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Who is Kate Middleton, what are her studies and how old is the Duchess of Cambridge?

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, the Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, will become Queen when Prince William ascends to the throne someday. Who is she?

Kate Middleton and Prince William met while attending university together where the friendship the struck up blossomed into a fairytale romance and wedding at Westminster Abbey in April 2011. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and now Cornwall too, are one of the most beloved royal couples ever.

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So who is Kate Middleton?

Born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, she was the first of Michael and Carole Middleton’s three children, coming into the world on 9 January 1982 in Reading, Berkshire. She and her siblings grew up in a comfortable lifestyle, their parents launched a wildly successful mail-order party goods company in 1987. The venture made the Middleton family multi-millionaires.

The good fortunes of her parents allowed Kate to attend exclusive boarding schools, including St Andrew’s Prep School, Downe House, and Marlborough College. Her time at Downe House, an all-girls boarding school, was short-lived, leaving after suffering from bullying when she was 14. She transferred to Marlborough, a co-ed school, where she showed scholastic aptitude passing 11 GCSEs and three A-level exams.

She attended St Andrews in Scotland where she studied Art History. That is where she met Prince William, who went by the name ‘Steve’, who was studying the same degree.

Art History wasn’t William’s cup of tea though and he considered dropping out but didn’t. Instead, he changed his area of study to Geography, Kate is credited with encouraging him to make the choice to carry on but in a new direction.

The future Duchess graduated with a 2:1 Honours, while the now heir apparent finished with an upper second class honours in 2005 according to Hello! magazine.

Kate Middleton’s work as the Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge

As the Duchess of Cambridge, and since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II the Duchess of Cornwall too, Kate devotes her time to supporting a number of charitable causes and organizations. Many of these focus on “providing children with the best possible start in life” according to the Duchess’s royal biography.

Some of these programs center on early childhood development and mental health of children. As well, getting children to be active in sport and get outdoors into nature as good physical health complements good mental health.

The Duchess became the first Royal Patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, in 2018.

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