New Biography of Kate Middleton Covers Her Life From Childhood Till Motherhood

Kate Middleton has fascinated many people for as long as her romance with Prince William lasted, and it went into a frenzy after they got engaged and then married. Over that more than 10 years, Kate has gradually come into her own as a princess and more recently as a mother.

Marcia Moody, the former royal correspondent for Britain’s OK! Magazine, has decided to compile all her knowledge about the Duchess into a book titled, "Kate: A Biography" which is due out October 1.

Parade spoke to Marcia Moody about "Kate’s early years, the biggest misconception about the duchess, and what makes Kate and William a good match." You can see the interview below...

Parade: What inspired you to write Kate Middleton’s biography?
Kate had been in Prince William’s life, and therefore in the public eye, for over ten years. However, for most of that time she had no official role and was therefore classed as a private person, so there wasn’t actually a great deal known about her. Certainly there was a perception about her in the years before she got married that she was simply waiting around for William to propose, and questions were raised as to how she earned a living, and I wanted to look into who she really is.

In the book, you cover Kate’s life from her childhood until her pregnancy. How did you conduct your research?
I spoke to people who have known her since she was a young girl, who went to St. Andrews with her and William, who have traveled with her, and who have worked with her. I also looked at all of the existing material written about her, and only used information that I knew was from a reputable source.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about her?
I think perhaps that she has more of a voice than she is given credit for. Kate has been criticized for not talking about what she stands for or believes in, but she is not a politician, and most members of the royal family are similarly guarded. The Queen, for example, has actually given away very little about herself in her six decades on the throne. We have learned about her more through her actions, and not necessarily her words. Kate has only been a member of the royal family for two years, and I think we will learn more and more about her through her actions as she grows more accustomed to her position.

What’s the biggest misconception about the duchess?
I think one of them is that she didn’t really work during her early relationship with William, but as well as studying web design so she could get more involved with her parent’s company, and working as a buyer for the clothing store Jigsaw, I discovered that she worked for a year with the children’s charity Starlight. Most of what she did was unreported at the time, but she was very hands-on, getting involved with kids’ art workshops, and designing party-ware for sick children who were in hospital at Christmas.

What do you find most interesting about the Middleton family?
I think Carole Middleton is a really admirable woman. She grew up in a family with little money and was state educated, but she started up her own business from scratch, from her own idea. She started it, built it, and made a success of it while raising three children with no formal childcare, and the business did so well that her husband gave up his job to join her. People have been called feminist role models for less!

How has Kate influenced the royal family?
In a break from royal tradition, when Kate and William brought Prince George home from the hospital, they went to stay with Kate’s family, and in a further break from tradition, Prince George does not yet have a nanny. I believe that both of these decisions ultimately lay with Kate.



In the book’s introduction, you write, “Kate has become more than just her husband’s wife.” How so?
In her work, she is defining who she is as an individual. She has, so far, taken on seven charity patronages, and I know that for each one she did a great deal of her own research, making secret visits to organizations, attending meetings, and then choosing the charities very carefully to reflect the areas she feels most strongly about. She is involved with sports, the arts and the environment, and many of her choices involve caring for children. These are all her personal choices and therefore start to build a picture of who she is. I think the most interesting, though, is her patronage for Action on Addiction. I found out that she chose to support a charity working with addicts because of how it affects their children. She wants to help support these children so they don’t become addicts themselves. To me, it was clear she wants to deal with the root of the problem. She’s thinking about the adults of the future.

Much of the book is spent telling the story of how Kate and William met, fell in love, and married. What makes Kate and William a good match?
Kate and William just click, like any couple in a good relationship, and it’s so clear when you see them together. They have shared interests and life-views, a similar sense of humor, their friends all know each other, they love each other’s families, they strive for the same things, and they are in love.

Kate always projects a poised, polished persona. Was she always that way?
No, she has definitely not always been so polished and poised. She was a complete tomboy when she was a young girl, and even as a teenager she was more interested in sports and outdoors activities than fashion and makeup. I think as she grew into a young woman and moved to London she became more put together. The real Kate is very much a lady, and this comes across when she’s in public, but underneath is still the girl who likes a bit of rough and tumble. She certainly doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty.

What is it about Kate that draws so much attention and fascination?
Initially, I think anyone who was the long-term girlfriend of Prince William would draw a lot of attention, especially if they have an attractive face and the measurements of a catwalk model. I think Kate has sustained the interest because she doesn’t seem like a cold, unreachable, unidentifiable figure, but comes across as warm and friendly. Even though she has led something of a charmed life, she is not from aristocratic stock and she had a similar up-bringing to many people in the U.K., so people still feel like she’s “one of us.” The idea that someone who grew up in a little unremarkable village and went to kids’ parties in the church hall, and is now a duchess who will one day be queen, is an interesting story.

As you note in the book, Kate and William were the first future monarchs who hadn’t conceived in the first year of marriage. Why did they wait?
Going from being a private individual to a public figure is quite a transition, and I think they probably wanted to make sure Kate had adjusted to her new role fully before embarking on something so important.

How do you envision Kate as a mother?
Her own mother was firm but fair and I think Kate will be the same: lots of love and affection, but also some discipline as well. Carole established a routine for eating and sleeping very early on with her children, and I’m sure Kate will follow suit. Kate doesn’t yet have a nanny, so she will be a very hands on mum, but as she has already shown in returning to her official duties just a month after giving birth, she will be very much a working mum.

You can also read an excerpt from the book, on why Kate and William split in 2007 and what brought them back together, here.