Before she became the Princess of Wales and one of the most recognized women in the world, Kate Middleton was just a university student dating Prince William. While her public image is now defined by elegance, duty, and poise, her early days with William weren’t without their fair share of playful teasing—particularly from the Prince’s close circle of friends.
Among the most curious and often-repeated anecdotes from those days is the bizarre nickname William’s friends reportedly gave to Kate and her family: “The Middle-Class Middletons.” And while that might sound innocent or even accurate, insiders suggest it was meant as a slightly snobbish jab—a subtle way of highlighting Kate’s so-called “common” background in contrast to the aristocratic circles surrounding the future king.
A Nickname Rooted in Class
According to several royal biographers, including Katie Nicholl and Robert Lacey, the nickname emerged during William and Kate’s university days at St Andrews in the early 2000s. William’s friends, many of whom came from Britain’s old-money elite, reportedly used the term “The Middle-Class Middletons” to emphasize what they saw as the family's lack of blue-blooded credentials.
Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were successful self-made entrepreneurs who built their fortune through their party supply business, Party Pieces. Despite their considerable wealth, they didn’t come from nobility—and in the eyes of some aristocrats, that mattered.
The nickname was, in part, a backhanded dig at Carole Middleton, who was sometimes dubbed “doors to manual” by the same social circle—a reference to her former job as a flight attendant. While the comment may seem classist today, it reflected the traditional snobbery that still lingered in parts of royal and aristocratic society.
How Kate Handled the Teasing
What’s remarkable is how Kate never publicly responded to the nickname or the subtle mockery. Those close to her say she maintained her composure and rose above the remarks, earning quiet respect from even the most skeptical corners of William’s world.
Royal commentators have often praised Kate’s ability to blend into royal life while remaining close to her roots. Over time, her strong family values, discretion, and grace under pressure helped her win over the establishment—so much so that the once-dismissive nickname now feels outdated and even ironic.
Today, the Middletons are considered model royal in-laws—loyal, discreet, and entirely scandal-free.