Kate Middleton at University College London

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The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, visited University College London’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies on Tuesday morning. During her visit to the Bloomsbury-based campus, the Telegraph reports the Duchess also revealed she had been looking back through four generations of Middletons and Goldsmiths

The broadsheet even claims the 39-year-old disclosed to the researchers how research into her own family tree has had an impact on how she sees changing social issues close to home.

When Kate Middleton tied the knot with Prince William in April 2011, she became the first so-called commoner to marry into the Firm.

But on closer inspection the Duchess of Cambridge has far humbler roots than many could have anticipated.

In fact, the MailOnline reports she even descended from coal miners, a road sweeper and even a prisoner.

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It was Kate’s great-great-great-great maternal grandfather James Harrison, born in 1794, who was the coal miner in the North East of England.

Thomas Harrison, a carpenter born in 1904, would later take the family down south after he moved to London following the Second World War.

Despite her coal mining County Durham family, Kate’s family tree also includes some more influential members of society.

Peter Middleton, the Duchess’ paternal grandfather, served as an RAF pilot and even crossed paths with the late Duke of Edinburgh when the two flew alongside one another on a two-month tour of South America in 1962.

But perhaps one of Kate’s most remarkable relatives was William Petty FitzMaurice.

Born in Dublin in 1737, the Earl of Shelburne would later serve in the highest elected office in the land.

Between July 1782 and April 1783, a period in which he brokered a peace settlement that ended the American War of Independence, William Petty FitzMaurice served as the Prime Minister.

During Kate’s visit, she met with UCL’s academics from the 195-year-old university to discuss their ‘Children of the 2020s’ project.

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The Centre for Longitudinal Studies website claims the project “will answer important scientific and policy questions regarding the family, early education and childcare determinants of early school success”.

Speaking ahead of the visit, she said: “Our early childhoods shape our adult lives and knowing more about what impacts this critical time is fundamental to understanding what we as a society can do to improve our future health and happiness.

“The landmark study will illustrate the importance of the first five years and provide insights into the most critical aspects of early childhood, as well as the factors which support or hinder positive lifelong outcomes.

“I am committed to supporting greater in-depth research in this vital area and I’m delighted to be meeting all those behind the study at this early stage.”

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