Kate Middleton Quits Job to Prepare for Royal Life

NEW YORK (CBS) Kate Middleton has quit her job in order to prepare for her new life as a royal.

The 29-year-old bride-to-be worked as a project manager for her parents' party supply business, Party Pieces.

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A royal aide told Britain's Daily Mail that Middleton left the position to "concentrate full-time on preparing to become a member of the royal family."

Royal aides confirmed to the paper that she stepped down on Friday. One said, "She has handed over her work to colleagues and is now preparing for her future life."

According to the report, Middleton was in charge of marketing Party Pieces, and was responsible for projects such as putting together the Christmas catalogue, arranging photo shoots and attending trade fairs. Before that, she worked as an accessories buyer for British fashion chain Jigsaw from 2006 to 2007.

A friend of the future princess told Hello! magazine that those skills will serve her as she plans her wedding with "gusto and energy."

"Catherine is a naturally creative individual and has spent her professional life in the creative industries having worked at Jigsaw, then as a Web site designer, photographer, marketer and events organizer," the friend said. "Skills she has built up in her working life translate naturally to organizing a wedding."

It's unclear whether Middleton will return to work after the April 29 wedding, though it's expected, according to the Daily Mail, that she will switch to an official role as a charity patron.