Kate Middleton taunted by William's snobby friends

From inflammatory comments made by a visiting world leader, to public scrutiny of Meghan as she sets up her very own royal family, to rumours of rekindling flames, the royals keep us on our toes with their antics.

In the midst of this chaos, Kate Middleton can often seem like the least controversial member of Britain’s poshest family, with her picture perfect family and impeccable decorum.

That wasn’t always the case, however.

The Duchess of Cambridge’s own controversies may have faded from our collective memories, but back in 2006 when her and Wills went public with their relationship, she weathered her share of disapproval and gossip.

Shocking treatment

In the 2011 exposé William and Catherine, royal biographer Andrew Morton details the treatment Kate was exposed to as a commoner entering the aristocratic circles.

The book explains that Kate was considered ‘middle-of-the-road’ by many in William’s close circle, too common by far to don a tiara or be seen on the Prince’s arm.

“It was felt that she wasn’t from the right stock,” a ‘noble’ source is quoted as saying, explaining many expected Wills to find a bride amongst the eager crowd of noble ladies that surrounded him.

As for poor Kate, she “was treated abominably behind her back by some who should have shown better manners.”

It got so bad that when the couple briefly split in 2007 her own friends couldn’t have been happier, breathing a collective sigh of relief that Kate would be free of the merciless scrutiny, the book says.

And the nasty jibes weren’t limited to Wills’ future bride, her family found themselves in the cruel firing line as well.

The book claims that certain ‘friends’ would mock Kate’s mother Carole Middleton for her past as an air stewardess.

“... William’s upper-class friends thought it amusing to shout ‘Doors to manual!’ when speaking of the former airline stewardess,” the book claims, though Clarence house has denied this allegation.

Now married and raising three royal children, Wills and Kate’s ability to overcome the snobby bullying in the past may yet be called upon as rumours of unrest in the couple’s elite friendship circle continue to bubble.

More recent drama

The couple have reportedly had a falling out with members of their ‘turnip toff’ set, after Kate apparently demanded that William ‘cut out’ longtime friend Rose Cholmondeley.

The drama reached boiling point this week, when the two came face to face at the state banquet held in honour of the visiting President Trump.

Former model Rose was photographed arriving to the banquet, dazzling in a plunging white gown.

Interestingly she wore the same colour as Kate, who attended the white-tie event in a feathery Alexander McQueen gown, complimented by her famous Lover’s Knot tiara.

The two women were not photographed together, and were seated at seperate table, fuelling rumours of a feud.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.