The Most Non-Royal Things About Prince William And Kate Middleton
Britain's royal family is divisive, to say the least. Between the messy royal feuds, the various scandals that have rocked the royals, and numerous controversial royal family moments, there are a lot of reasons not to like the monarchy. And yet, despite the drama, some of its members are still deeply loved by the public. According to a YouGov poll taken in Q4 of 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II continues to be the most popular royal with an approval rating of 79%, but Kate Middleton isn't too far behind in second place with a 68% popularity rating, followed by hubby Prince William in third with 67%.
Indeed, despite their headline-making rift with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and even with cheating rumors plaguing William, the couple has maintained a united front and continued to win over fans. A large part of their charm lies in the fact that both William and Kate come off as being extremely sweet, caring, and (most importantly) down-to-earth. And for any critics who may accuse the pair of simply putting on an act for the cameras, it seems highly unlikely because, as we'll show you below, their private lives are full of non-royal behaviors that will surely endear them to even the biggest skeptic.
Kate Middleton has a surprising close connection to Jordan
Not only did Kate Middleton grow up far away from the pomp of royal life, but she actually spent some of her formative years 2,300 miles away from London. When Kate was just two years old, her dad Michael Middleton's job as a manager at British Airways took the family to Jordan. As Telegraph learned, they moved to the capital city of Amman in May 1984 and didn't return to England until September 1986.
While in Jordan, Kate's mom, Carole Middleton, was on maternity leave (sister Pippa Middleton was just eight months old when they moved) while little Kate was enrolled at a local nursery. In 2011, Hanna Hashweh (who worked for British Airways at the time and visited the Middletons at home) told UAE's National News, "They lived in a two-story rented villa, close to a park and the nursery where Kate went." But it wasn't just any nursery. According to Hashweh, it was one of the swankiest in town. Kids were taught in both English and Arabic, and the cost was a cool $1,000 a year.
These days, Kate has nothing but fond memories of her time abroad. In June 2018, Prince William went to Jordan on a royal visit and told the media (via Hello!), "She loved it here, she really did." Jump to 2021, and the royal couple took all three of their children to visit the country on a private vacation, even using it as the backdrop for that year's holiday card.
Prince William loves surfing, even if he's not very good
Prince William is an avid sportsman who has skied, sailed, and played a myriad of sports, including hockey, rugby, golf, polo, and soccer. In 2004, he made his international water polo debut, and it seems he has a real soft spot for anything related to water. Indeed, he's passionate about surfing, even if he's not very good.
In 2004, while studying at Scotland's University of St Andrews, William braced frigid temps to learn how to surf because, as he told The Telegraph, he loves being in the water. "I've had lessons at swimming ever since I was tiny," he shared. "I feel much more comfortable and happy in the water than I do running." Even a major gaffe couldn't deter him. "Surf etiquette is that when you're going for a wave, the first person on it basically takes it," William told the mag. Unfortunately, he was so excited he broke that rule. "Halfway up, this guy comes whizzing past me and hits me on the back of my head and goes, 'My wave,'" he recalled. "I was left spluttering in the surf." He kept at it, and in 2011, he even surfed with friends for his bachelor party. Although, as a 17-year-old local cheekily told Daily Mail, "They weren't very good."
Another passion of William's is diving. He's a qualified scuba diver and, as he told The Telegraph, he's drawn to the refuge it offers. "There's no noise; It's just you breathing," he enthused. "You're in a different world with the fish."
Kate Middleton is the sportiest royal
Prince William may love sports, but his skills are eclipsed by Kate Middleton's. The sheer variety she's tried is dizzying and includes tennis, hockey, swimming, and netball. As Mirror learned, while attending primary school at St Andrew's, she even set a record for the high jump, clearing 4.9 feet –- a record which still stood as of 2015. During a return visit to her alma mater in 2012, Kate gushed about the lasting impact St Andrew's had on her. "It was while I was here at school that I realized my love of sport," she said, per Daily Mail. "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."
Indeed, her passion for sports never wavered. In 2007, Kate joined The Sisterhood, an all-female rowing team training to cross the English Channel in a traditional Chinese dragon boat. Crew member Emma Sayle told The Telegraph, "She is physically very fit, but she is also strong mentally." What's more, she became a certified advanced scuba diver in 2015, has played plenty of sports (in heels!) on royal visits and is reportedly obsessed with working out. "Kate is an exercise junkie," a source told Daily Mail, claiming she loves CrossFit, HIIT, indoor rowing, and more. She also does most of her working out at home, without a trainer.
Fittingly, Kate is also the Royal Patron of numerous sporting organizations, including SportsAid and The Lawn Tennis Association.
Prince William is obsessed with Lord of the Rings
We all have that one movie or show that gets us really excited, and as it turns out, royals are not immune from joining in on the occasional fandom. When it comes to the future King of England, his absolute favorite is said to be "The Lord of the Rings" film series. In 2014, Martin Freeman, who plays Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit" movies, revealed that Prince William is quite the fan after having met him at the London premiere of "An Unexpected Journey." Speaking with reporters, Martin revealed just how obsessed Prince William really is. "He is the biggest royal fan," he shared, per Mirror. "He knew all the facts about Middle Earth, and I think I kept him talking too long."
William again showcased his love for the series in 2023 when he took a secret set visit to get a behind-the-scenes look at Prime Video's "The Rings of Power." "William is a huge fan of the films, so [he] jumped at the chance," a source told The Sun. While there, William visited different filming locations and met the show's cast.
He also loves a good comedy, though. When asked to name his go-to holiday flick in 2021, William told the Radio Marsden podcast (via Express) that it's the same classic many other families reach for: "Elf." "It's very funny, and I keep watching it every Christmas," he shared. "It still makes me laugh."
Prince William has a Harry Potter scar
You may not expect it, but Prince William has something in common with the world's most famous wizard: a visible scar on the left side of his forehead. As he told CBBC's Newsround in 2009, it's actually the result of an operation he had when he was just nine. "I got hit by a golf club when I was playing golf with a friend," he recalled. "We were on a putting green, and the next thing you know, there was a seven iron and it came out of nowhere and hit me in the head." Dubbing it his very own Harry Potter scar, William explained, "I call it that because it glows sometimes, and some people notice it — other times they don't notice it at all.
Surprisingly, it's something he has in common with his wife. As royal watchers first noticed back in 2011, Kate Middleton also has a scar on the left side of her head, except hers is right above her ear and runs underneath her hairline. However, unlike her hubby, she hasn't spoken about it. The only time it was openly addressed was following online speculation that it wasn't a scar but rather, a sign she had hair extensions. A spokesman for Kate told Daily Mail, it was a "scar related to a childhood operation." Surgeon John Scurr told the mag, "I really doubt it was any serious medical condition, and I would say it is as a result of an arteriovenous malformation –- a birthmark –- being removed."
Kate Middleton did her own wedding makeup
Kate Middleton looked absolutely stunning on her wedding day, wearing a high-necked, long-sleeved dress from Alexander McQueen. It took artisans days to craft the gown, sewing all of the lace appliqué by hand, but despite all of the professional work that went into her outfit, Kate was remarkably lowkey about her makeup. Rather than relying on a glam squad, the future Queen of England actually took matters into her own hands and did her own gray smokey eye, blush lips, and pink cheeks. As The Knot learned, Kate used Bobbi Brown products to achieve her look and reportedly worked with Bobbi Brown makeup artist Hannah Martin to come up with the various elements ahead of the big day.
Martin later told Express, "A flush of rosy color on the lips and cheeks is a bridal trend that will never date as it helps everyone look fresh, no matter your skin tone." What's more, "I also swear by subtle smokey eyes for my brides." And so, that's exactly what she and Kate opted for. To achieve her glowing, natural-looking face, Kate used ivory, metallic, and slate eyeshadows to highlight her eyes, a pale pink shimmer on the cheeks, and a light pink lip tint finished off with a clear crystal gloss.
William and Kate are both talented cooks
They may be England's future king and queen, but both Prince William and Kate Middleton are talented cooks. As Kate revealed during BBC's "A Berry Royal Christmas" (via Cosmopolitan), her husband's no stranger to the kitchen. "He's very good at breakfast," she shared. "University days, he used to cook all sorts of meals — I think that was when he was trying to impress me." William himself has downplayed his abilities, but he did tell a local chef in 2023, per Daily Mail, "I do a mean steak." He also praised his wife's cooking, gushing, "Catherine's very good." Indeed, Vanity Fair learned she enjoys cooking, and William's favorite dish is roast chicken. Another staple is curry, although she told People, "It's so hard cooking curry with the family" because the kids like no spice, William likes his medium, and she likes hers hot. She also makes a great jam and actually gifted Queen Elizabeth homemade chutney during her first-ever Christmas at Sandringham. She followed her grandmother's recipe and admitted, "I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table" (via Hello!).
That passion for cooking is now being passed on to their kids. In 2020, Kate revealed, per Express, that all three enjoy cooking. "They made cheesy pasta the other day," she revealed. "One stirs the flour, one puts the milk and butter in -– and they make salads and stuff."
Kate Middleton stays up until midnight to bake her kids' birthday cakes
Kate Middleton has been open about her penchant for cooking, but it's not just everyday meals, like curries, that she's got down pat. No, Kate is also a talented baker, and one of her family's most beloved traditions is sweet in every sense of the word. Speaking with Mary Berry on the 2019 BBC special "A Berry Royal Christmas" (via Mirror), Kate revealed that the night before each of her kids' birthdays, she waits for them to go to sleep, then stays up late to bake them a special cake. "I love making the cake," she enthused. "It's become a bit of a tradition that I stay up 'til midnight with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing, and I make far too much, but I love it."
But it's not just a solitary passion. Kate also enjoys baking with her kids, and in June 2022, she was joined in the kitchen by George, Charlotte, and Louis to prepare cupcakes for a Platinum Jubilee street party in Cardiff, Wales. A video montage of the family hard at work was shared on Instagram, showing the kiddos mixing batter, laughing, and icing the treats with help from Mom. "We hope you like them!" read the caption.
William and Kate have broken protocol by getting handsy
Prince William and Kate Middleton nearly broke the internet when cameras caught Kate giving her hubby a gentle butt tap as they walked the red carpet at the 2023 BAFTA Awards. Fans flew into a tizzy and many wondered what sparked the unroyal moment. Well, according to lip reader Sophia Martell who spoke with Daily Mail, Kate was merely copying something she had just seen happen. "That man, he tapped her on the bottom," she reportedly told William before reenacting the moment and musing, "That was so funny."
That certainly wasn't the first time the couple was openly affectionate. In 2011, ABC applauded their hugging in public and it's something they've continued to do. In 2012, they hugged tightly at an Olympics event; in 2021, they embraced and laughed while celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary; and in 2022, they held hands and shared a kiss (albeit on the cheek) during a charity polo match. As royal etiquette expert Myka Meier told People, there's no actual rule forbidding them from being handsy, but "the couple is likely to show very little PDA, if any, to remain professional." The fact that they still steal the occasional sweet moment, when appropriate, is a breath of fresh air.
Kate Middleton likes doing her own shopping
Whether it's shopping for clothes, groceries, Halloween costumes – you name it – Kate Middleton likes to browse stores on her own whenever she can. In 2020, for example, she was spotted leaving Waterstones bookstore, while in 2022, the paparazzi snapped her walking out of London's Peter Jones department store. Perhaps most surprising, though, is that she's a regular at a number of everyday supermarket chains. In 2018, Daily Mail caught her doing her own groceries at Waitrose and loading them into her car, all while visibly pregnant. Then, in 2021, she was spotted buying last-minute Halloween costumes for her kids at Sainsbury's, per Mirror. "It was like a surreal experience, to see her doing everyday things," a shopper told the mag. However, it shouldn't have been all that surprising as it's the same chain she popped into with her kiddos in 2020 to browse kids' clothes, just like any other mom. A shopper told Mirror, "You just don't expect it to happen; you think Kate would shop in Waitrose or Harrods," but as we've seen, that couldn't be further from the truth.
What's more, Kate is a clear example that style can come at any price point. The future queen is known for pulling pieces from every day shops like Zara and Mango and mixing her affordable staples with high-end brands. Like at the 2023 BAFTAs when she paired an Alexander McQueen gown with $28 Zara earrings. Equally impressive is the fact that she has no qualms about wearing the same outfits again and again. Bravo!
William and Kate are no strangers to the school run
Believe it or not, Prince William and Kate Middleton are extremely present parents. Indeed, they take turns dropping the kids off at school and, as Daily Mail confirms, are regular fixtures at Thomas's Battersea, where George was enrolled in 2017, followed by sister Charlotte in 2019. They're so committed, in fact, that Kate was even spotted at morning drop-off the day after she gave birth to Louis! As a fellow parent told the outlet, "No one really gives Kate a second glance when she does the school drop-off." Sharing the cheeky reason why, they quipped, "We have a Victoria's Secret model doing the school run, too, and the dads are far more interested in her!"
But it's not just drop-off that William and Kate are involved in. When the school invited parents for a morning coffee to get to know one another, William showed up. And when the school switched to online learning in March 2020 due to the pandemic, William and Kate rose to the challenge. Speaking with BBC that April, Kate admitted they found it tricky, like any parent, and actually told a little white lie to keep the kids occupied. "Don't tell the children; we've actually kept [learning] going through the holidays," she said, referencing Easter break. "I feel very mean!" Sharing something all parents could relate to, she laughed, "The children have got such stamina; I don't know how!"