Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
(CBS News) On April 29, 2011, the world watched as Prince William and Catherine Middleton said "I do," and Britain got a brand-new princess and future queen.
Now known as the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate has kept busy in her first year as a member of the royal family - choosing charities to support, traveling with her husband, stepping out solo for public events and setting fashion trends.
So, in celebration of William and Kate's first wedding anniversary, here's a look at the duchess' first year as a royal.
Complete coverage: The Royal WeddingTimeline: Kate's first year as a royal
April 29, 2011
Catherine Middleton, 29, marries Prince William, 28, at London's Westminster Abbey, as people watch around the world. Her dress, which was kept under wraps until the day of the ceremony, was a lace and satin creation by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. She also wore a silk tulle veil with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, held in place by a Cartier "halo" tiara, lent to Middleton by Queen Elizabeth II. The bride's diamond drop earrings were a personal gift to Middleton from her parents for her wedding day.
After the ceremony, the couple traveled in the 1902 State Landau carriage back to Buckingham Palace, where they kissed (twice!) for the cheering crowds and royal-watchers around the world from the palace balcony. An afternoon luncheon followed, and then a second reception (with another Alexander McQueen gown) later that evening.
The next day, William and Kate, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, left Buckingham Palace by helicopter for a private weekend in an undisclosed location. The honeymoon would come a bit later.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
May 21, 2011
Prince William and Kate return from a secluded honeymoon in the Seychelles.
The palace released a statement on May 23, saying the royal couple "thoroughly enjoyed their time together, and they are grateful to the Seychelles government for their assistance in making the honeymoon such a memorable and special 10 days."
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
May 24, 2011
Fresh from their honeymoon, Prince William and Kate took on their first royal duties as newlyweds: meeting with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. The royal couple met the president and first lady at Buckingham Palace as part of the Obamas' two-day state visit to Britain at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The dress Kate wore during the gathering - a cap-sleeved, caramel-colored frock by British retailer Reiss that retailed for $340, sold out online hours after photos hit the Internet - and it wouldn't be the last time she sparked a shopping frenzy.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
June 9, 2011
For their first official engagement as husband and wife, Prince William and Kate stepped out at a charity gala in London for Absolute Return for Kids, also known as ARK.
The duchess wore a dusty pink, embellished Jenny Packham gown, accessorized with matching suede shoes by L.K. Bennett and understated drop earrings.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
June 11-13, 2011
The royal newlyweds return to the Buckingham Palace balcony - the same spot where they kissed for the crowds on their wedding day - to participate in the Trooping the Colour ceremony, the official celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's birthday.
The busy weekend also found William and Kate heading to Windsor, England, to celebrate Prince Philip's 90th birthday with other members of the royal family.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
June 25, 2011
With William at her side, Kate, dressed in a navy double-breasted coat by Alexander McQueen with a matching fascinator and gold shamrock pin on her lapel, took on her first military role.
The couple honored serviceman and women on Britain's third Armed Forces Day, presenting operational medals to the Irish Guards, including Elizabeth Crosses to the families of three servicemen who were killed during a six-month Afghanistan tour.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
June 30-July 7, 2011
Prince William and Kate embarked on a nine-day tour of Canada, their first official overseas trip.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge received a rousing welcome at every stop. Trip highlights included the couple celebrating Canada Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, making lobster souffle in Montreal, racing in dragon boats on Prince Edward Island, canoeing in the Northwest Territories and donning cowboy hats at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
July 8-10, 2011
The royal couple departed Canada following their nine-day tour, and traveled to California for a three-day visit in the Los Angeles area. It was Kate's first visit to the United States.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's stay included meeting with British and American entrepreneurs, a polo match in Santa Barbara, a visit to an inner-city school in downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row area and job fair for military veterans, but the highlight was the star-studded, black tie BAFTA Brits to Watch gala at the Belasco Theater. For that event, Kate donned a stunning lavender gown by Alexander McQueen, while William looked dapper in a double-breasted tuxedo.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
July 30, 2011
Three months after their own nuptials, Prince William and Kate are guests at another royal wedding - that of William's cousin, Zara Phillips, and rugby player Mike Tindall in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
Oct. 5, 2011
The former Kate Middleton takes on her first charity role as a royal. She's officially named a patron of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry. Her position was approved at a board of trustees meeting on Sept. 29.
The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry is used to raise funds for causes that the princes (and now, Kate) support.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
Oct. 27, 2011
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, takes on her first solo royal engagement, filling in for her father-in-law at a charity event in London. She represented Prince Charles at a dinner at Clarence House thanking supporters of the charity In Kind Direct.
A St. James's Palace spokesman told the Telegraph: "The Duchess of Cambridge was delighted to be able to step in for her father-in-law, The Prince of Wales, to celebrate the work of In Kind Direct at the dinner."
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
Nov. 14, 2011
Dressed in all black, down to her hat, the Duchess of Cambridge took part in her first Remembrance Day as a member of the monarchy.
The former Kate Middleton watched the Sunday morning ceremony, which honors Britain's fallen soldiers, from a balcony alongside Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Earlier that month, it was announced that Prince William and Kate had chosen a permanent home. The royal couple will move into Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, the former residence of Princess Margaret, in mid-to-late 2013.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
Dec. 1, 2012
The Duchess of Cambridge is named an official ambassador for Britain's Olympic and Paralympic teams, alongside Prince William and Prince Harry. The trio joined a group of 27 British Olympians who were unveiled as ambassadors earlier that year.
The palace said William, Harry and Kate will use their roles to "promote the importance of participation in Olympic and Paralympic sport and encourage greater awareness of the Olympic and Paralympic values," along with encouraging the British public to rally behind the athletes competing from Britain and Northern Ireland.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
Dec. 25, 2012
Kate's first Christmas as a member of the royal family was spent at Queen Elizabeth II's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, as per tradition. But, before the holiday, the Duchess of Cambridge and her husband also kept the less fortunate in mind, paying a visit on Dec. 21 to the London charity Centrepoint, which helps homeless youth.
Then, it was on to the festivities at Sandringham, which included many members of the royal family. Most of the celebrations - which reportedly included exchanging gifts at a black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve, a Christmas Day luncheon and Boxing Day pheasant shoot - were private, but the public got a glimpse of Kate, wearing a berry-colored coat and matching hat, as she walked with other royals to a traditional Christmas Day church service.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
Jan. 9, 2012
On Jan. 9, Kate reached another milestone - her 30th birthday. On the eve of her birthday, she and Prince William stepped out for the London premiere of the film "War Horse." For the event, Kate wore a black, lace dress by Alice Temperley that would become one of the fashion highlights of her first royal year. As for her birthday itself, palace officials said the celebration would be a "low-key and private" affair.
The Duchess of Cambridge marked a second milestone in January, when it was announced she had taken on four new charity patronages. She accepted honorary positions as patron of Actions on Addiction, royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices, royal patron of The Art Room and patron of the National Portrait Gallery in London. She also became a volunteer for the Scout Association.
The New Year also brought a new member of Prince William and Kate's family - a puppy. The duchess later revealed that the pup, a male cocker spaniel, is named Lupo.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
Feb. 8, 2012
While Prince William was deployed to the Falkland Islands, Kate got the chance to step out on her own.
The Duchess of Cambridge carried out her first solo public engagement on Feb. 8, attending a special exhibit at London's National Portrait Gallery, one of the charities she has chosen to support. That appearance was followed by stops in Liverpool on Valentine's Day and Oxford on Feb. 21, also to see the work of her charities. The coats she wore on both visits quickly sold out online.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
March 1, 2012
Kate kicked off the month of March with not one, but two public appearances with her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
On March 1, the Duchess of Cambridge joined the monarch and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, for a visit to the London luxury department store Fortnum & Mason, where they met military personnel and staff, viewed the store's product ranges for the queen's Diamond Jubilee and unveiled a plaque for the regeneration of Piccadilly.
She joined the queen again, along with Prince Philip, on March 8 for the start of the monarch's Diamond Jubilee tour of the U.K., traveling via train to the English city of Leicester. While there, she took in a student fashion show with the queen and was presented six shoe designs created by students, from which she chose her favorite. The winning design will reportedly be produced for Kate to wear.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
March 17, 2012
Appropriately dressed in green, the Duchess of Cambridge spent her St. Patrick's Day taking on another royal first - her first solo military event. Kate traveled to Adlershot, England, to hand out shamrocks to officers of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. She even pinned a sprig of greens to the collar of the battalion's regimental mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Conmael.
Earlier that week, in her role as Olympic ambassador, she paid a visit to Britain's women's Olympic field hockey team during their training. Kate, who captained the field hockey team at Marlborough College and also played at the University of St. Andrews, joined in for some practice moves. That same day, she swapped her jeans and sneakers for a gray dress and heels to join her in-laws, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, for a stop at the Dulwich Gallery in London to see the work being carried out by The Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
March 19, 2012
Eleven months into her first royal year, Kate took another big step: Delivering her first speech as the Duchess of Cambridge. She gave a brief but confident address to staff and volunteers at East Anglia's Children's Hospice in the English port town of Ipswich.
After thanking the crowd for accepting her as a patron and welcoming her, she told them that the work they do is inspirational and that she is proud to be associated with it. Kate also drew laughs when she said she wished her husband - who was still deployed to the Falkland Islands - could have been there.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
April 25, 2012
Just days before their first wedding anniversary, Prince William and Kate braved the rain for a movie date - walking the red carpet in London for the premiere of the Disney documentary "African Cats."
This was the first time the couple appeared in public since William returned from his military deployment to the Falkland Islands on March 21.
Timeline: Kate's first year as a royal
April 29, 2012
On Sunday, April 29, 2012, Prince William and Kate will celebrate their first year as a married couple. The royals reportedly plan to mark the milestone quietly - according to Hello! magazine, a St. James' Palace spokesman confirmed they will spend the weekend privately, away from the spotlight.