Prince William and Princess Kate tied the knot on April 29, 2011 in a fairytale royal wedding at Westminster Abbey in London. Having met while attending the University of St Andrews in Scotland, Kate and William dated for several years, and even endured some brief splits from one another. According to a new book, one particular breakup impacted the Princess of Wales greatly.
In his new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, royal expert Russell Myers discussed the Prince and Princess of Wales’s temporary breakup in 2007.
“Catherine had presented William with a simple choice: if he couldn’t commit, their relationship would have to come to an end,” Myers shared. “To her, the response that followed from Clarence House had been definitive. Catherine told friends that, although she was not ready to move on, she would not wait around for William.”
At the time, William and Kate were in their mid-twenties, a crucial time in both of their lives. “If he wasn’t ready, she couldn’t put her existence on hold,” Myers noted. “She needed to get on with her life, and if that was to be without William, she was fully prepared to move in a new direction.”
“She was fully prepared to move in a new direction.”
Despite being the instigator of their separation, 24-year-old Prince William “was struggling to process the breakup, as well as the concept of his own identity as a soldier and the expectations of him as a future monarch,” according to the royal expert. With such a huge destiny ahead of him, it’s understandable that the Prince of Wales might have had doubts about several aspects of his life.
While Princess Kate was reportedly against the split, she allegedly threw herself into a busy social life, attempting to find her own interests without the prince. “Although equally heartbroken, Catherine had decided to stick to her guns,” Myers shared. “Throughout the most testing times of her relationship, Catherine had leaned on a group of close school friends, and now she did so again.”
Even though Kate seemingly knew she needed to forge ahead, that didn’t mean she found the change easy. “She told [her friends] of her lack of direction and how she felt she had been cheated by putting her life on hold for William,” Myers explained. “If William wasn’t ready to commit, then she was ready to explore her options as a beautiful, young single woman, who by now was known throughout the world.”
“She felt she had been cheated by putting her life on hold for William.”
Their decision to spend some time apart before they made the ultimate commitment seems very sensible, particularly as William would one day become King.
“The breakdown was not caused by infidelity, confrontation, or embitterment, but rather was the result of two young people navigating their first serious relationship at the same time as being thrust into a spotlight whose power had been magnified beyond comprehension,” Myers shared.
After reportedly finding their split to be akin to “torture,” Kate and William eventually reunited, and the rest is very much royal history.
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Why Prince William “Broke Down and Apologized” to Princess Kate After King Charles “Insisted” His Son Needed to Be “Honest” With Her
Prince William and Princess Kate have been happily married since April 29, 2011. Due to the public nature of their relationship, royal fans have followed the couple’s romance since the very beginning. As a result, even their brief breakups and separations have become public knowledge. Now, a new book is exposing even more details about some of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s most tense moments.
In forthcoming book William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, royal editor and expert Russell Myers described a brief breakup the couple went through in 2004—two years into their college romance.
During a summer break from The University of St Andrews, Prince William reportedly had a “sudden change in attitude” towards his relationship with Kate. “He was thinking about going to Sandhurst, joining the army, maybe some traveling and what that would lead to,” Myers explained, in an excerpt published by Hello! magazine. “It certainly gave his head a wobble, wondering how much time he would have to dedicate to that and what that would mean for other things in his life, such as a serious relationship.”
According to Myers, “[I]t wasn’t clear that Catherine would remain a priority for William after university. He was still just 22, and friends suggested he was afraid both of losing his independence so young, and of the mounting media speculation about a possible engagement.”
Somewhat unsurprisingly, Princess Kate was reportedly “left in shock at his sudden change of direction.” But she also “did not doubt the burden of responsibility” the Prince of Wales was facing as the future King, Myers explained.
The pair allegedly had little contact during the summer of 2004, and rumors started swirling about new romantic prospects for Prince William. According to Myers, “[H]e was torn about whether he wanted to continue his relationship with Catherine. On the one hand he missed her, and on the other the attention from the media had left him so incensed.” Having a so-called “normal relationship” allegedly seemed all but impossible to the prince.
Having a so-called “normal relationship” allegedly seemed all but impossible to the prince.
When Kate and William returned to The University of St Andrews in the fall of 2004, the prince allegedly “broke down and apologized,” per Myers. According to the royal author, William’s dad, King Charles, influenced the prince’s decision to reconcile with Kate.
“William told Catherine he wanted to make a serious go of the relationship and in a peacemaking gesture he invited her to his father’s 56th birthday celebrations at Highgrove,” Myers wrote, via Hello! magazine. “[U]nbeknown to Catherine, it was Charles who had insisted on William having an honest conversation with her.”
Luckily, it sounds as though King Charles worked his magic and ensured Kate and William were able to reunite, in spite of any stresses they were both experiencing.
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Princess Kate ‘Now Almost Teetotal’ As She’s ‘Terrified Even Small Amount of Drink Could Spark Fresh Cancer Battle’
RadarOnline.com can reveal Catherine, Princess of Wales, is said to have become “almost teetotal” following her cancer battle, with sources claiming she is fearful that even small amounts of alcohol could risk her recovery.
The future queen, 44, who revealed in March 2024 she was undergoing cancer treatment after the disease was discovered during abdominal surgery earlier that year, confirmed in January 2025 she was in remission.
‘I Have To Be More Conscious Now’
During a joint visit to London on March 12, 2026, with her husband, Prince William, she spoke candidly about changing her lifestyle, including her approach to alcohol, while visiting Fabal Beerhall and other businesses across Borough Market and the Southwark area.
A source said, “Catherine has become extremely cautious about anything that could potentially impact her health, and that includes alcohol. There is a real sense that she is now almost teetotal, not out of preference but out of concern, because she is deeply wary that even small amounts could have consequences she’s not willing to risk.”
The insider added: “She has spoken privately about being ‘terrified’ of facing another health battle, so her mindset now is very much about prevention and control. If that means giving up alcohol almost entirely, then that’s a decision she’s very comfortable with.”
Speaking during the engagement, Catherine said, “Since my diagnosis, I haven’t had much alcohol. It’s something I have to be a lot more conscious of now.”
She then turned to William and added: “But you like your cider, don’t you?”
William highlighted the importance of local venues during the visit, saying: “Pubs are so important. They are places for people and the community to come together.”
A Major Lifestyle Change Revealed
The couple spent the day walking through Borough Market, greeting members of the public and visiting small businesses, including Southwark Brewing Company, where they helped add hops to a brewing kettle.
Another insider said, “What’s striking is how openly Kate is now acknowledging her lifestyle changes. In the past, it might have been something kept private, but there is a sense she wants to be transparent about how her experience has reshaped her day-to-day choices, particularly around health and wellbeing.”
During their visit, the pair sampled food at Trethowan Brothers, joking the cheese and chutney they were given meant “that’s lunch taken care of” as they described themselves as “big cheese fans.”
Catherine also took part in making coffee at Change Please, telling her husband: “William, I made you a coffee!” before noting “it’s not decaf” – as William quipped: “They can sell it!”
A source said: “There’s been a noticeable shift in Kate’s overall lifestyle – it’s not just about alcohol, but a broader focus on balance and long-term health. Those close to her say she’s more mindful than ever about what she consumes and how she manages stress.”
The two later visited Humble Crumble, where Catherine impressed founder Kim Innes with her piping skills, before changing into RNLI overalls for a boat trip along the Thames to mark the 25th anniversary of RNLI lifeguards.
William reflected on the dangers of the water during the visit, saying: “We don’t respect it enough sometimes.”
They also met members of the Bridge Watch charity, with Catherine saying: “It’s about reaching out, is it, and building trusted relationships that they might not have elsewhere in their lives? It’s an incredible role to play.”
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Fans Defend Catherine (Kate Middleton) Over Title Debate, Say “Have Some Respect”
Kate Middleton’s outfit sparked mixed reactions on the internet with some praising her outfit and others defending her title.
The Princess of Wales, Catherine ‘Kate’ Middleton, recently donned a chic dress designed by a Nigerian-British designer. She reportedly wore this in honor of Nigeriaian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the UK. He was joined by his wife, Remi Tinubu.
Princess Middleton was a picture of elegance and grace in her recent grey ensemble with white embellishments. She wore a formal, nearly full-length, Earl Grey-colored coat-dress with white buttons and lapels.
To bring her outfit together, she wore a head accessory: a hat with a matching style, complete with an elegant white bow. For shoes, she wore a pair of classic and timeless pumps in the same color as her dress, only darker.
The outfit was designed by Tolu Coker, a Nigerian-British designer. According to Coker’s official website, the brand focuses on producing fashion pieces based on the pillars of “community, craftsmanship, and culture.”
Coker’s work is largely focused on creating sustainable luxury clothing that blends Nigerian and British history and heritage, along with modern fashion. The dress was reportedly a homage to the diplomat’s culture.
Social media platforms are filled with netizens gushing over Middleton’s overall aesthetic during the diplomat’s visit. They praised the designer’s choice of color for the dress and complimented the Princess for her outfit on Instagram.
One user mentioned, “This is the first time I’ve seen Princess Kate in this color; it’s gorgeous!” Another chimed, saying, “We don’t often see Princess in Grey. It’s a beautiful coat and hat.” A third netizen stated, “Beautiful style.”
A fourth one highlighted a detail on the dress, saying, “I just love the corset detail at the back of Catherine’s coat.” The same user added, “And a lovely touch that the coat was designed by a British-Nigerian designer.”
Similarly, many users and fashion influencers on Instagram reshared pictures and videos of the British Royal Family member. They each broke down the outfit and shared their insights on it.
While Instagram users were praising Middleton’s dress, internet pundits on X made a rather sharp observation, sparking debate on the social media platform. Eagle-eyed netizens on X slammed many news outlets for not referring to the royal member with her official title.
In response to one such news publication’s post, netizens flooded the comments with corrections and reactions to the alleged blunder. A first one said, “Have some respect, it’s Catherine, the Princess of Wales.”
Another corrected, “It’s Princess Catherine, not Kate Middleton.” A third one added, “She isn’t Kate Middleton; she is the Princess of Wales—and her name is Catherine—do better!”
Similarly, a fourth mentioned, “She’s the princess of Wales—please refer to her as such.” A final one dryly wrote, “Princess Catherine, thank you very much!” Likewise, many have corrected multiple publications for the alleged incorrect use of her title or leaving it out entirely.
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Kate Middleton Is Reportedly a “Different Person Now” Two Years After Announcing Her “Life-Changing” Cancer Diagnosis
“It has been a tough journey—harder than we perhaps thought.”
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- On March 22, 2024—two years ago today—Kate Middleton delivered the devastating news to the world that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
- The Princess of Wales was away from public life for much of 2024, and announced in September of that year that she had completed chemotherapy; in January 2025, she shared that she is in remission.
- The future queen has called her diagnosis “life-changing,” and she has made lifestyle modifications in the two years since receiving her diagnosis.
Two years ago today, on March 22, 2024, Kate Middleton sat in the garden of Windsor Castle, yellow daffodils as her backdrop. It marked the first time the public had seen the Princess of Wales in any type of official capacity since December 25, 2023, when she celebrated Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham.
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The future queen had undergone major abdominal surgery in mid-January, and had kept a low profile—much to the public’s chagrin—in its aftermath. Initially, it was shared at the time of Kate’s surgery that cancer was not present—but, as she said in her video two years ago today, cancer had been detected in the aftermath of the surgery. She also shared in the vulnerable video that she had been undergoing chemotherapy, saying that she was “well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body, and spirits,” adding that she looked forward to returning to royal duty “when I am able.” That would ultimately be in mid-June, when she made her first public appearance of 2024 at Trooping the Colour alongside the rest of the royal family.
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Of her moving message on March 22 two years ago, “She wrote the words herself and delivered it personally—she wanted to decide when the time was right to tell the world,” her former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton told People. “It is an incredibly important thing that she’s done. I thought, ‘This is our future queen—goodness, what courage!’ She showed remarkable composure given all that has been swirling around.”
In her message, Kate relayed that, naturally, her cancer diagnosis “came as a huge shock, and [Prince] William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time.” She said that she told her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis “that I am going to be okay,” she added. The Princess of Wales closed her message speaking to “everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.” To the present day, her type and stage of cancer has never been publicly revealed.
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In September 2024, Kate announced via another video message that she had completed chemotherapy, and in January 2025 announced that she was in remission. The Princess of Wales has remarked on her cancer journey numerous times since at various royal engagements, saying when announcing her remission news that it was a “relief” and that she remained “focused on recovery.”
“As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal,” she wrote.
Kate’s new normal includes more time in nature—which served as a sanctuary for her—and lifestyle changes, like her admission earlier this month that she doesn’t drink much alcohol anymore post-treatment. “It’s something I have to be a lot more conscious of now,” she said.
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Kate has fully returned to royal life, though perhaps not at the breakneck pace she was working back in 2023. Royal biographer Robert Jobson said (per Hello!) that he expected her “to carry out more engagements, but be selective.” He added that “she won’t go back to the old pace—she’s learnt that lesson. It will be meaningful, with gaps in between for her family.”
“Running on empty isn’t an option, nor is missing too much time with George, Charlotte, and Louis,” he continued. “The days of just powering through are done.”
Kate herself has called her cancer diagnosis “life-changing,” and a source close to her told The Daily Mail, “It’s impossible to go through that kind of trauma and not be changed as a person.”
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“It has been a tough journey—harder than we perhaps thought,” a source close to the royal household previously told People. “She has been through a lot, and it has been a rough road. Serious illness like cancer does change you. She has a young family, and it makes you rethink everything—your purpose and what you want to do with your life.”
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Kate Middleton and Prince William Surprise with Stunning Tiara Portrait from State Banquet
The Nigerian state banquet took place in Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Hall on Wednesday, March 18
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NEED TO KNOW
- Kate Middleton and Prince William recently attended the Nigerian state banquet on Wednesday, March 18, at Windsor Castle
- Before the event, the pair posed for a stunning portrait photographed by Christianah Ebenezer
- At the event, Kate wore Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, famously worn by Princess Diana, as well as earrings from Queen Elizabeth’s collection
Kate Middleton and Prince William posed for a special portrait ahead of the Nigerian state banquet.
The Prince and Princess of Wales posed together ahead of the Wednesday, March 18 event in a recently published portrait, captured by Christianah Ebenezer. The royal couple attended the banquet in St. George’s Hall in Windsor Castle alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla, who hosted Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, first lady Oluremi Tinubu, for their state visit to the U.K.
Before the banquet, they posed for a portrait, with Princess Kate, 44, wearing Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara. The X account for the couple posted the image to the social media site. “A special portrait taken ahead of yesterday evening’s Nigeria State Banquet 🇳🇬🇬🇧,” the X post read.
In the photo, the Princess of Wales wore a dress by Andrew Gn, with a green hue that nods to the colors of the Nigerian flag. Her additional accessories included earrings from the late Queen Elizabeth’s collection, King Charles’ Royal Family Order (a badge featuring the monarch’s portrait) and the Royal Victorian Order sash and star.
Kate’s tiara was also notably worn by Princess Diana. The piece has been regarded as one of Kate’s go-to royal headpieces, among the five tiaras she has worn throughout her royal life. Kate wore the tiara twice in 2025 for the state banquets honoring the U.S. and French presidents’ visits.
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The Nigerian state banquet marked Princess Kate’s first occasion wearing a tiara in 2026. The year prior, she had three tiara moments: the aforementioned state banquets in honor of the U.S. and French presidents, as well as the December state banquet, when the German president came for a visit. There, she wore her biggest tiara to date: Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara.
It also diplomatically served as a tribute to the German guests: it was crafted in 1853 for Queen Victoria under the direction of her husband, Prince Albert, who hailed from Germany.
Similar to the March 18 state banquet, the Prince and Princess of Wales were photographed for a portrait to mark the occasion.
In the Dec. 3 portrait, they both oozed glamour in the photo taken by Alex Bramall at Frogmore House.”Looking forward to a special banquet tonight in Windsor 🇩🇪🇬🇧,” they captioned the snap.
Bethan Holt, author of The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Style, recently spoke to PEOPLE about Kate’s fashion choices for the various state banquets, calling her recent ensembles a part of “a subtle style evolution.”
“She just seems to be broadening her horizons a little bit, but mostly all three looks were simply a masterclass in sartorial diplomacy,” Holt, told PEOPLE. “There’s always a little bit of anticipation, and she ticked all the boxes of diplomacy, glamour and appropriateness.”
“I think fashion-wise, it was a safe choice compared to her other state dinner looks this year, but this was a real ‘wow’ princess moment for her. It’s not something she does often, but I think she does recognize that as a princess, the public will want to see her looking like a princess every so often, and for a state banquet, she can really tick that box — and she did,” Holt said.
Princess Kate praised after heartwarming moment with young girls
A royal appearance turned into a heartwarming scene as the Princess of Wales delighted onlookers during a public engagement.
Her natural ease with children quickly became the highlight of the day.
According to the Daily Express, Princess Catherine attended the Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, in her role as Colonel of the regiment.
Dressed in a green coat for the occasion, she later met soldiers’ families, where a brief interaction with young children drew widespread attention.
Sweet encounter
During the visit, the princess met Lance Sergeant Mills, his wife Jessica and their three-year-old daughter Vienna.
The child, visibly excited, bounced up and down as Catherine crouched to speak with her.
“Are you excited?” Catherine asked, before telling the girl she had “beautiful hair” and clapping as she twirled in her blue dress.
Vienna then took the princess’s hands and swung downward, prompting laughter as Catherine helped her back to her feet.
Natural connection
Another young girl, Mila, the daughter of Sergeant English, soon joined the interaction.
Catherine held her hands and complimented her outfit, including a green bow, asking whether “mummy” had helped her get ready.
Lance Sergeant Mills described the meeting as “such a great opportunity”, adding his daughter had been looking forward to it “all week”.
Public reaction
The moment quickly gained traction online, with social media users praising the princess’s warmth.
Others echoed the sentiment, with comments including: “The children’s Princess.” and “Cuteness overloadddd.”
Another post read: “You can tell Catherine is prepared for rambunctious children. She didn’t flinch and handled it perfectly.”
A further comment added: “You can tell when someone really loves children. You can’t fake that children know. HRH Princess Catherine is a very special lady.”
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