Kate Middleton: What's in a job?

With the mounting pressure for Prince William to marry Kate Middleton, comes increasing interest into the life of young woman who could one day be Queen.

It's fair to say that very little is known about Kate, except that she has been an important part of William's life for at least 4 years. However, it's only been during the past 3 years that her role as girlfriend to the future king has been firmly stamped by an ever adoring media. Most scribes wax lyrical about her stunning good looks and her discreet nature, but little is said about her personal role in life.

Kate graduated from St Andrew's University with an impressive Degree in History of Art. Yet, over a year and half later, little has been made of that result. Press reports during the summer of last year, boasted of an impending launch into the very competitive children's clothing market. But that, it seems, was the wishful thinking of an over imaginative media.

For Kate, who has also reportedly worked part time for her parents burgeoning party paraphernalia business, seems to have lost herself in the dreamy role as the future kings consort. Coming from a successful upper-middle class family, Kate hasn't really reached her full potential career wise.

Many would argue that this is the way of girls in her social set, yet for those who have seen the cruel and uncaring way the royal family can swallow, chew up and spit out potential royal brides, Kate's reluctance to do something constructive is very worrying.

There are the inevitable excuses, such as the press is too intrusive and would annoy any potential employer, causing major disruptions to business. Another one heard on the constant roundabout of royal forums is, as William's girlfriend, she needs to "make herself available" to him. Most ordinary folk would dismiss these as furfies designed to defend laziness.

For proof of this, one only has to look at the current crop of royal brides to see how a young woman can successfully launch her own career and date a future king. Princess Mary of Denmark is one of the best examples of this.

Mary completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Law Degree in Tasmania. She then launched into a very successful career for various companies including DDB Needham in Melbourne, Young & Rubicam and Love PR in Sydney. Around the time Mary met Fred, she was working as an agent for the Belle Property Group. Mary was considered a "high flyer" in the business world.

When Mary made the decision to move closer to her prince, she initially worked as a business english teacher at a language school called Transfer in France. As her relationship with Denmark's future king reached the dizzying heights comparable to that of Wills and Kate, Mary continued to work, getting a job at Microsoft Business Solutions in Copenhagen.

Yet another successful former royal girlfriend who made the transition to royal bride, was Spain's Princess Letizia. Letizia is an incredibly intelligent and poised young woman who completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, as well as a Master’s Degree in Audiovisual Journalism. The princess worked extensively in the media firstly at the Asturian daily newspaper La Nueva España and later for the newspaper ABC and the news agency EFE, all whilst still at university.

Once completing her degree, she travelled to Mexico where she worked for Siglo. She then returned to Spain to work at a spanish economic/finance channel. Her next move was to the news network CNN Plus. Letizia's potential was spotted early on and she was given a prestigious position as anchor of a weekly news service called Informe Semanal.

Her next career move was to the morning slot on a program called Telediario Matinal. Shortly before her surprise engagement to Prince Felipe was announced, Letizia was again promoted to anchor of an incredibly popular news program called Telediario.

Other famous royal girlfriends/brides who have worked successfully in the public eye are:

• The Netherland's Princess Maxima who, with a Degree in Economics, was an investment banker. Maxima worked in Argentina, New York and Europe before settling down and marrying Crown Prince Willem-Alexander.
• Queen Rania of Jordon completed a Degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo. Rania worked for Citibank and Apple Computer in Jordan.
• Crown Princess Masako of Japan is a Harvard graduate. She has worked as a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Whatever the case may be for Kate Middleton, many would agree that she has far more options to explore. What remains to be seen is what path she chooses to take in the future. For as one scribe put it "Charming, pretty and bright Kate may be, but I reckon she should find something to do before the public decide she’s more spoilt Royal WAG than future consort." 

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