5 Times Prince William Put His Foot Down With Princess Kate

Prince William and Princess Kate always appear completely in sync, especially when it comes to their children and their future as King and Queen. But that does not mean they have always agreed behind closed doors. Over the years, there have been several moments when William is said to have taken a particularly firm stand, even if it came at the displeasure of his wife.

When Princess Kate returned to royal duties after completing cancer treatment, her comeback was deliberately gradual. While the Princess was reportedly eager to jump back to work, William ensured that Kate's health came first and that other obligations could wait. In May 2026, William spoke on Heart Radio's Breakfast Show about Kate's return to overseas engagements and said she needed to be “OK and rested” before she resumed her duties. William also praised his wife as an “amazing mum and an amazing wife,” making it clear that her well-being was more important than simply filling the royal calendar.
Kate's cancer battle was not the first time William had to put his foot down to prioritize her health. During both of her pregnancies with George and Charlotte, Kate suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness. During her second pregnancy in 2014, the condition forced her to cancel a string of engagements. She even missed the wedding of William's close friends Victoria Inskip and Robert Davies-Jones, while William and Harry attended. When the second pregnancy was announced, he told the reporters, “It's been a tricky few days, a week or so. I’m going to go back and look after her now.”

This is probably the clearest example of William and Kate reportedly having different views. Before Prince George's secondary school was confirmed, there was considerable speculation about whether he would attend William's old school, Eton College, or Kate's alma mater, Marlborough College. Reports suggested Kate was uncomfortable with the idea of sending George away to a full-time boarding school, partly because of her own unhappy experience at Downe House, where she was reportedly bullied. Royal author Katie Nicholl told In Touch Weekly, "Kate long disagreed with her husband about sending him away, even though it's tradition." However, she eventually “gave in” to William's preference for boarding. George started at Eton this September, following in his father's footsteps.

The biggest time William put his foot down with Kate came before they were even married. In 2007, William decided to end his relationship with Kate after years of dating. Royal author Robert Jobson later, in his biography Catherine, The Princess of Wales, described how William called Kate and suggested they split, telling her they both needed “a bit of space” to “find our own way.” According to Jobson, Kate was devastated and felt particularly hurt because William ended the relationship over the phone. It wasn't a permanent decision, and the pair spent several months apart before reconciling, eventually getting engaged in 2010. The episode also showed something that has remained part of their relationship: how William can be very firm when he believes he needs to make a difficult decision.

William has always been particularly protective of his family's privacy, and that became even more important once he and Kate moved to Anmer Hall with their children. He made it clear to Kate that, given his mother's experience with the press, he would like them as a family to maintain distance from the press and neighbors, even though Kate occasionally wanted to engage more with local community events. During the courtship period, in 2007, according to Marie Claire, William also sent a letter asking the media to respect Kate's privacy after paparazzi attention around her birthday intensified.

William is known to have also taken a particularly firm stand when it came to repairing his relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. However, as royal expert Katie Nicholl said, Kate was “open to a reconciliation” with Harry, explaining that after going through a serious health scare, she understood that “life is too short for rifts and family feuds.” Royal author Angela Levin also told Marie Claire that Kate “has tried to act as a bridge between William and Harry.” But William remained unmoved.