A Look at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Relationship Timeline

Prince William found love and friendship in the same person: Kate Middleton! This pair is one of the most loved royal couples in history. Before becoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the pair were good friends for a long time. Back in the day, both of them studied at St. Andrews University.

Over time, the duo’s strong bond as friends turned romantic. Prince William and Kate Middleton dated during their college days. However, they even took a break after graduation to do some self-exploration. They reconciled their romance in the summer of 2007.

After nearly 3 years, Prince William and Kate Middleton announced that they were engaged. These two lovebirds officially became husband and wife in the year 2011. Their fairytale wedding ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London.

The royal couple also shares three children: Prince George, born in 2013, Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, and Prince Louis, born in 2018. Read on to know more about the pair’s relationship from being friends to a royal couple.

2001: Prince William and Kate Middleton meet each other for the first time at St. Andrews University in Scotland

William and Kate crossed paths for the first time while studying at St. Andrews University. As per Middleton, the two of them took their own time to get to know each other, in part because of her bashfulness. During their 2010 engagement interview, Kate recalled to Prince William, “I think you said I actually went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off.”

Kate went on to say, “[I was] feeling very shy about meeting you.” From that point on, they became very close friends. In the same interview, William said, “We were friends for over a year first. It just sort of blossomed from then on.”

As the pair started spending more time together,  the prince stated they found more similarities between them. William continued, “We] realized we shared the same interests. [We] just had a really good time.”

During the same interview with Tom Bradby of ITV News, William said, “When I first met Kate, I knew there was something very special about her, and then I knew there was possibly something I wanted to explore there, but we ended up being friends for a while.”

October 2002: Prince William and Kate Middleton move in together with friends

The pair’s relationship blossomed quickly. Prince and Kate started living together with their two friends Fergus Boyd and Olivia Bleasdale in a four-bedroom apartment near the town center.

A close pal of Kate’s stated that she didn’t see the whole arrangement as a big deal and added, “He has a large circle of friends, and she is just one of them.”

During the pair’s 2010 engagement interview, William spilled the beans on the couple’s early days as roommates. He said, “We moved in together as friends. We lived with a couple of others, as well, and it just sort of blossomed from there, really, we just saw more of each other, hung out a bit more, and did stuff.”

May 27, 2003: Kate Middleton and Prince William’s friendship takes a romantic turn

Prince’s view of Middleton took a turn when the college student strutted her stuff in a college fashion show titled “The Art of Seduction” while donning a see-through frock with a black bra and underwear beneath made by fellow pupil Charlotte Todd.

Later on, Todd told People magazine, “Everyone says that the fashion show was when the romance started, so a small part of me will always be part of royal history. Charlotte concluded by saying, “It’s madness!”

2003: Prince William and Kate Middleton get their own place

In the year 2003, William and Kate moved out of their four-bedroom apartment. They shifted to a place of their own circa 2003. Prince took the golden chance to cook for his future wife or at least he tried to do so.

During a 2010 interview, Prince told Bradby, “When I was trying to impress Kate, I was trying to cook these amazing fancy dinners, and all that would happen was, I would burn something, something would overspill, something would catch on fire, and she’d be sitting in the background just trying to help and [then] taking control of the whole situation.”

Later on, in a 2019 Christmas special, Kate disclosed that it was “Things like Bolognese sauce and things like that.”

April 1, 2004: Kate Middleton and Prince William make their relationship public

After a year of keeping their relationship away from the flashing cameras, they made their romance official in the year 2004. At that time, photos of Kate and William looking extra cozy on the slopes at Klosters Ski Resort in Switzerland were published by The Sun on April 1, 2004.

Then, a close pal of the pair told People magazine, that “their romance had been going on for a bit.” The friend further added, “She is his girlfriend.”

December 2006: Kate Middleton attends Prince William’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst graduation

In December 2006, Kate played the role of a supportive girlfriend as she cheered on William as he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This event marked the first royal event of Kate and Queen Elizabeth II was also present at the event.

This wasn’t Middleton’s first encounter with the royal family. As of this moment, it is not known exactly when she and then Prince Charles met first. Kate revealed the duo’s first meeting was a pleasant one.

In the pair’s 2010 joint engagement interview, Kate said, “I was quite nervous about meeting William’s father but he’s very, very welcoming and very friendly, so it couldn’t have gone easier, really, for me.”

April 2007: Prince William and Kate Middleton call it quits

Kate and William pulled the plug on their romance in April 2007 after 5 years of dating. Then, a source stated that the pair’s split was amicable. At that time, reports stated that said Kate was struggling with the media attention focused on their relationship and that they were growing apart amid their separate careers.

For those of you who are unaware, let us share with you, at that time, Middleton was an accessories buyer for Jigsaw, meanwhile, William was an armored corps commander trainee.

Later on, in their engagement interview, Prince told ITV News’s Tom Bradby that it was “just a bit of space.” He talked about the pair’s time apart and continued, “We did split up for a bit, but that was just, we were both very young, it was at university, and we were both sort of defining ourselves as such and being different characters and stuff. It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up.”

June 9, 2007: Kate Middleton and Prince William reconcile their romance

Nearly 2 months after their split, Kate and William got back together. They reconnected at a party at his army barracks in Bovington. At that point, a source told People magazine, “It’s true that they have been seeing each other. The spark is still there.”

October 20, 2010: Prince William pops the big question to Kate Middleton

In October 2010, William proposed to Kate Middleton in a cabin hut roughly 11,000 feet above sea level on the side of Mount Kenya in Africa. During the pair’s joint engagement interview, in November 2010 Prince shared details about their proposal.

William told Bradby, “It was about three weeks ago, on holiday in Kenya. We had a little private time away together with some friends, and I just decided that it was the right time, really. We’d been talking about marriage for a while, so it wasn’t a massively big surprise, but I took her up somewhere nice in Kenya, and I proposed.”

April 29, 2011: Kate Middleton and Prince William tie the knot

Kate and Prince William’s royal wedding was held on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London. For the big day, Middleton donned a French Chantily and English Cluny lace Alexander McQueen gown by Sarah Burton with a skirt, meanwhile, Prince opted for a red Irish Guards Mounted Officer’s uniform.

December 3, 2012: Prince William and Kate Middleton announce they’re expecting their first child together

In December 2012, the royal couple shared that they were expecting their first child together. A statement issued at that time read, “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby.”

It further read, “The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news.”

July 22, 2013: Kate Middleton and Prince William welcome their first baby

Kate gave birth to Prince George Alexander Louis at 4:24 p.m. on July 22, 2013, following a natural, 14-hour delivery. At that time, a source close to Kensington Palace said, “It’s been a wonderful day and everyone’s delighted.” Prince George Alexander Louis who was previously known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge made his world debut on the steps of St. Mary Hospital.

For the special occasion, Kate looked lovely in a blue polka-dot short-sleeve frock by Jenny Packham. She said, “It’s very emotional. It’s a moment that any parent having just given birth will know what this feeling feels like.”

September 8, 2014: Kate Middleton is pregnant for the second time

Nearly 2 years later, the royal couple announced that they were expanding their family. The pair shared the piece of good news with the rest of the world on September 8, 2014.

The announcement read, “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child. The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news.”

May 2, 2015:  Kate Middleton and Prince William welcome their second child, daughter Charlotte

The pair’s second baby, daughter Charlotte joined them earthside on May 2, 2015. Then, the palace announced the amazing news on the social media platform Twitter. The statement read, “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34 a.m.”

Almost 10 hours later, Kate and Prince introduced their little bundle of joy to the world on the steps of St. Mary’s Hospital. Kate opted for a breezy yellow Jenny Packham gown with a buttercup print for the occasion, and William wore a blue sweater.

April 16, 2016: Prince William and Kate Middleton visit India to celebrate 5 years of marital bliss

To celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary, Kate and William paid a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. While having a chat with People magazine, their tour guide, Rizwan Mohammed said, “They were shocked that I know about [their anniversary on April 29,] but you know, the Internet. … Then [Kate] said this is the perfect thing to do before their wedding anniversary. She was quite happy about it.”

Rizwan further added, “They were so, so easy to talk with them. For me, I was quite nervous but they were very normal, and down to earth. Specifically the duchess, she was very enthusiastic about how this was built.”

September 4, 2017: Kate Middleton and Prince William announce that they’re expecting their Baby No. 3

In September 2017, the pair announced that they were adding another member to their family. Kensington Palace issued a statement that read, “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their third child.”

April 23, 2018: Kate Middleton and Prince William welcome their third child

The family of four turned into a family of five on April 23, 2018. A statement put out read,  “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. The baby weighs 8 pounds 7 ounces. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.”

The pair followed the royal tradition and made their first official appearance with their baby boy, Louis Arthur Charles seven hours later on the steps at St. Mary’s. At that time, William told the press, “We’re very happy. We’re delighted. Thank you.”

April 2020: Kate Middleton and Prince William give a rare joint interview

In the year 2020, the world came to a standstill when the Covid-19 pandemic hit us. In April, the duke and duchess gave a rare joint interview via video call to the BBC. The pair talked about homeschooling their kids throughout the pandemic.

Middleton said, “It’s been ups and downs, like a lot of families self-isolating. The children have got such stamina, I don’t know how. Honestly, you get to the end of the day and you write down the list of all the things that you’ve done in that day. So, you pitch a tent, take the tent down again, cook, bake. You get to the end of the day — they have had a lovely time — but it is amazing how much you can cram into one day, that’s for sure.”

April 29, 2021: Kate Middleton and Prince William celebrate their 10th marriage anniversary

For their tenth anniversary, Kate and William posted two new portraits by photographer Chris Floyd that showed them cuddled up and laughing at their home of Kensington Palace.
Along with this, they also shared a video of themselves with their kids enjoying some family time in Norfolk, England.

They offered a token of thanks to the people for their good wishes in the caption of the post by writing, “​​Thank you to everyone for the kind messages on our wedding anniversary. We are enormously grateful for the 10 years of support we have received in our lives as a family.”

May 2021: Kate Middleton and Prince William return to St. Andrews University

In May 2021, William and Kate paid a visit to St. Andrews University during their royal tour of Scotland. While making an appearance at the Church of Scotland, Prince said, “It was here in Scotland — 20 years ago this year — that I first met Catherine.”

William further added, “Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”

December 2021: Prince William and Kate Middleton attend a carol service

Kate and William attended the “Together At Christmas” community carol service at London’s Westminster Abbey in December 2021. For the day, Middleton wore a red dress, on the other hand, William opted for a navy blue pantsuit.

May 19, 2022: Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

The royal couple stepped out at the London premiere of the movie Top Gun: Maverick. For the event, Middleton looked stunning in a black-and-white Roland Mouret gown. William wore a black tux. The pair was accompanied by the movie star Tom Cruise.

June 23, 2022: Prince William and Kate Middleton release their first official joint portrait

Earlier this year in June, Kate and William revealed their first joint portrait at the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum. The art piece which was painted by Jamie Coreth was commissioned by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund in the year 2021.

September 9, 2022: Prince William and Kate Middleton receive new titles post Queen Elizabeth II’s death

Post the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Kate Middleton officially became Prince and Princess of Wales. The big announcement was made by King Charles III during his first address to the United Kingdom after Queen Elizabeth died.

At that time, King Charles said, “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.” The title of Princess of Wales was once held by Prince William’s mother, the late Princess Diana.

September 15, 2022: Prince William and Kate Middleton make their first solo appearance as the Prince and Princess of Wales

In September 2022, William and Kate made their first royal appearance as Prince and Princess of Wales. The royal couple visited Sandringham to view the floral tributes left by the public in honor of the late Queen. At that point, they even took some time to chat with the mourners outside the Norwich Gates of Sandringham House, including Bex Neeve from the county of Norfolk.

Then, Neeve told People magazine, “William said he thinks Monday will be hard. Kate said it’s been overwhelming and she and William are very grateful for everyone being here. She was emotional. They seemed like they were here to soak up all the love.”

September 27, 2022: Prince William and Kate Middleton travel to Wales for the first time since becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales

Kate and William visited Wales to honor some important causes including a lifeboat station that has received 70 awards for gallantry. While having a conversation with well-wishers, Middleton saw someone holding a flag featuring the couple’s engagement photo.

In a video that popped up on TikTok, Kate said, “Oh my goodness, is that from our engagement?” She went on to say, “We always laugh about this. Although we’ve been married for 11 years, we’ve been together for double that, so it’s extraordinary.”

Kate also shared the reaction of her kids after seeing the photos taken in the year 2010. She continued, “The children look back at the photos and say, ‘Mummy, you look so young!'”

November 30, 2022: Kate Middleton and Prince William sit courtside at Boston Celtics game

At the end of November 2022, Kate and William were spotted watching a Boston Celtics game at the TD Garden. The royal couple sat courtside and were introduced to several members of the Celtics family.

Before the game, Prince delivered a speech at Boston City Hall, a precursor to the second-annual Earthshot Prize Awards on December 2. While addressing a crowd of nearly 1,000 people, Prince William said, “There are two reasons why Boston was the obvious choice to be the home of the Earthshot Prize in its second year.”

He further added, “Sixty years ago, President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” speech laid down a challenge to American innovation and ingenuity. It was that Moonshot speech that inspired me to launch the Earthshot Prize with the aim of doing the same for climate change as President Kennedy did for the space race.”

Isn’t the love story of Kate Middleton and Prince William the cutest? Drop your thoughts on the pair’s fairytale romance in the comments section below. Don’t forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from the world of entertainment.