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Royal FamilyKate Middleton: age, Prince William, children and biography
Kate Middleton, whose full name is Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, is the current Princess of Wales and the wife of Prince William, heir to the British throne. Born on 9 January 1982 in Reading, Berkshire, she became a member of the British Royal Family when she married William in 2011.
Today officially known as Catherine, Princess of Wales, she plays an important role within the monarchy alongside her husband. The couple have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are second, third and fourth respectively in the line of succession to the British throne.
Kate Middleton at a glance: full name: Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; born: 9 January 1982 in Reading; age: 44 years old; parents: Michael and Carole Middleton; husband: Prince William; married: 29 April 2011; children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis; current title: Princess of Wales.
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Who is Kate Middleton?
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, generally known as Kate Middleton in the media and by the public, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
She officially joined the British Royal Family in 2011 when she married Prince William, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and eldest son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Initially known as the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine became Princess of Wales in September 2022, following the accession of Charles III to the throne and William becoming Prince of Wales.
How old is Kate Middleton?
Kate Middleton was born on 9 January 1982. She is currently 44 years old.
She was born in the same year as Prince William, who was born on 21 June 1982.
Who are the members of Kate Middleton's family?
Catherine is the eldest of the three children of Michael Middleton and Carole Middleton.
She has a younger sister, Philippa Middleton, better known as Pippa Middleton, and a younger brother, James Middleton.
When she was two years old, her family temporarily moved to Amman, Jordan, where her father was working. The Middletons returned to Berkshire in 1986.
Unlike her husband, Catherine was not born into the Royal Family or the titled British aristocracy. Her marriage to William in 2011 marked her official entry into the monarchy.
Where did Kate Middleton study?
Catherine attended St Andrew's School in Pangbourne and later Marlborough College in Wiltshire.
After finishing school, she took a gap year during which she studied in Florence, took part in a Raleigh International programme in Chile and participated in sailing activities in the United Kingdom.
In 2001, she enrolled at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She studied history of art and graduated in 2005.
It was also at St Andrews that she met her future husband, Prince William.
How did Kate Middleton meet Prince William?
Kate Middleton and Prince William met while they were both students at the University of St Andrews in the early 2000s.
Their relationship developed during their university years. After graduating, their relationship gradually attracted considerable media attention in the United Kingdom and abroad.
After several years together, William proposed to Catherine during a private trip to Kenya in October 2010. Their engagement was officially announced on 16 November 2010.
For their engagement, Catherine received the famous sapphire engagement ring that had belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince William's mother.
When did William and Kate get married?
Prince William and Catherine Middleton were married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London.
On the occasion of the wedding, William was granted the title of Duke of Cambridge, among others. Catherine consequently became Duchess of Cambridge and was styled Her Royal Highness.
After the ceremony, the couple travelled in procession to Buckingham Palace and appeared on the balcony alongside members of the Royal Family.
Catherine's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Its train measured just under three metres.
Westminster Abbey can be visited today, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the setting of William and Catherine's wedding as well as many other major events in the history of the British monarchy.
Who are Kate Middleton and Prince William's children?
William and Catherine have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Prince George of Wales
Their eldest son, Prince George of Wales, was born on 22 July 2013 at St Mary's Hospital in London. He is currently 13 years old.
George is currently second in line to the British throne, behind his father William.
Princess Charlotte of Wales
Their daughter, Princess Charlotte of Wales, was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital. She is currently 11 years old.
Charlotte is third in the line of succession.
Prince Louis of Wales
Their third child, Prince Louis of Wales, was born on 23 April 2018 at St Mary's Hospital. He is currently 8 years old.
Louis is currently fourth in the line of succession.
In the line of succession to the British throne, William is currently 1st, followed by his three children: George in 2nd place, Charlotte in 3rd and Louis in 4th.
When did Kate Middleton become Princess of Wales?
Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022. Her son immediately became King Charles III, while William became Duke of Cornwall, among other titles.
On 9 September 2022, Charles III announced that his son William would henceforth be known as Prince of Wales. Catherine consequently became Princess of Wales.
Before 2022, Catherine was primarily known as the Duchess of Cambridge, a title she received following her marriage to William in 2011.
Catherine is the first person to publicly use the title Princess of Wales since Diana. Camilla was legally entitled to the title after marrying Charles in 2005, but used the title Duchess of Cornwall instead.
What is Kate Middleton's role in the Royal Family?
As Princess of Wales, Catherine is one of the leading working members of the British Royal Family.
She supports the King in carrying out the duties of the monarchy and takes part in official engagements in the United Kingdom and abroad. She also attends major royal events, state visits and various national ceremonies.
She regularly works alongside Prince William while also developing her own charitable initiatives.
What causes does Kate Middleton support?
One of the main focuses of Catherine's work is early childhood development and the influence of the earliest years of life on long-term physical, mental and social health.
Early childhood
In 2021, Catherine established the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which aims to develop research, raise public awareness and encourage collective action around the early years of life.
In 2023, she also launched the Shaping Us campaign, focusing on the importance of the first five years of childhood.
This work remains at the heart of her activities, and the Princess of Wales continues to take part in engagements and projects dedicated to early childhood.
Mental health and families
Catherine has also been involved in issues relating to mental health, children's emotional well-being, addiction and support for families.
These areas are developed in particular through The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
What is the latest on Kate Middleton's health?
In January 2024, Kensington Palace announced that Catherine had undergone planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was reported to have been successful, and the Princess temporarily suspended her public duties while she recovered.
In March 2024, Catherine publicly announced that cancer had been found following the surgery and that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
In September 2024, she announced that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment. In January 2025, during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she had received her own treatment, Catherine announced that she was in remission. Alongside William, she also became a joint patron of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
The type of cancer Catherine was diagnosed with has not been made public. It is therefore best to rely on information officially communicated by the Princess and Kensington Palace and to avoid speculation about her diagnosis.
Since then, Catherine has gradually resumed her public activities and once again takes part in official engagements as well as projects focusing particularly on early childhood.
Where do Kate Middleton and Prince William live?
The official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales is Kensington Palace in London.
Kensington Palace remains closely associated with the recent history of the Royal Family: Diana, Princess of Wales, also lived there for many years.
Will Kate Middleton become Queen?
In the normal course of succession, when Prince William becomes King, Catherine will become Queen Consort.
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She would not become a queen regnant in her own right: her status as Queen would derive from her marriage to William, in the same way that the wife of a King traditionally holds the status of Queen Consort.
The date of any future accession of William to the throne is, of course, impossible to predict.
Princess of Wales and future Queen do not mean the same thing. Catherine currently holds the title Princess of Wales because she is married to the Prince of Wales. She will only become Queen Consort when William becomes King, in the normal course of succession.
FAQ about Kate Middleton
What is Kate Middleton's real name?
Her birth name is Catherine Elizabeth Middleton. “Kate Middleton” is the name by which she remains widely known to the public and in the media.
When was Kate Middleton born?
Kate Middleton was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, England.
How old is Kate Middleton?
Catherine is currently 44 years old.
Who are Kate Middleton's parents?
Her parents are Michael Middleton and Carole Middleton. Catherine is the eldest of their three children.
Does Kate Middleton have any brothers or sisters?
Yes. She has a younger sister, Pippa Middleton, and a younger brother, James Middleton.
How did Kate Middleton meet Prince William?
Kate and William met while they were both studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
When did William and Kate get married?
William and Catherine were married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London.
How many children do William and Kate have?
William and Catherine have three children: Prince George, born in 2013, Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, and Prince Louis, born in 2018.
When did Kate Middleton become Princess of Wales?
Catherine became Princess of Wales in September 2022, following the accession of Charles III to the throne and when William became Prince of Wales.
Is Kate Middleton a princess?
Yes. Her current title is Catherine, Princess of Wales. She is also Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge and holds various titles in Scotland.
Did Kate Middleton have cancer?
Yes. Catherine announced in March 2024 that cancer had been found following abdominal surgery and that she was undergoing treatment. She announced the completion of her chemotherapy in September 2024 and then that she was in remission in January 2025. The type of cancer has not been made public.
Where do William and Kate live?
The official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales is Kensington Palace in London.
Will Kate Middleton become Queen?
In the normal course of succession, Catherine will become Queen Consort when William becomes King. She will not be a queen regnant in her own right.
Summary
Kate Middleton, born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton on 9 January 1982 in Reading, is the current Princess of Wales and the wife of Prince William, heir to the British throne.
The couple married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey and have three children: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales, who are second, third and fourth respectively in the line of succession.
Since becoming Princess of Wales in September 2022, Catherine has supported the King and the Royal Family in their official duties and has devoted a significant part of her work to early childhood and mental health. After undergoing cancer treatment in 2024, she announced that she was in remission in January 2025 and has gradually resumed her public activities.
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