Happy Birthday, Kate! 10 Reasons Why We Love The Duchess of Cambridge
As the Duchess of Cambridge celebrates her 38th birthday, we look back at her remarkable life and why we're such big fans
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:
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.