When a member of the British Royal Family gives you a first name, you don’t usually have to look far to find out what kind of last name you’ll need to make it into a complete name. When Kate Middleton announced her engagement to Prince William, the news sent shockwaves through the entire country. People were eager to learn more about this remarkable young woman who would soon become the Duchess of Cambridge.
Despite the media frenzy that followed, Middleton did her best to keep a low profile as she adjusted to her new life as a member of the Royal Family. In the eyes of the public, Kate Middleton was still just Kate Middleton. However, the name-making machinery of the Royal Family had other ideas. As her brother, Prince George, is third in line to the throne, he will one day be King George, and as William is second in line, he will be King William. The moment the couple wed in April 2018, Middleton’s new status as the Duchess of Cambridge became official and her old life as a commoner was over. From then on, she’d be known as Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge. To keep things simple, let’s just call her Kate.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s Family And Past
The daughter of a stock broker and a former school teacher, Kate was born on Sept. 15, 1980, in London.
As a child, Kate enjoyed ballet lessons and playing in the park. She attended several private schools, including St Paul’s Girls’ School and Wimbledon High School. When she was 15 years old, she began studying English literature and psychology at Balliol College, Oxford. After completing her studies at Oxford, Kate worked in a variety of jobs, including lifeguard, hairdresser and assistant restaurant manager. While working, she attended various classes and lectures at London University. She also spent a lot of time reading and gaining a greater understanding of psychology. During this time, she decided to try for a royal engagement and, after a year of dating, she tied the knot with William in 2014.
The couple started family life in 2005, when William became the Duke of Cambridge. At the time, Kate was still working as a barrister, specialising in family law; as such, she took on a greater responsibility for family matters. She also became involved in various charitable activities, including supporting victims of domestic abuse and working for animal rights.
Kate’s family came from a long line of military men and women, which she said she’s inherited. She’s also inherited William’s love of cars and biking, as well as her father’s interest in horse racing. In 2018, she gave birth to their first child, a son named Louis. As a parent, Kate said she’s learned to balance her work life with family life. “It can be tough when you’re a working mother,” she said. “But I try to make time for myself and stay relaxed. I think that if you always feel like your children are watching you and waiting for you to fail, then you’re never going to be able to enjoy your time as a parent. You have to remember that they’re watching you because they want to do better than you did.
The Duchess of Cambridge has always been very private, so her family is keeping their own counsel as to whether her royal engagement will influence the way people view her as a parent and as a woman. However, as the former Kate Middleton, she’ll always be associated with the Royal Family in the minds of the public. The future of the monarchy is, of course, in doubt following the recent political upheaval in the U.K. Now, more than ever, people are considering how they’ll define their identities in the context of a new world order.