Like any couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton have faced their fair share of ups and downs. One notable rough patch occurred in 2007 when the two reportedly ended their relationship for a time, with William’s actions said to have left Kate deeply upset. Despite the heartbreak, the pair eventually reconciled and decided to move forward together.
Now, 13 years after their stunning wedding at Westminster Abbey, William and Kate are proud parents of three children. Yet, as with any marriage, they’ve encountered difficulties. While many see the couple as the perfect future king and queen, a royal expert has suggested that their marriage has faced its own challenges. “It’s not as perfect as one might think,” the expert noted.
The couple exchanged vows on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London. However, just a few years before, in 2007, their relationship appeared to be over. Reports even surfaced suggesting that their breakup might be permanent.
When William and Kate parted ways in 2007, speculation about the reasons behind their split quickly spread.
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s chaotic romance
Some royal commentators have suggested that Prince William ended things with Kate because he felt their relationship had lost its “fun” element. On the other hand, Kate was reportedly left feeling “desperately upset,” as she had already envisioned their future together, including marriage.
Following the split, William was said to have frequented London nightclubs and dated multiple women.
Unsurprisingly, Kate was angry. Reports claimed that “harsh words” were exchanged, with Kate feeling “humiliated” by William’s actions and believing he was “cheapening her image.”
“It was the first such warning she had dished out over the course of their four-and-a-half-year relationship,” one report stated, as quoted by Express.
“Kate had had enough, and words were exchanged. Kate told William that he was making her look bad, one of her friends explained. She has coped for years with girls flinging themselves at her boyfriend, and for a while, she found it humorous and even flattering.”
At the same time, some believe that neither William nor Kate had full control over their breakup. Royal expert Christopher Anderson, author of William and Kate: A Royal Love Story, claims that William’s stepmother, now-Queen Camilla, may have significantly influenced the decision.
During an interview with The Daily Beast, Anderson shared his perspective, stating, “I was in London when the breakup [of William and Kate] occurred. I was shocked, completely stunned, everyone thought it was only a matter of time before William was going to ask Kate to marry him. And then people started telling me that Camilla was behind it,” Anderson said in 2016.
Kate Middleton realized “awful burden” before marrying William, expert says
Speculation about the events surrounding William and Kate’s relationship in 2007 occasionally resurfaces. Last year, Judy Wade, a former royal correspondent for Hello! Magazine, shared a fresh perspective on what might have occurred.
Wade suggested that Kate began to understand the significant lifestyle shift that becoming a senior member of the Royal Family would demand.
“She might have realized the awful burden she would have taken on. It’s a life sentence marrying a royal,” Wade explained.
At the time, William was serving with the Household Cavalry in Dorset, while Kate resided in London, leading to periods of separation. During their engagement interview, William and Kate candidly discussed their brief breakup in 2007.
“We did split up for a bit,” William acknowledged. “But that was just, we were both very young, it was at university, we were both finding ourselves and such, and being different characters and such.”
Reflecting on the experience, Kate shared, “I think I, at the time, wasn’t very happy about it, but actually, it made me a stronger person. You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn’t realized. Or I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you’re younger. I really valued that time for me as well although I didn’t think it at the time, looking back on it.”
Today, Prince William and Princess Kate are often seen as emblematic of a modern monarchy. While King Charles has been credited with initiating modernization efforts—such as reducing the number of working royals—the Prince and Princess of Wales represent a new generation leading this change.
Reason behind Prince William and Kate Middleton ‘strong spark’
Kate is known for her ability to blend high-end designer fashion with more budget-friendly brands, which has helped her appear more relatable and, ultimately, more “common” and likable. This image has been beneficial for the monarchy, as it portrays a more progressive and, above all, human side to her.
William and Kate have also prioritized giving their children as “normal a childhood as possible.” By living at Adelaide Cottage, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are afforded the chance to grow up in a “normal” home—albeit a beautiful and spacious one.
Royal marriages are expected to endure the test of time, and William and Kate Middleton’s relationship is no exception. Like any couple, they face challenges, particularly when it comes to carving out quality time amid their busy schedules.
Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe has provided insight into how the couple keeps their relationship strong and the ways they enjoy their date nights together.
In an interview with OK! Magazine in 2021, Duncan Larcombe shared how Prince William and Kate maintain their bond and what their private moments together entail.
“Kate and William’s relationship blossomed when they were at St Andrew’s University, doing normal student-y things and just enjoying each other’s company,” Duncan revealed.
“Being a future king you might expect William to whisk Kate away to Paris for the day or an extravagant lunch at a top restaurant, but they’ve never been like that. They’re more of a fish and chips on the seafront type of couple, as we saw when they went back to St Andrew’s for an engagement recently.”
“Reminds them of their student days”
After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in the UK, William and Kate made it a point to enjoy some much-needed quality time together.
For instance, they frequently visit Kate’s parents, and during these visits, the Prince and Princess of Wales take full advantage of having George, Charlotte, and Louis’ grandparents close by.
According to Larcombe, Prince William and Kate Middleton prefer to keep things simple rather than indulging in extravagant outings. Instead, they often choose to spend their time at more “normal” spots.
“While the doting grandparents do the babysitting, William and Kate have been able to slip to the local pub for a night out, just the two of them,” the royal expert shared.
“I’m told that they did this to celebrate William’s birthday in June [in 2021]. Another favorite of the couple is for William to cook bolognese for Kate, and they sit on the sofa watching TV. It reminds them of their student days when they first met and their enduring romance began.”
Although William and Kate often present the image of a perfectly happy couple, things don’t always appear as flawless as they seem. A few months ago, the pair attended the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and his bride, Saudi Arabian royal Rajwa al-Seif, in Amman, Jordan.
During the event, wedding guests had the opportunity to greet the newlyweds and offer their well-wishes for their future. Cameras captured the moment when Prince William and Kate Middleton approached the bride to exchange greetings, as photographers documented the occasion from every angle.
William’s “rude” gesture to Kate
Prince William took the lead, and after a brief exchange, it was Kate’s turn to speak. However, after a short time, William seemed eager to move things along. As Kate chatted with Princess Rajwa, looking somewhat restless, William signaled to her, urging her to pick up the pace. Reports indicate that the future king even said, “chop, chop.”
While William likely just wanted Kate to speed up, his comments have sparked criticism from several royal observers regarding his treatment of his wife.
Body language expert Judy James spoke to the Express, expressing disapproval of William’s actions. She described the moment as one of William’s “finest moments when it comes to either body language or words.”
“While he has clearly moved on from the meet and greet with the bride and groom, Kate stands talking to the bride in an animated and very friendly way,” James pointed out. “She is not causing a ‘log jam’ [by] holding up the queue and the next guests are still talking to the groom, so there appears to be no logical reason for William to hurry his wife along, especially as she only adds a few seconds to the conversation.”
James also noted that the hand gestures William made were “bad enough.” She praised Kate for ignoring his behavior but added, “It has to be said that his behavior is overly dominant here, with his critical parent behavior putting her firmly in the implied role of a naughty child.”
In the expert’s view, the prince’s actions were “rude.”
According to royal expert Tom Quinn, William and Kate have been known to avoid presenting themselves as “the perfect couple that everyone else should try and emulate” within the royal family.
William and Kate’s marriage “not as perfect as it might seem”
In an interview with Fox, the author of Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family shared insights into the dynamics of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship, describing them as just like any other couple. He explained that, like all relationships, they have moments when they’re “really, really cross with each other,” and there are times when they don’t even speak to each other.
Prince William and Kate aim to be perceived as a regular couple, experiencing the same challenges as other parents, including balancing work, raising children, and managing daily stresses.
Although they may appear to have it all together, Tom Quinn points out that, like any healthy marriage, they have disagreements. However, they know how to compromise and navigate their life together. “From people I’ve spoken to, it’s not as placid. It’s not as perfect as it might seem,” Quinn told Express. “But William adopts the manners and the way of behaving of his grandmother, and Kate is very good at not complaining and adopting.”
The royal expert added that both William and Kate embody the resilience seen in the late Queen’s reign, rarely complaining and when they do, it’s always in a measured manner.
Quinn also revealed that while William and Kate do argue, their disputes are far less dramatic than some couples’. Instead of “throwing heavy vases at each other,” the royal couple tends to “throw cushions,” keeping their disagreements under control.
“It’s like a Jane Austen novel”
Further discussing their marriage in a March 2023 interview with Fox, Quinn emphasized that while the couple shares affectionate nicknames, their relationship isn’t always perfect. “Kate might seem to be a very calm person, and William also. But it’s not always true. Because the big stress for William and Kate is that they’re constantly surrounded by [palace aides]. It’s like a Jane Austen novel,” Quinn said.
He further described Kate as the more composed one, with William being the more impulsive. “William is the one who’s a bit hotheaded. We see an example of that in Harry’s book… But Kate is very level-headed. She’s the one who will pour oil on troubled waters and go, ‘Let’s not stir things up.’”
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