Name Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge

Birth name Catherine Elizabeth Middleton

Birthday 9 January 1982

Star sign Capricorn

Birthplace Reading, Berkshire

Marriages Prince William, April 2011 – present

Kate Middleton was born to dad Michael and mum Carole at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in 1982. She has two younger siblings, sister Pippa and brother James.

Michael and Carole Middleton are both former flight attendants but set up their business Party Pieces in 1987, which sells decorations and party accessories. The family lived in the village of Chapel Row.

Kate boarded at Marlborough College and went on to study at the University Of St Andrews in Fife. She achieved a 2:1 MA (Hons) in history of art when she graduated in 2005.

It was during her studies that Kate Middleton met Prince William, who was a fellow student at the university. They started dating in 2003.

After graduating, the future Duchess took a job as a part-time accessories buyer for fashion chain Jigsaw and worked there until 2007.

Kate and William‘s relationship remained under constant scrutiny and by 2006 there was lots of speculation about when they’d get engaged, but the couple caused a shock when they split up in April 2007.

Soon they had rekindled their romance and in 2010 Kate and William got engaged. William gave Kate the engagement ring that had previously been worn by Princess Diana, his late mother.

The world’s eyes were on the couple when they married in an elaborate ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The global audience was estimated to be at least 300 million.

Kate became the Duchess of Cambridge.

St James’s Palace announced in December 2012 that Kate Middleton was pregnant with her first child.

The news was shared earlier than the traditional three-month mark as Kate was suffering from acute morning sickness, a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.

The mum-to-be recovered enough to attend several public events whilst pregnant and finally gave birth to baby Prince George on 22 July 2013.

Kate is a fashion icon and her style choices are frequently scrutinised. She supports a number of charities and causes including The Art Room, Action on Addiction and the Natural History Museum.

It was announced in September 2014 that Kate and William were expecting their second child.