Duchess of Cambridge Celebrates 40th Birthday

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The Duchess of Cambridge with children from The Heathlands School during a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in south London, to take part in a Generation Earthshot event.

Duchess of Cambridge Celebrates 40th Birthday

9th January 2022

  1. Catherine was born at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, on the 9th January 1982.
  2. Her full name is Catherine Elizabeth Middleton.
  3. Catherine’s parents are Michael and Carole Middleton. Her father was a pilot and her mother worked as an airline stewardess.
  4. The Duchess is the eldest of three children. Her siblings are Pippa and James.
  5. Catherine was christened at the parish church of St. Andrew’s Bradfield in Berkshire on 20 June 1982.
  6. In May 1984, at the age of two, The Duchess moved with her family to Amman in Jordan, where her father worked for two and a half years.
  7. The Duchess went on to Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she studied Chemistry, Biology and Art at A-level.
  8. During her school years, Catherine played tennis, hockey and netball and participated in athletics, particularly high jump.
  9. The Duchess took a gap year following college, studying at the British Institute in Florence, undertaking a Raleigh International programme in Chile, and crewing on Round the World Challenge boats in the Solent.
  10. In 2001, The Duchess enrolled at the University of St. Andrews, from where she graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in History of Art.
  11. Prince William and Catherine lived in the same dormitory at University. They also shared several classes which eventually led to them becoming friends.
  12. Catherine is almost six months older than Prince William. His birthday is in June.
  13. In 2002, the couple started dating although they did not go public with their relationship.
  14. Catherine worked as a part-time buyer for the clothing company Jigsaw Junior.
  15. Catherine is 5 feet and 9 inches tall and has the U.S. shoe size of 8.5.
  16. In 2007 media sources reported that Prince William and Catherine had split up.
  17. In 2010, Prince William and Catherine got back together in Kenya where they also were engaged.
  18. Catherine’s engagement ring is the same ring that the late Princess Diana had chosen from a catalogue in 1981 for her own engagement. It was made by Garrard & Co. who were the crown jewellers at the time and boasts a 12-carat sapphire stone surrounded by 14 diamonds set in white gold.
  19. Following their engagement, they attended their first official event, the launch of the new RNLI lifeboat “Hereford Endeavour” at Trearddur Bay, Wales.
  20. On her wedding day in 2011, she wore Queen Elizabeth II’s tiara. The jewelled crown is called the Halo Scroll Tiara and was made by Cartier in 1936.
  21. On marrying into the Royal Family, Catherine gained the title of Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn when in Scotland, and Lady Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.
  22. The Middleton family crest features acorns and oak leaves, and Catherine wore diamond earrings with dangling acorns on her wedding day – a gift from her parents.
  23. One of the most unique gifts the royal couple received on their wedding day was a tandem bike. The bike was a gift from London Mayor Boris Johnson.
  24. Announced in January 2012, Catherine’s first patronages were East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, the National Portrait Gallery, The Art Room, and Action on Addiction.
  25. The first time she agreed to do a magazine shoot was in June 2016. She appeared in a 10-page spread in Vogue’s centenary issue.
  26. The Cambridges’ have three children together. Their first, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge was born on July 22, 2013.
  27. Two years later, on May 2, 2015, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born. Then on April 23, 2018, the couple’s third child, Prince Louis Arthur Charles.
  28. The Duchess enjoys testing out Mary Berry recipes. During an event in 2013, she told Mary Berry: “I’m a big fan of your cook books and your cakes.”
  29. Catherine’s favourite TV shows include “Downton Abbey,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Homeland.”
  30. In 2012, reality TV star Kim Kardashian released a limited edition shoe, named “The Duchess.” Kardashian claimed the shoe was designed for the Duchess’ 30th birthday.
  31. The Duchess loves the arts and became the first Royal Patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2018. She has also been a patron of the National Portrait Gallery since 2012.
  32. A keen photographer, The Duchess often takes the photos of her children released by the palace, and she serves as patron of the Royal Photographic Society.
  33. Richard Ward, a London hairdresser, is responsible for her signature locks.
  34. Catherine wasn’t officially introduced to the Queen for five years and first met Her Majesty at the wedding of Peter and Autumn Phillips.
  35. The Duchess is one of the only Royals to have never been seen on horseback. This is because she never learned to ride growing up and more importantly, she is allergic to horses.
  36. Catherine’s old school nickname was “Squeak,” as inspired by the school guinea pig. “There was one called Pip and one called Squeak, so my sister was called Pip and I was Squeak.”
  37. The Duchess was a member of her local Brownie troop as a girl and today works as a volunteer with The Scout Association.
  38. Catherine’s brother, James, breeds cocker spaniels and gave her and Prince William a dog called Lupo as a wedding gift. Sadly, Lupo passed away in 2020.
  39. The Duchess is a big fan of tennis and patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, which hosts the Wimbledon championships.
  40. The Duchess can play the piano. At a 2021 Christmas Eve concert HRH played the piano accompaniment in a performance at Westminster Abbey, alongside singer Tom Walker.

Happy Birthday Your Royal Highness!

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