This morning, I along with millions of viewers from around the globe, tuned in to watch the Royal Wedding. I can’t help it – I’m a complete sap for beautiful dresses, royal traditions and ridiculous hats. As I watched Kate step out of her coach, ready to walk down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, I was taken aback at her grace and poise. But these are just a few of her positive attributes.
Catherine Middleton
The modern role of the monarchy is about setting a good example and acting as an ambassador for Britain. To me, Wills and Kate seem like the perfect pair to take up the challenge of serving as role models for their generation and beyond. One of these reasons is that Kate appears to be a very intelligent, well-rounded person. A young woman who looks as poised in a pair of hot pants on roller skates as she does in a conservative dress suit and feathered hat.
Wills and Kate both took gap years after finishing high school. While I’m not about to claim that Kate gained her composure and grace while on her gap year, organizers of her Chile trip gushed about her. I think it is safe to say that the word “gap year’ has been in the press quite a bit lately thanks to them. And that is a great thing.
Kate spent her gap year in Chile, Florence, Italy and working aboard a yacht. In Chile, Kate volunteered and traveled in Patagonia with Raleigh International, a British-based gap year organization. Prince William attended the same program the fall before her.
Prince William in Chile, via Raleigh.co.uk
In Florence, Kate studied Italian and Art History through the British Institute, a culture center founded in 1917 to nurture a love of the arts. According to an article by The Telegraph:
“ Kate Middleton’s Italian lessons took place in the Palazzo dello Strozzino, a princely palace built in 1458, with four mammoth entrances and four floors of heavily rusticated stone in traditional Florentine style, each separated by delicate classical cornices and sheltered by deep eaves.”
You can read that entire article here.
Kate went on to major in Art History at St. Andrews University in Scotland. No doubt her background in art will come in handy while strolling down the corridors of Buckingham Palace!
A Royal Wedding may seem frivolous for fun, but any joyous occasion that brings people together is fine by me! Have a great weekend and congrats to Will and Kate!
