Princess Kate made her way through the ranks of the royal family, quickly transforming from a commoner into the future queen consort of England.
The Princess of Wales met her future husband, Prince William, in college, and the couple tied the knot in 2011 after nearly a decade together. They went on to welcome son Prince George, daughter Princess Charlotte and son Prince Louis.
Since joining the royal family, Kate has solidified herself as an activist and a caring mother. Though the Prince of Wales is first in line to the throne, Kate has already begun preparing for the time when the pair will ascend as king and queen.
“Kate’s been taking on new responsibilities little by little over the last few years, so it won’t be a shock when the time comes,” royal expert Rebecca Long told Us Weekly exclusively in April 2019. “William and Kate are the favorite royals to take the crown in many generations, so the people of the U.K. are very excited about it.”
Scroll to relive highlights from Princess Kate’s life: