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While we know that Pippa Middleton lives a lavish life, her sister Kate Middleton has the life of a true princess. It is no secret that Kate and her family have had a difficult few years, as the Princess of Wales has spoken publicly about her cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy treatments, and subsequent remission. Despite facing such adversity, Kate persevered and proved to all that her status as a beloved member of the British royal family, role model, and pop culture icon is well-earned.
Of course, as expected for such a high-profile member of the royal family, the Princess of Wales has a very luxurious lifestyle. In fact, throughout her time as an active royal, Kate Middleton has undergone a stunning transformation. From her beautiful wedding to Prince William in 2011, to her opulent jewelry, jaw-dropping wardrobe, and several homes and properties, Kate Middleton’s life — while not without its challenges — is the stuff dreams are made of.
Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding to Prince William was straight out of a fairy tale
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Kate Middleton’s wedding to Prince William was everything you’d expect a royal wedding to be — lavish, romantic, and classic. Kate Middleton – then titled the Duchess of Cambridge — wore a stunning gown designed by Sarah Burton, who had just been named artistic director for Alexander McQueen. The elegant lace gown featured an 58-button closure on the back of the bodice as well as a nearly 9-foot long satin train, which was painstakingly appliquéd using a 19th century Irish lace-making technique. Kate’s bridal look was completed with a Cartier Halo diamond tiara, loaned to her for the wedding by Queen Elizabeth herself.
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The fairy tale wedding took place in historic St. George’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey. The entire spectacle attracted an estimated one million people to the streets of London, as well as captured the attention of nearly 23 million American television viewers. After the nuptials, William and Kate were transported to Buckingham Palace in an elaborate carriage originally designed for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902.
Kate Middleton’s designer wardrobe is jealousy-inducing
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While Kate Middleton is not exempt from the rare embarrassing royal outfit mishap, the Princess of Wales is almost always styled exquisitely. Kate Middleton’s most regal looks of all time often feature designer pieces at the forefront. She is no stranger to combining high and low-cost items, and, on a few occasions, Kate Middleton has repeated outfits like the sustainable queen she is. But Kate loves a designer gown. For both the 2019 and 2023 BAFTAs, she wore a regal white one-shoulder gown from Alexander McQueen — one of her go-to designers. In 2023, Kate altered the chic dress by removing the floral appliqués from its shoulder strap and accessorizing with a pair of long, black opera gloves.
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For Trooping the Colour 2025, Kate wore a beautiful blue coat dress from Catherine Walker, one of Princess Diana’s favorite designers. In what seemed to be an homage to her late mother-in-law, who wore a similar blue and white Catherine Walker suit during a 1992 visit to India, Kate paired the dress with a matching wide-brimmed blue hat from Juliette Botterilll Millinery. The Princess of Wales completed the look with the late Queen Elizabeth’s Bahrain pearl drop earrings, which have been in the royal family’s possession for 70 years. The elaborate earrings feature two drop-shaped pearls hanging from a variety of 1940s-style round and baguette-cut diamonds, all attached to diamond studs.
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s home is a sight to behold
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In November 2025, just three years after their last relocation, Kate Middleton and Prince William moved their family of five to Forest Lodge. The 8-bedroom property, which underwent around $2 million of restoration work in 2001, is a significant upgrade from their previous residence, the 4-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, located in Windsor Great Park and quite close to Forest Lodge. According to Elle Decor, the family’s lavish new home includes a tennis court, numerous bay windows, and a ballroom.
A royal source told the BBC that Forest Lodge will be William and Kate’s “forever home.” “Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage there have been some really difficult times,” they said. “Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter. It’s an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.” Ahead of their move to Adelaide Cottage in 2022, another source told CNN that Kate and William wanted to keep their family out of London during the school term to give Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis a “normal” family life. In addition to Adelaide Cottage and Forest Lodge, Kate and William also own Anmer Hall, a property on the royal family’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, and Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace.