Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship timeline
From their early days of dating to welcoming three children, it's safe to say the couple have been through a *lot* together
Prince William and Kate Middleton have come an awfully long way since meeting at St Andrew's University back in 2001. In the decades following, the public has watched as the pair, initially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, married in a spectacularly grand royal wedding, before going on to celebrate more than twenty years together. Oh! And let's not forget that the Prince and Princess of Wales (as they're now known) have also welcomed three adorable children into the fold too: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The couple have remained steadfastly loyal to one another over the years, striking the balance of sharing personal family moments with the public (Kate even took up photography so that she could be on hand to capture those special occasions, rather than having a professional photographer in the mix) and maintaining a decent level of privacy for themselves, too. They've toured the world together, attended events side-by-side, and have even shown the odd display of public affection along the way, much to the delight of royal enthusiasts who champion their union.
They've stood by one another for the tough times, too, notably when Kate announced she was diagnosed with cancer at the start of 2024, and following the death of William's beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. It's clear the pair are in it for the long haul.
Here, we take a look back at the groundbreaking two decades that the future King and Queen have shared so far, taking it right back to the very beginning:
2001 - 2005
The love story begins at St Andrews University, where William and Kate are both studying art history. The prince later switches to a geography course, but the pair remain close. In 2002, they move into a student house with two other friends and by Christmas 2003, romance blossoms when Kate splits from her previous boyfriend. Their relationship becomes public after they are pictured skiing in Klosters together and in June 2005, the royal and his new girlfriend are pictured looking very much in love on the day of their graduation ceremony.
2006
After graduation, William and Kate kick off their careers. Kate gets a job as an accessories buyer for fashion chain Jigsaw, while the prince joins the elite Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Kate makes her most significant public appearance to date when she turns up to watch William graduate as an Army officer. This is the biggest clue that she has been widely accepted into royal circles.
April 2007
Disaster strikes when it's reported that the pair have split. Media attention is said to be a contributing factor, but the break-up doesn't last long. By June, William and Kate are dating again. Years later, William looks back on their time apart as a positive experience. "We were both very young … and we were both defining ourselves as such and being different characters, it was very much trying to find our way and we were growing up, it was just a bit of space, things like that and things worked out for the better," the prince said in an interview at the time of their engagement.
April 2008
Now that they're back together, Kate makes her first appearance at a formal event with the prince in 18 months. She watches William receive his wings as a qualified RAF pilot from the Prince of Wales at a ceremony in Cranwell. More importantly, they appear to be seriously loved up.
June 2010
The couple take their next big step when they move to a four-bedroom farmhouse in north Wales together. It's close to Prince William's RAF Valley in Anglesey and they call it home for the next three years.
October 2010
The couple, who have now been dating for almost seven years, are spotted at a friend's wedding in Gloucestershire. Following the move to their new Welsh home, speculation around their own engagement reaches new heights. Surely a proposal is on the cards by now...
November 2010
They're ENGAGED! On 16 November, Clarence House confirms the news we had all been waiting for and announces that William proposed to Kate while they were on holiday in Kenya. Kate proudly wears Princess Diana's engagement ring as they pose for the world's media at St James's Palace. On 23 November, there's more great wedding news, when it's announced the royal nuptials will take place on 29 April, 2011. The countdown is on.
February 2011
As the first invitations to the royal wedding are sent out, the couple return to St Andrews, the town where the romance began. "This is a very special moment for Catherine and me," William said in a speech to university students, the BBC reports. "It feels like coming home." Just when we thought these two couldn't get any more adorable.
April 2011
On 29 April, William and Kate tie the knot at Westminster Abbey in London and later celebrate their marriage with a reception at Buckingham Palace. Thousands of street parties take place across Britain and wedding fever spreads around the world, with an estimated two billion people in every time zone tuning in to watch the ceremony on television.
The royal couple are now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Kate's custom-made Alexander McQueen wedding dress goes down as one of the most famous in history.
June 2011
Hearts melt everywhere when the newlyweds attend their first official engagement as a married couple at the ARK Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace. William is suited and booted in a tux and Kate embraces her inner princess in a blush pink Jenny Packham gown.
July 2011
William and Kate go on their first-ever royal tour as husband and wife, visiting Canada and California. As predicted, they are a big hit and they get stuck in with every activity thrown at them, including dragon boat racing and attending a rodeo in Calgary. They even pull off matching cowboy hats. Too cute!
November 2011
On the 6th of November, it was announced that following renovations, William and Kate would be moving from their temporary residence of Nottingham Cottage to the Kensington Palace grounds. More specifically, into Princess Margaret's former home, Apartment 1A, comprising of four stories and 20 rooms.
May 2012
The Duke and Duchess return to the balcony of Buckingham Palace, but this time it's to support the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee. Following a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, the younger members of the royal family join their grandmother who waves to well-wishers on the final day of the celebrations. This memorable occasion is said to be a very public reminder that William and Kate are the monarchy's future.
November 2012
The couple embark on a nine-day tour of the Far East, taking in Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and the tiny Pacific Island of Tuvalu, in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. During a visit to the National Orchid Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, they are presented with a flower named after the late Princess Diana.
December 2012
There's a royal baby on the way! St James's Palace announces that the couple are expecting their first child and both the royal family and the Middletons are said to be delighted. Due to a case of acute morning sickness, Kate is admitted to hospital in London. She tells the media she is feeling "much better" when she leaves after three days of treatment on 6 December. The world spends the next seven months patiently waiting for the first glimpse of the future king or queen.
January 2013
With a little one on the way and a permanent family home needed, reports suggest William and Kate will move to Anmer Hall on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. They settle in to the country retreat later in the year, after the arrival of their baby.
July 2013
It's a boy! On 22 July, HRH Prince George of Cambridge is welcomed into the world at St Mary's Hospital in London. He replaces his uncle Prince Harry as third in line to the throne, after his father, Prince William and grandfather, Prince Charles.
October 2013
Prince George is baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a private service at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in London. The Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and the Middleton family are among the 22 guests. Kate wears a cream Alexander McQueen outfit for the special occasion and the proud parents can't help but smile from ear to ear.
April 2014
Eight-month-old Prince George joins his parents on his first royal visit and quickly becomes the star of their three-week Australia and New Zealand tour. The moment the eight-month-old meets a baby kangaroo named after him in Sydney is a particular highlight.
September 2014
Kensington Palace confirms baby number two is on the way! The Duchess is forced to cancel a string of engagements after being stricken with severe pregnancy sickness once again. In October, Kate says she is glad to "get out of the house" at her first official engagement in London since announcing that she is expecting her second child.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
Amber O’Connor is Cosmopolitan UK’s former junior features writer, who covers everything from breaking news, women’s safety and real life features to fitness, travel, and cultural trends. She works on first-person features, reports, and long reads, plus the hottest stories of the day (if you want to know about the latest wellness craze or TikTok trends, she’s your girl). Amber has previously worked as a reporter and a lifestyle writer, with her work appearing in numerous publications, including The Mirror, Red Magazine, Evening Standard, Indy100, and Yahoo News. When she’s not working her way through her TBR list, Amber loves dancing, running, and going on adventures with her dog.
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