With her glossy dark hair, classic looks, natural appearance and cut-glass accent, Kate Middleton displays all the poise and breeding expected from the wife-to-be of the heir to the throne. Sophisticated beyond her years, as well as academically gifted, Kate has charmed both William?s louche circle of friends and the House of Windsor. Yet behind her polished veneer lies the remarkable tale of an impoverished working-class family that overcame deprivation and adversity to rise to the upper echelons of society. Claudia Joseph has spoken to members of Kate?s family and her friends, who have provided an intriguing insight into the extraordinary journey her family has made from the mining villages of Durham to an apartment in the royal residence of Clarence House. Drawing on exclusive interviews, this is an authoritative account of Kate Middleton?s life so far.