questionablepre: Kate Middleton's relatives revealed - the postman, the fishmonger and the burlesque dancer

Monday, May 30, 2011

Kate Middleton's relatives revealed - the postman, the fishmonger and the burlesque dancer

Prince William's new bride has some interesting characters in her family

Kate Middleton | Pictures | Photos | Now Magazine

Kate Middleton and her parents move in loftier circles than their relatives

Much has been made of the fact Prince William's new wife Kate Middleton - a middle-class girl from Bucklebury - has rather un-royal roots.

Indeed, when they made their vows, it was the first time a 'commoner' had married a future King in more than 350 years.

Not since King James II scandalised the royal court by marrying his mistress Anne Hyde in 1660 has the blue bloodline been mingled with red.

While William's family tree is made up of kings and queens, many of Kate's ancestors descend from miners in the pits of County Durham.

We reveal some of her living relatives' fascinating stories.

Lewis Remington - Postman

Every day Lewis delivers letters bearing stamps with the Queen's head.

But now he has another connection to the royal family - his third cousin has just married Prince William.

Lewis is descended from Kate's great-granddad Thomas Harrison's younger brother Albert, through his mum Julie, a dog groomer.

Now 23, he left school at 18 but, unlike Kate, spurned university.

Instead he became a postman in Stevenage, where his dad Derrick was a post office manager.

Katrina Darling - Burlesque Dancer

Wearing a red and gold crown and draped in a Union Jack, Katrina wouldn't look out of place in London nightclub The Box, a favourite of young royals Harry, Zara and Eugenie.

Yet, little did Katrina know, when she was given the outfit by the Darlington costumiers Divine Titillation, that she would soon find out she was related to royalty.

The 20-year-old art student, who performs in her spare time, is the second cousin of Kate's mother Carole.

'Obviously it was a surprise to discover I was related to Kate,' she admits.

'I've been doing my royal-themed act for a couple of years.'

Chris Hanselman - Fishmonger

Now living in Hong Kong, fishmonger Chris, 51, is Carole Middleton's second cousin.

In 1982 he moved to Hong Kong and joined the colonial police force, working his way up through the CID until he became second-in-command of the Financial Action Task Force investigating money laundering, arms dealing and drug smuggling.

'My daughter is very excited by all this,' he said on hearing about his royal connection.

Read more about Kate Middleton's relatives in the Now Royal Romance special�- out now!

� Now Royal Romance May/June 2011