Princess Kate’s surprising link to Downton Abbey star revealed

Though she’s now happily married to Prince William, the Princess of Wales once reportedly had a crush on an actor that many of us will have seen on screen…

The Princess of Wales smiling outside in pinstripe blazer

any years before she met Prince William and became a working member of the royal family with three children, the Princess of Wales led a very different life.

In fact, during her schooldays, Kate played a starring role in her school play, My Fair Lady, alongside someone many of us will now have seen on screen.

Aged 11, she played the lead role of Eliza Doolittle – complete with a cockney accent – with schoolmate Andrew de Perlaky, also known as Andrew Alexander.

Andrew grew up to star in Downton Abbey as Sir John Bullock, a friend of the Crawley family, who catches the eye of Rose, played by Lily James.

Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: Kate Middleton impresses with singing voice

There was even a rumour that a young Kate once had a crush on him, although he reportedly went on to date one of her friends.

He once said, as per Marie Claire: “It was funny because it was passed on to me, as happens at school, that Catherine liked me. She never told me that herself, she didn’t have the confidence.”

He claimed: “I do remember we would go off to the woods to play spin the bottle, and we even staged pretend marriages and had a quick kiss, but Catherine was never a part of that. She was on the outskirts and much shier than the other girls.”

Kate singing her heart out!

Recently, a throwback clip from Kate’s production of My Fair Lady resurfaced online, leaving royal fans completely spellbound.

The Princess sang Wouldn’t It Be Loverly perfectly in tune – and with an impeccable cockney accent.

Andrew starred in Downton Abbey alongside Lily James© BBC
Andrew starred in Downton Abbey alongside Lily James

Kate is believed to have been 11 years old at the time.

TikTok users were astonished, with one writing: “I’m getting Julie Andrews vibes and I love them both,” and another adding: “This is absolutely brilliant!!! Sooo adorable. The future Queen.” A third penned: “Omg she nailed it. Beautiful!”

Kate Middleton, the Princess Of Wales visits Castle Hill Academy in New Addington, Croydon to mark Children's Mental Health Week 2026 as a Patron of Place2Be, a UK children's mental health charity on February 12, 2026 in Croydon, England. (Photo by Richard Pohle-WPA Pool/Getty Images)© Getty Images
The Princess of Wales had a very early crush

Princess of Wales’s schooldays

Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleyon, sent her to the local Bradfield Church of England Primary School in 1986. She went on to take a place at St Andrew’s prep school in the local area, playing in the school sports teams.

The Princess boarded at Marlborough College between 1996 and 2000, where she obtained A-Levels in Maths, Art and English. She was also captain of the women’s field hockey team.

Marlborough College is a co-educational independent full boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18. Facilities in its stunning grounds include an indoor swimming pool, tennis court and an athletics track.

The Prince and Princess of Wales’s three children are currently pupils at Lambrook School in Berkshire, close to the family’s Windsor home, Forest Lodge.

However, 12-year-old Prince George will be attending a new secondary school from September. The Wales family have not confirmed which, but the frontrunners are believed to be Eton College or Marlborough.