Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton (born 9 January 1982), is known for her relationship with Prince William of Wales.

Middleton was born at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Berkshire, England and was baptised in the Church of England.[1] She is the elder daughter of businessman Michael Francis Middleton, an airline pilot at the time of her birth.[2][3] Her mother, Carole Elizabeth Middleton, née Goldsmith, was a flight attendant (air hostess). Her mother`s family has coal-mining roots tracing back to Hetton-le-Hole, in the City of Sunderland, while her father was born in Leeds. Middleton`s parents now own Party Pieces, a mail order company that sells children`s party paraphernalia, and are self-made millionaires.[4] She has a younger sister, Philippa ("Pippa") and a younger brother, James.

Middleton was raised in Bucklebury, Berkshire, in the south of England.[1] She went to St Andrew`s School, Pangbourne until she was 13 and attended Marlborough College (the same school William`s cousin Princess Eugenie of York attends), where she passed eleven GCSEs and three A-level examinations. Like the Prince, Middleton was a student at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. She graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 degree in History of Art.

While attending the University of St Andrews in 2001, Middleton met Prince William of Wales. At the time, Middleton was in her first year at St Andrews. From around Christmas of 2003 to April 2007, she and Prince William were involved in a relationship that was subjected to intense media attention.

Middleton`s status as the girlfriend of Prince William brought her widespread media coverage in the UK and abroad, and she was often photographed on her daily outings. On October 17, 2005, she complained through her lawyer about harassment from the media, stating that she had done nothing significant to warrant much publicity.

In February 2006, it was announced that Middleton would receive her own 24-hour security detail supplied by the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department. This fueled further speculation that she and Prince William would soon be engaged, since she would not, otherwise, be entitled to this service. No engagement occurred, and Middleton was not granted an allowance to fund this security. However, media attention greatly increased around the time of Middleton`s 25th birthday in January 2007, prompting warnings from both Prince Charles and Prince William and from Middleton`s lawyers, who threatened legal action. As a result, two newspaper groups, News International, which publishes The Times, and the Guardian Media Group, publishers of The Guardian and The Observer, decided to refrain from publishing paparazzi photographs of her.[5]

Middleton attended at least one event as an official royal guest, Prince William`s "Passing-Out" parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on December 15, 2006. It was reported by the Daily Mail, a British tabloid newspaper, that she was invited by the Queen to Christmas lunch in 2006, which would have made her the first unmarried partner of a royal to be asked to the festive celebrations at the royal estate of Sandringham House near Sandringham, Norfolk. Middleton declined the offer, preferring to spend Christmas with her own family. The article claimed she refused to attend any future gathering with the Queen and Royal Family unless she and William were married.[6] According to the December 2006 issue of Peo

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