even though Kate’s social circle grew, the royal was known to be the grounded responsible one among her friends. While her peers occasionally snuck off for nights out in Reading, Kate stayed behind. Whilst she was a model student, everyone is allowed one naughty slip up and the only time Kate broke the rules was when she became sick on the train home after a hockey party.

The Kate we know now transformed into who she was from a shy teen into a beautiful and confident young woman at school. She left Marlborough with top A-level results and the title of “Person most likely to be loved by everybody” in her yearbook. For Kate, Marlborough wasn’t just a fresh start – it was the place where she truly blossomed, building the foundation for her future royal life.