Kate Middleton was devastated by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and she wasn’t afraid to show her grief. In the first photos of Kate after the death, she is seen dressed in black, with sunglasses on and pearl earrings, which signify periods of mourning. To make it worse, Kate had to break the news to her three children, resulting in “lots of tears and hugs.”

Sadly, not long before the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Kate lost Christine Hill, who was not only a friend but an antenatal expert who was there for the royal during her first pregnancy. Kate didn’t speak out directly about the death, but has been vocal about how difficult her first pregnancy was, and Hill was a great help to her throughout that time.

It’s plain to see that Kate is a great mom to George, Charlotte, and Louis, and she and William are raising their children with all the perks that come with being royalty. However, Kate has been vocal about her struggles to balance motherhood with her royal duties, saying “It’s a constant challenge… [You’re] always sort of questioning your own decisions.”

Unfortunately, some believe that Kate didn’t have the best time at school when she was younger and attended the all-girl boarding school, Downe House. One of her previous school friends revealed, “[Kate] hated it […] Some of the girls were horrible. She was picked on because she was perfect […] [Kate] was not the type to stick up for herself.”

For royals, rumors and gossip are inevitable, and some rumors don’t go away, like those speculating about William’s infidelity. The rumor claiming that William had an affair with family friend Rose Hanbury resurfaces every few months, and while the royal family has never commented, it is confirmed that Kate and Hanbury had a falling out.

Celebrities are the bread and butter of tabloids, so it’s no surprise that royals get a lot of attention. Kate has struggled the media, particularly before she was an official member of the family and wasn’t entitled to any state-funded security measures. The paparazzi would even shout offensive things in an attempt to get a reaction from her.