Catherine, princess of Wales

Catherine, princess of Wales (born January 9, 1982, Reading, Berkshire, England) is the consort (2011– ) of William, prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne. In 2022 Catherine became the princess of Wales, a title previous held by her mother-in-law, the late Princess Diana. Similar to Diana, Catherine is known for her warmth and relatability. She typically ranks among the royal family’s most popular members. In 2024 it was announced that Catherine was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Early life and education

Catherine is the eldest of three children of Michael and Carole Middleton; her siblings are Philippa (Pippa) and James. Her parents met while working as flight attendants at British Airways, and in 1987 they founded a mail-order business selling supplies for children’s parties. The success of that venture, along with a family inheritance, allowed them to send Catherine to a prep school and then to the prestigious Marlborough College in Wiltshire, England. At Marlborough, Catherine (then called Kate Middleton) was known as a serious levelheaded student, excelling in both athletics—she captained the school field hockey team—and academics.

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William and Catherine

In 2001, after a gap year, Middleton enrolled at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. There she studied art history while working part-time as a waitress. After graduating from St. Andrews in 2005, she was briefly employed as an accessories buyer for a clothing retailer, and she later assumed various roles at her parents’ company while performing a host of charity work.

Relationship with Prince William: marriage and children

While at St. Andrews, Middleton met Prince William, a fellow first-year art history student who was then second in line to the British throne (after his father, Charles). According to Catherine, the two were “very close friends” for about a year. In 2002 they and several others moved in together, and it was then that the relationship turned romantic. They maintained a low profile, and their relationship was not made public until they were photographed together vacationing in Switzerland in 2004. Three years later the couple broke up, and Middleton later said, “I at the time wasn’t very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person.” However, after just a few months, they reunited.

Following several years of intense speculation from the British media about the couple’s marriage plans—during which time Middleton was dubbed “Waity Katie”—it was announced in November 2010 that the two had become engaged. In preparation for entry into the royal family, Kate Middleton reverted to the more formal name Catherine. The royal wedding took place on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London. She was given the title duchess of Cambridge.

The couple’s first son, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, was born on July 22, 2013, and their daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge, was born on May 2, 2015. Catherine gave birth to a second son, Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, on April 23, 2018.

Public life

By most accounts, Catherine easily transitioned to royal life, and she quickly became popular with the public. She is involved in numerous charities, especially those involving children. In 2021 she established the Centre for Early Childhood, part of the Royal Foundation. Catherine also has supported efforts concerning mental health issues. In 2017 she joined forces with William and his brother, Prince Harry, to launch the Heads Together initiative, which seeks to raise awareness about mental health problems and ease the stigma associated with them. Catherine is also a noted amateur photographer, and she frequently posts family portraits online.

In September 2022 Elizabeth II died. William became heir apparent and inherited the title duke of Cornwall when his father became King Charles III. Catherine thus became the duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge. She became princess of Wales shortly after, when the title prince of Wales was bestowed on William. In addition, their children’s titles also changed. Their eldest son, for example, became Prince George of Wales.

In January 2024 Kensington Palace announced that Catherine was undergoing “planned abdominal surgery” and would not return to official duties for some two months. In the ensuing weeks her health became a source of intense speculation, especially on social media. It reached a crescendo in March after Catherine admitted to editing a Mother’s Day photograph of her and her children. About two weeks later she announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. The type of cancer was not revealed.