Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Duchess Kate - an ordinary girl who became a princess Wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William

At the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, 29 April 2011

Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton(English) Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton ; genus. 6 September 1983, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK) is a British socialite. younger sister Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. In the movie "William and Kate" (English)Russian"(2011) the role of Pippa was played by Mary Eliza Hayden (English)Russian.

Biography

Philippa Charlotte Middleton was born on September 6, 1983 in Reading (Berkshire, England) to Michael Francis Middleton (06/23/49) and Carole Elizabeth Middleton (maiden name Goldsmith; 01/31/55). She has elder sister— Catherine Elizabeth Middleton (b. 1982), who became the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 by marrying Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and younger brother- James William Middleton (b. 1987).

The Middleton family does not belong to the British nobility: Michael Francis came from the middle class, and Carol Elizabeth came from an old family of Harrison coal miners from County Durham, that is, both parents were commoners. Both spouses worked in civil aviation, Carol Elizabeth was a flight attendant and Michael Francis was an air traffic controller.

In 1987, the Middletons founded the parcel trading company Party Pieces, which successfully developed in the British market and made them millionaires. The family settled in their own house in the village of Bucklebury in Berkshire.

Personal life

Pippa and James Matthews have officially confirmed that they are engaged.

The wedding is planned for 2017.

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Excerpt characterizing Middleton, Pippa

Pierre entered Count Rastopchin's office. Rastopchin, wincing, rubbed his forehead and eyes with his hand, while Pierre entered. The short man was saying something and, as soon as Pierre entered, he fell silent and left.
- A! “Hello, great warrior,” said Rostopchin as soon as this man came out. – We’ve heard about your prouesses [glorious exploits]! But that's not the point. Mon cher, entre nous, [Between us, my dear,] are you a Freemason? - said Count Rastopchin in a stern tone, as if there was something bad in this, but that he intended to forgive. Pierre was silent. - Mon cher, je suis bien informe, [I, my dear, know everything well,] but I know that there are Freemasons and Freemasons, and I hope that you do not belong to those who, under the guise of saving the human race, want to destroy Russia.
“Yes, I’m a Freemason,” answered Pierre.
- Well, you see, my dear. You, I think, are not unaware that Messrs. Speransky and Magnitsky have been sent where they should be; the same was done with Mr. Klyucharyov, the same with others who, under the guise of building the temple of Solomon, tried to destroy the temple of their fatherland. You can understand that there are reasons for this and that I could not exile the local postal director if he were not harmful man. Now I know that you sent him yours. crew for the rise from the city and even that you accepted papers from him for safekeeping. I love you and do not wish you harm, and since you are twice my age, I, as a father, advise you to stop all relations with this kind of people and leave here yourself as soon as possible.
- But what, Count, is Klyucharyov’s fault? asked Pierre.
“It’s my business to know and not yours to ask me,” cried Rostopchin.
“If he is accused of distributing Napoleon’s proclamations, then this has not been proven,” said Pierre (without looking at Rastopchin), “and Vereshchagin...”
“Nous y voila, [It is so,”] - suddenly frowning, interrupting Pierre, Rostopchin cried out even louder than before. “Vereshchagin is a traitor and a traitor who will receive a well-deserved execution,” said Rostopchin with that fervor of anger with which people speak when remembering an insult. - But I did not call you in order to discuss my affairs, but in order to give you advice or orders, if you want it. I ask you to stop relations with gentlemen like Klyucharyov and get out of here. And I'll beat the crap out of whoever it is. - And, probably realizing that he seemed to be shouting at Bezukhov, who had not yet been guilty of anything, he added, taking Pierre by the hand in a friendly manner: - Nous sommes a la veille d "un desastre publique, et je n"ai pas le temps de dire des gentillesses a tous ceux qui ont affaire a moi. My head is spinning sometimes! Eh! bien, mon cher, qu"est ce que vous faites, vous personnellement? [We are on the eve of a general disaster, and I have no time to be polite to everyone with whom I have business. So, my dear, what are you doing, you personally?]

Catherine Elizabeth, Duchess of Cambridge
Duchess of Cambridge
from April 29, 2011
Birth:	January 9 ( 1982-01-09 ) (30 years) Reading, England
Father:	Michael Francis Middleton
Mother:	Carol Elizabeth, born Goldsmith
Spouse:	Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
Awards:

Catherine Elizabeth Mountbatten-Windsor, Duchess of Cambridge(nee Catherine Middleton) Catherine Elizabeth, Duchess of Cambridge, nee Catherine Elizabeth Middleton ; genus. January 9, 1982, Reading, UK) - wife of William, Duke of Cambridge.

Biography

Born on January 9, 1982 in the city of Reading in the English county of Berkshire in the family of Michael Francis Middleton (eng. Michael Francis Middleton; genus. 23 June 1949) and his wife Carol Elizabeth, née Goldsmith. Carole Elizabeth Middleton nee Goldsmith ; genus. January 31, 1955).

Family

Kate's parents married on June 21, 1980 at the parish church in Dorney, Buckinghamshire. They met while working in civil aviation: Carol was a flight attendant, Michael an air traffic controller (he later became a British Airways pilot).

Kate's mother, née Goldsmith, was born on January 31, 1955. Her ancestors - the Harrison family - are representatives of the working class. They were miners in County Durham.

Kate's father was born on June 23, 1949. His family originates from Leeds, West Yorkshire. Kate's paternal grandmother, Olivia, belonged to the Lupton family, whose members were famous for their commercial activities and work in city services. On her grandmother's side, Kate is related to Thomas Davies, the famous Church of England hymn writer.

The Middleton family has three children: Kate, Philippa Charlotte (Pippa) and James William. Kate is the oldest of them.

During her studies, she continued to play sports, in particular playing hockey for the university team, and participating in charity events. In 2002, for example, she walked at a charity show at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. transparent dress, which recently sold at a London auction for $104,000 (£65,000).

Kate graduated from the university without failing grades, receiving a second-class honors degree in art history in 2005. After that, she began working for Party Pieces, which was founded by her parents in 1987. The Middleton company delivers goods by mail for various holidays. In 2008, as part of her work at the company, Kate launched the First Birthdays project. In the family business, Kate worked on catalog design, product photography and marketing campaigns.

Along with this, in November 2006, she began working part-time in the purchasing department of the Jigsaw chain of stores in London. A year later, the press wrote that Kate intended to leave her job at Jigsaw and start a career professional photographer. A few months later it was even announced that she was planning to take private lessons from Mario Testino, a photographer who has taken several famous photographs Princess Diana and her sons. However, the photographer himself denied this information. The media noted that Prince William introduced Kate to Testino.

Having received the unofficial status of the prince's girlfriend, Middleton began to often appear at events involving the royal family. So, on December 15, 2006, she and her parents were invited to the graduation ceremony of the Royal Military Academy, from which Prince William graduated. Queen Elizabeth II attended the ceremony.

Friendship with Prince William

Since 2002, Kate and William, already friends, rented a house in Fife, and since 2003, a country cottage. The beginning of their romantic relationship also dates back to this time. During their student holidays, Prince William and Kate traveled together several times, and in 2003, the girl was among a small number of close friends invited to the prince's twenty-first birthday.

In 2005, Kate graduated from the University of St. Andrews with a bachelor's degree and increasingly appeared in public with the prince. Then rumors appeared about their imminent engagement. But William began his studies at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, and Kate was invited to work in the purchasing department of the Jigsaw clothing chain. From that time on, she lived in the London area of ​​Chelsea.

Kate Middleton ordered two for her wedding wedding dresses(one for the wedding ceremony, the second for the wedding dinner). The first, which became the main intrigue of the celebration, amazed all fashion experts. The bride chose a dress from the British brand Alexander McQueen. The second dress was created by a famous British fashion designer and stylist.

The prince first saw Kate in 2002 at a charity fashion show...

Catherine Elizabeth, Duchess of Cambridge, known to the general public as Kate Middleton, was born on January 9, 1982 in Reading, Berkshire, England. In 1987, her parents, Michael Francis and Carole Elizabeth Middleton, created a mail order company called Party Pieces.

Kate Middleton - photo

Their brainchild specialized in selling a variety of supplies for parties and celebrations. It was thanks to this company that the Middletons later became millionaires and managed to give their three children a decent education in prestigious private schools. The Middleton family settled in their own house, located in Berkshire, in a village called Bucklebury.

Kate Middleton's fateful first meeting with her future husband, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis came about through their studies at the University of St. Andrews, located in the Scottish county of Fife. The girl got into it educational institution in 2001, at the same time that the 19-year-old prince decided to study art history at the same university.

Kate Middleton in a transparent dress

The prince first saw Kate in 2002 at a charity fashion show. in which she took part. After all, the girl’s parameters fully allowed her to make a career as a model, which is clearly visible when looking at the photo of Kate Middleton. And after some time, the young people, together with their fellow students Olivia Bleasdale and Fergus Boyd, rented an apartment in a house located on one of the main streets of the university town of St. Andrews.

In 2004, Prince Arthur began to increasingly appear on vacation with Kate Middleton, thanks to which it was no longer a secret to anyone that the young people were in love with each other. Arthur and Kate admitted they were a couple when they went skiing in Switzerland.

Kate Middleton - photo

The fact that the relationship between the lovers should soon lead them down the aisle was also indicated by the fact that Queen Elizabeth herself in December 2006 honored Kate Middleton with an invitation to the royal dinner in honor of Christmas. And, even despite polite refusal girl, citing the decision to spend this evening with her family, the queen’s gesture made Kate understand that The Royal Family recognized the prince's chosen one.

Already in March 2006, the girl appeared at the Cheltenham racecourse in the royal box. And in October 2010, while on vacation with Kate in Kenya, Prince William proposed marriage to her. The girl agreed and on November 16, 2010, the British Royal Court officially announced the engagement of Prince William to his beloved Kate Middleton. The wedding was planned for April 29, 2011.

For the first time after their engagement was officially announced, the young people appeared in public together only in February 2011. They took part in a lifeboat launch on the Welsh coastline in England. Not far from this place was William’s unit, where he served as a rescue helicopter pilot.

Kate Middleton, who first acted as the prince's official bride, wore a very elegant sand-colored coat and a miniature hat from Philip Tracy.

Kate Middleton - candid photos

Kate Middleton's parents will pay about 100 thousand pounds (114 thousand euros) for their daughter's wedding to Prince William this month. The British newspaper Sunday Times writes about this with reference to its sources. According to the publication, hotel rooms for Kate and her relatives before the ceremony, wedding dresses, maid of honor dress, as well as Honeymoon- all this will be paid for from the pockets of Carole and Michael Middleton.

It is reported that the hotel bill alone will exceed £20,000 (€23,000). The Middletons are expected to buy Kate's dress for £30,000 and her sister Pippa's dress, the maid of honor at the wedding, for £20,000. The rest of the expenses will be borne by the royal family, and the government will pay the bills for security at the wedding from the budget.

The Middleton family Forbes list, of course, are not included, but their fortune exceeds 30 million pounds (34 million euros). This is the amount analysts estimate their business empire Party Pieces to be. However, experts say that the amount is so large only because the Middletons will soon become intermarried with royal family. If there had been no wedding, their company, especially in America (where the connection with the royal family is invaluable), would hardly be worth a quarter of this amount.

It’s interesting that if it weren’t for Kate, the Party Pieces company and everything connected with it might not have been born at all. The fact is that when Carol was already very pregnant and expecting her first child - Kate - in the summer of 1981, she could not continue working as a flight attendant for British Airways and began making packaging bags for children's parties, which she sold to friends for pennies and neighbors. The business was a success, so Michael soon gave up his career as an administrator at the same airline to help Carol.

In 2000, a year before Kate entered the University of St Andrews, where she later met Prince William, the company, which sold mail-order and online party supplies, already employed 10 people and processed more than 1,000 orders a week . Today the firm employs 30 people and is a thriving business based on two converted farms near the Middleton family home in Berkshire. From there, as the British media write, trucks with orders are constantly leaving.

Now the couple is actively looking for new house, which would correspond to their new status, because now they will become related to the royal family and are going to actively move in the circles of royalty, as Prince William himself made clear.

Thus, the financial ambitions and capabilities of the Middletons should not be underestimated. In the past two weeks, Kate's brother James, 23, has registered three new businesses with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce - Nice Cakes Ltd, Nice Wine Ltd and Nice Group London Ltd. Some of them may be necessary for expansion family business. His Cake Kit Company, which is advertised on his parents' website, is already doing quite well.

This month, traffic to the Party Pieces portal increased to 300 thousand people, and the name of this company began to be searched on Google 25 times more often. Many, by the way, are already speculating about expanding the company, for example, in America.

It's funny that the Middletons even registered the sites pippamiddleton.com and jamesmiddleton.com and were very angry that they couldn't do this with Kate's name, since there are already 40 variations of sites using her name, offering services ranging from sales of villas in Spain and up to to dating sites for lesbians.

To the disappointment of journalists and the public who are very interested in their firm, Party Pieces is organized as a partnership, so they are not required to publish their accounts or disclose financial details of the business, that is their business and tax services. That is why no one but themselves can accurately assess the state of the Middleton family.

One of Carol's cousins ​​says that the Middleton firm is doomed to success because Carol "never borrows much, she is from the working class and does not like to borrow money." This explains the fact why the Middleton family bought an apartment in Chelsea (for their children) for 795 thousand pounds without a mortgage, and now, by the way, it is already worth 1.2 million pounds.

However, they have a small loan on a house in the village of Bucklebury worth £1.5 million, and when they bought several acres of land near the house in 2005, they paid £295,000 in cash.

Journalists were worried about another question - how did the Middletons manage to place their three children in the most expensive private schools in the region, for example Marlborough College, where tuition costs 29 thousand pounds a year, at a time when their business was still in its infancy?

One answer is that Michael Middleton's ancestors created a network of trusts and made a large fortune. Kate's great-great-grandfather on her father's side, Francis Martineau Lupton, was a wealthy Yorkshire wool merchant who inherited property worth £70,000 in 1921, equivalent to £1.5 million today. In his will, he indicated that his money should go to the education of his descendants. And the trusts are still operated and managed by a law office in Leeds.

Behind Lately Michael Middleton also inherited two small fortunes - 100 thousand and 97.3 thousand pounds: from his mother Valerie in 2006 (real estate, the amount was spent on a wedding) and due to the death of his father Peter, an airplane pilot.

The Middletons made money not only from manual labor producing party accessories. As Kate and William's relationship developed, they decided to invest in a horse named Sohraab. In addition to them, their friends, as well as the mother of British Prime Minister David Cameron, participated in the share. The horse did not always perform well, but racing introduced the Middletons to many interesting people, for example with the parents of tennis star Tim Henman, who are also invited to the wedding. No one excludes the possibility that the Middleton family will expand its influence in the sport, which is very popular among the royals.