Having been obsessed with Kate Middleton ever since she become Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Nicholl's biography fulfilled my obsession (for now...).Detailing the humble beginnings of Kate's parents to Kate's eventual marriage to the future king of England, Kate: The Future Queen tells the story of an unpretentious, pretty late bloomer whose discretion and loyalty to William resulted in the wedding of the century.
Despite her parents' middle-class life, her father did come from a wealthier and titled background, which included a trust fund to educate the Middleton children.
This trust fund, combined with the success of the Middleton's online Party Pieces business, allowed Kate to attend the same public schools favored by the aristocratic class.
As a result, Kate had already met Prince William a few times through mutual friends before becoming classmates at St. Andrews.
An interesting fact is that Kate had her heart set on attending Edinburgh University (which her sister Pippa attended), but then decided to apply to St. Andrews despite having gained acceptance into Edinburgh and despite Edinburgh having a better academic reputation. A motive to apply to St. Andrews: Prince William had announced he would be attending St. Andrews in the upcoming year.
During university, the couple became friends and eventually fell in love. Reserved and a homebody, Kate was the perfect fit for the Prince, who shunned attention and the spotlight.
The book details the courtship of Kate and Prince William post-university and of course, has a true fairy tale ending. Not only does Kate get the Prince, but also brings a breath of fresh air, relatability and popularity to the royal family.
The fairy tale ending is not just the result of Princess Bride style true love, but also smart public relations tactics. Aware of his mother's difficulties in adjusting to royal life, Prince William ensured that Kate would not be left as unprepared and vulnerable as Princess Di when she married future monarch Prince Charles.
The Palace public relations team was made available not just to Kate, but also to the Middleton family.
With details of the royal Christmas at Sandringham where events, outfits and even arrivals are carefully coordinated and each guest assigned a butler or maid (how very Downton Abbey), Kate: The Future Queen is an enthralling read for any Kate enthusiast.
