With her grace, sporty elegance and charming confidence, you’d never guess that Kate Middleton wasn’t a born royal. But to the millions of fans who love her, she’s considered “a natural” as Prince William’s wife. She was born into a family of self-made millionaire parents in Berkshire,England and never wanted for anything. In 2001, Middleton became a student at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland—the first in her family to attend college. While in her first year at the university, Middleton was placed in the dormitory St. Salvators Hall—the 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.
But in 2002, Middleton appeared in an exclusive fashion-show fundraiser wearing a very revealing dress which proved to be too much for Prince William. He began asking her out, she denied him at first due to the fact she was already in another committed relationship to a man named Rupert Finch. However, once Finch graduated and moved on, so did Kate. She and Prince William and some friends moved into a flat and began secretly dating. Prince William wanted to keep it out of the press as long as possible to give Kate every chance to live a normal life.
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. In February 2006, it was announced that Middleton would receive her own 24-hour security detail from the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department. This led to rumors that Middleton was being groomed for a position of royalty.
I think if you really go out with someone for quite a long time, you do get to know each other very, very well; you go through the good times, you go through the bad times. You know both personally, but also within a relationship as well.—Kate Middleton
Prince William was born Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Windsor on June 21, 1982, in London,England, the eldest son of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Charles, Prince of Wales. His official title is “His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales.” An excellent student and gifted athlete, Prince William was adored at an early age.
Affected by both his parents’ divorce in 1996 and his mother’s tragic death in 1997, the tall and handsome young William publicly stated his dislike for the press, and expressed discomfort with the growing attention he received from love-struck adolescent girls. William joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a military cadet and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Household Cavalry in December 2006.
“Only the mad girls chase me, I think.”—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. Shortly before the wedding, Queen Elizabeth conferred Kate with the title of Catherine, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.
Settling into their lives as newlyweds, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge embark on an 11-day North American tour from Canada to Los Angeles, where the duo mingles with A-listers such as Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Kidman at the BAFTA Brits to Watch event.
On July 22, 2013, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcome their first child, a son, at St. Mary’s Hospital. The baby boy weighs 8 lbs., 6 oz., and was delivered naturally after about 14 hours of labor. His name – George Alexander Louis – is announced a day later.
Nearly two months after his son’s birth, Prince William announced that he would be leaving the military. He has decided to focus on his royal responsibilities and his charity work. According to BBC News, Prince William will devote much of his energy to wildlife conservation. He explained that “The threats to our natural heritage are extensive, but I believe that this collaboration of the best minds in conservation will provide the impetus for a renewed commitment and action to protect endangered species and habitats for future generations.”
Not every little girl gets to grow up, marry a handsome prince and become a princess herself, but Kate Middleton has handled the responsibility with aplomb. Prince William nurtured a friendship with Kate into a romance and the two have been inseparable ever since. Their future children will be part of a historic bloodline that will be forever woven into the history of the country.
