In pictures: Kate Middleton's life before she agreed to marry Prince William
Kate and William married in 2011
Before she was the polished Princess of Wales and agreed to marry Prince William, Kate Middleton was a student, style icon, and London party girl navigating her twenties under growing royal scrutiny.
Kate met Prince William at the University of St. Andrews in 2001, and they reportedly began dating in 2002.
While she officially entered royal life with their 2011 wedding, Kate had already spent years balancing her relationship with William, a brief breakup, and a career in retail and fashion.
Here’s a look at her life before she said “yes” to a future king.
Kate Middleton at graduation in June 2005
After a gap year and a 2:1 degree in Art History from the University of St. Andrews, Kate graduated in 2005 looking every bit the elegant academic.
Wearing a crisp white shirt, a black pencil skirt, and classic heels beneath her formal gown, she was the picture of refined confidence, even before royal life was on the cards.
Kate’s catwalk during university days before she agreed to marry Prince William
In 2002, months into her university stint, Kate took part in a now iconic catwalk – something that caught William’s attention.
Kate, then 20, wore a sheer black lace dress over a bandeau bra and black bikini bottoms.
Apparently, William, sat in the front row, was stunned by Kate’s appearance on the catwalk. He reportedly called her a “knockout” that night making her blush.
Kate joins William for her first royal wedding in May 2006
Kate made a bold style statement at the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles, daughter of the now Queen Camilla.
Her oversized fascinator turned heads, marking the beginning of her signature royal wedding guest aesthetic.
Attending alongside Prince William, this marked one of their first high-profile joint appearances. At the time, she and William had been dating for years, but this public appearance cemented her growing closeness to the royal circle.
Princess Kate wowed in red polka dots in 2006
Kate showed off her easy elegance while watching Prince William compete in the Chakravarty Cup polo match at Ham Polo Club.
Wearing a red and white polka dot dress, she exuded off-duty charm.
With flowing hair and minimal makeup, her look was breezy yet stylish.
Kate Middleton in her ‘single girl era’ in 2007
It’s widely reported that William and Kate briefly split in early 2007. And it seems Kate entered her “single girl era” in true style.
She was photographed multiple times leaving London’s top nightclubs like Mahiki and Boujis, often accompanied by her sister, Pippa.
One fan-favorite snap from that time shows Kate wearing a silky printed dress and glowing makeup.
Young Kate Middleton wows in blue dress in 2007
In one iconic 2007 photo, Kate strutted out of Boujis nightclub in London in an electric blue satin-trimmed mini dress paired with knee-high suede boots.
Glossy waves and eyeliner completed the look, cementing her status as a true “it girl” of the era.
Young Kate at the Badminton Horse Trials
At the Badminton Horse Trials in May 2007, Kate wore a casual navy sweater and a white denim skirt, an outfit that feels worlds apart from her current wardrobe.
She paired it with Coco Chanel sunglasses, proving her fashion instincts were sharp even in her off-duty days.
Kate’s rowing team
In the summer of 2007, Kate threw herself into a charity rowing team called The Sisterhood, training to cross the English Channel.
“Kate was very down, and I think the training became her therapy,” fellow rower Emma Sayle shared. “She said this was a chance to do something for herself.”
Pictures from this time show a determined Kate paddling in the Thames.
Kate’s iconic roller disco look
One of the most surprising images from Kate’s pre-royal life: her appearance at a glow-in-the-dark roller disco charity event in London.
Dressed in a sequin green halter top, yellow shorts, pink accessories, and shimmery tights, Kate looked more ready for a rave than a royal walkabout.
In 2010, Prince William proposed to Kate during a trip to Kenya, using Princess Diana’s iconic sapphire ring.
The couple’s engagement was announced later that year, and in April 2011, they married in Westminster Abbey.
By then, the world had come to know and love Kate.
Read more: Kate Middleton’s ‘role’ in Donald Trump’s UK state visit that will ‘depend on her health’
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