In the new biography of Kate: 'Kate the Future Queen' authored by Katie Nicholl out this month from Weinstein Books, royal authority and Vanity Fair contributor Katie Nicholl summed up the Duchess of Cambridge's passion for photography and a desire to put up her solo exhibition.

She must have inherited the skills from her father Michael Middleton. From an amateur photographer Kate wanted to give her passion professional form she was allegedly encouraged to explore the idea of having a show of her work. But Kate ultimately dropped the idea, Nicholl's sources say, because she "didn't have the confidence to stage her own exhibition," causing her to desert the project. Instead started working for as the house photographer for Party Pieces.

As Kate's official biography states that "since completing her degree, The Duchess has worked for Party Pieces, a company owned and run by her parents. Alongside her work for the family business, The Duchess worked in London as a part-time buyer for the clothing company Jigsaw Junior."

Carole Middleton founded Party Pieces in 1987. You can find an interview with Carole for more details about the company. Probably Kate was working for the company right after she graduated St. Andrews, mid-2005.

After Kate complained through her lawyer In October 2005, of the harassment she was suffering from the paparazzi, The Sun, Times, Sunday Times and News of the World promised not to publish paparazzi photos of her, and a spokesman for Prince William said:"We are pleased that News International has agreed to stop using the paparazzi pictures. What Prince William wants more than anything is for the paparazzi to stop harassing her."

Kate was named by 'The Daily Telegraph 'as the "Most Promising Newcomer" in its 2006 list of style winners and losers. In late 2006, reportedly Kate had been hired by Jigsaw, a UK fashion firm. On 15 December 2006, Catherine attended her first event as an official royal guest at Prince William's Passing Out Parade at Sandhurst. Jigsaw's owner Belle Robinson said of Kate:

"I don't know Kate well. Some people asked us if we were happy for Kate and William to go and stay in our holiday house in Mustique with some friends. They're not allowed to pay for it but in return they would make a donation to the local hospital. And I said: 'Yeah, fine.' Through that, as a thank-you to us, Kate supported a couple of Jigsaw events we did. Then she rang me up one day and said: 'Could I come and talk to you about work?' She genuinely wanted a job but she needed an element of flexibility to continue the relationship with a very high-profile man and a life that she can't dictate. She's going to be dictated to when she's needed and not needed."

Belle and Kate worked out a job in accessories together. She added further:

"And I have to say I was so impressed by her. There were days when there were TV crews at the end of the drive. We'd say: 'Listen, do you want to go out the back way?' And she'd say: 'To be honest, they're going to hound us until they've got the picture. So why don't I just go, get the picture done, and then they'll leave us alone.' I thought she was very mature for a 26-year-old, and I think she's been quite good at neither courting the press nor sticking two fingers in the air at them. I don't think I would have been so polite. She sat in the kitchen at lunchtime and chatted with everyone from the van drivers to the accounts girls. She wasn't precious. A lot of people have distorted it to say we're friends with her parents but I've only met them four times."

The oft photographed Kate had taken an opportunity to hone her skills behind the camera lens on her official tour of south-east Asia and the south Pacific in 2012. Kate skilfully captured rainforest scenes during her visit with Prince William to the research station at Danum valley in Malaysian Borneo. Her collection of photographs has been published on theroyal couple's website.

Kate chose to shoot in black and white for many of the scenes as she attempted to show vast canopies of the Borneo (one of the oldest in the world rainforest).

St James's Palace would not give the details of the camera used by Kate, but did say it was a "pocket-sized digital camera" and not a DSLR.

Legendary Mirror photographer Kent Gavin, Royal photographer of the decade, gives his verdict on Kate's photography skills.

"It's wonderful that Kate has been so active with her photography and been able to capture so much incredible scenery on her tour. I feel sure that as time goes by she will improve the technical quality of her pictures, as she's sure to be visiting many more incredible places in her life as a royal.

I can recall that the Duke of York took up photography for a while so maybe he could give her a few tips. Kate definitely has potential. She has an eye for what makes for a good picture but now needs to concentrate on the technical side, such as the focus and exposures."

Watch the slideshow above to view Kate Middleton's holiday photographs from the world's oldest rain-forest and more.....

Watch the video of Prince William and Kate Middleton in Malaysia trip below:

www.youtube.com/user/gaskete

You may also like to read more about the royal family:

Kate Middleton's Home Tops List Of Houses Most People Would Like To See [PHOTOS/VIDEOS] read here

Kate Middleton And Prince William setting up For Second Royal Baby? Kate Wants 'At Least 3' [PHOTOS/VIDEOS] read here

Kate Middleton First Kiss And More Scoops From The Biography "The Future Queen" [PHOTOS/VIDEOS] read here

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