By
Claudia Joseph
Last updated at 11:34 AM on 1st January 2012
Next week – on Monday, January 9 – The Duchess of Cambridge caps a remarkable year by celebrating her 30th birthday.
Here, The Mail on Sunday marks the occasion by taking an extraordinary look back through her family album.
We follow Kate’s journey from her first picture at just a few days old, through her carefree days has a toddler, through a move abroad with her father’s job, her schooldays at St Andrew’s, Pangbourne, and Marlborough – and her undergraduate years at St Andrew’s University where she captivated her fellow students – not least the most important one of all, Prince William.
We see her blossoming as a Princess in waiting and that on memorable at Westminster Abbey when she walked down the aisle a commoner and walked back, hand-in-hand with her prince, as a member of the Royal family.
1982: First picture of Kate in her mother’s arms at the family’s semi in Southend, Berkshire, 15 days after her birth on January 9 and right, five months on she was christened on June 20 at Bradfield’s St Andrew’s church with her proud father Michael at her side. Carole wore a floral Laura Ashley dress
1985: Aged three and sporting a stripey jumper, Kate tried a spot of fell climbing during a family holiday in the Lake District and right, in 1986, the now four-year-old is pictured left with her flight dispatcher father Michael and younger sister Pippa at the ancient ruins of Jerash in Jordan
1987: Kate, aged five, starts at Bradfield C of E primary just next door to the Middletons’ home and right, in 1988 Kate aged six in her school uniform. She was already enjoying athletics and swimming against classmates
1989: By the time she was seven, left, Kate’s parents could afford the £10,000-a-year fees at St Andrew’s prep school in Pangbourne, Berkshire and right, in 1990, right, Kate enrolled in the 1st St Andrew’s Brownies aged eight. She later joined the pack on an Easter holiday in the Cotwolds
1991: Kate, pictured centre aged nine, excelled at sports and was the highest scorer in the school rounders team for her year and in 1992, right, she broke the school record in her age group for high jump and was a keen tennis player. Here, aged ten, she celebrates victory in the school hockey team
1993: Her height made Kate, 11, first choice as Goal Defence for the netball team. She was named best all-round sportswoman at St Andrews. Right, in 1994, with braces on her teeth, 12-year-old Kate was one of the pupils invited to celebrate the first birthday of Angharad Allford, daughter of housemaster Kevin Allford
1995: Kate, 13, appeared in a school play with a prophetic twist. The leading man was called William and propose don bended knee and right, in 1996, at 14, Kate became a border at Marlborough College in Wiltshire and she is pictured proudly showing off the tartan skirt she wore until the sixth form
1997: Kate seen here in her hockey kit at 15 earned so many sporting honours on speech day that she couldn’t carry them all back and right, in by 1998, 16-year-old Kate, pictured right with friends, had finished her Duke of Edinburgh Gold award and had blossomed into one of the school’s most attractive girls
1999: Kate, 17, studied for chemistry, biology and art at A-level and became a prefect but she still had time to lark around for photos while right, in 2000, aged 18, she is pictured relaxing in the Art Bar in Florence on her gap year. Kate spent some of the time studying at the city’s British Institute
2001: Kate went up to St Andrews University aged 19. She met William who lived in the same halls of residence and studied for the same degree, History of Art. But at that stage they were just friends
2002: Pictured at a St Andrews house party at 20 wearing a daring off-the-shoulder black dress
2003: Kate and William, left, both turned 21 and were guests at each other’s coming of age parties, but to the outside world they were just good friends. In 2004, after months of speculation about their romance, Kate, 22, and William moved into a remote farmhouse on the outskirts of St Andrews. They are pictured dancing together at a university gala in their first appearance after their relationship became public
2005: Kate, left, now 23, brings a fresher approach to the traditional Royal off-duty uniform of tweed and leather boots as she poses at Blenheim Palace and right, watching the Prince play at the Ham Polo Club aged 24. It was the year bookies slashed odds on a Royal Engagement
2007: Kate’s ‘annus horribilis’ when she and William broke up. Aged 25, left, she was pictured training with a boat crew but 12 weeks after the split the couple were reunited at the Concert for Diana. Right, in 2008, she was keen to show she was not just ‘Waity Katie’ as the 26-year-old helped organise an 80s-style roller disco
2009: Living with the Royals brings a new kind of sport as Kate, 27, joins a shooting party during a difficult weekend for William – on the 12th anniversary of his mother Diana’s death. Right, in 2010, as engagement speculation mounted, Kate, 28, wore pale silk and lace to the wedding of old friend Charlie Savoy and wife Lucy
2001: Kate, 29, wears lace again at her own spectacular wedding at Westminster Abbey. The word watched entranced as she appears, a princess at Buckingham Palace
2011: Now the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate spends her first Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham visiting church in a jaunty plum-coloured hat, a fully fledged member of The Firm
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Well done girl – reaching 30 without a day’s work – that takes some doing….how can anyone respect this stick insect?
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Omg, she looks so different now!
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I have noticed the silly hat has been strategically placed so that we cannot see there is NO SCAR! Waity K is all about big hair extensions and with no work ethics or substance!
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I like her, based on style alone. However, when I see these pics over the years, it does come to mind (what you Britons say) “mutton dressed as lamb” I can relate though, they look like my growing up pics. Eep! How humiliating. Also, I am amused by the just friends pic with Wills, where she is curvy. Wow! Did Duchess of Cambridge change so much and lose about 30-40 lbs, yes she did. However the wonky eye she did not get rid of. Wait Kate must have a darn great personality, charm or something else pictures cannot capture!!! I see a speck or a glimmer of the shine but not sure what it is exactly. Some kind of star quality admittedly. I would like her to speak more to the media though. Less articles about fashion and hair parades constantly. More about the real Kate, who she really is and less of ermmm… what she seems to be molded into I guess, just a pretty image. The genuine Kate Middleton, Catherine Windsor, Duchess of Cambridge. I’d like to know of. From ugly duckling to the swan!
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I’m so lucky to share the same birthday as the Duchess of Cambridge! 🙂 – Olivia, Los Angeles, CA, 1/1/2012 1:02 =============== *Scratches head and wonders why…*
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Now she is married to the heir to the throne she is suddenly in line for sainthood. Would someone please explain to me since adulthood what has she done other than chase Wills up the aisle?? Would someone please tell me why is she now a fantastic, wonderful, caring, kind, loveable role model to us all??
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I’m a bit disappointed that these photos have been released – presumably by the family. Surely it would be better to keep them private?
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Back in 1982 she looked like William does now , how coincidental . I had some Laura Ashley curtains very similar to Carole’s too.
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30 or 50?
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What an ugly little spud Kate was…hope the heirs don’t look anything like her.
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