is Kate Middleton really "middle class"?

[hatwoman]

she seems lovely and I know, in theory, she's not gentry, but I strongly suspect that if I met her I'd think she was quite posh.

[Nancy66]

I think she's got awful teeth....very overcrowded.

It doesn't matter how posh you sound or how much money you can never be more than middle class - the aristos are born into it

[diddl]

Wonder how long it takes for new money to become old?

[DamselInDisgrace]

The term 'middle class' is pretty much meaningless, since it supposedly describes the majority of the population. There are such ridiculous differences between the 'lower middle classes' and the 'upper middle classes' that I don't see why anyone bothers with the term at all.

Also, who cares what class Kate Middleton is? I'm just amazed that anyone would want to marry into the royal family.

Those fees are astronomical. I like how they charge extra for music tuition, on top of the nearly £ 30k for boarders.

[thenightsky]

Not as middle class as her in-laws

[GMajor7]

A silver spoon is definitely involved.

Ho hum. Not sure I could put up with wearing corsages and hats with nets on for the rest of my days

[POFAKKEDDthechair]

I'm rather glad she is not aristocracy. The royal family needs some new blood. Her grandparents were working class. She is nouvea riche I suppose but does not seem vulgar or to flaunt it.

I'm one of those who wishes there had been a revolution long ago, but have a sneaking admiration for William and Harry.

They better not spend public money on the wedding though.

[MooMooFarm]

Jason Manford made me snigger on The One Show last night - he said he was surprised by how posh she sounded in the interview; from how the press have been describing her you would have thought she works in Greggs

[TheCoalitionNeedsYou]

I don't care.

[Willabywallaby]

She is very well spoken.

Interesting that someone I know went to Marlborough and describes her parents as Nouveau Riche, maybe that's where they all go. But isn't that where Prince Andrew's girls went?

[piscesmoon]

The British Class system is alive and well! It all seems very snobbish and who cares?

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I would say that she is middle middle class.

I like the fact that someone with grandparents who were miners is going to be a princess. It's a bloody shame she hasn't got a ripe Durham accent to go with it.

[Willabywallaby]

I agree it would've been great if she came out with an accent. But then the 'friends' that were interviewed were very well spoken too. probably the majority of St Andrew's university are.

[Concordia]

i just can't understand why, if we are middle class but our whole family takes home about the same as day fees for her school how she can be middle class too?
i hate the term as it kind of assumes that people on say £28k and DC are the in the same boat, and they clearly aren't, are they?
i wish one of the main royals would marry someone with a proper regional account though. she sounds very posh to me.

[seeker]

Class and money are two completely different things. People confuse "middle class" with "middle income".

Class is about attitude, occupation, language - you can be church mouse poor and still be middle class, and loaded with dosh and not.

[lalalonglegs]

This thread is astonishing - who gives a toss where she went to school, what her father does and whether she says "napkin" or "serviette" . I used to be quite skeptical when people from other countries claimed the British were obsessed with class - looks like I was wrong .

[diddl]

Isn´t it just opinions?

[Habbibu]

Lots of St Andrews university students have American accents!

And ppfft to well-spoken. She has an RP accent. You can have an attractive voice in any accent, and vice versa.

[anonacfr]

What's RP? She has the same accent as Diana- very old style Sloane. A bit surprising in someone her age really.

[seeker]

There are even a couple of undergraduates (not students, by the way!) at St Andrews who have Scottish accents. Edinburgh ones, obviously.......

[Habbibu]

Received pronunciation

[EdgarAirbombPoe]

well ok, does it matter?

in the great scheme of things no, not in the slightest.

i just find the medias perception of 'class' an interesting topic to shoot the breeze on. Because it differs from my perception. I think if the same woman was banging russell brand, she'd be described as 'posh totty'.

feels a bit sick on that thought

[VivaLeBeaver]

IME the aristocracy (I used to work for a very aristocratic family) are a bit sniffy about the Royals. They consider them all, even the Queen to be middle class and look down their noses at them. Lots of sniggery jokes about "Liz".

[mamatomany]

Concordia - the problem is far too many people think they are middle class when they clearly aren't. My mother for example thinks she's middle class on 18k a year.
I consider ourselves to be working class despite sending the children to private school because we clearly aren't in the Middletons league at all.