Kate Middleton Birthday: The Duchess Turns 30, Plus Other Royals At Age 30 (PHOTOS)

Major royal celebrations are in order, because (believe it or not) Kate Middleton is turning the big 3-0!

At 30 years young, the Duchess of Cambridge has a lot to be celebrating. This past year was a major one, what with becoming a British royal as well as a fashion obsession and one of the most buzzed-about people of the year.

So how will Catherine and her new high-profile family be marking her milestone today? Rumor had it that Kate's birthday bash was planned by Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry, who certainly know a thing or two about partying -- word on the street was that the extravagant party would be "'80s-themed."

Alas, actual reports say the party will in fact be a "low-key and private" event. So instead, we've decided to celebrate the duchess' big day in our own way: by taking a look back at other lovely royals back when they were in their young thirties.

Check out these lovely duchesses, princesses and queens the way they were. Happy birthday, Catherine!

Comments

[ennui the third]

07:33 AM on 01/10/2012

This so- called royal is a do nothing, say little, think nothing embarrassment. In a day and time when most are struggling from paycheck to paycheck, to watch this phony and the rest of the windors grin in their mass of unearned wealth is repellent.

[lenuk]

06:55 PM on 01/10/2012

Just a little jealous, maybe?

[ennui the third]

07:18 PM on 01/10/2012

Uh....you used the wrong word... more like "repelled".

[Activation]

07:45 PM on 01/09/2012

Maybe the Prince can buy Kate some lip injections... her low class thin lips are really horrendous!

[mh430]

08:17 PM on 01/09/2012

Unfortunately, showing respect seems to have disapeared.

[ennui the third]

07:35 AM on 01/10/2012

Respect for what?...unearned wealth?

[goldengirl43]

11:37 PM on 01/09/2012

If you're British, you will more than likely have thin lips. Just goes with the territory. Class has nothing to do with it.

[ABXNOMORE]

10:56 AM on 01/10/2012

She does have good teeth.

[gordo001]

07:41 PM on 01/09/2012

What's the big fuss she's just another woman who turned 30. Just like when she got married they were just another couple that got married.

[Esther21072011]

06:37 AM on 01/10/2012

Yep - cuz the Queen of England is just another woman lol

[ABXNOMORE]

10:57 AM on 01/10/2012

In truth she is. She's inherently no better than any other woman.

[teacher2be33]

07:10 PM on 01/09/2012

Happy Birthday Kate.......not that you will read this.....but I hope you enjoyed your day.

[Xanadutu]

06:25 PM on 01/09/2012

GEEZ ~~ she keeps looking more and more like 'Chuckie's horse'!!!!

[Stephen B Kidde]

06:20 PM on 01/09/2012

Happy Birthday Kate! Remember that 30 is not "over the hill" for the forever young!

[Lolavie19]

05:55 PM on 01/09/2012

I love Kate she may not be blood but shes definitely the coolest one on the list!

[Kittenesque]

05:25 PM on 01/09/2012

In her 30 years, her achievement includes a 6 month part-time job as a jewelry sales clerk and marrying well. Not exactly a role more. Letizia at 30 however was a pro journalist who did international reporting on 9/11, now that's a woman!

[Kittenesque]

05:30 PM on 01/09/2012

model*

[Xanadutu]

06:22 PM on 01/09/2012

Go away, word police!! NOT needed, Not wanted!!

[modelaford]

05:20 PM on 01/09/2012

Happy birthday...Duchess Catherine!

[Kritikos]

06:35 PM on 01/09/2012

...........and many more.

[SDH283]

06:57 PM on 01/09/2012

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge ...to be exact.

[ABXNOMORE]

10:08 PM on 01/09/2012

She was born Katie Middleton and will always be.

[Oneandoneandone]

05:14 PM on 01/09/2012

When will people learn that calling someone X-years-young makes them feel OLD.

[aka62792]

04:55 PM on 01/09/2012

What on earth happened to Queen Raina of Jordan, she looks like she's gained 50 pounds.

Is she ill ?

[ABXNOMORE]

09:01 PM on 01/09/2012

She doesn't look 50 pounds heavier. Sometimes it's just the camera angle. She is a strikingly beautiful.

[ABXNOMORE]

09:03 PM on 01/09/2012

Plus remember you have gotten used to looking at Kate's extremely thin, almost anorexic figure. Anyone would look overweight next to her.

[aka62792]

07:55 PM on 01/10/2012

WHEN I WAS IN PREP SCHOOL AND COLLEGE I STARVED MYSELF TO DEATH, TO THE POINT THAT i FAINTED A NUMBER OF TIMES. I WAS A HUGE EQUESTRIAN FOR YEARS SHOWING ALL OVER THE WORLD JUMPING 5 FT FENCES. DUH, IT FINALLY DAWNED ON ME WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I FAINTED GOING OVER A FIVE FOOD FENCE ON AN 18 HAND HORSE, THEY DO NOT GET BIGGER THAN THAT.i'M 5 FOOT 7 AND i WEIGHED 98 POUNDS.

[basketpam]

04:43 PM on 01/09/2012

Why is the media still calling her Kate Middleton? She's married now, it's not that hard of a concept people!!!! She requested the day of the wedding she is to be known from that point on as Princess Catherine or the Duchess of Cambridge. She's a married woman, if nothing else she would be going by her husband last name and as he uses Wales she would be Kate Wales at this point. Diana wasn't known as Diana Spencer for months after the wedding, why is it so hard this time????

[Billv1]

06:21 PM on 01/09/2012

She should NOT have had to request to be addressed properly.

[SDH283]

06:39 PM on 01/09/2012

She didn`t .. Buckingham Palace announced what her official title was ..

[SDH283]

06:38 PM on 01/09/2012

She 'requested' no such thing.

She will not be known as Princess Catherine, if anything, she is Princess William -- which is why the Queen awarded them the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambrige in order to avoid that archaic use her husband`s name.

[theredqueen]

04:42 PM on 01/09/2012

All the ladies are attractive and dressed appropriately for their time and place. I particularly think Queen Sofia of Spain was elegant and beautiful both then and now. Grace Kelly was non pareil, an incredibly beautiful woman and a great patron of ballet and the arts. Princess Margaret was a diminutive doll with a talent for mimicry and the piano, she was a virago but nonetheless a pretty interesting woman. Diana had that certain "something" as well as a photographic incandescence. Later she developed super style in couture (she listened) and was advised well in her wardrobe choices. I miss her. Queen Rania has that quality of dress look also. I would imagine it's harder than it might appear on the surface to learn all that. Queen Elizabeth had, and probably still has a perfect complexion and while never a fashion plate has always looked "just the ticket". I have enjoyed these pictures and I am old enough to have loved looking at them in magazines and newspapers that were current at the time. Still do.

[Kellybelle22]

06:10 PM on 01/10/2012

I always enjoy reading your comments, theredqueen. They never fail to reveal thoughtfulness, reflection and taste. As a child and teenager, I remember looking at Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth in magazines and also at Princesses Grace and Caroline, who's 3 years older than I. I now realize how much these ladies helped mold my American taste, particularly the Monegasques, who were divine. They were slightly sleeker and taller than the English royals, and my grandmother and mom regarded them as examples for taller women.

It pleased me over the holidays to have ongoing fashion discussions with my darling 21-year-old while looking at mags with pictures of Charlotte Casiraghi and, later, while shopping. As a child, I looked to Grace and Caroline. As a young adult, I looked to Diana. As young adults, my daughters will look to Duchess Catherine and Charlene, Princess of Monaco and to their future issue. The continuity of (good) taste-shaping from generation to generation makes me very happy, somehow.

[Imvallyann]

04:20 PM on 01/09/2012

Who is this and why is she everywhere all of a sudden and why should I care that she turned 30? This is news why?

[basketpam]

04:43 PM on 01/09/2012

I hope you're joking because otherwise you've been under a rock for the last several years.

[mebemommee06]

05:07 PM on 01/09/2012

I'll take the rock part.. lol

[skyeagle]

04:44 PM on 01/09/2012

Because we are tired of looking at the likes of Lady Ga-Ga, a naked Brittany Spears, and Paris Hilton as American efforts at royalty. Rock on Prince & Princess, you're proof that fairy tales do exist and that class, breeding and poise is better than the fame accorded to singers, dancers, and the American noveau riche!

[Trixforkid]

05:36 PM on 01/09/2012

So beyond Amen to that skyeagle. Better to look at what a true lady is suppose to be instead of all the trashiness that most of the female musicians aspire to nowadays. Happy Birthday Duchess Catherine. You are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. Wishing you peace, happiness and love.

[Xanadutu]

06:24 PM on 01/09/2012

Can't people ever get this straight??? she is NOT and NEVER will be a PRINCESS!!!!

[mollyjlp]

04:07 PM on 01/09/2012

I wonder if the "Royals" are as interested in Americans as some Americans are fascinated by them. Who cares. She has the world on a string.

[mebemommee06]

04:24 PM on 01/09/2012

actually they are.. seeing they visited California last year..