Kate’s Early Confidence Set the Tone for Her Romance With Prince William: ‘He’s Lucky to Have Me’
The single, self-assured comment that set the tone for the Princess of Wales’ early royal romance with Prince William.
Long before she became the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton navigated the complexities of young love — albeit with a future King. Though royal matches are often seen as a fairytale stroke of luck for the commoner involved, the Princess flipped that narrative with a single, self-assured retort that remains legendary among royal watchers. Prince William and Kate’s well-documented origin story began in 2001 when they crossed paths as first-year students at the University of St. Andrews. While the spark truly ignited during their second year of college, the Princess made the heir apparent work for her affection before she eventually gave in.
According to royal biographer Katie Nicholl in her book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, the Prince of Wales saw Kate in a “different light” after she walked in a charity fashion show. Despite his immediate interest, famously whispering to a friend. “Wow, Kate’s hot” — the Princess of Wales didn’t immediately swoon. She initially rejected his advances at an after-party as she was dating someone else at the time. Once the two eventually became a couple, the public perception was framed by the weight and prestige of the monarchy. Yet, Kate’s internal compass was set to a different frequency.
Nicholl noted that the Prince was drawn to her “breezy confidence,” finding appeal in the fact that she treated him like any other peer. This confidence was put to the test when a friend remarked how ‘lucky’ she was to be dating William, and without missing a beat, Kate allegedly shot back, “He’s lucky to be going out with me!” In Claudia Joseph’s Kate Middleton: Princess in Waiting, a similar account appears in which the Princess of Wales is said to have smiled and simply stated, “He’s lucky to have me.” A glimpse into the resilient character destined to eventually anchor the monarchy — the moment was far beyond mere teenage bravado.
Writing for Vanity Fair, Nicholl previously highlighted that the Princess “has always been buoyed by her mother’s confidence in her,” noting that she was a “young woman with great poise” even in those early years. Even those within the royal circle noted her steadiness.
As early as 2008, a relative of the heir apparent remarked on her seamless transition into the public eye, observing that “In all these years, without any training, quite simply she has never put a foot wrong. It’s remarkable.” Now, 15 years into her marriage and a mother of three, Kate’s early ‘lucky’ comment stands as a lasting reminder of the importance of self-worth.
