From baby princess to the Big 3-0: A picture for every year of Kate's life as she prepares to celebrate her birthday

1982: First picture of Kate in her mother's arms at the family's semi in Southend, Berkshire, 15 days after her birth on January 9 and right, five months on she was christened on June 20 at Bradfield's St Andrew's church with her proud father Michael at her side. Carole wore a floral Laura Ashley dress

1985: Aged three and sporting a stripey jumper, Kate tried a spot of fell climbing during a family holiday in the Lake District and right, in 1986, the now four-year-old is pictured left with her flight dispatcher father Michael and younger sister Pippa at the ancient ruins of Jerash in Jordan

1987: Kate, aged five, starts at Bradfield C of E primary just next door to the Middletons' home and right, in 1988 Kate aged six in her school uniform. She was already enjoying athletics and swimming against classmates

1989: By the time she was seven, left, Kate's parents could afford the £10,000-a-year fees at St Andrew's prep school in Pangbourne, Berkshire and right, in 1990, right, Kate enrolled in the 1st St Andrew's Brownies aged eight. She later joined the pack on an Easter holiday in the Cotwolds

1991: Kate, pictured centre aged nine, excelled at sports and was the highest scorer in the school rounders team for her year and in 1992, right, she broke the school record in her age group for high jump and was a keen tennis player. Here, aged ten, she celebrates victory in the school hockey team

1993: Her height made Kate, 11, first choice as Goal Defence for the netball team. She was named best all-round sportswoman at St Andrews. Right, in 1994, with braces on her teeth, 12-year-old Kate was one of the pupils invited to celebrate the first birthday of Angharad Allford, daughter of housemaster Kevin Allford

1995: Kate, 13, appeared in a school play with a prophetic twist. The leading man was called William and propose don bended knee and right, in 1996, at 14, Kate became a border at Marlborough College in Wiltshire and she is pictured proudly showing off the tartan skirt she wore until the sixth form

1997: Kate seen here in her hockey kit at 15 earned so many sporting honours on speech day that she couldn't carry them all back and right, in by 1998, 16-year-old Kate, pictured right with friends, had finished her Duke of Edinburgh Gold award and had blossomed into one of the school's most attractive girls

1999: Kate, 17, studied for chemistry, biology and art at A-level and became a prefect but she still had time to lark around for photos while right, in 2000, aged 18, she is pictured relaxing in the Art Bar in Florence on her gap year. Kate spent some of the time studying at the city's British Institute

2001: Kate went up to St Andrews University aged 19. She met William who lived in the same halls of residence and studied for the same degree, History of Art. But at that stage they were just friends

2002: Pictured at a St Andrews house party at 20 wearing a daring off-the-shoulder black dress

2003: Kate and William, left, both turned 21 and were guests at each other's coming of age parties, but to the outside world they were just good friends. In 2004, after months of speculation about their romance, Kate, 22, and William moved into a remote farmhouse on the outskirts of St Andrews. They are pictured dancing together at a university gala in their first appearance after their relationship became public

2005: Kate, left, now 23, brings a fresher approach to the traditional Royal off-duty uniform of tweed and leather boots as she poses at Blenheim Palace and right, watching the Prince play at the Ham Polo Club aged 24. It was the year bookies slashed odds on a Royal Engagement

2007: Kate's 'annus horribilis' when she and William broke up. Aged 25, left, she was pictured training with a boat crew but 12 weeks after the split the couple were reunited at the Concert for Diana. Right, in 2008, she was keen to show she was not just 'Waity Katie' as the 26-year-old helped organise an 80s-style roller disco

2009: Living with the Royals brings a new kind of sport as Kate, 27, joins a shooting party during a difficult weekend for William - on the 12th anniversary of his mother Diana's death. Right, in 2010, as engagement speculation mounted, Kate, 28, wore pale silk and lace to the wedding of old friend Charlie Savoy and wife Lucy