Kate and William: from shared lectures to a shared life
She wasn’t chasing attention, he was trying to be a regular student – this is how one of the most enduring unions in royal history began.
This year, Kate and William celebrated 14 years of marriage. Over time, they’ve become a symbol of stability and mutual support. Yet, their story didn’t begin with royal titles and glittering galas – it started with ordinary university days. Let’s look back at how fleeting encounters and simple moments blossomed into a true love story.
photo: instagram \ @princeandprincessofwales
Before Kate mastered the art of elegantly wearing hats and confidently greeting crowds, her life was quite different. She studied, lived in a dorm, and enjoyed her student years – probably unaware that this path would one day lead her to the royal court. And perhaps William, at the time, had no idea how deeply this meeting would change his life either.
They met at St Andrews – the Scottish university that for William was a retreat from media scrutiny, and for Kate, a chance to try something new. A girl from a well-off but non-aristocratic family, Kate quickly adapted to campus life. She was modest, didn’t seek attention, and didn’t perform the role others might have expected of her. And that’s exactly what caught William’s eye.
photo: instagram \ @princeandprincessofwales
At first, they were just friends. They went to the same cafés, talked about seminars, attended university sports matches, and shared a circle of friends. Kate didn’t fade into his shadow – in fact, beside her, William didn’t have to be a prince. He could just be a young man: real, without a title.
The turning point came during a student fashion show, where Kate appeared in a semi-sheer dress by Charlotte Todd. According to sources, it was that evening when he looked at her differently, seeing something he hadn’t before. Later, he admitted that their relationship had always felt special, but that was the moment he realized he felt something more. Slowly, a connection began to form – one that would become a lasting bond.
photo: shutterstock \ Malcolm Clarke
They also went through a brief breakup in 2007. At the time, their relationship was strained: William, caught up in the nightlife and partying, seemed unpredictable, and their paths were drifting apart. The split was short-lived but painful, and ultimately helped them understand how much they meant to each other.
Kate didn’t give interviews or complain. She simply continued living on. She looked confident. Calm. Beautiful. And William came back. During a trip to Africa with friends, he proposed to her against the backdrop of the savannah, offering the sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring that had belonged to his mother. Later, he admitted he’d carried the ring in his backpack for three weeks, afraid he might lose it along the way. But everything went exactly as it should have: she said yes.
photo: instagram \ @princeandprincessofwales
On April 29, 2011, Kate walked down the aisle, wearing Alexander McQueen, to the applause of millions. Her sister Pippa was maid of honor, and Prince Harry served as William’s best man. The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey and brought together not just royal families and global leaders, but everyday people too. They invited William’s school headmaster, the Middletons’ butcher, their postman, and Kate’s yoga and fitness coach. It was a day when the personal and the public blended beautifully – the start of a new era, with a warm, almost homey tone.
photo: instagram \ @princeandprincessofwales
Much has changed since. They became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, then the Prince and Princess of Wales. Together, they’ve navigated countless public engagements, travels, and new titles – and, like all real couples, they’ve faced difficult times too. One of the hardest was recently, when Kate encountered health challenges. She faced surgery with grace, and later openly shared her diagnosis, becoming an example of strength and honesty for many. But the most important thing hasn’t changed: they are still side by side. They are raising three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and seem to still laugh at the same jokes, support each other, and value not the role, but the person beside them.
photo: instagram \ @princeandprincessofwales
