The Best Throwback Photos of Young Kate Middleton
From family time in Jordan to a royal proposal, here’s a look back at photos of the Princess of Wales throughout her life
Kate Middleton has rocked some iconic looks over the years.
While the Princess of Wales is now known for her timeless and tailored style, before she and Prince William tied the knot in April of 2011, Kate often donned more casual looks.
From the sheer number she famously wore at university to her snow-ready ensemble as the couple hit the slopes in 2008, here are some of the best throwback photos of the young future queen.
01of 10
Family Time
THE MIDDLETON FAMILY/CLARENCE HOUSE/GETTY
Years before Kate Middleton was the Princess of Wales, she was a young girl who grew up in a village near Berkshire, England. Here, she’s pictured with her sister, Pippa, and father Michael in Jordan — where the family lived for a period of time.
02of 10
On the Runway
MALCOLM CLARKE/DAILY MAIL/SHUTTERSTOCK
Fast forward to 2002, when the future princess was a student at St. Andrews University and classmates with Prince William. As the story goes, Kate and William’s relationship turned romantic after she participated in the school’s charity fashion show and hit the runway in this sheer number designed by student Charlotte Todd.
The ensemble, which cost less than $50 to make, eventually sold at auction in 2011 for $125,000.
03of 10
Summer Smiles
STEPHEN LOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK
A few years later, Kate opted for a preppy look at the annual Game Fair at Blenheim Palace in the countryside of England in 2004. This was not long after the future heirs to the throne had gone public with their relationship.
04of 10
Graduation Day!
MICHAEL DUNLEA/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY
Kate hit a major milestone in 2005 when she graduated from St Andrews University alongside Prince William.
05of 10
Hats Off
INDIGO/GETTY IMAGES
Later that summer, Kate attended the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park wearing a pair of brown knee-high boots which she paired with a matching hat.
06of 10
Snow Day
INDIGO/GETTY
The young lovebirds took their romance to the slopes of Klosters, Switzerland, in 2008 — the same destination where William grew up skiing, as well as the spot where the two first were first spotted cozying up.
07of 10
Showing Support
Kate was right by William’s side following his graduation from RAF Cranwell in April 2008.
08of 10
Good to Glow
DANNY MARTINDALE/GETTY
With glowsticks in hand, Kate headed to London’s Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco in September 2008 wearing a sparkly top, yellow gym shorts and a hot pink bag.
09of 10
Proposed & Poised
Kate was a vision in blue — a perfect match to her brand new ring! — on the day her engagement to William was announced to the public. The two wed in April 2011 in an occasion that PEOPLE then called the “greatest and grandest royal affair” since Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s 1981 wedding.
10of 10
A Happy Reunion
A few months before their big day, the royal couple visited the place where it all began — their alma mater!