NOWADAYS Kate Middleton is formally known the world over as the Duchess of Cambridge.
But long before she married into the Royal Family, the mum-of-three earned herself a VERY flattering nickname during her university Fresher’s Week.
The Duchess of Cambridge was known as ‘Beautiful Kate’ by her peers, a royal expert has claimed
Although her future husband Prince William skipped out on the week of partying before lectures got underway, Kate threw herself into life as a student and was a hit with other students at her halls at St Andrew’s.
Writing in her book Kate: The Future Queen, royal expert Katie Nicholl claims the Duchess had a “hectic week of partying, meeting her ‘university parents’ – older pupils who were in charge of looking after freshers – finding her way around town and settling into her residence hall.
But while nights out are a big part of Fresher’s Week, Kate was often spotted “relaxing in the common room, curled up in an armchair, a cup of tea in hand reading newspaper articles her father rather touchingly mailed to her”.
Naturally, students were thrilled when Prince William arrived on campus the following week in 2001 – and he soon set his sights on the girl nicknamed “Beautiful Kate”.
The Duchess would often by spotted around the university in H&M jeans and jumpers
The author continued: “She was initially more reserved than many of the other young women but her natural beauty was apparent.”
Commenting on Kate’s impressive tan from a family holiday to Barbados, the biographer claims Kate had a uniform of “comfortable H&M jeans, fitted sweaters and signature cowboy boots.”
Side note: this WAS the noughties after all.
“She radiated an outer freshness and an inner confidence,” the expert added.
Although the pair got to know each other in lectures, Katie has previously said that it was Kate’s appearance in a charity fashion show which made the Prince rethink their relationship.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met at The University of St Andrew’s in 2001
Describing Kate striding down the catwalk in a see-through dress, the biographer said: “Kate did the walk, she caught Williams eye and it was like something had just gone off in his brain.
“He suddenly noticed that this rather cute and charming girl who hed gotten to know over lectures and breakfast was actually a real hotty.”
In her 2011 book,The Making Of A Royal Romance, Katie claims Prince William told friends Wow, Kates hot! after the show.
What’s more, Kate even pretended to be William’s girlfriend just a month after they met to fight off unwarranted attention from other girls.
In more Royal Family news, Kate Middleton and Prince William had a “marriage pact” to take the pressure off their relationship.
And “relatable” Kate Middleton stunned shoppers as she was spotted browsing kids’ Halloween outfits in her local Sainsbury’s.
Plus “fragile” Prince Harry is “not in great shape” and has a “fractious” relationship with Prince William, sources have claimed.
