The Prince and Princess of Wales are approaching their 15th wedding anniversary on 29 April, but their love story began several years before, after they crossed paths at St Andrews University.
While they were able to form a close friendship that privately blossomed into romance, Kate had an unfair advantage when it came to getting to know William, thanks to his life in the spotlight as then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana's eldest child.
Based on the media alone, the Princess of Wales reportedly formed a rather strong opinion about her future husband, Prince William, before she met him.
Back in 2017, reports emerged from Kate's friend and fellow schoolgirl at Marlborough College, Jessica Hay, who was the girlfriend of Prince William's mentor at Eton, Nicholas Knatchbull. Jessica revealed that while she and her friends would "sit around talking about all the boys at school we fancied," the future Queen Consort's focus was elsewhere, according to The Telegraph.
"But Catherine would always say, 'I don't like any of them… there's no one quite like William. I bet he's really kind. You can just tell by looking at him,'" the publication stated.
© Max Mumby/IndigoPrince William and Kate's relationship
Shortly after, Prince William and Kate became university sweethearts and enjoyed a long-term relationship before the Prince proposed on a holiday in Kenya in 2010.
© Chris JacksonTheir royal wedding in 2011 was watched by 162 million viewers globally, with the late Queen Elizabeth II giving them the title of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge upon their marriage. Since then, William and Kate have welcomed three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Student days
The couple reflected on when they first met as students in an interview with ITV News shortly after announcing their engagement.
"We obviously met at university, at St Andrews, we were friends for over a year first, and it just sort of blossomed from then on," Prince William shared.
Prince William exclusive
© GettyThe Royal Club spoke exclusively to a royal insider for his insight into how the Prince of Wales will approach his reign once he becomes King. Find out how Prince William will do things 'his way' and the preparations he is making to rule. Plus, find out his commitment to Princess Catherine before their marriage and more...
"We just spent more time with each other, had a good giggle, had lots of fun and realised we shared the same interests and just had a really good time."
Kate said: "Well, I actually think I went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off, feeling very shy about meeting you. Actually, William wasn't there for quite a bit of the time initially; he wasn't there for Fresher's Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other, but we did become very close friends from quite early on."
Family man
Prince William opened up about how starting a family with Kate had changed his personality during an interview for the documentary When Ant and Dec Met The Prince: 40 Years of the Prince's Trust.
© Getty"I'm a lot more emotional than I used to be," William said. "I never used to get too wound up or worried about things. But now the smallest little things, you well up a little more, you get affected by the sort of things that happen around the world or whatever a lot more, I think, as a father."
