Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, also known as Kate Middleton, turns 40 today, January 9, 2022. Kensington Palace released three photos to mark the occasion, taken by Paolo Roversi.
It was also announced the three portraits will go to the National Portrait Gallery collection where the duchess is the patron.
Kate was born in Berkshire, England but moved with her family to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where her parents worked for British Airways, her father, Michael, as a flight dispatcher, and her mother, Carole, as a flight stewardess.
In 1986, they returned to Berkshire. Her mother gave up her job to start a party supplier business, Party Pieces which made them a self-made millionaire family. Kate grew up with her two siblings in the countryside.
Giving up her dream to follow Prince William
In the course of 10 years since joining the royal family in 2011, much have been told about her, but one revelation from a former teacher confirmed what most critics had been speculating all along, that Carole Middleton arranged for her daughter to study at St. Andrews University to meet Prince William.
In an interview with royal expert and biographer, Katie Nicholl, for her book: Kate: The Future Queen, Jasper Selwyn, Kate's former career adviser at Marlborough College, where she attended high school, revealed that Edinburgh University was the Duchess of Cambridge's dream school and first choice to attend college, in fact she already got accepted for her chosen course.
"As far as I am aware, she had a place confirmed at Edinburgh (University)", Selwyn said.
It was not revealed what bachelor's degree Kate was supposed to take at Edinburgh University but many suspected it was Photo Journalism as she was always interested in Photography.
However, suddenly, Kate changed her mind and took a gap year. At that time, Prince William was also announced taking a gap year after graduating from Eton College to do a volunteer work in Chile and South Africa.Â
A year later, Buckingham Palace announced the prince will attend St. Andrews University and will take Art History. The announcement prompted a surge of applicants to study at one of the oldest universities in Scotland.Â
Kate was among those applicants to study the same course as Prince William (Art History) at St. Andrews University (Prince William shifted to Geography during his second year). To cut the story short, she was later introduced to Prince William at a university party.Â
And the rest is history.
A decade in the royal family
Kate endured public criticism and malicious intrigues while still dating Prince William, calling her lazy and doing nothing other than waiting for the prince to propose, spitting on her non-aristocratic background. But she carried on well. And got the man of her dream.
More than 10 years since the royal wedding in 2011, the Duchess showed much grace and stability in public. And represented the royal family with dignity and poise.Â
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. They lived in two residences: Kensington Palace when in London and Anmer Hall in Sandringham estate.
Kate is taking a prominent role in representing the British monarchy in many aspects and became Prince William's balanced in his preparation for his future role as monarch.
Happy 40th birthday Duchess of Cambridge! 🎂🎉🎈
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