Catherine, Princess of Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Catherine |
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Catherine in 2023
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| Born | Catherine Elizabeth Middleton 9 January 1982 Reading, Berkshire, England |
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| House | Windsor (by marriage) |
| Father | Michael Middleton |
| Mother | Carole Goldsmith |
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Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is an important member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, who is next in line to become the King of Britain.
Catherine was born in Reading, England, and grew up in Bucklebury, Berkshire. She went to St Andrew's School and Marlborough College. Later, she studied art history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. This is where she met Prince William in 2001. Before getting engaged in November 2010, she worked in different jobs and did a lot of charity work. She and William married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey. They have three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.
Catherine supports over 20 charity and military groups, including the Anna Freud Centre and Action for Children. She works on projects through the Royal Foundation, focusing on early childhood, helping people with addiction, and art. She also helped create the "Heads Together" campaign to encourage people to talk about their mental health. Many people call her influence on fashion the "Kate Middleton effect". Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World several times. On 9 September 2022, she became Princess of Wales when her husband, William, was given the title of Prince of Wales by his father, King Charles III.
Contents
Catherine's Early Life and Education
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born on 9 January 1982 in Reading, England. Her parents, Michael Middleton and Carole Middleton, worked for British Airways. Catherine is the oldest of their three children. In 1987, her mother started a company called Party Pieces, which sold party supplies.
Catherine's family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where she went to an English nursery school. When they returned to Berkshire in 1986, she started at St Andrew's School. Later, she attended Marlborough College, a boarding school, where she was good at sports and captained the women's field hockey team. In 2000, she finished school with good grades in math, art, and English.
After school, Catherine took a year off to study in Italy and travel to Chile. She also worked as a deckhand. In 2001, she started studying art history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She also worked part-time as a waitress and earned a gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. In 2005, Catherine graduated from university.
After university, Catherine worked as an accessory buyer for a clothing store called Jigsaw. She also helped with charity events, like organizing a roller disco that raised money for children's hospitals. She worked for her family's business until 2011, helping with design, marketing, and photography. She also worked with the Starlight Children's Foundation, which helps children who are very ill.
Her Life with Prince William
Meeting Prince William and Their Engagement
Catherine met Prince William in 2001 when they were both students at the University of St Andrews. She reportedly caught William's attention at a charity fashion show in 2002. They started dating in 2003. During their second year, they shared a flat with other friends. They briefly broke up in 2004 but got back together.
After graduation, Catherine and her family faced a lot of attention from the media. Photographers often took pictures of her outside her home and work. In April 2007, they ended their relationship again, but they reconciled later that year. Catherine attended William's cousin's wedding in 2008 and met Queen Elizabeth II for the first time.
In June 2010, the couple moved into a cottage in Anglesey, Wales, where William was training for the RAF.
Catherine and William got engaged in October 2010 while on a trip to Kenya. Clarence House announced their engagement on 16 November 2010. William gave Catherine the engagement ring that belonged to his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Before their wedding, Catherine was confirmed into the Church of England.
Marriage and Family Life
The couple married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey. The wedding day was a public holiday in the United Kingdom. Around 300 million people worldwide watched the wedding. Her wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. After her marriage, Catherine became known as "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge". The Queen gave them a country home, Anmer Hall, as a wedding gift. Catherine keeps bees there.
After their marriage, they lived in Nottingham Cottage in London. In 2013, they moved into Kensington Palace. In 2022, they moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.
On 3 December 2012, it was announced that Catherine was expecting her first child. She had severe morning sickness, which is why the announcement was made early. Prince George was born on 22 July 2013. Catherine had severe morning sickness with her next pregnancies too. She gave birth to Princess Charlotte on 2 May 2015 and to Prince Louis on 23 April 2018. George, Charlotte, and Louis were third, fourth, and fifth in line to the throne when they were born. William and Catherine also have two English Cocker Spaniels, named Lupo and Orla.
Health Updates
In January 2024, Kensington Palace announced that Catherine had a planned abdominal surgery for a health condition. She took time off from her public duties. This led to a lot of talk and questions about her health.
On 22 March, Catherine shared a video message saying that tests after her surgery found cancer. She has been having chemotherapy treatment since late February. Her time off from public duties was extended. She made her first public appearance after her cancer diagnosis in June at the 2024 Trooping the Colour. She said she was still having treatment.
In September 2024, Catherine shared another video message. She said she had finished her chemotherapy treatment and was looking forward to returning to public duties. In January 2025, Catherine visited the Royal Marsden Hospital to thank the doctors and nurses who treated her. She also announced that her cancer was in remission.
Catherine's Public Work
As Duchess of Cambridge
Catherine's first public appearance with William after their engagement was in December 2010 for a charity event. She was officially introduced to public life on 24 February 2011, when they attended a boat-naming ceremony in Wales. They also visited St Andrews and Belfast. In May, Catherine and William met then U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
In July 2011, William and Catherine went on their first royal tour of Canada. They also visited California, which was Catherine's first trip to the United States. In October 2011, she did her first solo public event, attending a reception for a charity called In Kind Direct. In November, they visited UNICEF in Denmark.
In 2012, Catherine awarded shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day. She also gave her first public speech for the opening of a children's hospice. William and Catherine were ambassadors for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In September 2012, they toured Singapore, Malaysia, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Catherine gave her first official speech abroad during this trip.
After Prince George was born in 2013, Catherine's first public event was with William in Anglesey. In March 2014, it was announced that they would take George on a tour of New Zealand and Australia. They visited places like the Plunket Society for children. In June 2014, they visited France to remember 70 years since the Normandy landings. Catherine was supposed to make her first solo trip to Malta in September 2014, but it was cancelled when her second pregnancy was announced. In December 2014, the couple visited the United States.
In October 2015, Catherine attended her first state banquet at Buckingham Palace, hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping. In April 2016, Catherine and William toured India and Bhutan, visiting children's charities. They also met the Obamas again. The couple toured Canada again in September 2016. In October 2016, Catherine made her first solo foreign trip to The Netherlands. In 2017, they visited France, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. Catherine often takes official photos of her children and joined the Royal Photographic Society in 2017. In January 2018, the couple visited Sweden and Norway. In February 2019, they visited Northern Ireland.
In June 2019, Catherine took the royal first salute at the Beating Retreat military pageant. In October 2019, Catherine and William toured Pakistan, the first royal visit there in 13 years. In March 2020, they toured Ireland. In October 2020, they met President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and First Lady Olena Zelenska. In December, the couple toured England, Scotland, and Wales by train to thank people for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, they returned to Scotland. In June 2021, William and Catherine attended the G7 summit for the first time. Catherine met US First Lady Jill Biden and discussed early childhood education.
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In February 2022, Catherine visited Denmark to learn about children's social and emotional development. In March 2022, she and William toured Belize, The Bahamas, and Jamaica to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
As Princess of Wales
Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022. Her father-in-law became King Charles III. The next day, William was made Prince of Wales, making Catherine the Princess of Wales. On 27 September 2022, Catherine and William visited Anglesey and Swansea, their first visit to Wales as Prince and Princess of Wales. In February 2023, they visited Falmouth.
Charity Work and Interests
Catherine supports many charities. After her marriage, she and William set up a gift fund for well-wishers to donate to charities. In 2012, their charity was renamed The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. It is now called The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
Catherine's charity work focuses on young children, mental health, sports, and art. Her support often brings a lot of attention and donations to these causes, which is sometimes called the "Kate effect". She is a patron of many charities, including Action for Children, the Anna Freud Centre, and the National Portrait Gallery. As an art history graduate, she is very interested in art. She also became a patron of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets in 2015.
Catherine works a lot with children's palliative care through East Anglia's Children's Hospices. She visits hospices and families privately. Her first public speech for them in 2012 brought "global interest" to children's hospices.
Catherine loves sports and attends Wimbledon every year as a patron. She also enjoys sailing for charity. In 2012, she, William, and Prince Harry launched Coach Core, a program that helps young people become sports coaches. In 2019, she supported the Backyard Nature campaign to encourage children to connect with nature. In February 2022, she became the patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League.
In January 2018, it was reported that she donated locks of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes wigs for children with cancer. In February 2018, she became a patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She also launched Nursing Now, a global campaign to raise awareness about nurses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catherine supported National Health Service workers and volunteered with the Royal Voluntary Service.
Catherine is an "enthusiastic amateur photographer" and has taken official portraits of her children and other royals. In 2019, she supported photography workshops for young people. She also took photos of Holocaust survivors for an exhibition. With the National Portrait Gallery, Catherine helped create an exhibition about Victorian photography, focusing on childhood. In May 2020, she launched "Hold Still," a project to capture life during lockdown. It received 31,000 submissions, and 100 photos were displayed online and in public places. The photos were published in a book in 2021.
In May 2021, Catherine received her first COVID-19 vaccine dose and encouraged others to get vaccinated. In September 2021, she visited RAF Brize Norton to meet military members involved in evacuating Afghan refugees. In October 2021, William and Catherine visited the Royal Botanical Gardens for an educational initiative. Catherine hosted a Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in December 2021 to honor charities and individuals who helped during the pandemic. She even played the piano during a performance.
Supporting Mental Health
Catherine works to help with issues around mental health. She has visited charities and hospitals to spend time with mothers and children facing these challenges. Experts have praised her for raising awareness about children's mental health. She and William received a Gold Blue Peter badge for their work.
To encourage people to talk about mental health, Catherine, William, and Harry started the "Heads Together" campaign in April 2016. This campaign has helped many people discuss their mental health. Catherine has also talked about her own experiences as a mother, admitting to "lack of confidence" and "feelings of ignorance" at times. She emphasizes the importance of a "happy home" and "safe environment" for children.
She launched the Mentally Healthy Schools website, which provides resources for students and staff to improve mental health awareness. In February 2016, she promoted the work of Place2Be and launched Children's Mental Health Week, which she celebrates every year. Catherine was also a guest editor for HuffPost UK to raise awareness for children's mental health.
In 2019, Catherine helped design a garden display for the Chelsea Flower Show. The "Back to Nature Garden" featured a tree house, waterfall, and campfire, highlighting how nature helps mental and physical well-being. This garden was later moved to Hampton Court Palace. In May 2019, as part of "Heads Together," Catherine and her family launched Shout, a text messaging service for people with mental health issues. In October 2019, Catherine and other royals voiced a public service announcement for Public Health England's "Every Mind Matters" program.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catherine and William supported new mental health initiatives. In April 2020, they announced Our Frontline, which provides mental health support to emergency workers. In May 2020, their radio message for Mental Health Awareness Week was broadcast across the UK. In June 2020, Catherine hosted an online assembly for elementary school students, discussing self-care and sharing feelings.
In February 2021, Catherine recorded a video about positive mental health during the pandemic. In May 2021 and 2022, William and Catherine voiced the Mental Health Minute message, broadcast on all UK radio stations, encouraging people to help those suffering from loneliness.
In February 2022, she made a surprise appearance on CBeebies Bedtime Stories, reading a book to mark the end of Children's Mental Health Week. In October 2022, the couple took over Newsbeat to interview guests about mental health. In 2023, she and William took part in a forum for young people in Birmingham to continue their work promoting mental well-being.
Focus on Early Childhood Development
Catherine became interested in how childhood experiences affect issues like homelessness and addiction during her early charity work. In March 2018, she hosted a meeting about children's health and launched an initiative to support early years intervention.
In January 2020, Catherine launched "5 Big Questions on the Under 5's," a national survey about early childhood development. It received over 500,000 responses. The results, released in November 2020, highlighted important topics like parents' mental health and community support. In July 2020, she supported BBC's "Tiny Happy People," which provides free resources for parents with young children. In August 2020, she led a donation drive for baby banks, which received over 10,000 donations.
In June 2021, Catherine launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. This center will conduct research and campaigns on early years issues. In October 2021, she visited University College London to learn about a program tracking children's development from nine months to five years old. In November 2021, she visited Nower Hill High School to join students studying neuroscience and early childhood development.
In February 2022, Catherine visited Denmark for the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. She visited the University of Copenhagen and a forest school to learn about their approaches to learning and social development. In March 2022, she and Prince William visited a teacher's college in Jamaica to meet students training to be early childhood educators. In June 2022, Catherine hosted her first discussion with politicians about early childhood development.
Titles and Honours
Titles and Styles
When Catherine married in 2011, she received the title "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge". In Scotland, she was known as "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Strathearn".
On 8 September 2022, when her father-in-law became King Charles III, Catherine also became Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Rothesay. The next day, King Charles III made William the Prince of Wales, which made Catherine the Princess of Wales. Since then, she has been known as "Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales". In Scotland, she is called "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay".
Honours and Military Appointments
Catherine has received several honours:
1 October 2016: Tuvalu Order of Merit
5 December 2017: Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
29 April 2019: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
She also holds honorary military appointments:
Canada
5 July 2011 – present: Honorary Canadian Ranger
United Kingdom
16 December 2015 – present: Honorary Air Commandant of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets
29 June 2021 – present: Lady Sponsor of HMS Glasgow
Images for kids
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Potternewton Hall Estate, where some of Catherine's ancestors lived.
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See also
In Spanish: Catalina de Gales para niños
