William's Forgotten Moment that Had Him Shouting 'I'm Free' ― and Left Kate 'Devastated'
From health battles to public scrutiny, Prince William and Princess Kate have been together through thick and thin. However, before their high-profile 2011 wedding, the two did have a falling out, separating in 2007. While it was allegedly William’s decision to end the relationship, the way he celebrated afterwards is once again making headlines. In his book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, royal biographer Robert Jobson reveals that the then 25-year-old Prince ended the relationship in a ‘brutal’ 30-minute phone call, after which he was later heard drunkenly shouting “I’m free!” at London nightclub Mahiki.
This episode remains one of the most turbulent chapters of their life, where the couple was seemingly on ‘different pages.’ According to Jobson, the breakup happened after the Prince unexpectedly cancelled plans to attend a New Year gathering in Dundee with Kate’s family. She reportedly “sensed something was wrong,” and the fact that global newspapers at the time were already talking about a possible engagement only made the situation worse. Soon after, Jobson suggested William, a second Lieutenant in the Blues and Royals at the time, phoned her to suggest they split up. He allegedly told her they both needed “a bit of space” to find their own way, adding he could not promise marriage.
Jobson opined that Kate was left absolutely 'devastated' and believed the separation from William was final. Her mother, Carole Middleton, is known to have stepped in and taken her 'heartbroken daughter' to Dublin in what the royal biographer described as “a welcome respite from media scrutiny.” William, however, went in the opposite direction, heading straight to Mahiki, where he was later seen celebrating his singlehood. Jobson noted, “I'm free!' he shouted as he slipped into a drunken version of the robot dance. He then allegedly told his friends that they should all 'drink the menu,' which they more or less did. Soon, gossip columns reported William and socialite Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe spending time together.
Jobson noted in his book that the Prince of Wales pursued her, but Calthorpe was ‘unkeen’ on dating him over concerns that it would affect her acting career. After his reported attempts to woo the socialite were met with disappointment, William is known to have unexpectedly reconnected with Kate at a fancy-dress party. The Princess “arrived dressed as a nurse and William had made a beeline for her,” Jobson noted. “They then spent the first part of the evening deep in conversation before hitting the dance floor, where they ended up kissing.” This led to them getting back together and eventually getting engaged in 2010.
Over the years, the two have suffered several storms together. In March 2024, the Princess announced her cancer diagnosis and that she would be undergoing chemotherapy. Fortunately, just a year later, in January 2025, she shared the good news that she was in remission. While this was a very difficult phase for the couple, it also brought them a lot closer as a family. Now, after completing her treatment, Kate is back handling her usual schedule, with the couple said to be headlining several key events in 2026.