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
(4243)
-
▼
April
(942)
- Justin Bieber pelted with eggs during Sydney perfo...
- Justin Bieber pelted with eggs during Sydney perfo...
- 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?
- 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...
- Whisked away by helicopter... but Wills's back to ...
- Same place, same pose... but two very different st...
- Cowgirl Kylie returns to her Neighbours
- Kinky boots: Miley Cyrus dons risqué leather outfit
- Katy Perry mocks internet sensation Rebecca Black
- 'The most incredible gift ever': Mariah Carey give...
- Middletons go home ... £250,000 poorer: Family’s h...
- Her Royal Hotness will be next to wed...
- Same place, same pose... but two very different st...
- Whisked away by helicopter... but Wills's back to ...
- 'Where are the black people?' asks Sherri Shepherd...
- 'Where are the black people?' asks Sherri Shepherd...
- How best man brother quipped his way through the w...
- How best man brother quipped his way through the w...
- 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...
- The universe's reaction to the royal wedding
- Two kisses...two families coming together at last
- Two kisses...two families coming together at last
- Happy and glorious: OFFICIAL Royal Wedding album i...
- What honeymoon? A weekend away then it's back to w...
- The eight-tiered Royal Wedding cake decorated with...
- The eight-tiered Royal Wedding cake decorated with...
- The moment the world held its breath as William st...
- The moment the world held its breath as William st...
- Sure those hats were wise, ladies?
- The Royal joker: Harry quips his way through weddi...
- The Royal joker: Harry quips his way through weddi...
- Her Royal Hotness: How Kate's foxy sister Pippa st...
- Her Royal Hotness: How Kate's foxy sister Pippa st...
- Party at the Palace! Newly weds William and Kate d...
- How Kate's foxy sister Pippa stole the show
- Magical wedding for a Royal bride...
- Sure those hats were wise, ladies? Princesses Bea ...
- Sure those hats were wise, ladies? Princesses Bea ...
- It's party time! Kate and William leave Clarence H...
- It's party time! Kate and William leave Clarence H...
- Even the clergy were turning cartwheels on a magic...
- Even the clergy were turning cartwheels on a magic...
- Love is in the Aires: Katie Price and her boyfrien...
- Love is in the Aires: Katie Price and her boyfrien...
- Nose doubt about it, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson looks b...
- Nose doubt about it, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson looks b...
- How Amanda is still Holden back the years: Is Boto...
- How Amanda is still Holden back the years: Is Boto...
- Kate Middleton marries her Prince in stunning desi...
- Kate Middleton marries her Prince in stunning desi...
- A MILLION turn out for Wills and Kate
- Kate Middleton marries her Prince in stunning desi...
- 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...
- 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...
- Meet my Princess! William and his new bride Kate h...
- Meet my Princess! William and his new bride Kate h...
- Carole Middleton is every inch the Royal mother of...
- 'You look beautiful': What William whispered to ra...
- Carole Middleton is every inch the Royal mother of...
- Here comes the McQueen: Kate Middleton marries her...
- Here comes the McQueen: Kate Middleton marries her...
- Now here's the showbiz royalty... Victoria goes fo...
- Now here's the showbiz royalty... Victoria goes fo...
- From commoner Kate to HRH: Palace announces Royal ...
- From commoner Kate to HRH: Palace announces Royal ...
- Excited Tara? TPT shows off tiny white dress ahead...
- Excited Tara? TPT shows off tiny white dress ahead...
- 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...
- Catherine Middleton, her mother Carole and sister ...
- Catherine Middleton, her mother Carole and sister ...
- Gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Orie...
- When to see that dress and where to watch that kis...
- Here comes the groom: William goes on a final walk...
- A regal wave: Kate arrives with sister and mother ...
- Kate arrives with sister and mother at their Londo...
- Kate arrives with sister and mother at their Londo...
-
▼
April
(942)
No comments:
Post a Comment