15 Years Later, William and Kate’s Engagement Interview Reveals More Than We Realized
When Kate Middleton and Prince William first crossed paths at St Andrew's University in 2001, they knew they were meant to be together. After seven years of dating, and a brief breakup in 2007, the couple made things official on November 16, 2010, when they announced their engagement. Their first joint interview, now 15 years old, remains etched in royal watchers' hearts for their openness about their beautiful journey. What many didn't realize is that Middleton subtly referenced their painful split, hinting that finding their way back wasn't all smooth sailing.
The future King popped the question to his now-wife a few weeks before the interview while they were vacationing in Kenya with friends. After discussing their beautiful proposal and meeting their parents, the Princess of Wales briefly touched upon their painful split and how it helped her grow into a better person. She said, "At the time, I wasn't very happy about it. But actually, it made me a stronger person. You find things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realized." William echoed this sentiment and explained, "We were both very young... it was just sort of a bit of space and a bit of things like that, and it worked out for the better."
Despite their brief time apart, the royal couple soon realized their strong connection and got back together for the long haul. Various reports at the time gave insider details about their infamous split, claiming that William broke up with Middleton over the phone. In his 2007 book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, royal author Robert Jobson alleged William called Middleton, saying they needed 'a bit of space' and that he 'couldn't promise marriage.' Meanwhile, according to royal commentator Richard Palmer, the Prince of Wales allegedly felt 'claustrophobic' in his relationship. Following the breakup, as Palmer claimed, William was seen partying at a London nightclub, where he allegedly told a group of friends, "I'm free!" Not long after, he realized Middleton's growing absence.
Speaking to The Daily Express, Palmer revealed, "Prince William enjoyed a lonely trip to the cinema to cheer himself up after refusing to rule out an eventual reconciliation with dumped Kate Middleton." Alone except for his police bodyguard, the future King reportedly watched Blades of Glory during a low-key evening away from his Army base. The expert continued, "A friend revealed that the Prince was already exhibiting signs of missing his long-term girlfriend since their breakup following a heart-to-heart chat last week."
While Middleton displayed an 'iron-clad' behavior during the split, she was reportedly heartbroken over being single. She acknowledged the same during the engagement interview, saying that she was quite consumed by the relationship when she was young. William proposed to his future wife with his late mother, Princess Diana's 18-carat sapphire ring. The Prince poignantly said about his late mother, "Obviously, she's not going to be around to share in all the fun and excitement, so this is my way of keeping her close to it all."