4 Times Prince William Seemingly Put Princess Kate Before Royal Duty

Prince William, as the heir to the throne, has spent much of his life learning how to put duty first. But there have been some rare moments when Princess Kate clearly mattered more. The future King has stepped back from royal commitments, changed his plans, and made time for his wife when she needed him most. When it came down to it, William has sometimes chosen to be there for Kate rather than show up for an official royal engagement.

In December 2012, William was due to attend the British Military Tournament at Earl’s Court while Kate was recovering from severe morning sickness during her first pregnancy. When she became unwell again just days after leaving hospital, William pulled out of the event and stayed with her instead. Us Weekly reported that just the night before, the Prince had spoken about how difficult Kate’s recovery had been, even joking about the severity of her illness. “I don't know why they call it morning sickness, they should call it all day and all night sickness,” he told former Centrepoint chairman Michael O'Higgins. He added that her recovery was “a long old process."

Before their 2011 wedding, William reportedly made Kate a sweet promise that she would never have to leave her family behind. In the documentary, Kate Middleton: Working Class to Windsor, royal expert Katie Nicholl told The Sun, “When William asked Kate to marry him, he made it very clear that she wouldn't have to leave her family behind once she married into his family. He promised her that they'd always stay a part of the family, and they have done.” Over the years, William has certainly made room for the Middletons. In 2012, just a year after their marriage, the couple decided to spend Christmas Day with her parents in Bucklebury instead of joining the royals at Sandringham. He has remained close to Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael, who have grown to be key to his support system. For someone whose life has always revolved around royal duties, the Middletons gave him the normalcy the royal fold didn't offer.

William has made it clear that being heir to the throne does not mean his family always has to come second. He has tried to give Kate and their children the kind of close, ordinary family life she grew up with, even while taking on more royal responsibilities himself. A source told Us Weekly, “Kate has a great relationship with her parents, and they raised her in a tight-knit family.” They continued, “William wanted to emulate Kate’s closeness with her family, and he wants his relationship with their children to be similar.” From choosing schools nearby to doing away with many rules, such as the rule that heirs to the throne cannot fly together, William has often put Kate and his family first.

When Kate underwent abdominal surgery in January 2024, William quickly put his royal schedule on hold so he could be there for her and their three children. Kensington Palace confirmed that he would postpone several engagements while Kate recovered. He continued to keep things quieter in the weeks that followed. Moreover, when Kate revealed in March that she was undergoing treatment, he spent the Easter holidays with her and the children. The future King also skipped the Paris Olympics in 2024, and ITV reported that it was because William did not want to bring home COVID-19, as Kate was undergoing chemotherapy.