Former classmates have revealed that Kate Middleton was forced to change high schools as a teenager because of relentless bullying.
The Sun reports that Kate’s parents pulled her out of the prestigious all-girls boarding school Downe House after the 13-year-old became an “emotional wreck”.
“She was picked on because she was perfect, well turned-out and lovely,” school friend Jessica Hay told the publication, adding that the Duchess of Cambridge was left so traumatised by years of teasing she developed eczema due to stress.
![kate middleton st andrews](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/46046/kate-middleton-school.jpg)
After starting at Marlborough College, Kate “had very little confidence” ex-classmate Gemma Williamson, told the Daily Mail.
But evidently, the move was a successful one as Kate went on to become a prefect, head of house and voted by her peers as “most likely to be loved by all”.
In a touching gesture, Kate and William went on the request that guests at their 2011 wedding donate to charity Beatbullying in lieu of gifts.