Prince William Made a Quiet Pact with Kate to Marry in 2007 Yet It Took 3 More Years to Fulfill the Promise

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.

A Brief Pause

In 2007, Prince William, who was 24 at the time, and Kate, who was 25, decided to pump the breaks on their relationship. Reports revealed that the former couple had paused their relationship during a phone call that the royal made to Kate while she was at work.

That same year, in April, one of Kate's former colleagues told The Mirror that they saw the future royal taking a call in the London office car park. The source said it was clear she was speaking to her boyfriend and wasn't receiving good news.

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.

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.

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.

It worried her that Kate was close to turning 30 but still didn't have a ring on her finger. Carole reportedly confronted Prince William about it, and the royal promised to do right by his long-term girlfriend.

Although Kate was probably hurt by the nickname given to her by the media, she wasn't too concerned about it. Instead, she allegedly worried about stepping out of line in public or during royal events, according to royal experts.

When she finally married into the Royal Family, Kate made sure to do her research beforehand. She spoke to Buckingham Palace's courtiers and advisors to get their counsel, Katie previously claimed.

Secret Pact between Kate & William

In Katie's book, she revealed that Kate had nothing to worry about when it came to Prince William proposing because the couple had made a secret lovers' pact in 2007 after their split. The royal knew he had to finish his military training before marrying his girlfriend.

The author previously shared that the couple made their promise during a make-or-break trip to Seychelles in 2007. In her book "Kate: The Future Queen," Katie claimed that the trip was the first time the pair seriously spoke about marriage.

During their eight-year-long courtship, Prince William got to teach his girlfriend about her future role. Besides her boyfriend, Kate allegedly had the support of the palace press office and the advice of King Charles III's lawyer.

She reportedly called Prince William a "great teacher" when she finally got to speak to the press for the first time. The lessons she got from him allowed her to perform well at her first three royal engagements with her significant other.

Katie also noted how Kate was confident and had clearly been prepared for that life. By the time she spoke to the press for the first time and had the three royal events, Kate was already engaged to Prince William.

The Long-Awaited Engagement

Knowing that they were going to get married one day, Prince William and Kate's engagement in 2010 didn't come as a surprise to them, as confirmed by the royal in November of that same year. The prince proposed to his girlfriend in Kenya, and she said it was "romantic."

In 2019, during a reception at Buckingham Palace, Prince William confessed that Africa held a very special place in his heart. He said it was where his father took him and his brother, Prince Harry, shortly after their mother died.

Prince William went further to explain that he decided to propose to his fiancée on that specific continent because there was no other place more fitting. Gushing about her prince charming, Kate described her fiancé as a true romantic.

The Royal Wedding

On April 29, 2011, Prince William and Kate finally got married at 11 a.m. in a huge and lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Millions of people worldwide watched as the Dean of Westminster conducted the service.

The couple was married by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of London gave the address. After tying the knot, Kate became the Duchess of Cambridge and traveled in a horse-drawn carriage procession to Buckingham Palace.

Together for 13 Years

As of April this year (2024), it has been 13 years since the couple got married, and they're still going strong with the beautiful family they have built, which includes their three children. On July 22, 2013, Prince William and Kate welcomed their first child - a son named Prince George.

The couple added a new member to their family on May 2, 2015, when their daughter, Princess Charlotte, joined the family of three. Her proud parents showed her off outside the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital in London.

The last child to be welcomed to the family, another son, was Prince Louis, born on April 23, 2018. Of Prince Louis' arrival, Prince William shared how delighted he and Kate were to have another child.

Strong Bonds amid Tough Times

Prince William and his beloved wife have been through a lot, but they have managed to face and conquer each of their obstacles together. Thus, it comes as no surprise that regarding recent controversies surrounding the royal family, the duo has further solidified their united family front against such ordeals.

Throughout the fixation on Kate's whereabouts when she had been away from the public eye because of her abdominal surgery, and the controversial Mother's Day picture that was recalled, the Waleses have stuck together. Even with the immense challenges they face in dealing with Kate's cancer diagnosis, the duo pushes through.

The Princess of Wales had first announced she was diagnosed with cancer on March 22, 2024. In a heartfelt message that was posted on YouTube and other social media platforms, Kate bravely shared her news with the public.

Sitting on a bench outdoors, surrounded by flora and fauna, Kate emphatically expressed, "I wanted to take this opportunity to say, 'thank you' personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I've been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family."

She then went on to acknowledge her fantastic medical team, who she said she is ever grateful for. Kate proceeded to explain the nuances of her surgery, revealed her cancer diagnosis, and shared that she has been receiving treatment.

After candidly addressing the challenges and difficulties she has been facing, Kate gave credit to her supportive spouse. "Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love, support, and kindness, that has been shown by so many of you, it means so much to us both," Kate disclosed.

Naturally, having to witness a cherished loved one go through such a harrowing experience would adversely affect anyone, and Prince William is no exception. Adding salt to the wound is the fact that his father, King Charles III, is also battling cancer.

Remarkably so, Prince William forges on, managing to support his family and still keep up with royal work commitments. Although it is no easy feat, the prince luckily has the love and support of his wife and kids, who celebrate him any chance they get, as they have just done.

Today, June 21, Prince William turns 42 and his loving wife took to Instagram to post a heartwarming picture of the doting father and their children to mark the special occasion. In the endearing snap, all four of them hold hands as they jump high into the sky with excited expressions on their faces.

"Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx," penned Kate in the caption that accompanied the adorable picture of the dad with his beloved children. While this birthday is bittersweet for Prince William, reports state that the family is still expected to make the day special.

Discussing the matter, Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," stated, "The way that William and Kate most enjoy spending milestones like birthdays and anniversaries is with the children. And that's exactly what they will do [...] They know how to celebrate birthdays!"

He added, "The children will rally around, perhaps creating breakfast in bed, rolling up their sleeves in the kitchen and baking for their father. Kate has a passion for baking birthday cakes…She has a tradition of staying up to midnight utilizing huge amounts of cake mix and icing, producing over-the-top cakes."

Described as a "family man at heart," Christopher believes that Prince William would want nothing more than to spend his special day with his wife and children, privately.

Family above Everything Else

Although Kate has just started to make her return to the public, with her recent appearance at the annual Trooping the Color event, she still has a long road of recovery ahead of her. Thus, Prince William continues to hold down their fort, ensuring the well-being of Kate and their children.

After Kate Middleton was discharged from The London Clinic following her abdominal surgery, Prince William made sure to clear his schedule, dropping everything to be at his wife's side amid her recovery.

Coordinating with their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, he looked after Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The two mapped out their school pick-ups and drop-offs, for example.

Still honoring his duty to his civic and royal engagements, Prince William's time off to be with his family was temporary, exemplifying the balance between his dedication to the crown and his commitment to family.