How Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Romance Almost Went Wrong

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Prince William knew there was something “very special” about Kate Middleton when he first met her.

In November 2010, Prince William told journalist Tom Bradby that he had given his future wife his mother, Princess Diana’s, sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

And yet, before he made it known that she was the One, Kate almost became the one who got away.

Oh my god, did you hear what William said about them briefly splitting up way back when? It was so sweet! He explained it all in the engagement interview, and honestly, it just made me love him even more. He said they were both so young, still at uni, and basically figuring out who they were as people. They were just…growing, you know? He said they needed a little space to find themselves, and it all worked out perfectly in the end! It was just the cutest explanation ever, seriously. They were meant to be!

Kate admitted she was upset by it initially, but looking back, she believes it helped her grow as a person. She discovered new things about herself and learned that it’s easy to lose yourself in a relationship when you’re young. Ultimately, she appreciated the experience as a time for personal growth and self-discovery.

“Although,” she added, “I didn’t think it at the time.”

Kate also handled the nickname “Waity Katy,” given to her by British tabloids, with grace. William had proposed to her while they were on vacation in Kenya.

He’d been thinking about it for some time, but like anyone, he needed the right push to actually do it. He found that motivation while in Africa, and the timing felt perfect. It was a truly beautiful experience.

Kate admitted she suspected William might propose, but she was completely surprised when he actually did.

You often hear about proposals that don’t go as planned,” William said. “Luckily, mine went perfectly, and I was thrilled when she accepted.

As well he should’ve been, considering how close their fairy tale came to fracturing.

It’s easy to forget how things were at the beginning, now that Prince William and Kate Middleton have been married for 15 years and are parents to Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (8). They’ve faced significant challenges as a family, including Kate’s cancer diagnosis in 2024, which William described as the most difficult year of his life.

I was really struck by something Eugene Levy said on his Apple TV+ show, The Reluctant Traveler. He explained that he sees life as a series of tests, and that it’s actually overcoming those challenges that truly shapes us into the people we become. It really resonated with me!

Once, while Kate was a student at the University of St Andrews, she met Prince William, then 19, at a student fashion show. She famously walked the runway in a striking sheer black dress that caught his attention.

William’s storied reaction, whispered to his best friend Fergus Boyd, was, “Kate’s hot!”

Although he hadn’t been in any major relationships, rumors often connected him to different people, as the media frequently guessed about possible future romances for the king.

In a brief interview marking his 18th birthday in June 2000, William stated he prefers to keep his personal life out of the public eye.

People often ask me how I maintain any semblance of a private life with everything going on, and honestly, it’s something I navigate in my own way. I’ve learned that trying to explain how I do it actually defeats the purpose – the more I talk about it, the less private it becomes!

Kate and William knew of each other before they actually met, and while some stories suggest Kate’s mother hoped they would, they first became friends as students during their first year at the University of St Andrews.

They quickly became close friends, sharing a love for both sports and art. They enjoyed swimming in the mornings and taking walks around town, and Kate was always there to listen and support William when he found art history challenging and ultimately decided to study geography instead.

William and she stayed friends, and he began dating Carly Massy-Birch, a creative writing student he’d met in drama club.

It was at that fashion show in March 2002 that William began to see Kate in a romantic light.

According to a friend, William was immediately attracted to Kate. In royal biographer Katie Nicholl’s 2011 book, The Making of a Royal Romance, the friend recalled that William even told Kate she was stunning, causing her to blush.

According to a friend, Kate remained calm and composed. She didn’t want to seem overly eager or let Will think things were happening too quickly.

I always knew she had a thing for Rupert Finch, a fourth-year student she was seeing before everything changed. Then William just appeared at the after-party and, well, things moved pretty quickly with him.

Kate didn’t end things with Rupert right away, but by the time she and William had finished their first year at St Andrews University, it was clear they were developing feelings for each other. During their second year, they took their relationship a step further and decided to share a house with a few other friends.

And yet William declared himself single during an interview for his 21st birthday in June 2003.

I only ask a girl out if I’m interested and feel like she likes me too, which doesn’t happen often. But I also worry about making things awkward. Not everyone understands what it’s like to be with someone like me, and a relationship would likely attract a lot of unwanted attention.

In September 2003, as Kate and William started their third year at St Andrews University, they became more open about their relationship. They moved into a four-bedroom cottage at Balgrove House with just one roommate (besides their security team)—their friend Oliver Baker, who remains a close friend and is now a godfather to Prince George.

The secret was out in the spring of 2004 when photos surfaced of Will with his arm around Kate while they were skiing in Klosters, Switzerland – a popular destination for the royal family. The Sun newspaper quickly published the story, revealing that William had a girlfriend.

After that incident, the media focused heavily on Kate. She handled the attention with grace, and her family’s home in Bucklebury provided a comfortable weekend escape for her and William.

In the summer of 2004, William organized a sailing trip to the Greek islands with his friend Guy Pelly – who later became Louis’ godfather – and didn’t invite Kate along.

Then year four began, and Kate was invited to Charles’ 56th birthday party in November 2004.

Kate and William vacationed in Klosters again in March 2005. However, Kate discovered that William had spent time with Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, a friend of one of his polo contacts, during the summer. She then told him to stop contacting Isabella.

However, Kate and William had reconciled by May.

Even though they graduated together on June 23, 2005, Kate still wasn’t sure if William was serious about a future with her.

In April 2005, just before his father married Camilla (now Queen Camilla), Prince William told a reporter, “I’m only 22!” He was responding to a question about whether he was thinking about marriage. He explained he felt too young to marry and didn’t want to consider it until he was at least 28 or 30.

That summer, they visited Kenya and stayed in a luxurious cottage at the Masai Lodge in Nairobi, costing $1,500 per night.

Kate spent Boxing Day joining the royal family for their traditional shoot at Sandringham, the same place where she and William celebrated New Year’s in 2006. Afterwards, they enjoyed a private ski trip to Klosters, and this time, photographers managed to capture a picture of them kissing.

And so commenced royal engagement watch.

As William prepared for training as a helicopter pilot at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Kate relocated to a London flat and began working as an accessories buyer for the fashion retailer Jigsaw.

In March 2006, Prince William and Kate spent spring break on the island of Mustique, attracting media attention – ABC News reported on the “Prince William, Bikini-Clad Girlfriend Caused a Stir.” Later that year, in December, Kate and her parents had prime seats at William’s graduation ceremony at Sandhurst. Interestingly, just like Queen Elizabeth II, Kate chose to wear a red coat to the event.

It seemed like Charles and Kate were getting very close to announcing their engagement. Charles’ team started handling Kate’s media inquiries, and William’s security detail began protecting her whenever they were together.

Let me tell you, being invited to Christmas lunch at Sandringham in December 2006 was a huge deal! It wasn’t just an invitation, it was a clear sign that things were getting serious – a real step up for someone dating a royal!

William unexpectedly canceled his New Year’s plans with Kate’s family in Scotland. Shortly after, on January 8, 2007—the day before Kate turned twenty-five—he began his military service with the Blues and Royals in Dorset.

Around that time, an article in The Spectator declared Kate “THE NEXT PEOPLE’S PRINCESS,” and after that, she was constantly pursued by the paparazzi.

The palace stated that, like anyone else, Kate Middleton deserves to live her life without constant unwanted attention. They added that the current level of intrusion is causing significant distress for everyone involved.

After four years of dating, people were expecting them to get engaged.

Sometime between March 31st and April 3rd, 2007 – after a double date with friends Hugh and Rose van Cutsem, but before Kate’s trip to Ireland – William ended their relationship.

According to Robert Jobson’s 2024 biography of Princess Catherine, the couple had a difficult 30-minute conversation where they realized they had very different perspectives. Catherine was deeply hurt, especially because the breakup happened over the phone, making it feel like a double betrayal.

Just like she’d firmly rejected his unexpected attempt to kiss her after the school fashion show in 2002, she wouldn’t allow anyone – not even Prince William or the British public – to believe she was heartbroken over him.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Kate started training for this amazing rowing challenge – an all-girls team, how empowering is that?! Emma Sayle, the team leader, actually said in Marcia Moody’s biography of Kate – the one from 2018, you HAVE to read it – that Kate always prioritized William, but this was her chance to finally do something just for HERSELF. It’s just… so inspiring to see her take that step!

Pippa Middleton joined her sister in London, and the two led a busy social life. Kate always looked flawless in photos and even graced the cover of Hello! magazine.

One evening, she was seen being walked home from a party by Willem Marx, a former boyfriend from her time at Marlborough school.

Even though he’d had some fun nights out since their split, William realized he regretted breaking up with Kate. In June 2007, he invited her to a costume party at his army base.

He was again pressed into action by an impressive outfit, with Kate dressing as a naughty nurse.

I remember being absolutely thrilled when Nicholl reported in the Mail on Sunday on June 24th, 2007, that Kate and William were officially a couple again. It was such exciting news!

Even though he seemed hesitant when he said it, William accurately predicted how old he would be when he got married. He was 28 years old when he and Kate got married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

I’ve always believed that when Kate married William, she didn’t just become a princess – she embraced the role of future queen. And honestly, everyone agrees: William couldn’t have found a more perfect partner to navigate this extraordinary life with him.

See the royal couple’s best moments through the years:

Occasionally, a date night requires very formal attire – like the black-tie event held at Buckingham Palace on December 5, 2023, for members of the Diplomatic Corps.

During a visit to the United States on November 30, 2022, Kate and William watched a Boston Celtics game from seats near the court.

Oh my gosh, even after everything, William still manages to make Kate smile! I swear, I think he might have even started serenading her on the way to the ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service at Westminster Abbey back in 2021 – he’s just that sweet, you know? It’s adorable!

In May 2019, Queen Elizabeth II visited the Chelsea Flower Show with her grandson and his wife, who had been married for a decade at the time.

The couple, who have been together for many years, celebrated with a toast and a beer after enjoying the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hounslow last March.

While visiting Northern Ireland in February, the duo got their hands dirty during a soccer match.

Okay, so I was just reading about the Duchess of Cambridge’s recent trip to Northern Ireland, and it was so charming! She actually pulled herself a pint of Guinness first, which I thought was a lovely touch, and then Prince William enjoyed a glass. It felt like a really relaxed and authentic moment – a perfect way to connect with the local culture, don’t you think?

In July 2018, while celebrating the Royal Air Force’s centenary, Prince William was visibly captivated by Kate.

On April 23, 2018, Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, had their third child, Prince Louis. The couple looked radiant as they posed for photos with their new baby.

During a 2018 winter visit to Norway, the royal couple looked cozy and charming together.

I was so thrilled to see those two athletes at Wimbledon in 2017! They were really getting into the matches and looked like they were having an amazing time. It was great to witness their enthusiasm!

During a 2016 visit to Bhutan, Prince William was surprised and delighted to watch his wife try her hand at archery.

Ugh, could these two be any cuter?!

As a lifestyle expert, I remember so well when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proudly presented their beautiful baby daughter, Princess Charlotte, to the world! It was May 2015, and they waved to all the excited fans gathered outside the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital – such a sweet moment after welcoming their second child.

During their royal tour, the Cambridge family – consisting of three members – thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Australia.

It’s clear this couple always makes time for fun outdoor adventures, even with their royal responsibilities.

On July 22, 2013, the happy new parents smiled for the photographers outside St. Mary’s Hospital, proudly introducing their first child, Prince George, to the world.

In 2013, the couple toured the Emirates Arena in Scotland, which was set to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and appeared very comfortable and connected as they explored the venue.

In March 2013, Princess Kate leaned on her husband for comfort while attending the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.

I spotted a lovely couple waving to the crowd while attending the beautiful wedding of Mark Tomlinson and Laura Bechtolsheimer in Switzerland. It was such a picturesque event!

Even Prince William and Kate Middleton feel anxious while watching the Olympics, but thankfully they have each other for support.

During the 2012 London Paralympic Games, the royal couple enjoyed watching the cycling competitions at the Velodrome and were seen sharing a laugh.

The couple made a grand entrance at Honiara International Airport, arriving by private boat. This was just the beginning of their 2012 visit, which included exploring the beautiful Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands.

As a lifestyle expert, I always say shared experiences really strengthen bonds, and nothing brings people together like a meal! I remember when Prince William and Kate – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – were touring Southeast Asia back in the fall of 2012, they attended a beautiful official dinner hosted by Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah of Kedah. It was a lovely example of how connecting over food can be a significant part of any relationship, even for royalty!

The royal couple looked glamorous as they arrived together at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the British Olympic Team in 2012.

In July 2011, Kate kissed Prince William after his team won a match at a charity event supporting his and Prince Harry’s foundation.

After their wedding on April 29, 2011, the couple shared a magical kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

The wedding was a beautiful and joyful occasion, and the happy couple beamed with delight as they left the church together.

In October 2010, Prince William was seen gazing affectionately at his wife while attending the wedding of Harry Meade and Rosie Bradford. It was a sweet moment!

In June 2005, the royal couple happily graduated from the University of St. Andrews.

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2026-04-29 15:21