William and Kate have never been as tactile with each other as Harry and Meghan in public., but it’s a different story away from the spotlight says royal expert Katie Nicholl
Prince William and Princess Kate
William and Kate will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary next April, and it will no doubt be a momentous landmark after the stresses and strains of recent times. “They tend to do things in a low-key way, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see them do something special to recognise 15 years of marriage next year,” says royal commentator Katie Nicholl.
“They’ve been through so much and, of course, each year Kate clocks up will be another year of being cancer-free, which really will be worth marking.” Although the turmoil she and William have experienced could push any couple to breaking point, it seems it is precisely the opposite for the pair. “I’ve been with them on many occasions, and when the cameras drop, you’ll often see them walk away and Kate will put an arm around his waist, or he’ll place his hand in the small of her back,” says Katie, who wrote the biography Kate: The Future Queen .
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to a Fish Fry in Abaco, a traditional Bahamian culinary gathering place which is found on every island in the Bahamas(Image: Chris Jackson/PA Wire)
“There’s a lovely closeness between them, and whereas at the start of their marriage they seemed shy about being affectionate in public, they’re so much more confident now.”
According to royal author Christopher Andersen, who wrote 2022 book The King , a shared “naughty” sense of humour was “one of the most important things that drew them together”. Although he suggests they have toned down the jokes for the sake of young ears around the house, Christopher adds, “They can still make each other double over laughing.”
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after getting married on April 29, 2011 (Image: Getty Images)
William himself revealed during their televised 2010 engagement interview, “We’re down to earth. We take the mickey out of each other a lot, and she’s got plenty of habits that make me laugh that I tease her about.” As parents to three active youngsters, romantic opportunities may be less frequent these days, but the pair still strive to find private time for themselves.
In April, following an official visit to the Isle of Mull – which coincided with their 14th wedding anniversary – they took a public ferry to Iona for a minibreak. Rather than staying in a luxurious hotel, they opted for self-catering in a remote country lodge. They also shared a photo on Instagram of themselves with their arms around each other and heads close together.
It’s also said that while relaxing at Anmer Hall, their home in Norfolk, they often sneak out for low-key date nights at nearby pubs, where locals leave them well alone. However, married life is not always a bed of roses, and, like anyone else, they encounter the occasional thorny issue. “They’ve been together for nearly a quarter of a century. Of course there are going to be hiccups,” says Katie.
The look of love: Kate and William at an engagement in 2023 (Image: Getty Images)
Memorably, they tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011, with both looking radiantly happy as they said ‘I do’ before a TV audience of millions. Since then, they have welcomed three children and risen through the ranks, with the death of the late Queen in September 2022 seeing them inherit their Prince and Princess of Wales titles.
“I think they’re stronger, closer and more in control than ever,” royal author Duncan Larcombe says. “They’ve had their ups and downs, but there’s no doubt they are flying high. It’s not easy being a member of the royal family, but, as a couple, they seem to be about as together as it gets.”
Although there appears to be no magic formula to their marital success, William and Kate’s romance took time to evolve, spanning a decade from their first meeting in 2001 to their wedding.
“When they started dating at university in St Andrews, William benefitted from a complete media ban, which allowed him to live pretty normally,” says Duncan. “That helped them develop solid foundations, which have often been missing in other royal marriages.”
Physical attraction has been consistent in their relationship, too, and on the night William saw his future bride strut down the catwalk in a sheer dress at a student fashion show, he famously told friends, “Wow, Kate’s hot!”
Kate Middleton and Prince William on the day of their graduation ceremony at St Andrew’s University in St Andrew’s on June 23, 2005 in Scotland. (Image: Clarence House via GettyImages)
In the years since, body language experts have frequently noted their chemistry – and Kate has often dispensed with royal protocol by publicly patting William on the bottom.
Royal writer Tom Quinn, who penned Gilded Youth: An Intimate History Of Growing Up In The Royal Family , has claimed the pair have had fiery arguments over the years, suggesting that they resolve tension in an unusual but effective way. “William and Kate throw cushions at each other. It’s always kept under control. It doesn’t escalate,” he has said. One aspect they are rumoured to have clashed on recently is George’s schooling.
Now in his final year at Lambrook School in Berkshire, it’s said that Kate is reluctant for him to go to Eton, like William and Harry, with insiders saying she would prefer him to have a more relaxed experience at Marlborough College, where she did her A-levels. “If Kate badly wants George to go to Marlborough, I think she’ll probably have her way,” says Duncan. “That seems to be the dynamic, not in an unkind way, but she seems like the chief parent.”
If however, Kate agrees that traditional Eton is more appropriate, there would be advantages. “Eton is close to their Adelaide Cottage home, so they’d see George often. That could make it first choice,” says Duncan.
Whatever they opt for, Katie believes it will be a carefully considered decision. “They’re both strong, opinionated people, but I think they’ll always reach a compromise when it comes to George and his future,” she says. “They’ll pick what’s best for him, and on that sort of thing they’re absolutely united. They’re a team and that’s how they work.”
Dealing with three teenagers in the not-so-distant future may bring further stumbling blocks, however. “They’ll have the same parenting challenges that all mums and dads face,” says Duncan. “There will be potential potholes ahead, but at the moment it’s looking really good for William and Kate.”
William and Kate: A Bold New Path, OK! Special Collector’s Edition
In the three years since becoming Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate’s lives have changed in ways they couldn’t have imagined. The sadness of the late Queen’s death in September 2022 was followed by even darker days, as William’s bitter rift with Prince Harry deepened and a cruel cancer diagnosis ripped through the heart of the royal family twice in a matter of weeks. But despite such upheaval and trauma, the pair have shown unwavering resilience and doubled down on their family-first stance. In this special edition of OK!, we take a closer look at how the couple have navigated the past few years, and how as king and queen in-waiting they are facing their destiny with a renewed sense of duty and purpose.
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