Home / VIDEOS / Prince William

Royal Fans Convinced ‘Kate Didn’t Win William, He Won Her' as Video of Her Iconic Moment Resurfaces

A viral TikTok video showing Prince William smitten by future wife Kate Middleton in college has royal fans convinced he's lucky to have her.

Kate Middleton and Prince William at St. Andrews University in 2005. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images| The Middleton Family)
Kate Middleton and Prince William at St. Andrews University in 2005. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images| The Middleton Family)

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been married since 2011 and are blessed with three beautiful children. The Prince and Princess of Wales first started dating in 2002, when they were 19 and students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Though they initially bonded as friends and roommates, Middleton caught William's eye during a fashion show appearance, where she walked the ramp wearing a sheer dress. Resurfaced images of the outfit have royal fans convinced that William is the lucky chap to have won Middleton, not the other way around.

Middleton wore the classic sheer lace dress at a charity fashion show in college. Her bold outfit at the event is famously known for sparking the Prince's interest in her. As reported by SheFinds, she wore a tiny bandeau bikini beneath the dress, while her brunette hair was styled in loose, cascading curls. The dress was the creation of fashion design student Charlotte Todd and has since been auctioned off in 2011 for over $100,000.  A viral TikTok clip from The Crown, a Netflix series based on the royal family, depicts the scene in question. It then cuts to photos of Middleton wearing the same outfit, followed by other clips highlighting her college beauty. The caption cleverly reads, "How to make a Prince fall in love with you in 1 second," alluding to her iconic ramp moment. 

Kate Middleton wears her iconic sheer dress at a charity fashion show. Image Source: Getty Images| M Neilson
Kate Middleton wears her iconic sheer dress at a charity fashion show. (Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by M Neilson)

As the video went viral, fans couldn't help but say the same thing. A royal watcher quipped, "Kate didn’t win William, William won Kate." In a similar vein, another said, "Catherine definitely got him head over heels for her😍😍😍." A netizen gushed, "She can literally be whatever she wants! And I love her for that. Everything she does is with intention and grace ♥️" As the comments poured in, a fan opined, "Kate is so beautiful and that's why Prince William loves her and married her😭" 

Kate Middleton's sheer dress at the Passion For Fashion Auction at La Galleria. Image Source: Getty Images| Ferdaus Shamim
Kate Middleton's sheer dress at the Passion For Fashion Auction at La Galleria. (Image Source: Getty Images| Ferdaus Shamim)

William's close friends from uni have also spoken about the moment the Prince fell head over heels for his future wife. According to Vanity Fair, one of his friends claimed, "It was clear to us that William was smitten with Kate." Another of the couple's mutual friends said, "He actually told her she was a knockout that night, which caused her to blush." According to reports, William told his friend Fergus Boyd, who was sitting beside him in the audience at the time, "Wow, Fergus, Kate's hot!" The rest is history as the pair officially began their fairytale romance a year later! 

As per Newsweek, Robert Jobson, author of Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, also explained, "Though they were good friends, Catherine surely stirred stronger feelings in William after she strutted down the catwalk as a model in the now-infamous charity fashion show, held at the Fairmont Hotel, on March 27, 2002."

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories

While there was already quite a buzz about Meghan and Harry attending the event, a new video from the evening has left royal fans talking.
By Medha Sengupta · 7 DAYS AGO
Markle has posted a new video for 'As Ever', which revives an unexpected bond she shares with King Charles despite their rocky history.
By Andrea Cutinho · JUL 31, 2026
Meghan Markle's cooking video is fueling fresh criticism, with critics pointing to one kitchen moment in particular to prove their point.
By Andrea Cutinho · JUL 29, 2026
Princess Anne interacted with a popular K-pop group during her visit to South Korea.
By Ira Deokule · JUL 18, 2026
Prince Harry's yoga session at Scotty's Summer Festival took a baa-a-ffling turn when a cheeky goat landed where it definitely wasn't invited.
By Andrea Cutinho · JUL 13, 2026
Prince William's mini golf game at Hastings didn't quite go to plan, but he laughed every miss off like a pro.
By Andrea Cutinho · JUL 10, 2026
Princess Kate's loving conversation with a young boy at Evelina London Children's Hospital proved why she's truly the children's princess.
By Andrea Cutinho · JUL 7, 2026
The internet dug up an old Meghan Markle hiking video right after Kate's latest challenge—and things escalated quickly!
By Hrishita Das · JUN 30, 2026
Robert Irwin opens up about the close friendship he has developed over the years with Prince William.
By Swagata Das · JUN 25, 2026
Known for his reserved nature, Prince Edward offered a rare glimpse of his wit while greeting the public at Royal Ascot.
By Andrea Cutinho · JUN 20, 2026