Kate Middleton, now known as the Princess of Wales since fall 2022, was previously referred to as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She gained much attention from the UK press when she started dating Prince William in the early 2000s. 

Middleton and her future husband met in 2001 while studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Although their romance did not begin as love at first sight, it eventually blossomed into a long-lasting relationship. Reportedly, they spent about a year in the so-called friend zone before dating.

They initially bonded over their shared interests, such as art history studies and skiing. The soon-to-be couple moved into an apartment with mutual friends by sophomore year.

Kate Middleton’s upbringing was far from the luxurious life Prince William and his family experienced in Buckingham Palace. Michael and Carole Middleton, Kate Middleton’s parents, met while working for British Airways. They decided to settle down when their daughter reached school age. Carole created the idea for Party Pieces, an online business specializing in decorations for children’s parties. 

Despite their entrepreneurial success, the press still labeled their eldest daughter a ‘commoner.’ Kate became the first ‘commoner’ to marry a future king in about 350 years.

Today, they appear to be the picture of marital bliss. However, even royal relationships can experience setbacks. In April 2007, rumors of wedding bells were rife in the press when Prince William shocked followers by expressing his need for space from Kate Middleton. 

William briefly ended the relationship, although Middleton later admitted that it was ultimately for the greater good. 

The royal couple reunited a couple of months after their infamous breakup. Since then, they have been going strong, except for the cheating allegations against Prince William.

Additionally, she had complicated pregnancies.

In December 2012, Kate Middleton was hospitalized due to hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness that causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fainting, and weight loss. At the time, she was pregnant with her first child, Prince George. 

The condition returned in 2014 during her second pregnancy with her daughter, Princess Charlotte. 

Additionally, it is worth noting that Kate Middleton is a talented photographer.

Over the years, Kate Middleton has shown a talent for photography. Her official royal biography notes that she has taken many photos of her family and shared them with the public. 

Kate Middleton dated Prince William for years before meeting Queen Elizabeth II.

Middleton got to know the Queen better when she accompanied her on a royal visit in 2012.

Middleton is allergic to horses, which is a well-known fact about her.

On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth II was known for her love of horses. Other royals like King Charles III and Princess Anne have shown an affinity for equestrian sports, with the former being a champion polo player and the latter earning a reputation as a world-class equestrian. This was revealed when she attended a charity polo match in 2009 and was asked why she didn’t play polo herself. However, Kate Middleton has never shared this passion due to her horse allergy.

Kate Middleton never met her mother-in-law, Princess.

Diana, but she and Prince William honor her memory. When William proposed, he gave Middleton Diana’s engagement ring. Vogue noted that the ring has a 12-carat sapphire stone surrounded by 14 diamonds. Prince Harry inherited the ring after Diana’s death in 1997. However, when his older brother and Middleton became serious over a decade later, Harry exchanged the ring for William’s Cartier watch, saying, ‘This was my way of keeping her sort of close to it all.’ However, when his older brother and Middleton became serious over a decade later, Harry exchanged the ring for William’s Cartier watch, saying, ‘This was my way of keeping her sort of close to it all.’ William shared this with ITV News’ Tom Bradby.

Interestingly, it later appeared that the ring did not need any alterations for its new owner. In April 2023, Middleton was seen greeting fans in a since-deleted Instagram video when one of them pointed out her ring. Middleton revealed that she and Diana share the same ring size, which remains the same size as when she tried it on.