Kate Middleton's College Days: Before Buckingham Palace

Let’s talk about Kate Middleton. Between her royal duties, raising two kids, and all the charity work she’s involved in, it’s safe to say the Duchess of Cambridge doesn’t have much downtime these days. But rewind a few years—before she was stepping foot into Buckingham Palace—and you’ll find a young Kate focused on her own personal growth and happiness. Back then, she was just like any other college student trying to make her way in the world.

From Traveling the World to Studying Art History

After taking a gap year, during which she spent time exploring new places and cultures, Kate dove headfirst into her studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She graduated in 2005 with a degree in art history, a subject that clearly fascinated her. In fact, Kate has mentioned that her undergraduate thesis focused on “the Victorian period in the history of photography.” Impressive, right? But it wasn’t all books and lectures for this future royal. Kate also had a competitive streak, participating in sports like cross-country running, swimming, and even trying out for the women’s field hockey team during her time at uni.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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Living Life Like Any Other College Student

In 2001, Kate began her freshman year at St. Andrews, living in St. Salvator’s Hall. Guess what? She wasn’t just another face in the crowd—she was named the prettiest girl in the dorm. Coincidentally, this same dorm housed none other than Prince William. At the time, they were just friends, hanging out with mutual pals and sharing meals at the dining hall. Kate was dating a senior named Rupert Finch, while William was seeing someone else. But everything changed during their second semester when Kate made quite the impression on William at a fashion show fundraiser. Wearing a see-through dress over her undergarments, she caught his eye in a big way.

Kate and Will at their graduation ceremony in 2005. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

According to Julian Knight, a fellow student back then, “I remember that specific night very well. Kate wasn’t typically risque; she was more of a safe bet, quite conservative in how she dressed and acted. But there she was, looking stunning in that outfit. Everyone thought, ‘Wow, she looks amazing.’ And I’m sure William noticed too.”

The Rest Is History

Fast forward to the end of the school year, and Kate and her boyfriend had parted ways. Enter sophomore year, where Kate moved into an apartment shared with William and a few other friends. Living together seemed to strengthen their bond, and before long, they started dating secretly. The world didn’t catch wind of their relationship until 2004, when photos surfaced of them on a ski trip together. And as they say, the rest is history!