Catherine, Her Royal Highness the Dutchess

of Cambridge
Early Life
Kate Middleton was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton on January 9, 1982, in
Reading, Berkshire, England, to pilot Michael and flight attendant Carole
Middleton. Middleton has a younger sister, Philippa ("Pippa") and a younger
brother, James.Kate came from a decidedly working-class stock of coal miners
and builders. Her maternal grandmother, Dorothy Goldsmith, became the first
member of the family to attempt to improve the family's social and economic
status. Dorothy pushed her children to aim high and, as a result, Kate's
mother became an airline hostessat the time, a considerably glamorous
job. It was on this job that Carole met dispatcher Michael Middleton.
By the time Kate was born, her mother was already looking for new ways to
climb the social ladder. In 1987, Kate's mother founded her own mail-order
party goods company, with ambitions of sending her children to private
schools. The business was a surprise success, eventually making the
Middleton family multi-millionaires.
As a result of this new-found income, Kate attended exclusive boarding
schools, including St. Andrew's Prep School, Down House, and Marlborough
College. But her time in boarding school did not come without its conflicts.
Kate left the exclusive Down House all-girls boarding school at the age of 13,
due to bullying and taunts from other students there
In 2001, Middleton became a student at the University of St Andrews in Fife,
Scotlandthe first in her family to attend college. While in her first year at
the university, Middleton was placed in the dormitory St. Salvators Hallthe
same building as Prince William of Wales. Middleton and Prince William
shared several classes in their course schedule as well, and soon became
friends. But while they often shared breakfast and walked to classes together,
the two were not interested in each other romantically at first. Middleton was
dating senior Rupert Finch, and William was busy dealing with the press and
struggling with his feelings about his new school.
But in 2002, Middleton appeared in an exclusive fashion-show fundraiser
wearing a revealing dress. William was also present at the charity event, and
became intrigued and interested in Kate in a new way. He attempted to
engage her romantically that evening but, still in a relationship with Finch,
Middleton spurned the future king's advances.
Royal Romance
By the end of 2002, Middleton's boyfriend had graduated. The couple soon

parted ways over issues of distance. Newly single and entering her junior
year, Middleton and several friends were invited to share a flat with Prince
William. In 2003, Middleton and the prince fell into a natural romance, and
began dating.
At first, Middleton's life didn't change much. The couple kept their
relationship a secret for several years, mostly due to the prince's extreme
distrust of the press. The couple agreed not to hold hands in public, or be
seen sitting together at dinner parties.But in 2004, Kate was caught by
paparazzi while on a royal family ski trip. Her relationship with William
became the subject of intense scrutiny and, by 2005, she was a tabloid
favorite.
Marriage to Prince William
On November 16, 2010, Middleton and Prince William announced their
engagement. The prince proposed during a vacation to Kenya, and he
presented Kate with his mother's engagement ring. The couple then
announced plans to live in North Wales, where Prince William is stationed with
the Royal Air Force, after their marriage.
On April 29, 2011, the couple married at Westminster Abbey in London. Kate
wore a dress designed by Sarah Burtona fact that remained a closely
guarded secret until the big day. Shortly before the wedding, Queen Elizabeth
conferred Kate with the title of Catherine, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Cambridge
Royal Pregnancy
On December 3, 2012, after almost a year of baby rumors and much
speculation, St. James Palace officially announced that Kate Middleton was
pregnant. On the same day of the announcement, Middleton, with Prince
William by her side, was hospitalized at King Edward VII hospital in London
with acute morning sickness.
"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very
pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby,"
the official statement confirmed the pregnancy. "The Queen, The Duke of
Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry
and members of both families are delighted with the news."
In September 2014, it was announced that Kate Middleton was pregnant with
the couple's second child.
Royal Births
Anticipating the arrival of Middleton and Prince William's first born,

international media outlets camped out in front of St. Mary's Hospital in

Paddington at the beginning of July 2013. St. Mary's was the same hospital
where Princess Diana gave birth to Prince William and later Prince Harry.
On July 22, 2013, the palace announced Middleton had given birth to a baby
boy, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge , the third in line to British
throne, following Prince Charles and Prince William.
On May 2, 2015, she gave birth to a daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth
Diana. The baby is the Queen's fifth great-grandchild and the fourth in line to
the throne after her brother Prince George.