Kate Middleton’s Cousin Covers Playboy

I think a lot of people wouldn’t mind seeing Kate Middleton naked, whether it is because they genuinely find her attractive, or if it is the lure of seeing someone in such a good-girl position doing something so frowned upon. Although there will likely never be nude photos of Middleton “leaked to the press,” the world can satisfy some of that curiosity by taking a gander at her gorgeous cousin in the September issue of Playboy magazine.

Kate’s cuz, 22-year-old Katrina Darling, wasn’t even aware of her link to the newest British princess, making her royalty-themed burlesque show all the more ironic. While working as a burlesque dancer in New York last year, Katrina’s routine was titled “God Save the Queen” and involved her wearing gold elbow-length gloves, a mini-crown, and a red sequin dress with gold tassels, which hid crown-shaped pasties underneath.

Katrina was informed for the first time of her relation to the princess last year, soon after Kate’s engagement to Prince William, when a London reporter called her.

“It was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard,” she told Playboy. “It’s not every day something like that happens.”

Katrina also insisted at the time that she wouldn’t mind it one bit if her cousin and her royal hubby came to watch her perform, although “if they don’t, it’s not the end of the world.”

Way to stay grounded, Katrina.

Katrina told the press last year that she preferred the New York scene to London because, “London sticks more to the traditional burlesque side of things, whereas New York really pushes the envelope.”

Fully utilizing the power of her connection, Katrina gained recognition with the right people (in her work, at least) and landed herself a Playboy cover shot and inside spread, which includes only one topless shot and no nudes.

I have to admit, after being told of her relation to Kate, I can totally see it in Katrina’s cover shot. Don’t hate me for saying this, but she is a tad more attractive than Kate.

To be fair, Katrinia is a second cousin once removed, so it’s not all that crazy that she wouldn’t know about her distant relative.  The two women have never met and are related through Katrina’s grandmother, Jane Darling, who is the sister of Kate’s great-grandfather, Thomas Harrison.

If your curiosity has been piqued (and you’re probably lying if you claim it hasn’t), Katrina’s Playboy edition will be available in stores August 17.