Kate Middleton, whose full name is Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, was born on January 9, 1982, in Reading, 65 km from London, in the South of England. She was born under the sign of Capricorn and her birthday stone is Garnet.
She is the daughter of former pilot Michel Middleton and former stewardess Carole Goldsmith, who became successful entrepreneurs after opening a business selling children's party supplies. She has two siblings: Philippa, known as Pippa, and James, both younger than her.
She went to public school Malborough High School, where she played sports such as grass hockey and tennis. Kate met Prince William in 2001 when they were both studying at St Andrews University in Scotland. Both were studying art history and became close in their first year.
In their second year, Kate and William moved in together and then moved with two other friends to North Wales.
From 2005, the press begins to speculate about the relationship and in December of the same the German magazine "Das Neue" publishes photos of her flat, which eventually discloses her address. In February 2006, the Department of Protection grants Kate protection 20 hours a day.
With her university degree, Kate starts to work for the clothing brand Jigswa. Soon after, she becomes part of the family business and is criticised for not having a full-time job.
Kate was proposed to by William during a holiday in Kenya in October 2010, and started wearing the same ring worn by Lady Di, the Prince's mother.
THE WEDDING DRESS
William and Kate were married on 29 April 2011 in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey that made headlines around the world. Officially a member of royalty, the prince's wife is now called Princess and also the Duchess of Cambridge, the highest title of British nobility bestowed that morning by Queen Elizabeth II. The dress worn by the bride was by the designer Alexander McQueen with Victorian inspiration.
THE WEDDING CAKE
But did you know that the play inspired part of the cake? Confectioner responsible for the sweet, Fiona Cairns said he spent "sleepless nights" between February and April 2011. She received a piece of lace from Kate's dress to reproduce on the cake.
And before the wedding, Fiona Cairns had a funny dialogue with none other than Queen Elizabeth II. Because of the size of the cake, with 8 floors, some doors of Buckingham Palace had to be temporarily removed and, to learn the news, the monarch made a little joke. "I remember her humorously saying: 'I heard you were dismantling my house'," said the chef.
A rather peculiar tradition in the UK is to save pieces of frozen wedding cake to serve on another important date for the family that is forming. In Kate and William's case, the cake was also offered at a tea party held at Clarence House after the christening of Louis, currently three years old.
THE VOTES
Like Lady Di, Kate removed from her vows the part about obeying her husband, Prince William. The British said she would "love, comfort, honour and protect", as opposed to the traditional "love, care and obey". Seven years later, Meghan Markle did the same and left out the verb that implied submission to her partner.
BOUQUET PAID TRIBUTE TO THE GROOM
In her bouquet, the Brit chose three different flowers: hyacinths, scented lilies and poets' carnation, known in the UK as "sweet William", in a tribute to her fiancé. The item, by the way, was signed by flower designer Shane Connolly.
WILLIAM DOES NOT WEAR WEDDING RING
Unlike his father and brother, Harry, William does not wear a wedding ring: the first-born son of Prince Charles preferred to keep a tradition of his grandfather, Prince Philip. The jewel offered to Meghan in the church was crafted by Wartski jewellery with a piece of Welsh gold given by Queen Elizabeth II to her eldest grandson.
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.
