In the years since Kate Middleton first became publicly known as the girlfriend of Prince William, she joined the royal family, became the Duchess of Cambridge, and gave birth to three royal heirs—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Now, the Princess of Wales—the title she assumed as King Charles ascended the throne—has grown into one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent charitable advocates for children, mental health, and the arts.
Born on January 9, 1982, in Reading, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton spent much of her childhood in the small Berkshire village of Bucklebury, where her parents Michael and Carole settled after Carole built her party-decorations business, Party Pieces, into a financial success. She and siblings Pippa and James were all educated at Marlborough College, and during her time there, Kate excelled as an athlete. She arrived at University of St. Andrew’s in 2001 after taking a gap year, where she chose to study the history of art. She first befriended William in their shared residence hall, and the next year, she moved into an off-campus house with the prince and two of his close friends.
After graduation, Kate and William’s relationship became a tabloid fixture. Kate took a job working as an accessories buyer at the clothing chain Jigsaw, while William trained for military service. The couple announced their engagement in November 2010, and were married in a Westminster Abbey ceremony on April 29, 2011. Kate eased her way into taking on full-time royal duties, and delivered her first speech as a senior royal in March 2012, after announcing her early patronages: Action on Addiction, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, children’s art nonprofit the Art Room, and London’s National Portrait Gallery. Over time, she has taken on more roles related to the arts and children’s welfare, and in 2021, she launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which does research and raises awareness about issues related to the early years.
