On its 42nd anniversary… What don’t you know about Kate, Prince William’s wife?
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, celebrated her 42nd birthday in a family atmosphere on Tuesday. It seems that this year the celebrations were quite simple, while maintaining the traditions. The princess decided to spend her big day alone, according to several media outlets.
Kate is believed to have been spending time with her young family, her husband Prince William, and their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – away from the public eye.
Kate, Princess of Wales, walks alongside Princess Charlotte and Prince George, with William and Prince Louis behind them (AP)
While exact plans for the celebration have been kept largely under wraps this year, the royal family has been sending tributes to Kate via social media.
British King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated the Princess of Wales’ 42nd birthday with a photo taken during the coronation ceremony. Buckingham Palace posted the photo on its social media channels, with the description: “We wish the Princess of Wales a very happy birthday today.”
The photo shows the mother-of-three smiling and speaking to the King, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh following the service at Westminster Abbey in May.
Who is Kate Middleton?
Catherine (born 9 January 1982 in Reading, Berkshire, England) is the wife of William, Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne. In 2022, Catherine became Princess of Wales, a title previously held by her mother-in-law, the late Princess Diana. Similar to Diana, Catherine is known for her warmth and relatability. She is usually ranked among the most popular members of the royal family, according to Britannica.
Life and education
Catherine is the eldest of Michael and Carole Middleton’s three children, Philippa (Pippa) and James. Her parents met while working as flight attendants for British Airways and in 1987 they set up a mail order company selling children’s party supplies. The success of this venture, combined with the family legacy, allowed them to send Catherine to preparatory school and then to the prestigious Marlborough College in Wiltshire, England. At Marlborough, Catherine (then called Kate Middleton) was known as a serious and level-headed student, excelling in both athletics—she was captain of the school’s field hockey team—and academics.
In 2001, after a gap year, Middleton enrolled at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She studied art history there while working part-time as a waitress. After graduating from the University of St Andrews in 2005, she worked briefly as an accessories clerk for a clothing retailer and later held various roles in her parents’ company while she undertook a variety of charitable work.
While at St. Andrews, Middleton met Prince William, also a first-year art history student and second in line to the British throne (after his father Charles). According to Catherine, the two had been “very good friends” for about a year. In 2002 they moved in together and the relationship turned into a romantic story.
After several years of intense British media speculation about wedding plans, it was announced in November 2010 that the two were engaged. In preparation for joining the royal family, Kate Middleton reverted to the more formal name of Catherine. The royal wedding took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London and she was named Duchess of Cambridge.
Prince William and his wife Kate appear with their three children (AP)
General life
By most accounts, Catherine transitioned easily into royal life and quickly gained popularity. She participates in many charitable organizations, especially those aimed at children. In 2021 you founded the Children’s Centre, which is part of the Royal Foundation. Catherine also supported efforts related to mental health issues. In 2017, she teamed up with William and his brother, Prince Harry, to launch the Heads Together initiative, which seeks to raise awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with them.
Katherine is also a popular amateur photographer and often posts family photos online, according to Britannica.
Although she is immersed in her royal duties and lives in the spotlight most of her time, there are some things we may not know about the future queen:
She lived in Jordan as a child
Kate Middleton was born in Reading, England, in 1982. At the age of two, she moved with her family to Amman, Jordan, to work with her father Michael Middleton at British Airways. The Middleton family lived abroad for two and a half years and Kate entered foster care there, according to People magazine.
British Princess Catherine in a photo as a child during a Christmas party in 1983 (Reuters)
He received the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Kate had a special relationship with the late Prince Philip, husband of the late Queen Elizabeth, before joining the royal family. While at Marlborough College, she participated in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a youth development program founded by the Prince.
He later said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a great way for young people to develop self-confidence, learn new skills, work as part of a team and have fun along the way… Although receiving my Award d ‘It was difficult at times, it’s one of “My most memorable experiences growing up”.
He achieved a sporting record
The princess seems very comfortable exercising on formal occasions, and that’s because Kate grew up playing sports, particularly high jumping, according to People magazine.
While attending St. Andrew’s School (ages 4 to 13), he set a record in a track and field event that still stands today.
Gap year before university
After graduating from Marlboro in 2000, Kate took a year off. During that time she studied at the British Institute in Florence and went to Chile to do charity work.
The following year she enrolled at the University of St. Andrews in Edinburgh, Scotland, and met Prince William there.
She worked briefly as a waitress
Like many college students, Kate juggled work and classes. During an appearance on the BBC’s A Berry Royal Christmas special in 2019, she revealed she had briefly worked as a waitress and she joked that she wasn’t very good at it.
She did the wedding makeup herself
Kate didn’t hire a professional to do her makeup on her wedding day; the princess did it herself. In April 2011, People magazine reported that Kate took some private lessons with London-based makeup artist Arabella Preston before her royal wedding, to hone her skills in applying makeup for her big day.
Wedding planner Mark Nemeerko told PEOPLE that Kate has decided to “maintain some normality” in her life.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at their wedding (AP)
She prepares her children’s birthday cake herself
Kate previously revealed she was baking a birthday cake for her three children: Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4.
Kate said: “I love making cake. “It’s become a tradition for me to stay up until midnight with a lot of cake mix… but I love it.”
2024-01-10 14:18:45
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