Kate Middleton

Royal Consort

Kate Middleton was the girlfriend of Britain's Prince William from 2003 through 2007. The pair met while both were studying art history at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. They became friends while sharing housing with other students in 2001, and began dating publicly in 2003. Middleton graduated from St. Andrews in 2005 with a degree in art history. William is second in line to the British throne (behind his father, Prince Charles), making his girlfriend a potential future queen. Middleton moved to London after graduation, and in 2006 began working as an accessory buyer for the fashion chain Jigsaw. Her status as a royal girlfriend generated intense media interest until April of 2007, when she and William ended their relationship.

Extra credit: Middleton's parents are the founders of Party Pieces, a mail-order company that (according to its website at http://www.partypieces.co.uk) "specialises in providing top quality products for children's parties and delivering them to customers within a few days with a minimum of fuss."