As part of the royal family, Princess Kate Middleton is constantly under a microscope. Luckily for her, she seems to be very, very well loved.
But she wasn't always known officially as Her Royal Highness, Princess William Arthur Philip Louis, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, Baroness Carrickfergus ("Princess Kate" is more of an affectionate title). She was born into a solidly middle-class family in 1982, and went through school with the same trials and tribulations as the rest of us.
These days, Princess Kate goes about her days fulfilling her royal duties with her husband, Prince William, while wearing designer dresses and shoes. Her smile is genuine and radiant, and she simply exudes elegance and class.
But did you ever wonder what her life was like before she met her prince and became a part of the royal family? These 11 facts about Kate, her past, and her personal life will open your eyes even wider as to what kind of person she truly is.
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1. She Is Related To George Washington

A man named Sir William Gascoigne is their common ancestor, which makes them cousins eight times removed.
2. She Was The Oldest Bride In British Royal History

She was only 29 when she got married, which by lots of folks' standards is still a young duckling. However, compared to past royal nuptials, she was the oldest bride in the U.K. history books.
3. She Co-Founded A Female Drinking Society

While at St. Andrews University, Kate co-founded a drinking society exclusively for females, as she was annoyed that all the old clubs excluded them. She was never known to drink too much at once, though. It seems it was more a statement for female empowerment than anything else.
4. She Had To Deal With Bullies

While in primary school, Kate became a bit of a beauty legend.
However, as she got older, at around the age of 14, classmates began to bully her to the point that she had to switch schools. The boys were rude to her and grossly "rated" her with a poor score. But the joke seems to be on them, as now she's literally royalty.
5. She Wears A Size 5.5 Shoe

This little bit of information was revealed when her wedding shoes were on display in 2011. To Americans, this may seem extra small, but the U.K. 5.5 actually translates to a 7.5. Still smaller than my feet, though!
6. She Loves Sticky Toffee Pudding

Just in case you were planning on meeting Kate for dessert at some point in your life, you now know what to order.
7. When She Was Young, She Had Her Eyes On A Blue-Jeans Model

She wasn't expecting to marry the Prince of England when she was in school. Instead, she reportedly had a crush on a blue-jeans model whose poster she kept on her wall.
8. She's An Advanced Scuba Diver

She's always been pretty keen on sports, like hockey and tennis. In 2015, she was certified as an advanced scuba diver too. That's not an easy thing to accomplish, and it's even a bit dangerous if you don't follow all the steps properly!
9. Her Nickname In Primary School Was "Squeak"

The name apparently came from the class guinea pig. It's unclear how or why the moniker came about, but she remembers her time in the primary school very, very fondly, so it must have been an affectionate nickname.
10. Her School High Jump Record Still Stands

She set the record at 1.5 meters when she was at school, and it remains unbeaten today.
11. She Is The First Woman In The Royal Family To Have A University Degree

No other royal woman before her had graduated from university with a degree. In 2005, Kate graduated with her master's degree in art history.
Did you know any of these things about the Princess? Please SHARE with your family and friends on Facebook who also love the royal family!