By FAY SCHLESINGER
Family snap: Kate, aged four, with her father Mike and sister Pippa, right, in Jerash, Jordan
It was a far from palatial place for a future princess to live.
In the shadow of a high-rise block, this is the villa where Kate Middleton spent her formative childhood years.
The shabby one-storey building was home for more than two years from May 1984, when her father Mike got a job as a British Airways manager and moved his family from Berkshire to the Jordanian capital Amman.
Revealed: The Mail has tracked down the modest three-bedroom house which the Middletons lived in Amman, Jordan, from May 1984 to Sept 1986
The Middletons' years in the Middle East remained secret until last month, when Kate's official biography was released by St James's Palace.
A picture of her and sister Pippa – both tanned and fair-haired thanks to the sun – showed them exploring ancient Greco-Roman ruins with their father during a day trip to Jerash, near the border with Syria.
Now the Mail has tracked down the modest three-bedroom house which Mr Middleton, then 33, and his wife Carole, 29, rented for £300 a month with two-year-old Kate and Pippa, eight months.
At band camp: Kate's mother Carole Middleton (circled) in her Featherstone school band in 1974
For Carole Middleton used to play the cornet in a brass band.
She was a 17-year-old sixth former when she joined the ensemble at Featherstone County School in Southall, Middlesex. She left the school in 1973 to join British Airways.
Mrs Middleton, who had quit work as a BA air hostess to start a family, would prepare meals in the simple kitchen for her husband's colleagues, before eating al fresco on the veranda.
When Kate turned three, she started spending mornings at the nearby Al-Sahera nursery and learned to recite rhymes in Arabic.
Mr Middleton worked long shifts at Amman Airport, where he was in charge of BA's flights to and from London. To relax, he played tennis at the British Embassy near his home.
'Kate came for lessons when she was about ten or 11 until she was 13,' said Mr Nicholls, 47.
'I don't think anyone would say she was going to be a concert pianist but she was good at it. She always did everything she was told.'
source: dailymail
Blog Archive
-
▼
2011
(3770)
-
▼
April
(705)
- Cowgirl Kylie returns to her Neighbours
- Cowgirl Kylie returns to her Neighbours
- Kinky boots: Miley Cyrus dons risqué leather outfit
- Kinky boots: Miley Cyrus dons risqué leather outfit
- Katy Perry mocks internet sensation Rebecca Black
- Katy Perry mocks internet sensation Rebecca Black
- 'The most incredible gift ever': Mariah Carey give...
- 'The most incredible gift ever': Mariah Carey give...
- Have Britain's Got Talent judges found their winner?
- Have Britain's Got Talent judges found their winner?
- Not very Abbey: Cart-wheeling verger carpeted by c...
- Not very Abbey: Cart-wheeling verger carpeted by c...
- Middletons go home ... £250,000 poorer: Family’s h...
- Middletons go home ... £250,000 poorer: Family’s h...
- Her Royal Hotness will be next to wed...
- Her Royal Hotness will be next to wed...
- Same place, same pose... but two very different st...
- Same place, same pose... but two very different st...
- Whisked away by helicopter... but Wills's back to ...
- Whisked away by helicopter... but Wills's back to ...
- The universe's reaction to the royal wedding
- The universe's reaction to the royal wedding
- Happy and glorious: OFFICIAL Royal Wedding album i...
- Happy and glorious: OFFICIAL Royal Wedding album i...
- What honeymoon? A weekend away then it's back to w...
- What honeymoon? A weekend away then it's back to w...
- Music Core performances from April 30th
- Big Bang says goodbye with ‘Stupid Liar’ on Music ...
- CNBLUE performs ‘Love Girl’ on Music Core
- After School makes a comeback with ‘Shampoo’ on Mu...
- INFINITE says goodbye on Music Core
- The eight-tiered Royal Wedding cake decorated with...
- The eight-tiered Royal Wedding cake decorated with...
- Sure those hats were wise, ladies?
- Sure those hats were wise, ladies?
- Party at the Palace! Newly weds William and Kate d...
- Party at the Palace! Newly weds William and Kate d...
- How Kate's foxy sister Pippa stole the show
- How Kate's foxy sister Pippa stole the show
- Magical wedding for a Royal bride...
- Magical wedding for a Royal bride...
- Kate Middleton marries her Prince in stunning desi...
- Kate Middleton marries her Prince in stunning desi...
- A MILLION turn out for Wills and Kate
- A MILLION turn out for Wills and Kate
- Kiss me Kate! William and his new bride show their...
- Kiss me Kate! William and his new bride show their...
- 'You look beautiful': What William whispered to ra...
- 'You look beautiful': What William whispered to ra...
- Gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Orie...
- Gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Orie...
- When to see that dress and where to watch that kis...
- When to see that dress and where to watch that kis...
- Here comes the groom: William goes on a final walk...
- Here comes the groom: William goes on a final walk...
- A regal wave: Kate arrives with sister and mother ...
- A regal wave: Kate arrives with sister and mother ...
- Catherine Middleton, her mother Carole and sister ...
- Catherine Middleton, her mother Carole and sister ...
- Fans of the royal family take photographs on the Mall
- Fans of the royal family take photographs on the Mall
- Obama declares state of emergency as death toll fr...
- Obama declares state of emergency as death toll fr...
- The Royal tent city: If you were hoping for a spot...
- The Royal tent city: If you were hoping for a spot...
- Kate arrives to cheers from thousands camped outsi...
- Kate arrives to cheers from thousands camped outsi...
- Daesung performs ‘Baby Don’t Cry’ on M! Countdown
- f(x) makes their comeback on M! Countdown
- B1A4 debuts on M! Countdown with “OK”
- Turtles makes a ‘Hero’ comeback on M! Countdown
- Shin Dong Yup & Super Junior’s Leeteuk cast as double
- 'Last day of freedom': Biker Wills speeds off
- 'Last day of freedom': Biker Wills speeds off
- Very subtle! Kate Garraway shows her support for t...
- Very subtle! Kate Garraway shows her support for t...
- Heavily pregnant Natalie Portman
- Heavily pregnant Natalie Portman
- Get them to the (Abbey) on time!
- Get them to the (Abbey) on time!
- Inside the £5,000-a-night room where Kate will sta...
- Inside the £5,000-a-night room where Kate will sta...
- 'With so much love within our hearts'
- 'With so much love within our hearts'
- Crowds walk along Whitehall which will be part of ...
- Crowds walk along Whitehall which will be part of ...
- How Westminster Abbey is being turned into a £50k ...
- The final countdown: Middletons move to London wit...
- The final countdown: Middletons move to London wit...
- Royal Wedding brought forward? No, it's a William ...
- Royal Wedding brought forward? No, it's a William ...
- Full track for After School’s “Shampoo” released!
- Hundreds of servicemen stage spectacular trial run...
- Hundreds of servicemen stage spectacular trial run...
- A royal disappointment? How being official wedding...
- A royal disappointment? How being official wedding...
- Trees to the big day! Workmen create Kate's indoor...
- Trees to the big day! Workmen create Kate's indoor...
- Lindsay Lohan opens up about jail term
- Lindsay Lohan opens up about jail term
-
▼
April
(705)