Kate Middleton was your everyday little girl, who grew up in the British countryside of Bucklebury with loving parents and two siblings.
But her life would change forever when her paths crossed with Prince William at the University of St Andrews in Scotland back in 2001.
The rest reads like a real-life fairy-tale – from their incredible 2011 wedding, to their long-lasting love and three gorgeous children, Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, 1.
Today (January 9), the Duchess marks her 38th birthday with a gorgeous new snapshot on Instagram:
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As she turns a year older, we list 10 reasons why she’s a standout royal:
The mother-of-two has used her global influence to help create a better world, working alongside an array of charities including her very own The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as mental health programme, Heads Together.
She is also a patron for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, SportsAid, Place2Be and Action on Addiction.
Kate balances her role as a full-time royal and mother-of-three brilliantly. While royal well-wishers love watching George, Charlotte and Louis grow up, many parents know it’s also huge to watch mum and dad grow into their roles.
And the Duchess wows the world with her kind and humble nature, despite royal pressures – she always makes her kids her priority.
While it’s clear that Kate has been a pillar for her Prince, William clearly plays the same role for his wife. Since their wedding, their love has only continued to soar.
The couple have embarked on a multitude of royal tours, including India, Canada and Singapore, and during their time the pair showed how much fun they can have while on the job.
Catherine graduated from the prestigious St Andrews university with a degree in Art History, where she met the Duke in 2005. “I actually think I went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off, feeling very shy about meeting you,” Kate has said of their first encounter.
She rarely gives public speeches but in 2015 Catherine took to the podium to deliver a powerful address at the the Place2Be Headteacher Conference in London.
She has since put her best foot forward in all her endeavors, showing off her sporting skills at the London Olympics, and also dipping her toes into the world of journalism, stepping in as The Huffington Post’s guest editor.
The mum-of-two’s shiny, flawless locks are royalty in their own right. The iconic brunette has found with age, she can be more confident and bolder with her looks. From the addition of a cute hat, to showing off her highlights – Kate is truly the queen of good hairstyles.
When Catherine attends an soiree, you can trust she’ll bring her fashion A game. No matter what the occasion, Kate makes sure all her looks are an event! From channelling the cultural delights of India, embodying the fresh fun nature of Canada or going for ever-classic princess perfection.
The Duchess always puts family first and her unbreakable bond with her younger sister Pippa is truly inspiring.
Catherine’s close connection with her brother-in-law Harry is also truly heart-warming. “To have a big sister is very, very nice… She’s a fantastic girl, she really is, my brother is very lucky,” Harry mused.
Although she never met her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, she’s never far away thanks to Catherine’s engagement ring made up of a striking blue sapphire and diamonds. “I just hope I look after it. It’s very, very special,” Kate has said of the stunning sparkler, which previously belonged to Diana.
Kate’s charisma is undeniable and yet another reason she’s so popular. From dignitaries… to street cats! Catherine is always delighted to meet everyone and her warmth shows through her interactions with them.
Here’s to 38 and plenty more! Happy birthday, Duchess Kate.
Text: Chloe Lal and Bella Brennan, Now To Love / Addtional reporting: Natalya Molok
