Further than the initial scene between Kate and Carole Middleton, Season 6 of “The Crown” also hinted, repeatedly, that the latter was a social climber. Throughout the episode, she’s seen listening intently to news reports about where he would be going to university and what he’d be doing for his gap year. Then, in one scene, Kate confronts her about it, pointing out that her being around Prince William was never coincidental.
“The Crown” wasn’t the first time Carole was accused of setting her eldest daughter up for a shot with the heir to the throne. After William dumped Kate back in 2007, the Daily Mail spoke with insiders who framed her as a social climber. “There’s no doubt that Kate loved William but it hasn’t helped that, in the background, Carole has been encouraging her forward every step of the way,” they claimed. It’s pretty clear “The Crown” used that sentiment as a starting point. And, in all honesty, it’s not that surprising. As was pointed out by Vogue, because the Middleton family generally steers clear from speaking to the press, almost all the information out there about them comes from speculation.
Nevertheless, Gary Goldsmith told “The Crown: Fact or Fiction” that he believed the characterization missed the mark. Though he stressed that it could have been funny to allude to the rumors, he mentioned that he felt the tone of the storyline took things too far.
