Prince William made a pact with Kate Middleton to get married in 2007. However, it took another three years for the promise to be fulfilled. While the happy couple eventually made it down the aisle and built a beautiful family with their three children, their relationship has not been without its ups and downs.
Kate Middleton met Prince William in 2001 at St Andrews University in Scotland while they were both students there. The couple started dating and graduated together in 2005.
She then got a job at Jigsaw as an accessories buyer while Prince William joined the military. Despite everyone anticipating that their courtship would end in a royal wedding, the couple surprisingly separated.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s love story began while they were students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Their friendship blossomed into romance, and by the mid-2000s, the couple was already attracting attention from the media and the public, who were eager to see if this royal romance would lead to marriage.
By 2007, William and Kate had been together for several years, and their relationship had gone through various stages, including a brief breakup. Despite the pressures of public scrutiny and the challenges that come with a royal relationship, the couple found their way back to each other. Privately, William and Kate made a quiet pact that year. They agreed that marriage was in their future, and they both envisioned a life together. However, William wanted to fulfill certain personal and professional commitments first. He was determined to complete his military training and establish himself in his career before proposing.
Kate Middleton and Prince William at the Eventing Cross Country Equestrian event in London, England on July 30, 2012 | Source: Getty Images
Kate Middleton at the AGM and Christmas party in London, England on December 19, 2016 | Source: Getty Images
Robert Lacey, royal author of the book “Battle of Brothers,” also covered the incident and claimed the couple broke up during that call. However, according to the book, the pair only separated for ten weeks.
It was alleged that Prince William struggled with having romantic relationships after that and was turned down by several women. This was so, because, reportedly, he missed his ex-girlfriend and her family. As a result, they finally reconciled.
Why the Name “Waity Katie”
At the beginning stages of their relationship, the press did not go easy on Kate and described her as a “commoner” because she came from a middle-class background. The negative press attention got so bad that at one point, the media nicknamed her “Waity Katie” because her boyfriend failed to propose for years.
Kate Middleton spotted out in London, England on January 9, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
It seemed the royal was taking his time to ensure that his girlfriend would be ready to become royalty. However, a source noted how hurtful and stressful it probably was for Kate to see the negative headlines about her.
Kate Middleton spotted out in London, England on January 9, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
Royal correspondent and author of “The Making of a Royal Romance,” Katie Nicholl, also noted that the media wasn’t the only party concerned about the couple not getting engaged. Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, allegedly started worrying about her daughter’s future during Christmas time in 2009.
Kate and Carole Middleton at the Festival of British Eventing in Stroud, England on August 6, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
Kate, understanding the responsibilities and pressures that came with being a part of the royal family, supported William’s decision to wait. They both agreed that they would not rush into marriage just to appease public expectations. Instead, they wanted to ensure their relationship was strong and that they were both ready for the responsibilities that would come with being a royal couple.
Although they had made this pact in 2007, it wasn’t until three years later, in October 2010, that Prince William officially proposed to Kate during a private trip to Kenya. William presented Kate with his late mother Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring, a symbol of his commitment and love. The engagement was announced publicly in November 2010, and the world celebrated the news.
Their wedding took place on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey, in a grand ceremony watched by millions around the globe. The wait had paid off, as the couple appeared more united and prepared for their roles in the royal family. Their quiet pact made in 2007 had finally been fulfilled, setting the stage for a strong partnership that would carry them through the challenges and joys of life in the public eye.
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