Now that 2022 is coming to a close and we're looking ahead to what 2023 might bring, we can't deny what a big year it's been for the royal family. All eyes were on them as they celebrated Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee. And then, the world mourned the Queen after her death in September. And part of it all was Kate Middleton — someone who will likely never forget this year.
She began 2022 as the Duchess of Cambridge and ended it as the Princess of Wales, taking on a bigger role in the royal family as her husband, Prince William, became first in line for the throne after King Charles officially became monarch. And in the process, there have been so many memorable moments for Kate, and plenty of photos to go along with those moments.
This year was truly a transformative one for the royals as a group, but we've loved continuing to watch Kate evolve and thrive along with her role. Read on for the best Kate Middleton photos of 2022.
Her New Official Portraits
Kate kicked off the new year with an important addition to London's National Portrait Gallery. In January — just days ahead of her turning 40 — three new portraits of Kate were put on display for the gallery's traveling Coming Home exhibition.
A New Patronage
In early February, Buckingham Palace announced that Kate would be taking over one of Prince Harry's former patronages, and she officially became the patron of the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union, resulting in some adorable pictures of Kate playing around with members of the teams.
"I look forward to working with them across all levels of the games, and to cheering England on in what promises to be an exciting year for both sports!" Kate shared in a statement at the time.
Kate Reads a Bedtime Story
Later in February, Kate took on a fun project that's close to her heart, since it has to do with children. For a broadcast on the BBC's children's network, Kate read a bedtime story that kids could tune in to watch. She chose Jill Tomlinson's The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark book.
Commonwealth Day 2022
Every year in March, the royal family celebrates Commonwealth Day, and that usually includes a traditional service at Westminster Abbey. This year was no exception, and as always, Kate stunned in a brilliant blue coatdress that matched her sapphire engagement ring.
The Caribbean Tour
As part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebration, Kate and William went on an official tour of Caribbean countries on her behalf. This included a lot of memorable moments for the royal couple, and Kate even tried out a few new fashions and hairstyles.
The 'Top Gun: Maverick' Premiere
Surprisingly enough, members of the royal family don't walk the red carpet at movie premieres as often as you might think — though we don't doubt they get plenty of invites — so when they do, it's a big deal. When Top Gun: Maverick finally hit theaters in May, William and Kate walked the carpet with the movie's star, Tom Cruise.
Trooping the Colour 2022
This year's Trooping the Colour event to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's birthday was a special one because it was part of the Platinum Jubilee, but we had no idea that it would also be special because it would be the Queen's last. Kate is at the center of the photos of the family standing out on the balcony during such an iconic day.
Her Relatable Mom Moment
During a Jubilee pageant, Prince Louis was acting like a normal 4-year-old and made a few headlines for it in the process. He was seen displaying some cheeky behavior while sitting next to his mom in the stands, and while some criticized Kate's parenting, we think this is proof she's raising a normal, happy little boy who feels free to be himself.
Yet Another Unveiling
As it turns out, Kate's birthday portraits wouldn't be the only time she was the subject of an important work of art this year. In June, a portrait of her and William together was unveiled at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Gorgeous!
First Day of School
After William and Kate moved their family to Adelaide Cottage in Berkshire in order to give their kids a more normal upbringing, it was time for George, Charlotte, and Louis to start at a new school. William and Kate were photographed bringing their kids to meet the teacher, with Kate looking every bit the stylish mom she is.
The Fab Four, Together Again
The Queen's death on September 8 ended up bringing William, Kate, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle together again — even if just for the family's mourning period. Their walkabout at Windsor Castle to greet people who were there to pay their respects marked the first time in more than two years that all four of the royals would be photographed together.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
Mourning the Queen
Kate was photographed a lot around the time of the Queen's death; the family might have been mourning William's grandmother, but there were still duties that needed to be fulfilled. That included Kate wearing all black as she attended Elizabeth's funeral, with George and Charlotte by her side.
The First Portrait of the New Senior Royals
With Queen Elizabeth gone, Charles became king, and that meant that William and Kate officially became the Prince and Princess of Wales in the process. Buckingham Palace shared a new portrait of the highest ranking royals: Charles, Camilla, Queen Consort, William, and Kate, the same week as the late Queen's funeral.
The First State Dinner as Princess of Wales
It wasn't long after receiving her new title that Kate got to attend her first state dinner as the Princess of Wales. At the end of November, she donned a tiara to welcome South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as he began his visit to the United Kingdom. She looked every bit like she belonged in her new role.
Hopping Across the Pond
During their long-awaited visit to the US in early December, William and Kate got to sit courtside while taking in a Boston Celtics game. Sure, they might have gotten "booed" by some of the crowd, but the Celtics ended up winning the game and the Waleses seemed to have a great time.
An Intimate Moment
After William and Kate hosted the Earthshot Prize Awards in Boston, they released these behind-the-scenes photos from the ceremony, including a couple of intimate moments for the couple. These two are stunning in black and white — what a way to end the year!
