Royal Profile: 35 Facts about Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge
- Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Michael and Carole Middleton on 9 January 1982{Source}.
- The Duchess is the eldest of three children{Source}:
- Philippa aka Pippa Middleton (1983)
- James Middleton (1987)
- She also has a soon-to-be brother-in-law:
- James Matthews (b. 1976, wedding planned for 2017?)
- On 20 June 1982, she was christened at the St. Andrew's Bradfield Parish Church{Source}.
- At the age of two, her family moved to Jordan where her father worked for two and a half years {Source}.
- During this time, she attended a nursery school in Amman, Jordan {Source}.
- Upon the family's return to the UK in September 1986, she began attending St. Andrew's School, where she attended until 1995 {Source}.
- She then attended Marlbourough College, where she took A-Levels in Chemistry, Biology and Art {Source}.
- During her time at Marlborough College, she was an avid sportswoman{Source}.
- She participated in the school's tennis, hockey and netball sports, as well as took part in track and field{Source}.
- Also during this time, she took part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards Gold Award {Source}.
- She left Marborough in 2000 to undertake a gap year before beginning university{Source}.
- During her gap year, she studied at the British Institute in Florence, Italy, undertook a Raleigh International Programme in Italy, and crewed on the Round the World Challenge Boats in Solent {Source}.
- Upon her return from her GAP Year, she enrolled at St. Andrew's University, graduating in 2005 with a 2:1 degree in History of Art{Source}.
- During her time at St. Andrew's University, she participated in the school's hockey team {Source}.
- Upon completing her degree in 2005, she began working as a photographer for her parents' business, Party Pieces and worked as a buyer for the clothing company Jigsaw Junior {Source}.
- In 2008, she launched a spin off business of Party Pieces called First Birthdays{Source}.
- After several years of dating the heir's-heir to the throne (then Prince William of Wales) after meeting him at University, the announcement of their engagement was made in November 2010 {Source}.
- Their wedding took place on 29 April 2011 (St. Catherine's Day) at Westminister Abbey{Source}.
- Upon her marriage, her title become officially Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, The Countess of Strathearn and The Lady Carrickfergus {Source}.
- Together, they have two children, both of whom are entitled to the use of the title and style HRH Prince/ss of Cambridge:
- Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge (2013)
- Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge (2015)
- During her years as a royal, she has taken an interest in a variety of causes, which include {Source}:
- The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry (Co-Patron with her husband and brother-in-law, 2011)
- Scout Association (Volunteer, 2011)
- Action on Addiction (Patron, 2012)
- East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Royal Patron, 2012)
- The Art Room (Royal Patron, 2012)
- The National Portrait Gallery, London (Patron, 2012)\
- Place2Be (Patron, 2013)
- SportsAid (Patron, 2013)
- The Natural History Museum (Patron, 2013)
- 100 Women in Hedge Funds' Philanthropic Initiatives (2013)
- The 1851 Trust (Patron, 2014)
- Anna Freud Centre (2016)
- She undertook her first public duty prior to the wedding when she and Prince William attended a lifeboat-naming ceremony in Trearddur, Anglesey, in North Wales and then made an appearance at St. Andrew's University to launch its 600th anniversary celebrations the next day {Source}.
- In 2011, during an official tour of Canada, she joined her husband and brother-in-law in the ranks of the Honorary Canadian Rangers {Source}.
- In 2015, The Duke of Edinburgh relinquished his military appointment as Honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Air Training Corps to his granddaughter-in-law {Source}.
- In addition to their joint tour of Canada, The Duchess of Cambridge has undertaken official tours to numerous countries.
- In July 2011, after their Canada tour, they spent a few days in the Western part of the United States {Source}.
- In November 2011, she and The Duke of Cambridge paid a visit to Denmark{Source}.
- In September 2012, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Singapore, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu {Source}.
- In 2013, she did not undertake any official duties overseas due to giving birth to her first child.
- In 2014, she and The Duke of Cambridge visited Australia and New Zealand (with an 8 month old Prince George), France, Belgium and the Eastern portion of the United States {Source}.
- In 2016, she and The Duke of Cambridge made official visits to Bhutan, and India {Source}.
- The Duchess’s hobbies include recreational sports such as hill walking, tennis, swimming, sailing, and the arts such as photography and painting{Source}.
- In 2009, before her engagement to William, Middleton was awarded £10,000 damages and an apology from the photographic press agency Rex Features Ltd after she was photographed playing tennis on Christmas Eve when on holiday in Cornwall {Source}
- She suffered Hyperemesis gravidarum with both of her pregnancies {Source}.