Prince William and Kate Middleton are a modern fairytale. Love at first sight, the pair has been married since 2011 and are now the proud parents of three children. But how did they meet?
Prince William, the elder son of King Charles III and his first wife Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, met his future bride at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where they both studied from 2001-2005.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and find out how the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met, fell in love, and eventually tied the knot.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Relationship Timeline
It’s been nearly 10 years since the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but their love story still captivates audiences worldwide.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have become one of the most beloved royal couples in recent history, so let’s look back at how they first met.
2001: William and Kate First Meet at The University of St. Andrews
The royal highness, Prince William( William Arthur Philip Louis), and Kate Middleton met at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where they were both enrolled for their undergraduate degrees.
They first laid eyes on each other during a charity fashion show in the university’s courtyard in 2001, but that was not the beginning of their story…
Maybe it was fate. At St. Andrews University in Scotland, Kate and William moved into St. Salvator’s Hall in 2001.
A young Kate was settling into her dorm while William and his father, King Charles III, held press interviews and posed for pictures.
It would not be long before a friendship would blossom. They lived in the same halls, shared breakfast, and were both studying Art History.
“When I first met Kate, I knew there was something very special about her,” William recalled almost a decade later. “I knew there was possibly something that I wanted to explore there.” However, sparks did not fly yet, and the pair’s relationship remained strictly platonic for the first semester.
2002: Friendship Forms
The following year, William and Kate became friends. They shared a flat with two other friends and even went on holiday together.
Despite their growing bond, William had to keep his budding relationship under wraps. The press was already speculating about a potential romance between the two, and William wanted to protect Kate from additional media attention.
By 2003, their friendship had evolved into something more. The pair finally decided to make it official and began quietly dating in private.
Things began to change when William invited Kate to join him on a ski trip with his friends in 2002. That’s when their relationship began to deepen; by 2004, they were officially an item.
2003: William and Kate Go Public With Their Relationship
In April 2003, their relationship was made public when they were spotted walking together on the campus of St. Andrews University holding hands. The press attention surrounding the couple’s budding romance quickly grew, and it didn’t take long for the world to learn.
The couple made their first public appearance together in 2005 at a charity event, and it was not long before rumors of an engagement started to circulate.
In 2006, William and Kate were spotted kissing in public for the first time, confirming what many already knew: that they were madly in love.
While there’s no bona fide restriction on PDA, royal family members tend to refrain while on official business for Her Majesty.
Our favorite royal pair is not the first to follow this unspoken rule. Queen Elizabeth II rarely holds hands with her husband, Prince Philip, in public, for the same reason. Still, that doesn’t mean Prince William and Kate don’t like to let loose every once in a while.
In 2007, Kate was spotted with William and his brother Prince Harry at some “sports event.” This was the first public appearance of all three together and was seen as a sign that William and Kate’s relationship had become more serious.
2010 – Engagement Announcement
Prince William proposed to Kate on October 20th, 2010, in Kenya, Africa, with his mother’s famous sapphire engagement ring.
On November 16th, 2010, the couple announced their engagement with an official statement from Clarence House: “The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton.”
William and Kate married on April 29th, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London. It was attended by 1,900 guests, including world leaders like Barack Obama, members of royal families worldwide, and celebrities like David Beckham and Elton John. The estimated global audience was 2 billion people!
The Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton
The wedding day of Prince William and Kate Middleton was held at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29th, 2011. The Archbishop of Canterbury presided over the ceremony attended by 1,900 guests, including world leaders, the royal family, and celebrities.
The wedding was broadcast live worldwide, and the estimated global audience was 2 billion people!
The couple exchanged their vows, exchanged rings, and shared a romantic kiss outside the Abbey.
The couple had a beautiful horse-drawn carriage procession around London afterward before having a private reception at Buckingham Palace.
Prince William And Kate’s Children
William and Kate are happily married with three adorable children:
- The couple’s first child, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, was born on July 22nd, 2013.
- Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana followed on May 2nd, 2015.
- In April 2018, the couple welcomed their youngest son, Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have had a fairytale romance that has captivated the hearts of millions worldwide. Their enduring love and commitment to each other inspire couples everywhere.
The couple is currently living in their home, Kensington Palace in Norfolk, England, on their country estate Anmer Hall with their three children, where they can enjoy a more private life out of public view.
They continue to support various charities and causes and are often seen visiting hospitals, schools, and other organizations to lend their support.
Despite their royal titles, William and Kate remain humble and grounded in their values as a family. They never forget where they come from or whom they serve.
For that reason alone, we can all be thankful for this couple’s wonderful example for the world.
Conclusion
Amazingly, such an iconic royal couple began as two university students who crossed paths in a geography class!
What started as an unlikely friendship quickly blossomed into something much more meaningful over time—and it is clear that these two have found true love with each other.
We can’t help but be enchanted by this real-life fairytale romance! To this day, people worldwide still eagerly await news about this beloved couple—especially any updates on their growing family!
