Kate Middleton has lived her life in the public eye since news of her romance with Prince William first surfaced in 2004. In 2010, she gave her first BBC interview following her engagement to William, giving us a chance to get to know her better. Of course, the couple’s royal wedding in 2011 was watched by 17.6 million people worldwide.
While Kate has long been a household name, she was once a regular student who played sports and modeled for her parents’ business. She is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of a commoner finding her fairytale ending, and we can’t get enough of her!
Discover fascinating facts about this beloved British royal!
She lived in Jordan as a child
Certain expectations are typically placed upon anyone who wishes to join the British royal family. This makes sense when you realize that these individuals are supposed to represent not only the interests of the British people but also of many others in the Commonwealth.
For instance, one would expect members of the British royal family to have lived in the UK all their life. Kate, however, lived for three years as a youngster in Amman, Jordan, where her father worked as a flight dispatcher for British Airways.
She took a meaningful gap year
Going on a gap year after high school is a rite of passage for many people. This is something they believe they must undertake before spending the next few years of their life in university. While some people use this time to go on benders, others choose to focus on more meaningful pursuits.
Kate attended classes at the British Institute of Florence in Italy. Her interest in charitable causes began long before she joined the royal family, as she also participated in a Raleigh International Program in Chile and sailed around the Solent on Round the World Challenge boats.
She met Prince William in passing at nine years old
For most people, the prospect of meeting a British royal in passing may seem a bit far-fetched. However, if you’re from England and attend a well-to-do school, you are likely to meet some of them at least once.
Kate recalls her school welcoming Prince William’s school for a hockey game when she was just nine years old. When the prince arrived, all of the students, including Kate, were excited to see him. Little did she know that she was seeing her future spouse for the first time!
She first met Prince William at the University of St. Andrews
Everyone knows that while you’re attending university, you’re bound to find a love interest among your classmates. And, since most people are between the ages of 18 and 25, finding a match shouldn’t be too difficult.
Most people, however, just don’t expect their match to be a British royal! Kate and William met in 2001 while both were students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and the rest, as they say, is history. Kate is also the first royal wife with a university degree!
She worked as a waitress while attending university
A British royal’s job is far different from what ordinary people typically have. Many royals devote their lives to various charitable causes and diplomatic missions. It is unlikely for young royals to work casual jobs in their high school and university years to earn some extra money.
Kate, however, worked as a waitress to pay her bills while attending the University of St. Andrews. Kate chose to work in the hospitality sector like many of her peers at the time. However, she did admit that she wasn’t particularly good at her job.
She did her own makeup for her wedding
Kate and William’s royal wedding in 2011 was watched by millions around the world. There’s just something about watching a commoner marry her Prince Charming that people find so intriguing.
We all know about her now-iconic wedding dress by designer Sarah Jane Burton, but did you know that she did her own makeup for her wedding? Many of us remember how lovely Kate’s face looked on her wedding day many years back, and she has herself to thank for it!
Kate enjoys curry
Most people would probably find it hard to imagine the British royal family indulging in takeaway meals. After all, they have a team of personal chefs who are trained to prepare the finest meals. But, hey, everyone loves a good takeaway from time to time, so why can’t British royals do the same?
While many people think the royals have strict diets, Kate admitted in an interview that she loves a takeaway curry now and then. She also said that Prince William doesn’t usually eat it with her, as he’s not a fan of spicy food.
She plays the piano
The British royals are known to have a diverse range of skills and interests. Though Kate was a commoner before joining the royal family, she, too, has quite an extensive list of talents that she developed growing up.
Daniel Nicholls, Kate’s piano teacher, began coaching her when she was just eleven years old. In 2021, Kate confidently showed off her piano skills when she accompanied singer-songwriter, Tom Walker, during his performance of “For Those Who Can’t Be Here” at the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas concert.
She did not have a poster of Prince William in her childhood bedroom
A child’s bedroom is more than just a place for sleeping, doing homework, and playing. It can also function as a space where they can express their personalities and show off their interests. One way to do that is by putting up posters on the walls.
While many teenage girls in the UK in the 1990s had their bedrooms adorned with posters and pictures of Prince William, this wasn’t true for Kate! Instead, she claimed in an interview that she had a poster of the “Levi’s guy” on her wall.
She loves to bake
Being a mother comes with all sorts of challenges, which can get overwhelming at times. Kate does receive plenty of help, but given that she has plenty of royal duties on top of having to raise her children, she does have her hands full most of the time.
Despite her busy schedule, Kate still makes it a point to bake her children’s birthday cakes herself. She has said in an interview that she would stay up late at night to do this, but she loves doing it anyway.
She’s quite the actress
Extracurricular activities are an excellent way to keep children interested and active at school. Whether they’re into the arts, sports, or other areas of discovery, it’s important to allow children to pursue their interests and discover what they like doing.
Aside from playing the piano and excelling at field hockey, Kate was also quite the actress. At age eleven, she played Eliza Doolittle in a school production of My Fair Lady, a musical based on the novel Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.
She plays the flute
After learning to play the piano, Kate then turned her attention to the flute. According to Kate, she played the woodwind instrument while she was a student at St. Andrew’s in Berkshire until she was 18 years old.
She reportedly played in her school’s chamber orchestra and was part of a flute group called the Tootie-Flooties together with her younger sister Pippa. She is also said to have completed her Associated Board Grade Three Flute examination with honors before finishing secondary school.
She likes giving handcrafted gifts
Deciding what to give someone as a gift can be tough. After all, you wouldn’t want to give them something they won’t like, use, or touch. And when you’re giving gifts to the queen, this task becomes even more nerve-wracking.
Kate, however, understands that a little thought goes a long way. On her first Christmas as a royal, Kate decided against giving the Queen something store-bought. Instead, she gifted the Queen a jar of homemade marrow chutney, made using an old family recipe.
She has a pub named in her honor
The Brits take their pubs very seriously. While pubs may seem trivial to outsiders, they are an integral aspect of British life. After all, pubs aren’t just a place to have a drink – they’re also a place where people can go to relax and socialize.
When Kate joined the royal family in 2011, a pub owner living in Windsor thought it would be a great idea to have their pub named after her. The pub – located in the heart of Windsor – is quite popular with tourists and locals alike.
She loves wine
It’s not just commoners who enjoy a drink or two; the British royals have been known to tipple now and then as well. The royals are even said to keep a collection of wine worth up to £2 million at Buckingham Palace.
Kate’s drink of choice is fairly straightforward: she has been known to never refuse a glass of red wine. During a previous trip to Canada, she and Prince William stopped by Mission Hill Family Estate in British Columbia where they sampled a variety of wines.
She has a competitive streak
Kate is known to excel in sports, and you can't get very far in the world of sports without some friendly competition. It’s safe to assume that Kate has a competitive streak and a can-do attitude.
Kate not only plays several sports but has also received a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, which requires a lot of hard work to obtain. When it comes to sports, both she and Prince William have been known to be rather competitive, and we won’t be surprised if they’ve passed this trait on to their children as well.
She loves taking photos
Surely we’ve established by now that Kate is a highly-talented individual. While many members of the British royal family are just as talented as she is, she has one other skill that is rather unique.
Kate has become quite the photographer since she started taking her family’s official photos. Aside from taking photos of her family, she also occasionally takes photos for Party Pieces, her parents’ mail-order party supply business.
She’s a hands-on mother
Many people assume that members of the British royal family are exempt from certain responsibilities. However, just because one is a royal does not mean one gets a free pass.
Kate, for instance, prefers to take her children to school and pick them up herself every day. Even though she has staff members who could do this for her, this is one chore that she would rather not miss out on.
She’s a great cook
Being a British royal comes with several benefits that not everyone can enjoy. It would certainly be great to not have to worry about the boring everyday chores that so many of us have to deal with.
Some of these mundane tasks, however, are still part of Kate’s daily routine. Despite having well-trained kitchen staff at home, she prefers preparing her family’s meals herself. She is also apparently a fantastic chef!
She takes the dog out for walks herself
Just like other members of the British royal family, Kate and William have dogs of their own. While other royals have dedicated staff to look after their beloved pets, Kate and William are more hands-on.
As you can see, it’s Kate who usually takes the family dog, Lupo, out for a walk. Given how hectic her schedule can be, it’s amazing how she manages to find time to do this. She has also been spotted taking Lupo along with her while running errands.
She loves doing yoga
Many people have become obsessed with yoga in recent years. Yoga is not only a great way to get your daily exercise but is also a way to encourage attentive thinking and to remind people to take things slowly.
Believe it or not, Kate is a yogi herself! She has long valued health and wellness, and one of her favorite forms of exercise is yoga. She sees it as a fantastic way to unwind, stretch, and reflect after a long day at work.
She’s a bit of a Potterhead
What would the world be like now if Harry Potter had never existed? There are so many people from all walks of life whose lives have been impacted by the beloved franchise. Even the British royal family loves a bit of magic on occasion!
In 2013, Kate stole Harry Potter fans’ hearts when she, William, and Harry visited the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden. They even had a bit of fun waving their wands around as though they were casting spells!
She remains close to her family
It’s quite well-known that in the past, commoners who join the royal family would end up becoming isolated from the outside world, including their families. When you have a busy schedule, staying in touch with your family can be quite difficult.
Fortunately, Kate has managed to maintain close ties with her parents, Carole and Michael, as well as her siblings, Pippa and James. William has also become close to the Middletons and frequently joins them on skiing trips to the French Alps.
She’s just like us in many ways
Many people believe that the British royal family is unlike any other family. Don’t get us wrong: they do and have things that we commoners usually don’t. However, they’re also just like us in many ways.
Kate and William, for instance, have said in previous interviews that they like to unwind after their children have gone to bed by watching an episode or two of shows like Homeland or Game of Thrones. We can only imagine how awesome their home theater setup must be!
She does her own grocery shopping
Once you join the royal family, certain aspects of your life are bound to change, whether you like it or not. This may take some getting used to, but you eventually learn to deal with it.
Kate, however, prefers to maintain control over aspects of her life and would much rather do certain things herself. If you’re lucky, you might be able to see her shopping at a Waitrose or Tesco with her security team in tow.
She shops at IKEA too
One might think that wealthy people’s homes are furnished with only the finest furniture from the most expensive stores. However, some of them – the British royals included – also have a more practical side, opting for cheaper alternatives on numerous occasions.
While this may come as a surprise to many, William and Kate also shop at IKEA! Despite having a net worth in the tens of millions of dollars, the royal couple once revealed that all of their children’s rooms have furniture from the famous Swedish retailer.
She likes to repeat her outfits
For most people, wearing the same clothes more than once is perfectly acceptable. However, people tend to be less forgiving when it comes to royals and celebrities. There is a certain amount of pressure placed on them to always be fashion-forward. Repeating outfits is considered a fashion faux pas.
Kate, however, is among the famous people bucking the trend. She has been seen wearing the same dresses, jackets, tops, and even ballgowns on multiple occasions. This is a rather bold statement to make for someone who’s widely regarded as a style icon.
She modeled for her parents’ company as a child
When we were kids, many of us were compelled to do things because we were told to by our parents, whether we wanted to or not. Whether it’s doing chores or assisting with the family business, most children can’t just say “no.”
As a child, Kate and her younger siblings modeled for her parents’ party supplies business, Party Pieces, appearing in its numerous catalogs. While this job may have been exhausting, the Middleton kids didn’t seem to mind.
She was a guest editor for Huffington Post UK
Many people know that being a royal comes with all sorts of responsibilities. They are often expected to accomplish certain things as part of their royal duties. This often requires them to step out of their comfort zones.
In 2016, Kate agreed to become Huffington Post UK’s editor for a day to help promote its Young Minds Matter series, a mental health initiative for children. She also wrote a piece for the site and tapped the likes of Michelle Obama, Arianna Huffington, and more to do the same.
She waited a while before finally meeting the Queen
When dating someone new, it’s customary to meet each other’s families after a while. While some people introduce their significant other to their families right away, others prefer to wait a bit longer.
When your partner is the grandson of the country’s ruling monarch, expect a long wait before finally meeting them. Though Kate and the Queen found themselves in each other’s presence not long after Kate and William started dating, the two didn’t officially meet until William’s 21st birthday.
She once asked friends and family to start calling her “Catherine”
The British royals are known for their long official titles. However, away from the public eye, they’re just like any other family: they give each other gag gifts and call each other by their nicknames.
Kate is one royal who is well-known for her nickname, but did you know that she once tried to get rid of it? In 2008, she reportedly told close friends and family to start calling her by her full name “Catherine” in preparation for her future position within the royal family.
She had a funny childhood nickname
Some children are given the oddest nicknames by doing the oddest things or having certain characteristics. While some nicknames tend to go overboard, they’re usually quite harmless and are all part of growing up.
As a child, Kate was nicknamed “Squeak” at school while her sister Pippa became known as “Pip.” The two siblings later had a pair of guinea pigs who were given the same names. This was revealed by Kate herself during a visit to her old primary school in 2012.
She’s allergic to horses
It’s no secret that the British royal family loves horses. They are often seen at horse races and polo matches, and the Queen has been photographed with her beloved horses on numerous occasions. Kate, however, has always kept her distance from them in the past.
In 2009, Kate opened up to Australian author Kathy Lette about her allergy to horses. Two years later, a source revealed that Kate had been trying to overcome her allergy through immunotherapy so she could finally join the royal family in their activities that involved horses.
She stuck to tradition on her wedding day
Kate is widely regarded as one of the British royal family’s more modern members. With her more hands-on approach to parenthood, running a household, and carrying out her royal duties, she is anything but traditional.
When it came to her wedding day, however, she chose to stick to tradition, continuing the practice of wearing something new, old, borrowed, and blue. Her “something new” was the pair of earrings gifted by her parents, her “something old” was the technique used to make the lace for her gown, her “something borrowed” was her tiara, and her “something blue” was the sash placed on her dress.
She has a famous American relative
The late Princess Diana and former US President George W. Bush are said to be eleventh cousins, twice removed while Sarah, Duchess of York, is a seventh cousin seven times removed of another former US President, John Quincy Adams. However, these two women are not the only ones in the British royal family with ties to American politicians.
According to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Kate and George Washington are eighth cousins, eight times removed. Their common ancestor, Sir William Gascoigne, passed away in 1487.
She is slightly older than her husband
Age gaps in royal marriages are nothing new. King Charles III, for instance, was 33 years old when he married 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Going back a bit further, King William III of the Netherlands was 41 years older than his wife, Queen Emma. Many modern royal couples, however, tend to be more similar in age than their predecessors.
Kate and William are of the same age, though Kate is still slightly older than her husband. William was born on June 21st, 1982 while Kate was born on January 9th, 1982, making her five months older.
She was on the cover of British Vogue’s centenary issue
In 2016, Kate made headlines when she appeared on the cover of British Vogue’s centenary issue. It was her first-ever glossy magazine shoot, which made it all the more special. She was the fourth European royal to pose for the magazine, after Princess Diana, Princess Anne, and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
The issue features seven photos of the royal in the Norfolk countryside, taken by renowned British photographer Josh Olins. Two of these photos were also put on display at the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition Vogue 100: A Century of Style.
She has made multiple appearances on the Time 100 list
Time 100 is an annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people, put together by the American news magazine Time. The list, first published in 1999, is now a much-anticipated and well-publicized annual event. The nominations come from Time 100 alumni and the magazine’s writing staff, while the final list is created by the editors.
Since joining the British royal family in 2011, Kate has been included in the list on multiple occasions. In 2012, she famously made the list together with her sister Pippa, with them being described as “avatars of inspiration.”
She’s a humanitarian at heart
Being a member of the British royal family entails participating in many humanitarian activities. Fortunately for Kate, she is well qualified to do so. She is a humanitarian at heart, a trait that she shares with the late Princess Diana.
Kate is a patron of numerous charities, both in Britain and abroad. Her charitable work mostly focuses on issues concerning children, mental health, sports, substance abuse, and art. Her influence on charitable donations even led to the coining of the phrase “the Kate effect.”
She received an unusual wedding present from Boris Johnson
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is well-known for many things, including his rather colorful – and sometimes eccentric – personality. Before becoming Prime Minister, he served as the mayor of London from 2008 to 2016.
In 2011, the then-Mayor decided to honor Kate and William on their wedding day by gifting them a tandem bicycle, an obvious nod to his “Boris Bike” initiative at the time. The couple had not been seen using the bicycle in public, though Kate reportedly told Johnson privately a year later that she and William had ridden it in their garden.