All Kate Middleton ever wanted was ‘a house in the countryside, loads of kids, dogs and an AGA’

Kate Middleton had no interest in fame and all she ever wanted was ‘a quiet life in the countryside’, a friend has claimed.

The Duchess of Cambridge, who turns 40 this week, has become one of the most famous women in the world since marrying Prince William. But she had no interest in fame or a ‘big job’ and hoped for a quiet life growing up, according to a close pal.

Instead, of the glitz and glam of royal life, Kate- who splits her time between Anmer Hall in Norfolk and Kensington Palace in central London – just hoped for a life similar the way she grew up in rural Berkshire.

Writing in the Sun on Sunday, royal correspondent Emily Andrews claims a family friend of the royal once told her: ‘All Catherine ever wanted was a house in the countryside, loads of kids, dogs and an AGA.  She wasn’t interested in having a big job or becoming famous.

‘Family life is incredibly important to her, and motherhood has been the making of her. Now that she feels she’s achieved that, there’s time to turn to her public role and what she wants to achieve there.’

And despite being thought of as one of the most glamourous women in the world, Kate is also conscious of her appearance.

Recalling a meeting with the Duchess shortly after she gave birth to Princess Charlotte in 2015, Ms Andrews revealed she complimented Kate on her new hairstyle – to which she replied: ‘ Are you sure it suits me? You don’t think it looks too mumsy? I was a bit worried…’ 

It comes amid reports  the Duchess of Cambridge’s 40th birthday will be muted – like her Christmas – due to the Covid risk.

Instead of a big party, the Duchess is expected to have a much smaller affair with just family and close friends. 

Writing in the Sun on Sunday , royal correspondent Emily Andrews claims a family friend of the royal once told her: ‘All Catherine ever wanted was a house in the countryside, loads of kids, dogs and an AGA. She wasn’t interested in having a big job or becoming famous.’ She is pictured in her 2020 Christmas card with George, William, Louis and Charlotte

Kate and William – who on Friday unveiled a photograph of themselves on the way to last year’s James Bond premiere to coincide with New Year’s Eve – missed out on the traditional Royal Family Christmas celebrations after the Queen was forced to cancel her plans to host the festivities at Sandringham.

Due to fears of the Omicron Covid variant, a smaller lunch was held at Windsor Castle while the Cambridges hosted Kate’s family at Anmer Hall, their country retreat on the Sandringham estate

A source told Mail on Sunday: ‘There are likely to be low-key celebrations for the Duchess. She didn’t want anything flashy anyway – that’s not exactly her thing – but particularly given the current climate anything is likely to be scaled down.’

Instead of a big party, the Duchess is expected to have a much smaller affair with just family and close friends

It come as her former private secretary, Rebecca Priestley (nee Deacon), who worked for the duchess for seven years, told the Daily Mail how newlyweds William and Kate approached the daunting task of a life committed to public service together as if it was a ‘blank piece of paper’. 

All three were in Anglesey in 2011, where the couple had chosen to spend their first years of married life while William worked as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot.

Rebecca says of their conversation: ‘I said: ‘Right, what next? You have the philanthropic world at your feet. There are so many directions you can go in terms of causes you can get involved in.’

‘Catherine [as William prefers her to be known] had clearly put a lot of thought into it and made very clear that, for her, it was about listening and learning.’

For his part, William had impressed on his bride the need for them to take their time.