Princess Kate Middleton is one of the most iconic figures of the Royal Family. She is the proud wife of Prince William, and mother of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Royal couple is expecting baby number three in April. The Duchess of Cambridge is known for her elegant fashion choices and for being very charitable, especially to children’s organizations.

Time magazine listed her as one of the most influential people in the world, in both 2012 and 2013, in the magazine’s annual list. She has had a huge impact on British and American fashion, which the media dubs the “Kate Middleton Effect.” Often times, the dresses she wears, sell out at rapid rates in a matter of seconds. (That is both in the U.K. and the U.S.)

While the Princess and Prince were dating early on, they garnered a lot of media attention. It only escalated even more when they became engaged in October of 2010. Prince William gave her the ring that belonged to his beloved mother, the late Princess Diana. The lovely couple wed at the iconic Westminster Abbey in April of 2011, with a global audience of at least 300 million.

It was the biggest event of the year. Just last year, she was named the UK’s most influential style icon by Rakuten Marketing. The Duchess has a way of mixing high and low fashion, with effortless precision. Princess Kate is loved, because she is just like everyone else and is incredibly down to earth. She is classy, graceful, and humble. Everything about her radiates beauty. There are a lot of fun facts to be learned about the future Queen!

15 She Is Distantly Related To Prince William

Yes, it is true that Princess Kate is distantly related to her husband, Prince William. They are 12th cousins once removed. No worries though, it's not close family ties. It's also not like in the movie Mean Girls where she says, "You have your cousins, then you have your first cousins and then you have your second cousins." They are linked by Sir Thomas Leighton. He is William's 12th generation great-grandparent and Kate's 11th generation, which means that they are technically 12th cousins, once removed.

Sir Leighton was an Elizabethan soldier, the Governor of Guernsey, and a diplomat. Every outlet had a field day when this came out in the media after they were engaged. The Daily Mail, also said that Sir Leighton was a "tudor tyrant" and "bloodthirsty." Tons of outlets, such as the Washington Post, say that Kate Middleton was a commoner prior to her marriage, and her previous social status has been one of great debate and conversation. Princess Kate notably comes from a hard-working family, and her family gained a lot of success in their business ventures.

14 She Was A Social Butterfly Prior To Becoming A Princess

Being a Princess comes with a lot of responsibilities and obligations. There is a whole entire country depending on you. Princess Kate’s social calendar is packed every year. She always has an event, party, wedding, sporting outing or Royal function to attend. She always goes appropriately dressed for the occasion, no matter what it is, too. Her beauty is effortless and her fashion is timeless. She is always the belle of the ball!

Kate Middleton had a social life before becoming a princess, too. She has done modeling prior to her royal status. Princess Kate also did everything all young adults do after college. Often she would have lunch at the Bluebird Café near her flat in the posh neighborhood of Chelsea in London, shop at Marks & Spencer, attend notable events, go to sporting games and attend charity functions. She was frequently spotted at events, including book signings – she is a scholar after all! According to PopSugar, she would also dance at clubs and grab drinks with friends at hotspots such as: Boujis, Mahiki, Bunga Bunga, among others.

13 She Was In Love With Prince William As A Child

As a child Princess Kate was in a play, where she portrayed a young woman who was wooed by a handsome prince named William. It was a foreshadowing of what was to come in her life. Princess Kate excelled in school in art, music, sports and photography. She even did the photography for her family’s mail order business, prior to her days as a Royal. She also played tennis, hockey and netball. She graduated with a Master of Arts in 2005 from the University of St. Andrews. It was there at the university where she met her future husband, Prince William.

She first met him in 2001 while they were both students and were both in residence at St. Salvator’s Hall. When she was just a kid, she was playing characters that were in love with a Prince named William, and then it actually happened in real life. Dreams do come true!

12 Kate And William Fell In Love In College

We know when William and Kate first fell in love, it was when they were at the University of St. Andrews together. The beautiful Princess and the handsome Prince are known to be scholarly, intellectual and social. The Royal couple met in 2001 when they arrived at school in the city of Fife in Scotland. Their love story grew in 2002 when their paths started crossing. Kate walked in a charity fashion show, wearing a black dress that has since then become notable.

The fashion show was in March of 2002 and it was said that Prince William paid $360 dollars for a front row seat to watch her strut down the runway. The diplomatic duo graduated in 2005 from the University. They continued to date post college, and they went on a romantic vacation in the summer of 2007 to Seychelles. To have privacy, they booked the entire resort, which cost a whopping $32,000. How sweet is that? They even checked in under alias names, “Martin and Rosemary.” It’s like romantic role play!

11 She Actually Holds Three Royal Titles

The official titles of Royals can be somewhat confusing if you haven’t researched the guidelines, formalities and protocol. There have been a lot of articles about whether Kate Middleton is officially a Princess or not. Technically she is the Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus. When Prince William the Duke of Cambridge married Kate Middleton, she officially became “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.” The formal title is, “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.”

In Scotland her title is styled as, “Her Royal Highness The Countess of Strathearn.” However; the media and public all lovingly call her, Princess Kate, of course. She is in line for the thrown and one day she is going to be the future Queen. Royal rules say that she could only officially be titled, "Princess" if she was born a Princess. However; since she married Prince William, she is known as now being a Princess, too - rightfully so. Princess Kate holds a place in the hearts of many, spanning from the United Kingdom to the United States.

10 She Is A Fan Of Doing Most Of Their Own Cooking

Just because they can afford to eat with silver spoons in their mouths, doesn’t mean they don’t make their own food! It is true that Princess Kate prefers to do her own cooking at home, even though they can have private chefs whenever. That is right, the darling Duchess, enjoys cooking! Just another reason to love her. She always keeps it real. Often she tries recipes from “Great British Bake Off” star Mary Berry. In 2013 at an event, she even told Berry, “I’m a big fan of your cook books and your cakes.”

It has been noted that cooking is one of Princess Kate’s hobbies and interests. She is a wife and mother, and enjoys preparing meals for her family. Homemade meals really are the best! It is widely known that Royals can have chefs preparing every meal if they so wish, but Princess Kate chooses to do her own cooking and baking. However; she is very busy with her Royal duties so it’s understandable if she can’t make every single meal of every day. Bon Appétit, Kate!

9 Her Favorite And Least Favorite Parts Of Motherhood

Whether you're Royal or not, parenting is a lot of work! Being a mother is rewarding and challenging, even for a Princess. Kate Middleton is the mother of Prince George and Prince Charlotte. She is currently expecting her third baby with her husband, Prince William. She is known for being a good mommy, and she doesn’t hesitate when it comes to parenting and disciplining. Even in public, she has been seen scolding and praising her children – something all parents have to do. It’s all about balance!

Princess Kate is also a huge advocate for mothers, and especially for women who struggle with post-partum depression after giving childbirth. According to Vogue, Kate gave a speech where she said, “Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience. However, at times it has also been a huge challenge. Even for me, who has support at home that most mothers do not. Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer, overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother. It’s full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, and worry, all mixed together.”

8 She Is A Fan Of Tradition

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Traditions are important to Kate Middleton and the Royal family. Sometimes Kate Middleton decides to break normal Royal traditions, in efforts of making new traditions. For example, a few years ago the Duchess of Cambridge decided to go her own way with her husband, son and family. Princess Kate and Prince William attended church with the Royals as tradition goes, but afterwards they went home to baby George and enjoyed their Christmas dinner with her parents at the Norfolk mansion.

Typically, they would have joined the Queen and Prince Philip as they have done in the past. Princess Kate and Prince William are also the first Royal couple to have a third child in the last 58 years. It’s great that Princess Kate keeps traditions alive, while also creating new ones. She is paving the way for the future. They are a very modern Royal couple and it’s fantastic!

7 Kate And The Queen Get Into Disagreements

How many things has the Queen reportedly been unhappy about, when it comes to Kate Middleton? A lot, according to the tabloids. We all know that you can’t believe everything you read though. It’s been said that the Queen isn’t thrilled with all of Princess Kate’s fashion choices and the length of her dresses. It’s even been said that the Queen doesn’t like when Kate wears wedge shoes. It has been written in gossip columns that the Queen has been upset with Princess Kate over her commoner ways, for breaking Royal protocols such as at Christmas, for not having a huge staff of nannies, for not going to every event that the Princess is supposed to attend, for the hemline of her dresses and for allowing her mother, Carole Middleton, to spend more time with the grandkids than with her.

It’s also been written that because of that, the Queen didn’t attend Prince George’s second birthday party on purpose. Do you think it was meant as a snub? Or do you think people were blowing this out of proportion? Princess Kate said in her interview, "George is only two-and-a-half and he calls her 'Gan-Gan.' She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay and that just shows her love for her family." Contrary to what is splashed across the news, Princess Kate seems to really enjoy the Queen’s company. She said, "She's been very generous in not being forceful at all and in any of her views, but I feel she's been there, a gentle guidance really for me."

6 She Blows Through Royal Cash Like No Tomorrow

A lot of publications have written that Princess Kate blows through royal cash. She redecorated their current home when they first moved in, which was said to be a costly project. Their fairytale wedding of course cost a fortune. It has been said the Royal family covered most of the costs, and the Middleton’s contributed. Princess Kate’s ring, is the expensive and iconic, blue sapphire and diamond ring. It belonged to the late Princess Diana, mother of Prince William.

However, although Royals spend a lot of money, they also do a lot of charitable work and service for the greater good. Princess Kate is involved with many charities, especially children’s charities like The Royal Foundation, Action on Addiction, The Art Room, Sports Aid, Place2Be and The 1851 Trust. It’s been said they all have their own bank accounts, can use the ATM, and always have someone to go purchase whatever they need. It’s been published in a book that the Queen only carries photos and lucky charms in her purse, maybe that is what Princess Kate takes with her as well? The Royals have a lot of duties, so Kate’s prior jobs are going to have to be hobbies now – being a Royal is full-time.

5 Prince William Was Hung On Her Wall As A Teen

There was a rumor that Princess Kate Middleton had a poster of Prince William hanging on her wall when she was just a schoolgirl. However, that is false! Princess Kate has stated that it was actually a Levi jeans guy hanging up on her wall. This story had a positive and negative effect. On one hand, people thought it was so sweet if she had her future husband’s photo on her wall when she was just a teenager. That would be cute, because it’s another sign of fate. But it also had a negative effect. Some people claimed that the Middleton’s were planning for Kate to marry William. That is false. The Middleton’s didn’t plan the initial meeting of Prince William and Princess Kate, or their relationship and engagement for that matter. Kate has a good sense of humor though! She admitted it was the Levi’s guy. Haha!

4 She And Her Family Orchestrated Her One Day Marrying Prince William

It is false that Kate Middleton and her family orchestrated her one day marrying Prince William. They ended up going to the same university together in Scotland, at the University of St. Andrews. They fell in love. It was a real life fairytale! Oftentimes things are written in the media about the Royal couple, but not everything is true. They both were studying art history in school, and that led to him attending what has now become the famous fashion show. They went skiing together, graduated together, and went on holidays together afterwards.

She attended the graduation where William graduated as an Army officer, from the elite Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He was working there, while she was an accessories buyer for the high end fashion chain, Jigsaw. Kate also watched him get his wings as an RAP pilot from the Prince of Wales ceremony in Cranwell. They moved in together in Wales, where they lived in a four bedroom farmhouse for three years. Afterwards, they became engaged in 2010.

3 She's Jealous Of Harry's Relationship With Meghan Markle

Recently taking the world by storm is the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. There are also a lot of tabloid rumors circulating, that Meghan and Kate don’t get along. However, that is all rubbish. Princess Kate and Meghan Markle are actually great! In fact, Kate Middleton stated that her and Prince William are, “absolutely thrilled” over the engagement. They all have been spending a lot of time together, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to live next to Prince William and Princess Kate. Kate will no longer be the only commoner living at Kensington Palace!

They just all spent their first Christmas together. Princess Kate gushed, "It's such exciting news. It's a really happy time for any couple, and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment." The wedding is set for the spring of 2018, and Princess Kate is due in April of 2018. We have a baby and a wedding on the way!

2 She Is The Oldest Royal Bride To Wed

Princess Kate is the oldest royal bride, she wed at age 29. Her mother-in-law, the late Princess Diana, was 20 years old when she married. Princess Kate is also the first female royal family member to have a university degree. When Prince William and Princess Kate wed in April of 2011, they had an extravagant and elegant ceremony at Westminster Abbey. She wore an ivory silk Alexander McQueen wedding dress. It had a train that was nine feet long and there were hand embroidered individual lace flowers. The details were delicate and beautiful. It was indeed fit for a Princess!

She wore Queen Elizabeth II’s tiara, made by Cartier in 1936. She emerged from a Phantom Rolls Royce that took her to the ceremony, and she became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge. Millions of viewers watched around the world. The newly wedded couple made their debut on the famous balcony, where they shared a kiss for the crowd.

1 She Has 4 Body Guards Assigned To Her

Kate Middleton may have been a commoner, but she also has some Royal roots. She is related to a couple of famous figures: George Washington, General S. Patton and Francis Scott Key – who wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” which is the national anthem of the United States of America. Not to mention her and Prince William share a common ancestor, making them distantly related. Also, being a member of the Royal family, means she needs a lot of security and protection.

Princess Kate has four body guards assigned to her! They come from Scotland Yard’s royal protection unit. There have even been rumors that Prince Charles insisted that she only have female bodyguards. It is very well possible that they have both, however. She is protected around the clock. Now that she is also expecting another child, I’m sure that security is heightened when she is pregnant and when she is out with her children.

Sources: Vogue, The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, Mirror, Pop Sugar, MSN, ET, Glamour