Author Reveals How William's Aides Were 'Sworn to Secrecy' Over Proposal to 'Protect' Kate
Behind their fairytale romance lay a lesser-known detail, one that truly showed Prince William's protectiveness for his now-wife.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are widely regarded as a power couple, admired for their ability to connect with the public easily. Their love story, which began in 2001 when they were students at St. Andrew's, has grown into one of the most successful royal marriages. Behind that fairytale lies a lesser-known detail, one that truly shows William's protectiveness for his better half. In his new book, royal author Russell Myers reveals how the Prince's courtiers were sworn to secrecy to ensure that nothing leaked about his proposal to protect his future wife.
In his biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, Myers shared, "A group of just four royal aides was sworn to secrecy and quietly began to prepare for the moment when they would need to announce to the world that Prince William, the second in line to the throne, was to be married." He also quoted a former senior courtier who spoke about the proposal, "It was quite an exciting time, considering there was a tiny group who knew it was coming. It was our duty to make sure nothing leaked, mainly to protect Kate, but also because it would have made our jobs a lot more complicated."
For those unversed, William proposed to Middleton in October 2010 during a romantic getaway to Kenya, returning to the 55,000-acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy they had visited in 2005 after their graduation. Explaining why it was a crucial time in the Prince's life, Myers penned, "Anyone who has prepared to ask a loved one to marry them will know the intense nervousness that comes with arranging the perfect moment to propose, but also the incredible responsibility of carrying the ring around with you until you finally find that moment. William was no different."
A month after the dreamy proposal, the Palace made things official on November 16, 2010, when they announced their engagement. William and Middleton's first joint interview, now 15 years old, remains etched in royal fans' hearts for their openness about their beautiful 8-year journey together. What many didn't realize is that Middleton had subtly referenced their painful temporary 2007 split, hinting that finding their way back wasn't easy. The pair had briefly broken up when they were both 25 years old, citing their need for some space.
While the future Princess of Wales reportedly displayed an 'iron-clad' behavior during the split, she was said to be heartbroken over being single. She acknowledged the same during the 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. He 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."
