Kate Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge, was born January 9, 1982. Daughter of Carole, former flight attendant, and Mike, former air traffic controller, both retrained in Party Pieces, their successful party decorating business, Catherine Middleton married Prince William – met at the University of Saint Andrews – on April 29, 2011.
Well surrounded by William, Camilla and the Queen, the commoner has adapted perfectly to life within the “firm”, and supports his charities. Today she is the most popular person in the royal family – thanks in particular to her charm and elegance – and the mother of two children: a son, George, and a daughter, Charlotte.
Wife of Prince William and mother of three children, Kate Middleton is known the world over. Member of the royal family, Kate Middleton has carved out a place for herself in the British monarchy.
Table of Contents
Childhood
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born on January 9, 1982 at Royal Berkshire Hospital and grew up in Berkshire. She is the daughter of Michael Middleton and Carole Goldsmith, who made their fortunes by starting a business selling party accessories. She is baptized on June 20, 1982 in St Andrew’s Bradfield, Berkshire. She has a brother named James Middleton born on April 15, 1987 and a younger sister, Philippa, nicknamed Pippa born on September 6, 1983.
Her father, Michael, was born in 1949, and her mother, Carole Middleton, née Goldsmith, in 1955. They meet when they worked for British Airways, and married in 1980. In 1987, the Middleton parents founded Party Pieces, a successful accessories business that made them millionaires.
Education
In 1984, Catherine, barely 2 years old, left with her parents and her sister Pippa for Amman, Jordan, and went to school there the following year. In 1986, the family returned to their native Berkshire. Kate entered St. Andrew’s School in Pangbourne, where she remained until 1995. She then studied at Malborough College, Wiltshire, before taking a sabbatical in 2000. During this one, Kate notably went to study at the British Institute in Florence, and to volunteer in Chile, like her future husband, Prince William. In 2001, the future Duchess joined the prestigious University of St. Andrews, Scotland, to study art history, and graduated in 2005.
Dating and relationship with Prince William
Catherine Middleton met Prince William at St Andrews University in 2001 during a charity parade. Catherine and Prince William began to see each other regularly in 2003. In 2005, the couple received all the attention, and the newspapers speculated on a possible marriage. This one being slow to be announced, Catherine is nicknamed “Waity Katie” (“Katie who waits”). The couple broke up briefly in 2007 before reuniting a few months later.
The couple got engaged in October 2010, during a private vacation in Kenya, after obtaining permission from Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine Middleton’s father. The engagement is officially announced on November, 2010, at Clarence House, after eight years together; on this occasion, Prince William gives Kate the engagement ring that her father had given to her mother, Diana Spencer.
Outside of her baptism in the Church of England at the age of five months, Catherine Middleton is not a regular practitioner. Although this is not a legal obligation for her marriage to Prince William, who would become “supreme governor of the Church of England” in the event of accession to the throne, Catherine Middleton wishes to confirm her at a private service in March 2011 celebrated by the Bishop of London, who officiates a few months later at the royal wedding. She explains it as a private choice that is “part of her preparation for marriage”.
From miss to duchess
Kate meets William when she is a student at St. Andrews University. In 2002, they lived in a shared apartment with two of their friends, and began to see each other at that time. However, legend has it that the prince fell in love with her during a charity fashion show. The girl was wearing a very transparent minidress, which has since been auctioned. In 2003, the two young people are in a relationship; their relationship is formalized at Noel. After a short separation in spring 2007 and while on vacation in Switzerland, they announced their engagement in October 2010; this long wait has earned her the nickname “Waity Katy”. On April 29, 2011, in front of several million viewers, Kate, stunning in an Alexander McQueen dress, married Prince Williamin Westminster Abbey.
She goes from Miss Middleton to Duchess of Cambridge. After their honeymoon in the Seychelles, the couple settled on the island of Anglesey, in North Wales, not far from William’s air base. The Duchess’ first pregnancy was revealed in December 2012, following acute nausea. On July 22, 2013, the couple gave birth to George, at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, and the little one became third in succession. In September 2014, the Duchess was again hospitalized for acute nausea, the opportunity to lift the veil on a second pregnancy. Princess Charlotte first opened her eyes on May 2, 2015, in the same maternity ward as her brother, father and uncle before. The family has since settled in the mansion of Anmer Hall in Norfolk County.
Official commitments
Kate Middleton’s first official engagement takes place months before her wedding in Anglesey, North Wales. On this occasion, Prince William and his fiancée are invited to baptize a boat. A few days later they travel to St Andrews for the launch of the celebrations of 600th anniversary of their former university
In 2011, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their first official trip to Canada and the United States. On this occasion, the princely couple meet the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle.
In 2012, The Duke, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales were appointed London Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games Ambassadors. They attend the opening and closing ceremonies and support British athletes throughout the games. In September 2012, Buckingham Palace announced a visit of the Duke and Duchess to Asia on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Philanthropy
In March 2011, William and Catherine announced the establishment of a fund under the aegis of the Prince William and Prince Harry Foundation. Through this fund, the couple shows their desire to see donations made to associations instead of traditional wedding gifts. The money collected was distributed among 26 associations chosen by William and Catherine and supporting causes important to them (the armed forces, children, the elderly, the arts, sports …). She chairs it.
Most of the British royal family also patronize public interest associations. Diana Spencer‘s fight against anti-personnel mines in Africa was particularly publicized and her action was preponderant: Treaty for the prohibition of anti-personnel mines, Ottawa treaty signed on December 3, 1997(therefore, shortly after his death) by 122 countries. The choice of associations that she wishes to support is however left to the appreciation of the new Duchess of Cambridge. In January 2012, the Duchess announced the charities she supports:
●The Art Room
●National Portrait Gallery
●East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH)
●Action on Addiction
Full title
Of common birth, Catherine Middleton did not bear any title of nobility before her marriage. She now bears the title of her husband and her official title is “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, Baroness Carrickfergus”
The name “Princess Catherine” is incorrect. Being princess only by marriage, she is Princess William (as the wife of Prince William). Only a decree from the Queen (as was the case with Prince Philip or Princess Alice ) would allow the Duchess of Cambridge to bear the title of “Princess Catherine”.
Coat of arms
On April 19, 2011, the arms of Catherine Middleton who notably adorned the wedding program are formalized. Of common origin, the Middleton family did not have a specific coat of arms. Michael Middleton therefore applied for a creation to the College of Arms. Catherine Middleton would have been very involved in the design of her coat of arms. They represent three branches of oak separated by a golden chevron and are emblazoned “Party of azure and gules, a chevron of gold coticé argent, accompanied by three overturned acorns of gold, stems and leaves of the same”.
As tradition dictates, the coat of arms was created for Michael Middleton and is therefore usable by his wife and their Middleton descendants. Catherine’s coat of arms, before her marriage to Prince William, corresponded to her father’s coat of arms presented in a female shield, the blue ribbon symbolizing the fact that the young woman was not yet married. For Thomas Woodcock, who heads the College of Arms, “the purpose [of this coat of arms] was to represent the entire Middleton family, their home, and what they love”. It is transmitted through the posterity of his brother James.
Things you might not know about Kate Middleton
Since their marriage on April 29, 2011, the couple has brought a breath of fresh air to the royal family. And this especially thanks to the pretty Kate Middleton, who likes to destroy her image of Duchess of Cambridge and put herself at the level of her future subjects. Coming from a family of commoners, she elegantly combines her image as a member of the royal family and a young mother of two from Berkshire. Here are ten things you might not know about Catherine Middleton.
She doesn’t like being called Kate
Since she was Duchess of Cambridge, protocol has always been to call her Catherine. Her nickname Kate comes mostly from the English tabloids. Even though you can’t help but call her that, she really prefers to be called Catherine!
She met William in 2001
Prince William and Catherine did not exactly meet on the benches of the university, since they were both parts of the prestigious University of St Andrews located in Scotland. Kate was studying art history and William was studying geography. It was during a charity parade that the prince fell in love with the young woman. First friends, they start dating more officially in 2003. They break up briefly in 2007, then William will propose in 2010.
She is very sporty
From a young age, she played field hockey, she was even captain of her team in high school. She also enjoys skiing, swimming and tennis.
She brings back her clothes several times
If this information may seem bizarre, it is not, since the Duchess of Cambridge does not hesitate to postpone the same pieces that she takes on the road or during official ceremonies. Fan of shopping, she obviously wears expensive pieces, but also likes more accessible stores like Zara, TopShop or H&M.
She suffers from Hyperemesis Gravidarum
This Latin formula is actually a chronic illness that pains Kate when she is pregnant. Indeed, it is a disease that occurs only during pregnancy in some women, which causes a lot of vomiting or strong nausea. There is also dehydration, constipation, imbalance in hormone levels, subconjunctival hemorrhage, hallucinations… Not at all encouraging!
She organizes a “real” Christmas with her children
The tradition and the protocol for Christmas Day concerning the royal family are very strict: indeed the atmosphere is not necessarily relaxed. Based on bow and courtesy, the guests have a very busy program that is sent to them a few days before Christmas Day. Everything takes place at Sandringham Palace, where they must arrive in a hierarchical fashion, according to their seniority. No one should go to bed before the Queen. Kate has always wanted to have an unofficial Christmas with her children, much more relaxed and above all less formal, with Christmas sweaters, tree, and gifts in pajamas.
She is very party girl
Since she was a student, the young woman has always liked to party. The English tabloids were given to their heart’s content on her case when she broke up with William in 2007. She was then seen scouring nightclubs. It is even said that she has a good descent, better than William’s!
She had a “real” job
Before joining the royal family and officially becoming a duchess, she was project manager for her parents’ company. She was in charge of the site’s design and photos.
She has famous cousins
Although she is not an aristocrat, the young woman is genealogically linked to beautiful people! Even if these are rather distant links, she has ancestors on the side of George Washington, the first president of the United States. She also has ties to Guy Ritchie and Ellen Degeneres.
Photographic scandal
In September 2012, the celebrity press magazine Closer as well as the magazine Chi, of the Mondadori press group, of which Silvio Berlusconi is the owner, published photos of the naked Duchess with her husband on the terrace of a villa in Provence. The couple then lodged a complaint, the case being followed to the tribunal instance of Nanterre which, initially, prohibited the publisher Mondadori “from assigning or distributing [the photographs] by any means, on any medium, to anyone and in any way, especially on digital tablets ”and ordered him “to return to the princely couple” all the digital media “containing these photographs”, then opened a criminal investigation for violation of privacy.
