Prince William and Princess Kate have fascinated the world since they first went public with their relationship nearly two decades ago. Now, the couple has come to be emblematic of the British royal family, representing the kind of stability that Queen Elizabeth II once provided while also adapting to today’s values and principles.
They first met as students at St. Andrews University, where William studied geography while Kate, then known as Kate Middleton, studied art history. “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,” William recalled during their 2010 engagement interview. “I genuinely believe now that being friends with [each other] is a massive advantage.”
Since then, William and Kate have experienced massive amounts of change within the royal family, from Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s exit in 2020 to the ascension of King Charles III to the British throne. They have also welcomed three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Ahead, we break down the complete timeline of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s decades-spanning love story.
2001: They meet at St. Andrews University.
The two first met as students at Scotland’s St. Andrews University, where they initially started out as friends. They both studied art history, though William later changed his degree to pursue geography.
Some have speculated that Kate specifically chose to attend St. Andrews University to be in closer proximity to the future king.
“Kate was very strategic,” royal historian Robert Lacey wrote in his 2020 book Battle of Brothers: William and Harry—The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult, per Elle. “She gave up her place at one of Britain’s premier universities, Edinburgh, and opted for another one [St. Andrews] that probably didn’t have the same academic standard. She had already been to Edinburgh to get her flat accommodations sorted out, but switched universities and switched her courses to history of art because that was William’s. She delayed her own education by a year” and took the chance of not getting into St. Andrews, Lacey wrote.
Lacey noted that Kate wasn’t the only incoming student who changed her academic plans for William. After William announced his intention to study at St. Andrews, applications reportedly increased by 44 percent.
2002: They move iп together aпd start datiпg.
To start their second year at St. Andrews, Kate and William, along with friends Fergus Boyd and Olivia Bleasdale, moved into a four-bedroom, two-story townhouse off campus. At this point, the two were still just friends—but not for much longer.
During their time as roommates, Kate and William’s relationship took a romantic turn. Rumor has it, William became romantically interested in Kate after seeing her walk the runway for a charity fashion show, wearing a see-through minidress over a bra and underwear set. The dress, designed by Charlotte Todd, later sold at auction for $125,000.
Rυпe Hellestad – Corbis//Getty ImagesApril 1, 2004: Their relatioпship becomes pυblic.
After about a year of dating, William and Kate’s relationship became public knowledge when The Sun published photos of the two enjoying a ski trip in the Swiss Alps. The breach of privacy led to then-Prince Charles threatening to sever his media relations with the tabloid.
At the time, a spokesperson for Charles said he was “very disappointed” by the outlet’s actions and that The Sun would “face the consequences,” according to The Guardian. “They do understand that they have broken the agreement and they are aware they will have to face the consequences. It’s not set in stone but that could include being excluded from photo calls.
