Kate Middleton’s special connection with Jordan: The early childhood you probably didn’t know about

Kate Middleton joined her husband, Prince William, to stage a warm welcome for the Crown Prince and Princess of Jordan on October 15.

Hosting the foreign couple at Windsor Castle, the Prince and Princess of Wales appeared enthusiastic to further their strong relations with the Middle Eastern royal family, which date all the way back to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.

However, the future queen of Britain also shares a sacred bond with the country, independent of the dynamic she is bound to maintain as a part of royalty.

Early experiences

When Princess Kate was only two years of age, her father received a proposal for a posting in the Jordanian capital of Amman, as part of his employment in British Airways.

Michael Middleton moved to the country with his wife and Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, and his two young daughters in tow. The future Princess’ younger sister, Pippa Middleton, was eight months old when the family moved.

Hannah Hashweh, chief executive at Amman’s Hashweh Corporation travel agency, even remembered the Middleton clan and shared her recollections of a young Kate with UAE’s National News in 2011, right before her wedding to Prince William.

“They lived in a two-storey rented villa, close to a park and the nursery where Kate went. I remember she was a very beautiful little girl,” she told the publication.

According to HELLO!, “The Middletons returned to England in September 1986 when dad Michael’s work posting ended, where Kate was enrolled at St Andrew’s School, a private school in Berkshire.”

Kate’s return to Jordan

In 2021, the Princess of Wales returned to the country she holds considerably dear  — Kate and William spent a private getaway in Jordan with their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. While a snap taken on their excursion to the ancient city and archaeological site, Petra, featured on the family’s Christmas card that year.

The British and Jordanian royal ties

Both Queen Elizabeth and Jordan’s King Hussein were crowned monarchs in 1952, marking the beginning of a beautiful royal friendship.

Since then, the two monarchies have come together for various occasions, with Princess Kate and Prince William even attending the wedding of Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa in 2023.