Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, 9.1.1982)

Kate Middleton is the wife of Prince William of Wales. Their wedding took place on 29th April 2011, at Westminster Abbey, London. The day of the occasion was declared a national bank holiday in the UK.

Kate Middleton: Childhood

Kate Middleton was born in Reading, Berkshire. She is the eldest of three children and her parents are Carole and Michael Middleton. Both of her parents worked in the airlines industry and also founded Party Pieces, a mail order party supplies company.

Kate Middleton was educated at St. Andrew's school in Pangbourne, then Downe House and Marlborough College. She then attended the University of St. Andrew's in Fife, which is where she met Prince William, whilst studying History of Art. She graduated with a 2:1.

Kate Middleton: Career

Since leaving university, Kate Middleton had a brief and chequered career, starting off with a position as an accessories buyer for the fashion firm Jigsaw. After less than a year, Kate announced that she would be leaving the job role and it was suggested that she would be getting photography lessons from Mario Testino, who famously photographed William's late mother, Diana Princess of Wales.

Kate Middleton: Relationship with Prince William

It was announced, in February 2006, that Kate Middleton would receive 24 hour protection, supplied by the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department. The announcement fuelled rumours that she and Prince William would shortly be engaged, otherwise she was not technically entitled to such privileges. However, no engagement occurred at this time. Both William and Kate's lawyers warned several UK newspaper publications not to publish paparazzi photographs of the couple.

Kate Middleton attended William's Passing Out Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in December 2006.

In April 2007, The Sun published a story suggesting the couple had split. Reports of a reconciliation started appearing in June that year and Kate, along with members of the Middleton family, attended the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium. Performers at the event included Sir Elton John, Take That, Lily Allen and Duran Duran.

The couple finally became engaged in October 2010, during a holiday in Kenya. Clarence House announced the engagement a month later, on 16th November 2010. In February, the following year, Kate and William announced that they would embark on their first royal tour of Canada.

Following their marriage, Kate Middleton became known as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.