The Royal Family Never Thought Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Relationship Would Last, Biographer Says
Prince William and Kate Middleton have been married for over a decade. And by all accounts, the couple is still going strong. But when the two began their romance, some believed it wouldn’t last, including the royal family.
Prince William and Kate Middleton met in college
William and Kate met over 20 years ago while attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. They both lived in the same residence hall and began dating in 2002.
Their romance was all the buzz, as was their brief split in 2007. But after nearly eight years together, the couple made it official in 2010 with an engagement announcement.
“We had a little private time away together with some friends, and I just decided that it was the right time,” William revealed in a post-engagement interview with ABC. “We had been talking about marriage for a while, so it wasn’t a massively big surprise. I took her up somewhere nice in Kenya, and I proposed.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married in 2011 and have since welcomed three children — George, 8, Charlotte, 7, and Louis, 4. And on April 29, 2022, the couple celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary.
Prince William’s family didn’t think his relationship with Kate Middleton would last
Kate Middleton and Prince William were in their early 20s when they began dating. So, when their romance went public, many, including the royal family, didn’t expect it to last.
“Everything that happened in [William and Kate’s] relationship was quite strategic, quite thought through, after a period of time,” royal biographer Andrew Morton told OK! magazine (via the Mirror UK).
“In the beginning, nobody in the royal household expected for a second that the university romance with Catherine and William would continue for any time after they graduated, like most college romances which disintegrate under the intense scrutiny of jobs and geography.”
Their relationship is stronger than ever
With 11 years of marriage under their belt, Prince William and Kate Middleton have proven they still have a solid relationship. And according to royal reporter Katie Nicholl, the couple is now stronger than ever.
“They’ve been together nearly 20 years now, and they’re very tuned in to one another,” she told OK! magazine. “Their relationship is based on mutual respect. They know when to compromise, when to back down, and when to apologize.”
Nicholl also revealed that the key to their marital success is balance. “The Duchess doesn’t tend to lose her temper — she’s usually pretty composed and measured,” Nicholl added. “But William is famously quite hot-headed, so she knows when to give him space if he needs it.”
“Kate’s a strong woman,” she continued. “If she’s putting her foot down over something, which she does, William knows when to leave well alone and cave in. [He] also defers to Kate when it comes to ruling the roost and keeping the family in check. That comes very naturally to her.”
