Prince William may prove Freud wrong. Though many have drawn comparisons between Kate Middleton and Princess Diana, Middleton bears a resemblance to another woman in the royal circle: William’s childhood caretaker, Alexandra “Tiggy” Legge-Bourke.
When Charles and Diana announced their separation in 1993, Legge-Bourke became a pivotal person for William, 11, and Harry, 9. As an avid outdoorswoman, she took the princes rock climbing, and spent holidays with them in Klosters, Switzerland. Middleton, too, is an avid outdoorswoman—and has also spent holidays with the prince in Klosters.
Gallery: Kate Middleton vs. Tiggy Legge-Bourke
Though Middleton has been largely embraced by the royal family, Legge-Bourke and Princess Diana were not on good terms. During her time on the royal payroll, she grew particularly close to the princes, whom she infamously referred to as " my babies" in one eyebrow-raising interview. Besides the tabloid rumors that Legge-Bourke had an abortion after being impregnated by Prince Charles, William requested his nanny and not his mother or father attend the esteemed parents' day celebration at Eton College in 1996. The following year, Diana reportedly refused to let Legge-Bourke attend William's confirmation. And, when it comes to an admiration of childhood nannies, the apple may not fall far from the tree: Prince Charles' boyhood caretaker Mabel Anderson was rumored to be the blueprint for his female ideal—and a dead ringer for Camilla Parker Bowles.