Kate Middleton Kate Middleton may be the future Queen of England – but no pressure! Middleton was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton on January 9, 1982, in Berkshire, England. The eldest daughter of businessman Michael Middleton and former flight attendant, Carole Middleton, she attended the public school, Marlborough College. She then went on to attend the University of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland, where she graduated with honors, earning an MA in art history in 2005. During her first year at the University of St. Andrews, Middleton met fellow student, Prince William of Wales, who was also studying art history at the university. However, at this time, Middleton was involved in another relationship, and she and Prince William became friends and flatmates in 2002. In December 2003, Middleton broke up with her beau, and began a relationship with Prince William. The pair have been a couple remained together for three years, launching Middleton into the very center of the scrutiny of the British press which watched her every move – including her career choices. After graduating with her art history degree, it was speculated that Middleton would work in a London art gallery. Instead, she endeavored to start her own mail order business, selling high-end children's clothing. Middleton’s parents are founders of another mail order company, Party Pieces, which provides supplies for children’s parties. After a main investor backed out of Middleton’s business plan, she decided to make a change in career direction, and in November 2006, she began working as an accessories buyer with British clothing company, Jigsaw.
Prince William and Middleton constantly attempted to keep their relationship private; however, the public interest in the future King and potential future Queen of England continued. Middleton is rumored to have met Prince William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Balmoral. However, this – along with the couple’s potential plans to marry – was never confirmed by the Royals, although Middleton was frequently included in various Royal functions. On October 17, 2005, Middleton voiced concern to her lawyer about the harassment she had encountered from the media, who had published photos of the exterior of her London flat, revealing its location and thus prompting a security threat to Middleton. The London Evening Standard revealed that Prince William had considered going to the European Court of Human Rights with concerns about such privacy breaches and the threat they posed to Middleton’s safety. Despite the fact that no engagement plans for Middleton and Prince William had been announced, the public frenzy in the perceived build-up to another Royal wedding was always present. Reminiscent of matching china plates commemorating the 1981 wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, retailers such as Woolworths had already begun planning merchandise for Middleton and Prince William, in anticipation of a future engagement announcement.
However, the building of excitement, the production of teatowels and china with the couple's faces on and the newspaper's fiori over the expected wedding were all dashed when it was announced in mid April 2007 that the couple had decided to go their separate ways. YUDDY |
