Early Life and Education of Catherine, Princess of Wales: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of Catherine, Princess of Wales. A timeline of key moments.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is a prominent member of the British royal family as the wife of William, Prince of Wales. As such, she is in line to be Queen Consort. She engages in royal duties and charitable work, and is known for her style and public appearances.
January 1982: Birth at Royal Berkshire Hospital
In January 1982, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
January 1982: Catherine Elizabeth Middleton Born
In January 1982, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born. She later became Catherine, Princess of Wales.
1983: Birth of Sister Philippa
In 1983, Catherine's younger sister, Philippa ('Pippa'), was born.
1984: Move to Amman, Jordan
In 1984, the Middleton family moved from Bradfield Southend, Berkshire, to Amman, Jordan, where Catherine attended nursery school.
September 1986: Return to Berkshire and Enrollment at St Andrew's School
In September 1986, the Middleton family returned to Berkshire, and Catherine was enrolled at St Andrew's School.
1987: Mother Founds Party Pieces
In 1987, Catherine's mother founded Party Pieces, a mail-order company.
1987: Birth of Brother James
In 1987, Catherine's younger brother, James, was born.
1995: Relocation to Bucklebury
In 1995, the Middleton family relocated to Bucklebury, and Catherine continued her education.
1997: Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
In 1997, the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, while being pursued by paparazzi, shaped Catherine and William's cautious approach to the media.
2001: Meeting Prince William
In 2001, Catherine Middleton met Prince William while they were students at St Salvator's Hall.
2002: Charity Fashion Show
In 2002, Catherine reportedly caught Prince William's attention at a charity fashion show at the University of St Andrews.
2003: Start of Dating Relationship
In 2003, Catherine and Prince William began dating.
2004: Brief Separation
In 2004, Catherine and Prince William briefly separated before resuming their relationship.
2005: Graduation from University
In 2005, Catherine graduated from the University of St Andrews with a Master of Arts (2:1 Hons) in art history.
2005: Graduation from University of St Andrews
In 2005, Catherine graduated from the University of St Andrews with a degree in art history.
December 2006: Attendance at William's Passing Out Parade
In December 2006, Catherine attended William's Passing Out Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
April 2007: End of Relationship
In April 2007, Catherine and William ended their relationship.
May 2008: Attends Wedding of Peter Phillips
In May 2008, Catherine attended the wedding of William's cousin Peter Phillips to Autumn Kelly in William's place, meeting Queen Elizabeth II for the first time.
June 2008: Attends Order of the Garter Procession
In June 2008, Catherine attended the Order of the Garter procession at Windsor Castle, where William was made a Royal Knight of the Garter.
July 2008: Attends Wedding of Lady Rose Windsor
In July 2008, Catherine was a guest at the wedding of Lady Rose Windsor and George Gilman while William was serving in the Caribbean aboard HMS Iron Duke.
June 2010: Move to Cottage in Anglesey, Wales
In June 2010, Catherine and William moved into a cottage on the Bodorgan Estate in Anglesey, Wales.
October 2010: Engagement to Prince William
In October 2010, Catherine and William became engaged at a remote alpine cabin on Mount Kenya.
November 2010: Public Appearance at Teenage Cancer Trust Fundraiser
In November 2010, Catherine made her first public appearance with William following their engagement announcement at a fundraiser organised by the Teenage Cancer Trust.
November 2010: Engagement Announcement
In November 2010, Catherine's engagement to Prince William was announced.
February 2011: First Official Public Appearance
In February 2011, Catherine made her first official public appearance when she and William attended a lifeboat-naming ceremony in Trearddur.
April 2011: Marriage at Westminster Abbey
In April 2011, Catherine married Prince William at Westminster Abbey and became the Duchess of Cambridge.
April 2011: Marriage and Title Acquisition
Upon her marriage in April 2011, Catherine became a Princess of the United Kingdom, as well as Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, and Baroness Carrickfergus; she also received the style of Royal Highness.
July 2011: Royal Tour of Canada and Visit to California
In July 2011, Catherine and William embarked on their first royal tour of Canada, which included a two-day visit to California, marking Catherine's first trip to the United States. The tour was considered a success, enhancing support for the monarchy.
March 2012: First Public Speech
In March 2012, Catherine gave her first public speech at the opening of a children's hospice supported by her patronage, East Anglia's Children's Hospices.
June 2012: Foundation Renamed to Reflect Catherine's Involvement
In June 2012, The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry was renamed to reflect Catherine's involvement.
October 2012: Launched the M-PACT Programme
In October 2012, Catherine helped launch the M-PACT (Moving Parents and Children Together) program, one of the few UK initiatives addressing the impact of parental addiction on families.
December 2012: Announcement of First Pregnancy
In December 2012, St James's Palace announced that Catherine was pregnant with her first child, Prince George.
2012: Launched Coach Core Programme
In 2012, Catherine, William, and Harry launched Coach Core, a program established after the 2012 Olympics to provide apprenticeships for young people aspiring to careers in sports coaching.
2013: Move to Kensington Palace
In 2013, Catherine and William moved into Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace.
2013: Supported Children's Hospice Week annually
Since 2013, Catherine has supported Children's Hospice Week annually, furthering her involvement in children's palliative care.
April 2014: Visit to Australia and New Zealand
In April 2014, Catherine, William, and their son visited Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Prime Minister described the tour as one of the best royal visits the country had hosted.
2014: Awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club
In 2014, Catherine and William were awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
2014: Wrote Foreword for 'Living in the Slipstream: Life as an RAF Wife'
In 2014, Catherine wrote the foreword for "Living in the Slipstream: Life as an RAF Wife", with proceeds supporting charity.
May 2015: Birth of Princess Charlotte
In May 2015, Catherine gave birth to Princess Charlotte.
October 2015: Attended First State Banquet
In October 2015, Catherine attended her first state banquet at Buckingham Palace in honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
December 2015: Assumed Patronage of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets
In December 2015, Catherine assumed patronage of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, following the Duke of Edinburgh's 63-year tenure. The handover occurred during an audience at Buckingham Palace.
April 2016: Launch of Heads Together Campaign
In April 2016, Catherine helped develop the Heads Together campaign with William and Prince Harry to encourage public discussion of mental health.
2016: Marked 75th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets
In 2016, Catherine marked the 75th anniversary of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, continuing her work with the organization.
May 2017: Visit to Luxembourg City
In May 2017, Catherine visited Luxembourg City for commemorations marking the Treaty of London.
2017: Kensington Palace Becomes Main Residence
In 2017, Kensington Palace became Catherine and William's main residence.
January 2018: Reported Hair Donation and Became Patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
In January 2018, locks of Catherine's hair were reportedly donated anonymously to the Little Princess Trust. The following month, she became patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She also launched Nursing Now, a three-year global campaign to raise the profile of nursing.
March 2018: Symposium on Children's Health and Launch of Early Years Intervention Support
In March 2018, Catherine hosted a symposium with the Royal Society of Medicine on children's health and launched the Early Years Intervention Support initiative.
April 2018: Birth of Prince Louis
In April 2018, Catherine gave birth to Prince Louis.
2018: Became Royal Patron of Victoria and Albert Museum
In 2018, Catherine became the first royal patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
July 2019: Supported Backyard Nature Campaign
In July 2019, Catherine supported Backyard Nature, a campaign encouraging children, families, and communities to engage with the natural world.
October 2019: Visit to Pakistan
In October 2019, Catherine and William traveled to Pakistan, marking the first royal visit to the country in 13 years. The tour aimed to promote diplomatic relations and highlighted the couple's interest in climate change and education.
2019: Became Patron of the Foundling Museum
In 2019, Catherine became the patron of the Foundling Museum, which commemorates the Foundling Hospital.
2019: Chelsea Flower Show Garden Display and Launch of Shout
In 2019, Catherine co-designed a garden display at the Chelsea Flower Show with the Royal Horticultural Society. In May 2019, Catherine, William, and other family members launched Shout, a text-messaging service for mental health support, as part of the Heads Together initiative.
2019: Designed "Back to Nature Garden"
In 2019, Catherine designed the "Back to Nature Garden" with landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White, promoting environmental sustainability.
2019: Supported Photography Workshops and Contributed to Holocaust Exhibition
In 2019, Catherine supported workshops run by the Royal Photographic Society and Action for Children. As patron of the Royal Photographic Society, she contributed to an exhibition marking 75 years since the end of the Holocaust.
January 2020: Launch of 5 Big Questions on the Under 5's
In January 2020, Catherine launched 5 Big Questions on the Under 5's, a nationwide survey on early childhood development, conducted by Ipsos MORI.
March 2020: Visit to Ireland
In March 2020, Catherine and William carried out a three-day visit to Ireland, traveling across three counties to engage with various communities.
March 2020: Support for Mental-Health Initiative
In March 2020, Catherine and William supported a new mental-health initiative by Public Health England during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2020: Announcement of Our Frontline
In April 2020, Catherine and William announced Our Frontline, which provides mental-health support for emergency and frontline workers.
May 2020: Launched "Hold Still" Photography Project
In May 2020, Catherine launched "Hold Still", a project documenting life during the COVID-19 lockdown, which received 31,000 submissions.
July 2020: Support for BBC's Tiny Happy People initiative
In July 2020, Catherine supported the development of the BBC's Tiny Happy People initiative, which provides free digital resources for parents with young children.
August 2020: Donation Drive to Support Baby Banks
In August 2020, Catherine led a donation drive to support baby banks nationwide, generating more than 10,000 donations.
September 2020: Appointed Co-President of The Scout Association
In September 2020, Catherine was appointed co-president of The Scout Association alongside the Duke of Kent.
October 2020: Meeting with President Zelenskyy
In October 2020, Catherine and William met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and his First Lady Olena Zelenska at Buckingham Palace.
November 2020: Release of 5 Big Questions Results
In November 2020, the results of Catherine's 5 Big Questions on the Under 5's survey were released, outlining five key themes in early childhood.
2020: Death of Lupo
In 2020, the family's English Cocker Spaniel, Lupo, died.
May 2021: Publication of "Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020"
On May 7, 2021, the book "Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020" was published, featuring images from the Hold Still project and a foreword written by Catherine.
June 2021: Attends G7 Summit
In June 2021, Catherine and William attended the G7 summit for the first time in Cornwall. During the summit, Catherine met Jill Biden and visited Connor Downs Academy.
June 2021: Became Patron of The Forward Trust
In June 2021, Catherine became patron of The Forward Trust following its merger with Action on Addiction, and subsequently launched the "Taking Action on Addiction" campaign.
June 2021: Launch of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood
In June 2021, Catherine launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to coordinate research, campaigns, and partnerships on early-years issues.
December 2021: Hosted the "Together at Christmas" Carol Service
In December 2021, Catherine hosted the annual "Together at Christmas" carol service at Westminster Abbey.
2021: Playground inspired by the garden opened on the Sandringham Estate
In 2021, A playground inspired by the "Back to Nature Garden" opened on the Sandringham Estate, providing a space for children to connect with nature.
February 2022: Became Patron of Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League
In February 2022, Catherine became patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League, roles previously held by Harry.
February 2022: Appearance on CBeebies Bedtime Stories
In February 2022, Catherine made a surprise appearance on CBeebies Bedtime Stories, reading "The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark" by Jill Tomlinson to mark the end of Children's Mental Health Week.
February 2022: Visit to Denmark on Behalf of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood
In February 2022, Catherine visited Denmark on behalf of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
February 2022: Visit to Denmark
In February 2022, Catherine visited Denmark to study their approach to supporting young people's social and emotional development.
March 2022: Donation to Support Refugees During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In March 2022, Catherine and William donated to support refugees during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
September 2022: New Titles Following Queen Elizabeth II's Death
In September 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Catherine became Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Rothesay. On 9 September 2022, she became Princess of Wales and Countess of Chester after William's appointment as Prince of Wales.
September 2022: Move to Adelaide Cottage
In September 2022, the family moved to Adelaide Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
October 2022: Became Patron of Preet Chandi
In October 2022, Catherine became patron of Preet Chandi, a British Army medical officer undertaking a 1,000‑mile solo expedition to the South Pole after completing a 700‑mile journey earlier that year.
January 2023: Launch of the Shaping Us Initiative
In January 2023, Catherine launched the Shaping Us initiative through the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, a long-term campaign aimed at raising awareness of early-childhood development and its importance.
February 2023: Visit to Cornwall as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall
In February 2023, Catherine and William traveled to Falmouth, marking their first visit to Cornwall since assuming the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.
May 2023: Hosted Children's Picnic at Chelsea Flower Show
In May 2023, Catherine hosted the first children's picnic at the Chelsea Flower Show for pupils from ten primary schools participating in the Royal Horticultural Society's Campaign for School Gardening.
October 2023: Statement on Attacks on Israel
In October 2023, Catherine and William issued a public statement condemning the October 7 attacks on Israel.
January 2024: Undergoes Abdominal Surgery
In January 2024, Kensington Palace announced that Catherine had undergone planned abdominal surgery at the London Clinic.
July 2024: Donated to support communities affected by Hurricane Beryl.
In July 2024, Catherine and William donated to support communities affected by Hurricane Beryl, showing their commitment to global relief efforts.
December 2024: Joint Funding for Pilot Scheme
In December 2024, Catherine and William announced joint funding for a pilot scheme with Norfolk and Waveney Mind to support rural and farming communities on the Sandringham estate.
2024: Resumes Public Duties
In 2024, Catherine returned to public view, announced the end of chemotherapy, and met families of the victims of the 2024 Southport stabbings.
2024: Diagnosis and Chemotherapy
In early 2024, Catherine was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy.
January 2025: Confirmation of Remission
In January 2025, following a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital, Catherine confirmed she was in remission.
May 2025: Launch of Mother Nature Video Series
In May 2025, Catherine launched the Mother Nature video series to highlight nature's role in mental wellbeing.
September 2025: Interaction with Scouts at Frogmore Gardens
During the US state visit in September 2025, Catherine and First Lady Melania Trump presented badges and met Scouts from the Squirrels section at Frogmore Gardens. This interaction was described by CNN as a "more humanising moment".
October 2025: Co-authored essay on limiting children's screen time
In October 2025, Catherine co-authored an essay with Professor Robert J. Waldinger of Harvard Medical School, encouraging parents to limit children's screen time to support early-childhood relationships.
October 2025: Move from Adelaide Cottage
In October 2025, the family is expected to move from Adelaide Cottage and Forest Lodge is their current residence.
2025: Curated display for the Victoria and Albert Museum
In July 2025, Catherine curated a small display for the Victoria and Albert Museum, highlighting her continued involvement in the arts.
January 2026: Conclusion of Mother Nature Video Series
In January 2026, Catherine concluded the Mother Nature video series, which was described by The Daily Telegraph as "one of her most personally creative projects to date".
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