William and Kate dated for nearly a decade before their engagement – but there was one moment in their relationship that made it clear to royal experts that she would one day be his wife.
In two weeks’ time, the Prince and Princess of Wales will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary.
Right from the very start of their romance, engagement rumours swirled around the couple. But William refused to cave to the pressure, and they were together for seven years before he finally popped the question.
While the world had to wait for their fairytale wedding, there was one key moment that made it clear to royal experts that Kate would indeed one day be William’s wife.
Back in 2006, Kate and her parents were invited to attend William’s graduation at Sandhurst. Journalist Rebecca English claims that the chilly day in December in 2006 was when she realised Kate was going to be our future Queen.
“We hadn’t expected Kate and her family to turn up, and myself and a number of photographers and journalists were all standing on a press stand together,” royal expert Rebecca English revealed on Channel 5’s documentary William & Kate: Too Good To Be True.
“Suddenly out of the corner of her eye we saw Kate and her mother and father being ushered down to the front of the seating. I remember turning to the person next to me and saying that’s it, it’s a done deal. This woman is going to be our future Queen.”
Royal expert Victoria Arbiter said of the moment: “Suddenly the engagement whispers were starting. There was intense pressure on William and Kate, and short of printing the tea towels, everyone had these two walking down the aisle imminently.”
William and Kate first went public with their relationship at their university graduation, shortly before he joined the Armed Forces.
Speaking on the documentary, Richard Kay, editor-at-large at the Daily Mail, said: “There were lots of pictures of Kate and William. There was huge interest in this very bubbly brunette from Berkshire. It was really a warning of what was to come.”
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And according to expert Victoria Arbiter: “Graduation for William and Kate, it really was their last moment in that protective bubble. I think perhaps they might have both been a bit naive about what was to come. William understood how the media works but Kate would have had no idea what it meant to be on the receiving end.”
William famously proposed to Kate back in 2010. They travelled around Kenya together, before staying at a lodge on Lake Rutundu, where William decided was the perfect spot to finally pop the long-awaited question.
According to royal author Katie Nicholl, the pair spent the day trying – and failing – to fish rainbow trout before returning to the log cabin they were staying in.
The expert claimed that William led Kate out onto the veranda, where he got down on one knee and officially proposed to her. Of course, Kate said yes, and the next morning before they left she left a sweet note in the lodge’s guest book documenting their romantic stay.
“Thank you for such a wonderful 24 hours!” she wrote, “Sadly no fish to be found but we had fun trying. I love the warm fires and candlelights—so romantic. Hope to be back soon, Catherine Middleton.” William wrote: “20th-21st October 2010. Such fun to be back! Brought more clothes this time! Looked after so well. Thank you guys! Look forward to next time, soon I hope.
