Home / Latest News / Princess Catherine

Queen Elizabeth Was 'Surprised' By The Way Prince William & Kate Middleton Announced Their Engagement In 2010, Claims Author

Since Prince William & Kate Middleton didn't want their engagement leaked, they made the public announcement just hours after they informed the Queen.

Though Prince William and Kate Middleton dated for nearly a decade before he popped the question in 2010, their engagement came as somewhat of a shock to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl explained the timeline of events in her new book Kate: The Future Queen.

According to the author, the two kept their exciting news a secret for a little while, with the mom-of-three even stashing her ring away in a vault. However, since they were worried about the news leaking, William decided it was time to discuss it with the Queen, who technically has to give her consent to the couple.

PRINCESS MARY, PRINCE FREDERIK & THEIR KIDS ATTEND CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY — PHOTOS

According to The Mirror, Nicholl claimed that the monarch was eating breakfast with husband Prince Philip on November 16 when she got the call from her grandson, and though she was "thrilled to receive William's call," she was also "a little surprised at the suddenness of the announcement," as William publicized the news just hours later.

"The Queen had no idea that there would be an announcement that morning. It was rather hurried, because William was apparently worried about it leaking out," the author noted. "William enjoyed outfoxing the media, and this was one announcement he wanted to make himself. The last thing he wanted was a newspaper getting the scoop, as had happened with his father's engagement to Camilla."

After talking to the Queen, William also spoke to his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince Harry, who was reportedly so excited that he "turned the air blue with a string of expletives" and joked that the proposal "took long enough."

William and Kate went on to tie the knot on April 29, 2011.

QUEEN LETIZIA OF SPAIN WOWS IN BLACK-AND-WHITE COAT & TIGHT BLACK PANTS WHILE ATTENDING DISCUSSION HOSTED BY THE FUNDEURAE — PHOTOS

For their 10th anniversary, they released a few new affectionate photos as well as a video of them spending time with their three kids: Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3.

"Thank you to everyone for the kind messages on our wedding anniversary," they captioned the Instagram post. "We are enormously grateful for the 10 years of support we have received in our lives as a family. W&C. ? @willwarr."