The Crown: Unraveling the Role of Carole Middleton in Kate & William's Relationship
A deep dive into the portrayal of Carole Middleton in The Crown and the real-life events surrounding Kate and William's romance.
The Controversial Portrayal of Carole Middleton
The Crown season 6, episode 7, 'Alma Mater,' focuses on the budding romance between Kate Middleton and Prince William, and its version of events has already stirred up old rumors about Kate's mother, Carole Middleton. The show portrays Carole as a pushy, opportunistic social climber who hopes to engineer a royal marriage for her eldest daughter. This interpretation plays off of popular opinions about Carole; when the real Kate and William first went public with their love in 2004, British tabloids were quick to accuse Carole of masterminding the match, pointing out that Carole herself had married into wealth and could well be influencing her daughter to do the same.
Prince William (Ed McVey) and Kate (Meg Bellamy) standing face to face in The Crown
As The Crown's story draws nearer to the present, its interpretations of more recent events have stirred controversy, prompting Netflix to issue a disclaimer that the show is a fictional dramatization. The Royals themselves have been tight-lipped about their feelings regarding the show, and Carole Middleton has followed suit; if she finds fault with the show's version of events, she's kept her disapproval to herself, and she certainly has not chosen to clarify whether she actually set up Kate and William. After the tabloid backlash that ensued when the pair's relationship was announced, it makes sense that Carole isn't interested in entertaining rumors. However, her silence leaves room for speculation.
Was Carole Middleton Responsible For Setting Up Kate With William?
The Alleged Influence on Kate's University Choice
The Crown kicks off the romance between Kate Middleton and Prince William with a fictional chance meeting in 1996. After this encounter, Kate is pushed by her mother Carole to attend St. Andrews College, where Prince William has decided to pursue a degree in art history. This plot point has rekindled an interesting fact from the real Kate Middleton's past; though she did indeed meet William at St. Andrews, she was originally accepted to Edinburgh University. Her sudden change of plans occurred right when Prince William announced that he would be attending St. Andrews, and the reason for her decision has never been publicly explained, making it possible that she chose St. Andrews after learning that the Prince would be there.
Prince William and Kate Middleton on the balcony at their wedding, with the two sharing a kiss in the middle
Furthermore, some experts on the royal family, such as biographer Tina Brown, believe that Carole was behind Kate's university swap. It has been confirmed that Edinburgh University was Kate's first choice, rendering it unlikely that Kate would change her mind on a whim; pressure from her mother would explain the sudden pivot from her dream school to St. Andrews. However, the royal family has been tight-lipped about this piece of history, leaving it within the realm of possibility that Kate merely changed her mind on her own. While there is reason to believe that Carole's meddling in The Crown is based on the truth, there is no proof that the real Carole pushed her daughter to transfer schools and get closer to William.
The Social Climber Narrative and Its Implications
Carole Middleton's role in Kate and William's romance has been widely discussed ever since the pair's relationship was first announced. Since Kate was not a member of the nobility, she seemed at first to be a surprising choice for the heir to the British throne. Their unusual romance prompted speculation that the young lovers had been pushed together by an outside force. Carole, who had famously been working as an airline stewardess when she met Kate's wealthy father, was an obvious suspect; the press quickly labeled her a social climber, leading many to believe that she was trying to force an advantageous marriage on her daughter.
At the end of the day, it is impossible to say whether Carole truly engineered her daughter's royal marriage. Though it generally remains faithful to reality, The Crown has been known to fictionalize the lives of the royals to create a more compelling story, and the addition of Carole as the mastermind behind Kate and William's relationship adds dramatic tension to the episode. UK tabloids are also notoriously bombastic and speculative, so making up a story to sell is completely within the realm of possibility. In real life, Carole was a strong supporter of her daughter's success, and it is very possible that she encouraged Kate to pursue William, but there is no proof that she interfered as heavily as her on-screen counterpart in The Crown.
