This article was originally published on WHerMoments
Encountering one of your former teachers can potentially be quite awkward, especially if you didn’t have a great time at school. And things get even more complicated if you’re Catherine, Princess of Wales, destined to one day be the queen consort of the United Kingdom! But recently that’s exactly what happened to Kate. She met one of her old school teachers, and afterwards he got chatting to the press about what the royal was really like at school.
Middleton and middle class
Kate’s schooling and childhood have been the subject of much discussion. She wasn’t quite what the British media would call “upper class” — more “middle class.” Her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, had the ordinary jobs of flight attendant and flight dispatcher with British Airways when they first met.
Carole in particular wasn’t rich back then. She had actually wanted to be a teacher herself, but she couldn’t afford to go to college.
Millionaires
Rumor has it that when Kate first started dating Prince William, bullies would mutter “Doors to manual,” whenever she entered a room, a reference to her mother’s flight-attendant job. Obviously Kate had the last laugh there, but also, Carole didn’t even stay working in the airline industry.
In 1987 she started her own party supplies business, Party Pieces, and that — combined with money Michael inherited from his wealthy grandmother — made the Middletons very rich indeed.
Prep school
So Kate got to go to preparatory school or “prep school.” These are schools the parents pay for, so generally the domain of rich, if not always “upper-class”, families. They’re designed to prepare young children for further education in the fee-paying private school system.
Kate went to St. Andrew's in Berkshire — not to be confused with the University of St. Andrews, where she met William — and she only has happy memories of the place.
Happiest years
Kate went back to St. Andrew’s prep school in 2012 to open a new hockey pitch and give a speech.
She told the audience, “It is such a treat to be back here at St. Andrew's. I absolutely loved my time here; they were some of my happiest years, which makes it so incredibly special to be here today.”
Coming back
Kate revealed something about her childhood dreams that day. She said of her time at St. Andrews, “In fact, I enjoyed it so much that when I had to leave, I told my mother that I was going to come back to be a teacher. "
She added, "While that didn’t quite happen, I was thrilled to have been asked back today on St. Andrew's Day.”
Incredibly grateful
She went on, "It was while I was here at school that I realized my love of sport. Sport has been a huge part of my life, and I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had to get outside and play in such wonderful open spaces — though sadly there was nothing quite as glamorous as this in my time!
I hope that you all enjoy playing sport here as much as I used to and make the most of these incredible facilities.”
Bullying
But unfortunately Kate’s next school after St. Andrew’s wasn’t as good for her. While at boarding school Downe House she was bullied by other girls. Her former classmate Emma Sayle told the website RSVP Live in 2021, “It is a very cliquey school, and there was a lot of pressure."
"The girls were all high achievers, and there were lots of girls with eating disorders," she continued. "Everyone wanted to be the best, the fittest, the prettiest. I think Kate was miserable from the start.”
Not happy
The head teacher of Downe backed that up as well. She told the website, “Girls are cliquey by nature, and they can be rather cruel. If you’re attractive, too, that can be seen as rather a threat."
"They can sense those who are slightly weaker or who haven't shown their strengths yet, and it’s those girls who are likely to end up being picked on or teased. I think it’s fair to say she was unsettled and not particularly happy.”
Prestigious school
Kate transferred to another school — Marlborough College — and did much better there. Marlborough is considered to be one of the best boarding schools in the U.K.; it has a long list of notable alumni.
William’s cousin Princess Eugenie went there, as did actress and screenwriter Emerald Fennell, who went on to play Camilla Parker-Bowles in The Crown.
Normality
Despite a few blips along the way, Kate’s childhood and early education was pretty good overall. And now that she’s a mother, she’s very keen that her children should find the same.
In 2019 an anonymous friend told People magazine, “She wants to emulate her upbringing, living in the countryside with a close-knit family. She desperately wants that normality for her own kids.”
Parents and teachers
And Kate credits not only her parents, but her educators for providing her with that “normal” life. In November 2015 she gave a speech at the Place2Be Headteacher Conference speaking about the importance of mental health in children and said, “I know that I was lucky.
My parents and teachers provided me with a wonderful and secure childhood where I always knew I was loved, valued, and listened to.”
Reunited
And come 2023 Kate got to reunite with one of those teachers. She and William visited the county of Cornwall in February and stopped off to greet crowds at the National Maritime Museum.
There, Kate encountered a familiar face: Jim Embury, the man who taught her history at St. Andrew’s prep school, was now a volunteer at the museum.
Breaking the rules
Kate was so thrilled to see him that she even broke royal protocol. Technically royals shouldn’t stop to embrace people while on walkabouts, because they’re working and it’s not considered professional, but Kate ignored this and crushed him in a big hug!
And she also paid him the sweet compliment, saying, “The things you taught me, I now teach to my children.”
“A wonderful woman”
Embury was likewise delighted to see his old student, and he talked to the Daily Mail newspaper about how happy he was. He said, “It was an incredible meeting and the first time I had seen Kate in 25 years.
She hasn’t changed, not one bit, and is just like she was — conscientious, considerate and exuberant. She is a wonderful woman.”
Unexpected meeting
He added that Kate had “no idea,” he would be at the museum, because he himself hadn’t even expected to see her that day. He explained, “I didn’t know she was coming to the museum until 6:00 a.m.
this morning. It was my day off and I only work Fridays. We were asked if we would be available to be on standby for the royal visit and of course I wanted to.”
“Very kind”
Embury told the Daily Mail that although his reunion with Kate was a “whirlwind” and he could “barely remember our first words spoken,” he did remember, “Kate was very kind and was talking about her children and what they were learning from her, which she said she had learned partly from me.”
So now, albeit indirectly, Embury has influenced the future monarch of the United Kingdom!
Past encounters
And Embury’s not the first St. Andrew’s teacher to have done such a thing. Kate had happened to run into two of her other schoolteachers, a married couple, back in 2020 and she had been full of praise for them as well.
She’d encountered netball coach Denise Evans-Alford and languages teacher Kevin Alford during a trip to Wales and told them, “I want to instill in my children what I learned at St. Andrew’s.”
The Wales family
And so far, Kate’s lessons are working out very well. All three of her children attend school alongside their peers, and they don’t actually use their royal titles in class.
Instead, the royal kids are known to their friends as George, Charlotte, and Louis Wales. It gives them the sort of normality Kate so badly wants them to have.
New challenges
And in September 2022 Kate faced a new challenge: helping her children adjust to a new school when all eyes were on the royal family after Queen Elizabeth II’s death. But it seems as though she rose to it. That month a source told People magazine, “Kate said the children have settled in nicely with their new school and have new friends.”
How much of this is down to their teachers, though, and how much is a result of Kate and William's interesting — if slightly out of the ordinary — ways of making sure their kids stay in line?
Discipline is key
Whether you're a parent or not, it's likely you've witnessed a child giving the performance of their little life with a nuclear-level tantrum. But it's rare to see the same kind of antics from George, Charlotte, or Louis.
And according to an inside source, it seems their impeccable behavior is not that way by chance. As it happens, Kate and William have some unique ways of disciplining their three children.
Unconventional techniques
For this reason, the young royals have made quite an impression on the public. So how do Will and Kate do it? Well, someone claiming to be in the Cambridges’ circle has come forward to reveal precisely how they parent their children.
And perhaps what’s most surprising is that they don’t follow what one may expect from a royal mom and dad. Instead, they rely on unconventional techniques to ensure that their kids are always on their best behavior.
Adhering to club rules
Any parent would have their hands full juggling three kids, especially when out and about. But William and Kate’s trio have received accolades for their squeaky-clean manners. And according to The Sun, they’re the same behind closed doors — at the exclusive Hurlingham Club where the Cambridges hang out, for example. One of the social club’s members told the newspaper that George, Charlotte and Louis act “impeccably” at the exclusive gathering spot.
The source added, “The family often dine there al fresco and use the club’s sporting and play facilities. There [are] no tantrums or food throwing, and the children eat what is set before them.”
“No special favors”
The royal children apparently act humbly as well. The Hurlingham Club insider said, “They queue up with the rest of the kids and parents in the Harness Room restaurant and ask for no special favors.”
These qualities would, of course, come down to the way in which William and Kate raise their offspring. Yet while the couple haven’t actually given many specifics on their parenting style, they have dropped a few clues here and there.
The cameras are always rolling
Speaking more generally about his kids, William told GQ in 2017, “I want to bring up my children in a happy, stable, secure world, and that is so important to both of us as parents. I want George to grow up in a real, loving environment. I don’t want him growing up behind palace walls; he has to be out there.”
That said, the Cambridge children aren’t perfect all of the time. For all of their moments of humility and sweetness, they do sometimes act out — and often the cameras are there to capture those outbursts.
Helicopter hijinks
One example of the royal sprogs' showing their fierier sides occurred on the family’s tour of Germany and Poland in 2017. The last stop of the Cambridges’ trip had them visiting the Airbus hub, where George and Charlotte had the chance to investigate the aviation company’s helicopters.
The young prince seemed to love the stop-off and slipped into a pilot’s helmet for the occasion; his sister, too, appeared excited at first.
Tantrum on the tarmac
Then, after Kate took a children’s book and paper out of Charlotte’s hand, the princess threw a tantrum right there on the tarmac.
Yet this move didn’t appear to ruffle the duchess’ feathers, as she was seen swiftly bending down to try and calm the little girl before lifting her off her feet and moving on.
Different treatment for George
On at least one occasion, though, Kate appeared to handle a tantrum of George’s in a more brusque manner. This flare-up happened at her sister Pippa’s 2017 wedding, at which the little prince served as a pageboy.
After acing the ceremony, he got into trouble for copying his little sister, who had walked across the train of their newlywed aunt’s dress.
A royal telling off
And Kate didn’t let George’s naughty behavior slide. Instead, photos seem to show the duchess giving her son a steely talking-to — one that made the then three-year-old burst into tears.
After that, he proceeded to sulk beside his mom, while his little sister – who had arguably got her sibling into trouble – apparently remained cheerful.
Kate's softer side
But other photos and videos have shown the duchess’ softer side when dealing with her brood. For instance, at the 2018 Trooping of the Colour — an annual celebration of the reigning monarch’s birthday — Charlotte seemed to fall while watching the military display for the Queen.
And Kate didn’t hesitate to step in and help her visibly upset daughter. And fans who saw the moment play out live lauded Kate’s response.
Onlookers were impressed
Kate seemed to bolster Charlotte with some kind words, in fact, before patting her daughter’s back to soothe her. Other photos show the duchess holding the young girl in her arms.
According to the Daily Star, one said in 2018, “I’ve seen Princess Charlotte falling down and bonking her little face on the balcony... Was my livestream crazy or is [no one] acknowledging the Duchess of Cambridge’s great parenting?”
Behind closed doors
Not all of their parenting happens while the cameras are rolling, however. And while the William and Kate manage to keep the specifics of their family lives mostly private, those who know them have spoken out about the unconventional ways they use to raise the princes and princess.
For instance, in June 2020 a source revealed to The Sun that Kate and William forego “the naughty step” – a technique that other parents have long used to discipline bad behavior.
The 'chat sofa'
Typically, a child will sit on a step or in another designated area after they act out – often remaining there for one minute for each year of their life. The Cambridges have come up with an unusual alternative to this method, though.
The insider said, “There’s no ‘naughty step,’ but there is a ‘chat sofa.’ The naughty child is taken away from the scene of the row or disruption and talked to calmly by either Kate or William.”
No raised voices
And, allegedly, the Cambridges make a point to not raise their voices while disciplining their children — something they also expect of George, Louis and Charlotte. The source continued, “Things are explained and consequences outlined, and they never shout at [the kids].
Shouting is absolutely off-limits for the children, and any hint of shouting at each other is dealt with by removal.”
Good cop, bad cop
The insider went on to claim that Kate proved stricter than William. And, apparently, both of them have worked with their nanny, Maria Borrallo, to ensure that she maintains their standards when she’s in charge.
The source told The Sun, “Maria is firm, but she never acts unilaterally with the children on discipline.” Still, the public would be hard-pressed to know exactly when the Cambridges or their nanny are being unyielding with their kids.
Strict in secret
As the insider put it, “Kate and William — along with Maria — are strict with the children but have this magic ability to appear not to be.” And the royal couple have reportedly come up with a genius way to hide their disciplinary moments from onlookers.
According to a March 2020 report in The Sun, Kate relies on code words to subtly tell her children to calm down in public.
“Let’s take a break”
The duchess supposedly says “Let’s take a break,” with this indicating to Charlotte or George that they need to take their behavior down a notch. And while the duchess uses the same phrase at home, she has further options there to help her children calm down.
Specifically, she points them toward quieter, more soothing activities. So, George or Charlotte may stop to play or read on their own before rejoining the fray – at a much more relaxed level than before.
Physical techniques
Plus, Kate appears to also use a few physical techniques to keep her little ones in line. Dr. Rebecca Chicot — author of the manual The Calm and Happy Toddler — explained to The Sun, “[Kate] seems to be good at making warm contact ‘touch to the head,’ which is a nice connection.”
Chicot continued, “[Kate] gets down to [her kids’] level to talk to them but lets them be children. She has a lovely balance of sensitivity and gentle boundaries. [The duchess] doesn’t expect them to behave like little adults and knows that children go through perfectly natural stages like tantrums.”
Grade-A parenting
Chicot added that, ultimately, the duchess’ parenting style represents how others should be raising their broods. She went on, “Kate is a sensitive and warm mom.
This is called an authoritative style of parenting that is now encouraged.” It’s a very different approach to the ones that the royal family may have taken in the past, too.
Seen and not heard
Chicot continued, “This [style] is compared to an autocratic parenting that was encouraged in some circles in Victorian times — [for example, that] children should be seen and not heard.”
By contrast, both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge make a point to listen to their children rather than silencing their thoughts or stifling their feelings.
“A military operation”
Yet while The Sun’s anonymous source compared William and Kate’s parenting to “a military operation,” they added that it would be hard for anyone on the outside to see it that way.
The insider claimed, “You would never guess [this], because [Kate and William] work ferociously hard on their children’s upbringing and [make] it seem relaxed and happy for the three of them.”
All that glitters
The source concluded, moreover, that this parenting style allows the Cambridges to be “very good at listening to the children, but [also] being firm.” And, combined, all of these techniques seem to have worked — from an outsider’s perspective, anyway. After all, onlookers continue to laud George, Charlotte and Louis’ wonderful behavior in public spaces.
Still, William and Kate have still struggled with parenting on occasion, and the Duke of Cambridge admitted as much in a Zoom call with chef Charlie Farrally in May 2020.
Fussy eaters
During the video call, the prince explained that mealtime could be an ordeal with his brood — and likely among other families, too, “[depending] on what’s on the table.” William went on to say, “If parents put something on that children love, dinner time goes on very well. But if you put something on the table they don’t want to [eat], that’s another ball game.”
Fortunately for him, though, he and Kate have plenty of ways to calmly deal with fussy eaters — as well as other common childhood problems.
An inspiration
And Kate’s apparent patience and wisdom as a mom may have guided her in more ways than one. Not only is she effectively able to parent her children, but she can also use her know-how to assist in early childhood research and development in the United Kingdom.
That’s something that will benefit many little ones — including George, Charlotte and Louis — for years to come.