Kate Middleton and Prince William’s relationship blossomed at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in 2001. They were friends at first, before they fell for each other. Their romance continued for a decade before they got their big royal wedding in 2011. Interestingly, Middleton was in a few other relationships before she settled down with William.
Middleton’s previous romances range from high school romance to a few dates with William’s friend when she briefly broke up with the Prince of Wales. Interestingly, William also had his share of relationships before Middleton. They seem to have a great life together now, with their three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.
Here are the four boyfriends of Middleton before she became the Princess of Wales.
1 Harry Blakelock
Harry Blakelock was Kate Middleton’s first boyfriend | Credits: Harry Blakelock/LinkedInHarry Blakelock was Kate Middleton‘s first love, and he apparently broke the future Queen of England’s heart. They both went to Marlborough College, her boarding high school in Wiltshire, where he was the hockey captain. According to the Daily Mail’s source, he was all she ever talked about.
It appears that the relationship ended before they finished high school. The source reported that Middleton was still hung up on Blakelock when she went to Florence, Italy, for three months to study art (via The Mirror). He apparently gave her mixed signals before calling it quits with the relationship.
Kate Middleton in an interview | Credits: BBCShe reportedly didn’t date anyone else while in Florence as she hoped to get him back. The source remembered that Blakelock was also in Florence at the time. The source told the Daily Mail in 2020:
When Kate arrived in Florence, she was really hung up about Harry. She spoke about him all the time and he seemed to have messed her around quite a bit. He seemed to have blown hot and cold with her when they were at school, and she was always talking about how she could get him back. He was also in Florence at the same time, but from what I can remember, nothing happened.
Blakelock later married a common school friend of his and Middleton’s. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is a partner at Lockton, which is reportedly the world’s largest independent insurance broker.
2 Willem Marx
Willem Marx as a news correspondent | Credits: @CNBCInternationalLive/YouTubeSome sources also suggest that London-based journalist Willem Marx was Middleton’s first love (via Honey9). He also attended Marlborough College alongside Middleton and Blakelock. This relationship reportedly happened around 2000 for a very brief time.
While little information is available on this brief relationship, it was reported that Middleton and Marx remained close friends even after the relationship ended. He attended her wedding in 2011 and has worked with CNBC and CBS. He is currently married to television presenter Johanna Botta, and they will celebrate their eleventh wedding anniversary this year.
3 Rupert Finch
Rupert Finch was in his final year at St. Andrews University in 2001 when he met Kate Middleton. They got together for less than a year before parting ways. Middleton went on to date her friend, Prince William, after this relationship ended.
Finch went on to become a lawyer in London. He is married to Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs (via Daily Mail). She is the daughter of the Marquess of Reading and a businesswoman who co-founded the fashion brand, Beulah. Her brand engages in philanthropic activities. Interestingly, Lady Natasha’s brand is one of Middleton’s favorite fashion brands.
Also, Finch and Lady Natasha were guests at William and Middleton’s wedding in 2011. They also appeared at Princess Eugenie’s wedding in 2018.
4 Henry Ropner
Henry Ropner was Kate Middleton’s boyfriend when she briefly broke up with Prince William | Credits: Harry Ropner/LinkedInBefore Kate Middleton settled down with Prince William, she had a brief romance with Henry Ropner, who happened to be William’s friend from his time at Eton. William and Middleton wanted different things in life at one point in their relationship, and they went their separate way briefly (via The Mirror US).
It was during this time that Middleton reportedly dated the handsome friend of William.
Middleton took off to Ibiza when William broke off things over the phone. Upon returning to London, she was seen out with her sister Pippa Middleton. It was during this time that rumors began to spread about her involvement with the heir apparent of one of the biggest shipping businesses in the country.
Henry was the son of businessman Sir John Ropner. She was seen out with Ropner, including once at the Mahiki nightclub. A source told The Sun (via Daily Mail):
Henry is delighted to be there for Kate now that she’s split from William. They’ve been meeting up and enjoying themselves. There’s been a lot of flirting. Now she’s single, Kate is enjoying Henry’s company regularly. Henry is very wealthy. He has moved in William’s circle for years.
However, it didn’t blossom into anything significant. She soon rekindled her relationship with William, which has been going smoothly ever since. Ropner went on to marry Natasha Sinclair, who also comes from a business background. According to his LinkedIn, he is the chairman and director of the company, SFG20.
Prince William and Kate Middleton eventually found each other
Prince William and Kate Middleton in a still from an interview | Credits: ITV News/YouTubePrince William and Kate Middleton have stayed together through some tough times, including her recent health battle with cancer. They had met way before their encounter at St. Andrews. According to Robert Jobson’s book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, they knew each other when she was at Marlborough and he was at Eton College (via Daily Mail).
When they both arrived at St. Andrews, they were both in the same halls of residence and soon began a friendship. William shared (via The Mirror):
We were friends for over a year first and it just sort of blossomed from then on. We just spent more time with each other, had a good giggle, had lots of fun and realised we shared the same interests and just had a really good time.
It was widely reported that William fell for Middleton when she walked down the runway during a charity event in a black sheer dress. In the second year of the university, they lived together in a house with two other friends. It was widely believed that they were a couple at this point. It was reported in the media only in 2003. They had a brief split during this period.
In 2007, William got cold feet and broke up with her, but reconciled soon after. They sealed their love with their marriage in 2011. During their engagement interview in 2009, William shared (via ITV News):
She’s got a really naughty sense of humour, which really helps me because I’ve got a really dirty sense of humour so it was good fun, we had a really good laugh, and then things happened.
William also had multiple relationships before he settled down with Middleton (via Hello! Magazine). He dated family friend Davina Duckworth-Chad in the late ’90s. He also dated an environmental conservationist, Jecca Craig, in 2000, Rose Farquhar during his time at Eton, Arabella Musgrave before joining St. Andrews, and Carly Massy-Birch during his first term at the university.
He also dated Olivia Hunt during his first year at St. Andrews and reportedly dated Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe during his brief split from Middleton in 2004.