After reconnecting following a brief split, Prince William knew he couldn’t let his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton go again, and the pair made their commitment clear with a heartfelt holiday vow
Prince William and Princess Kate have now been married for 14 years, with thousands tuning into their fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey in the Spring of 2011. But their love story very nearly didn’t have a happy ending.
The former university sweethearts, who fell for each other as students at the prestigious St. Andrew’s, briefly parted ways in April 2007, when life as young graduates took them in different directions.
Fashionable Kate, now, of course, one of the most influential style icons of modern times, was working in London for clothing brand Jigsaw, while William was throwing himself into army life. With the pressures to get engaged reaching fever pitch, the future heir to the throne began having doubts and broke off the relationship in a heartbreaking 30-minute phone call.
Devastated, Kate was allowed to take a week’s worth of compassionate leave from work, while William hit the town with pals, reportedly declaring “I’m free!” during a boozy night out at Mayfair’s Mahiki nightclub.
This is according to Robert Jobson’s book Catherine, The Princess of Wales: The Biography, which details how, having nursed her broken heart, the future queen responded by also making sure to have plenty of fun of her own, stepping out on the town accompanied by sister Pippa.
By the time William was back in his army barracks, Kate was still out enjoying the single life, with her glam look catching the eye of other eligible bachelors, including shipping heir, Sir Henry Ropner.
William, then just 24, reportedly began to realise he could have made a mistake by letting Kate go. In June 2007, they were spotted talking for hours at a party thrown by mutual friend Sam Waley-Cohen. Apparently not wanting to miss his chance again, William invited Kate to a party at his Dorset barracks in Dorset, where the cheeky theme was ‘Freakin’ Naughty’. The rest, as they say, is history.
However, like many couples before and after them who’ve taken a break, the pair needed time to reconnect and renew their commitment to each other. And while holidaying together on the dreamy Seychelles island of Desroches in August 2007, they made a solemn pact.
In her book The Making of a Royal Romance, Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl wrote: “With a population of just 50 and three miles long, the paradise island was the perfect escape.”
The then twentysomethings, who checked into the five star resort under the names Martin and Rosemary Middleton, spent their days kayaking and snorkelling, but there were also some serious conversations to be had before they could move forward.
According to author Katie: “For a young man who has an inherent fear of tomorrow, this was not easy for William, but the tranquil backdrop of the island was as good a place as any to discuss it.”
The writer went on to reveal that “William assured Kate she was the one”, adding: “William, who had inherited something of his father’s fear of commitment, knew he would lose Kate if he could not give her some form of guarantee.
“They didn’t agree to get married there and then; what they made was a pact,’ a member of their inner circle explained.
“William told Kate she was the one, but he was not ready to get married. He promised her his commitment and said he would not let her down, and in turn, she agreed to wait for him.”
Now, juggling parenthood with the duties of being Prince and Princess of Wales, it would seem that the royal couple have stayed true to the promise they made, all those years ago.
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