
Before she was a royal,Kate Middletonwas just like any twenty-something enjoying a night out!
While the Princess of Wales is spending her42nd birthdayon Tuesday privately, aTikTok videohighlighting what her social life was like before she marriedPrince Williamhas gone viral. The clip, which has been viewed over 4.5 million times, flashes through over a dozen photos of Kate in her 20s as she parties with Prince William and her sisterPippa Middleton!
The reel recaps a young Kate traveling in the backseat of a car, rocking sequined outfits, dancing with William in a nightclub, heading to a charity roller disco with Pippa in 2008 and casually walking around. The last photos showed the future princess leaving a store, talking on a cell phone and carrying a shopping bag while sporting Ugg boots.
Kate Middleton and Pippa Middleton attend The Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco in September 2008 in London.Mark Milan/Mu Kei/GC Images

Mark Milan/Mu Kei/GC Images
“Kate enjoying her youthfulness and now she’s a grown up, so she has obviously matured,” one TikToker wrote in a comment liked over 35,000 times.
“They were having the best days of their lives. Just like any of us here during college,” another echoed.
Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton cheer on the English team during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between England and Italy at Twickenham in February 2007.David Davies - PA Images/PA Images via Getty

David Davies - PA Images/PA Images via Getty
Kate and Prince William met at the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland and dated foralmost a decadebefore getting engaged in Kenya in 2010 and marrying in April 2011. According to Kate, it took some time for the two to get to know each other, in part due to her shyness.
“I think you said I actually went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off,” she recounted to Williamduring their 2010 engagement interview. “[I was] feeling very shy about meeting you.”
From there, however, the pair became “very close friends.” “We were friends for over a year first,” William said in the same sit-down. “It just sort of blossomed from then on.”
As the pair spent more and more time together, the prince said they found commonalities between them. “[We] realized we shared the same interests,” he explained. “[We] just had a really good time.”
Kate Middleton walks in London in May 2007.Get the Look! Olivia Moon Knit Blazer, $47.70; nordstrom.com Gap Mid-Rise Best Girlfriend Jean, $69.99; gap.com UGG Classic II Short Boot, $160; ugg.com

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“It’s not necessarily surprising what I learned about Kate because she didn’t grow up in this royal household. Her roots are roots that people can really connect to because she went to school and had a very supportive family and went to university,” Bellamy tells PEOPLE of the princess’background, referring to her youth with parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa and James in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
“I think that’s what people really love about her — is her kind of approachability and the way she connects with people,” she says.
Kate Middleton chats with guests during a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace on Dec. 5, 2023.JONATHAN BRADY/POOL/AFP via Getty

JONATHAN BRADY/POOL/AFP via Getty
source: people.com