Olivia Wilkes

Aron Muci
English 101
01 November 2015
Prince William and Kate Middleton: Class Action
Many people around the world would describe the marriage of beautiful commoner
Kate Middleton to desirable British royalty Prince William as a modern-day fairytale. The
whirlwind relationship of these two individuals became widely watched by worldwide media and
the public as well. Its a classic love story: the rise of a beautiful peasant girl into the ranks of
royalty thanks to dashing Prince William. But was Kate really a peasant? Coming from a family
of self-made millionaires as well as running in elite circles as early as high school, the nowDuchess of Cambridge seemed fit for royalty from the start. But thats only what us commoners
would think. To members of Great Britains wealthy and monarchial elite, Kate and William are
very much not the same. Because of the well-defined and strictly followed socio-economic class
structure that presently exists in Britain today, Will and Kate are surely not on equal par. The
marriage of these two individuals draws 19th century cultural tensions to the surface and breaks
the strict class barriers within British society like never before.
Catherine Elizabeth Kate Middleton was born in Reading, Berkshire, England in 1982
to Michael Middleton, an airline officer and Carole Goldsmith, an air hostess. Her father struck
success in her family business entitled Party Pieces a mail order company that sells
childrens party supplies, and the Middletons quickly became self-made millionaires. Because of
this, Kate was able to attend $32,000-a-year private boarding school at Marlborough College,
where she excelled at multiple sports. Her familys newfound wealth allowed her to run with an
elite circle, where she even briefly met Prince William before they both began their studies at the
prestigious University of St. Andrews. Their relationship ultimately launched when Prince

William paid $200 to sit front row to watch a scantily clad Kate walk down the runway of a
student charity fashion show. As the time went on, their eight-year romance as well as their
media attention flourished, conclusively leading to an engagement in 2010 and a royal wedding
in 2011. Part of what made the world so fascinated with this courtship is because Kate did not
hail from royal blood. In terms of Britains class distinctions, even though she comes from
money and good breeding, she is still very much considered a commoner because of her humble
lineage. (Kate Middleton's 'commoner' status stirs up Britons' old class divide.)
The marriage of William and Kate seems like such a fairytale because of her peasant
status, but its a little far fetched. Evening Standard columnist Richard Godwin quotes But most
of all, you look at Kates background and you see there is nothing common about her.
(Godwin). Kate came from a family of millionaires, and definitely ran in a considerably similar
circle to Prince William seeing as they already met before college. In addition to going to the
same school as Will, she received a pricy and prestigious education all through her life. She
clearly looks well suited for royalty and didnt struggle fitting in once she married Prince
William. She even exhibited these tendencies in college, with friends at Marlborough
nicknaming her princess in waiting.
On the other hand, the idea of Kate actually belonging to the upper-tier of British society
is something only a fellow commoner would think. To someone in royal wealth circles, Prince
William and Kate Middleton do not come close in class at all. Even though she entered the world
of Britains moneyed and titled (Kate Middleton's 'commoner' status stirs up Britons' old class
divide) before she even met Prince William, her common status still hung over her head. Will and
Kates romance stirred up the debate of marrying down between Britains class apologists. She
faced intense media scrutiny, and was looked down upon due to the fact that she came from new

money. Articles with titles like Kate Middleton: From Pit to Palace (Londons Daily Mail)
emerged frequently, alluding to the fact that she went from rags to riches. Allegedly, members of
Prince Williams circle frequently made doors to manual jokes because Kates parents worked
on aircrafts. The British media was not afraid to openly discuss Kates bourgeois pedigree, with
journalist James Whitaker echoing much of high-societys thoughts by writing "I'm not against
the middle class as such, but I do query whether she has the background and breeding to be
queen one day. (Whitaker). Many British news sources, including the BBC all designated Kate
as a commoner.
The intense media scrutiny Kate Middleton faced as well as the widespread use of the
debasing term commoner leads to the ignition of an overall debate regarding rank and lineage
in modern-day Britain. According to the Washington Post, although the term commoner many
be accurate, others here are wincing at the notion that a young woman whose family's self-made
fortune is larger than many in the landed gentry is being so strongly defined by her bloodline in
21st century Britain. (Kate Middleton's 'commoner' status stirs up Britons' old class divide).
Even though there is a rising middle class in Britain, including mega-rich commoners like J.K.
Rowling, money is not the only issue regarding British class differences; the cultural element can
be huge as well. Despite the increase of celebrity/wealthy commoners, in Britain, ones status is
still only narrowly defined by birthright and breeding. In regards to the fact that Commoner
Kate isnt actually a commoner, Richard Godwin comments on the present class-distinctions by
saying It's quite depressing, this word, like we're going back to a 19th century theme-park
Britain, to an age of deference to the monarchy." (Godwin).
Godwin brings up a very accurate point. According to bbc.com, a huge survey taken in
April 2013 reveals seven social classes in the UK. The traditional 3 categories of working,

middle and upper class are now outdated fitting only 39% of people. From top to bottom, the
classes are defined as elite, established middle class, technical middle class, new affluent
workers, traditional working class, emergent service workers, and lastly precariat/precarious
proletariat. (BBC News). This survey defined class in traditional ways such as occupation,
wealth, and education but also added new, detailed research regarding the economic, social and
cultural dimensions of class as well. The British fascination with their own social structures leads
to the fact that the age-old divides in Britain show no signs of disappearing. The strongly defined
class barriers bring up several serious questions the first being the daunting idea of how only a
narrow social elite is running the UK. How can they understand the common and diverse people
they are trying to serve when Britains leaders are so heavily comprised of people from very
similar backgrounds? Britain yearns for greater social mobility, but there is little sign of change.
This leads us to think about how historically Britain and the United States alike have evolved
into a open, mobile, and progressive society, but its striking how many of us marry up/down.
Peoples unwillingness to reach across the class aisle brings us to the like attracts like theory.
According to the Institute for Social and Economic Research in the UK, high earners tend to
marry high earners, graduates tend to marry graduates, and so fourth. In addition, couples with
the same background tend to have less marital stress as opposed to those who come from
different circumstances. (Relationships: A class course in wedded bliss). In America, snobbery
comes from the amount of money you have, but in Britain, its about your family line.
The aristocratic frenzy surrounding William and Kates relationship also has far-reaching
effects across the pond. Although America doesnt have a definitive class structure that has been
in existence since the 1800s, looking at the issue that no one wants to discuss of marrying
up/down in the U.S. reflects upon the level of American mobility as well. As previously stated,

how we judge class in the U.S. is by the amount of money you have, not your household lineage.
Although, having money just isnt enough its also how you make it. To some people who
started with nothing and came to earn millions (sports players, rappers, models, reality TV stars,
etc.) are viewed as celebrities, but to others they arent because of the way in which they made
their money. For example, as a society we view Kanye West as a very wealthy person, even
though he grew up in poverty. We also view Steve Jobs (someone who also started from the
bottom) to be a wealthy person as well, but even though these two individuals are both affluent,
society doesnt view their wealth in the same way because of how Kanye made his money versus
the way Steve made his. The way marriage breaks down class in U.K. reflects similarly in the
U.S. We dont have 7 specific class sectors, but we do have a very strongly defined upper,
middle, and lower class and even more detailed distinctions within those (for example lowermiddle class.) Although it isnt as openly discussed in the media, we still face problems similar
to Britain when it comes to extending across the aisle and marrying out of your class. Its good
that we dont have such a rigid and definitive class system, but its concerning that this same
issue sheds light on our own class differences and divides.
Are we really that different from Britain? American history has paved the way for todays
present views of social rank and marriage. For example, slave-era laws and overall racism has
lead to a negative view of miscegenation, with some towns still implementing antimiscegenation laws today. Many other factors have defined our views on who we should marry,
but it still all perpetuates to the like attracts like theory. When it comes to nuptials, most
Americans do not step outside their own caste. As progressive, modern Americans, we tend
look down on Britain for the way Kate is seen as a commoner and the way shes viewed by the

wealthy and monarchial elite, but we act the same way when it comes to class differences. We
truly arent as progressive as we think.
Although Middletons family line was often under scrutiny, the Royal Wedding finally
made her the first middle class queen in waiting. Around the time of William and Kates
marriage, royal watchers and the media alike seemed to momentarily forget their class views and
created an extreme media obsession around Kate. The public in the UK as well as in the U.S. had
a huge fascination about how she rose to royal ranks, and her story was a headline waiting to
happen. There was even a Lifetime movie created about her and Will. Global audiences fell in
love with her charming personality and captivating looks, leading to what was called the Kate
Effect. The Kate Effect can be defined as the Duchess of Cambridges effect she has on fashion
and others. According to Newsweek, "The Kate Effect may be worth 1 billion to the UK fashion
industry." Kate has spiked sales of everything from coral jeans to cosmetic surgery for brides.
Staple items that she wears quickly sell out, making her an international style icon. Because of
her recent positive portrayal in the media, slight changes have been happening regarding British
class distinctions. Recent high profile cross class unions such as Crown Princess Victoria of
Sweden marrying her personal trainer, or Lady Edwina Grosvenor, (the daughter of the Duke of
Westminister,) marrying TV presenter Dan Snow. In Jesse Singals book The Power of The
Past: Understanding Cross-Class Marriages he quotes that cross-class marriages can ultimately
work out. Rather than disliking someone for being unlike us regarding class-based differences,
people are attracted to something in the other person that they have missing from their own
background, and they value the difference.
Perhaps thats why William and Kate work so well. They arent blind to their class-based
problems (and the national archaic class-divide controversy they sparked) and they value the

differences in each other. Their rise to celebrity couple status drew attention to the debate of
weather Kate is normal commoner at all. Janet Street Porter said in a BBC spot, "She went to
[private] school, then to posh university and has been photographed in swanky nightclubs where
drinks cost 20 pounds a pop . . . Normal? Not really." Moreover, the debate over Kates normal
status ultimately reflects the British fascination with their social structures. This ancient
viewpoint about someones socio-economic standing sheds light on the important issue of the
age-old, unmoving class divides in Britain today, and furthermore makes us wonder about the
true progressiveness of society at home and abroad.

Photostream link:
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Works Cited

"Catherine Kate Middleton Biography." Biography Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
"Class Action: The Age-old Divides in British Society Show No Sign of Disappearing..." The
Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 28 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Faiola, Anthony. "Kate Middleton's 'commoner' Status Stirs up Britons' Old Class Divide."
Washington Post. The Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2010. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
"Huge Survey Reveals Seven Social Classes in UK." BBC News. BBC, 4 Apr. 2013. Web. 11
Nov. 2015.
Milligan, Lauren. "The Kate Effect." Vogue UK. N.p., 22 July 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Moore for The Mail on Sunday, Anna. "Relationships: A Class Course in Wedded Bliss." Daily
Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
Moore, Tracy. "Can You Marry Outside Your Class? Yes, If You Talk About It." Jezebel. N.p., 26
Feb. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.