You Need to See These Throwback Photos of Kate Middleton Before She Was a Duchess

A beauty evolution.

Chloe Metzger's avatar
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Published In Features
Kate Middleton
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Before Mia Thermopolis was princess of Genovia, she was a frizzy-haired teenager, played by Anne Hathaway, and also not real. And before Kate Middleton was Duchess of Cambridge, she was a "normal" person, with the same beauty tastes that you had in the '00s. So in honor of our love of nostalgia and Kate Middleton, we delved into the depths of her past to find the 17 best throwback photos of the future queen. See the magic, ahead.

1987
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1987

That time Kate was a literal child, rockin' a middle part since age five.

2002
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2002

That time Kate wore thread-wrapped braids and spiral curls for a fashion show. 

2005
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2005

That time Kate wore a half-up ponytail with a twisty, geographic hat.

2005
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2005

That time Kate wore a cowboy hat with extra-blushed cheeks.

2006
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2006

That time Kate hid her flipped-under blowout with...yes, you guess it: a giant fur hat.

2006
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2006

That time Kate rested a plume of feathers (okay, a HAT) atop her loose waves.

2006
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2006

That time Kate had the same swoopy side-bangs that you did in 2006.

2007
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2007

That time Kate channeled a Victoria's Secret Angel with the most voluminous, bouncy curls and glossy lips.

2007
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2007

That time Kate brought her love of hats back and wore a beret un-ironically, with pale-pink lipstick and chandelier earrings. 

2008
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2008

That time Kate turned into Party Kate and wore smoky eyes with peachy, shimmery cheeks.

2008
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2008

The time Kate rimmed her eyes in thick, black liner, which also matched her thick, black hat.

2008
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2008

That time Kate clipped her curls back with another hat o' feathers, and then loaded on a layer of bronzer.

2009
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2009

That time Kate topped her teased, voluminous hair with a salad plate. Sorry, hat.

2011
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2011

That time Kate played around with contoured cheeks and ultra-glossy waves.

2011
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2011

The first—and possibly only—time Kate wore a ponytail (with another feathered hat), with black-rimmed eyes.

2011
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2011

That time Kate announced her engagement with a super-shiny blowout, smudgy brown eyeliner, and nude lipstick. 

2011
(Image credit: Getty Images)

2011

That time Kate channeled an actual princess, IRL. 

Chloe Metzger
Chloe Metzger
Beauty Editor

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.