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Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have had quite the journey as a royal couple. The pair met back in 2001 when they were students at St. Andrew’s University. Though they were just friends at first, after seeing Kate walk in a fashion show, the prince found himself smitten.

From there, the pair dated for the next nine years before eventually getting engaged in November of 2010. However, their romance was not without its ups and downs. The pair went their separate ways twice. Once early on in their relationship when the duchess was unsure of the prince’s commitment and then in 2007 when distance began taking a toll on them.

Thankfully Prince William and Kate Middleton made their way back to one another. Now, after nearly a decade of marriage and three children together, we are reflecting on some epic throwback photos of the duo when they celebrated their first royal engagement as a married couple.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are reshaping royal life

Following Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex resignations from their royal roles, the Cambridges have become the faces of the royal family. As a result, the pair are rethinking some things. During their time as senior royals, the Sussexes spoke about the horrific nature of tabloid culture and the damaging “stiff upper lip” policy.

Now, Prince William and Kate are experiencing the same thing for themselves. Tatler Magazine recently published a scathing expose on the duchess titled, “Catherine the Great.” In the article, they painted a horrible picture of Kate.  “[Journalist Anna Pasternak] manages to slag off [harshly criticize] her mother, makes William look weak and makes Kate look so dull,” royal expert Ingrid Seward told Newsweek. 

Now, in a shocking move, the Cambridges are taking legal action against Tatler. Also, Prince William is beginning to question the stiff upper lip policy that the royals have held for so long.

This is why Kate Middleton and Prince William waited so long to get married

It has been a long journey to this point for the Cambridges even as they decide what royal life means for them moving into the future. In fact, the pair dated so long without getting engaged that the press dubbed Kate, “Waity Katy.”

“I know that it was the Christmas of 2009 when [Kate’s mother] Carole was getting quite concerned,” royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told Vanity Fair. “Kate was nearing 30, there was still no ring on her finger.”

It turns out that the pair made a bet in 2007 to get married when they were ready. Prince Willam later said that they dated for so long, in case the duchess decided that royal life wasn’t something that she truly wanted.

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Throwback photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first public engagement look so glamourous

Thankfully the pair got their happily ever after. The Cambridges wed on April 29, 2011. They took some time away from the spotlight and then on June 9, 2011, they appeared their first public engagement as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The glamour photos show a young couple all dressed up for the Absolute Return for Kids gala dinner in London. The pair arrived to the event in a Jaguar with the duke dressed in a tux and the duchess wearing a Jenny Packham dress, LK Bennett sandals, and a Prada clutch bag.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Liz Hurley, Jemima Khan, and Colin Firth were also in attendance. The gala dinner included Kobe beef and a trio of desserts. Prince William spoke at the gala saying, “My brother, Catherine and I hope to use our philanthropy as a long-term catalyst for meaningful change.” That year, the gala raised  £14 million.

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